RE-RELEASE - Cecily Strong

Summary

Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade

RE-RELEASE: Cecily Strong (March 4, 2026)

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Episode Overview

This episode of "Fly on the Wall" welcomes Cecily Strong, beloved SNL alum and star of Apple TV’s "Schmigadoon," for a candid, energetic, and deeply funny conversation. Hosts Dana Carvey and David Spade reminisce with Cecily about her journey to SNL, dive into the rich details of life behind the scenes at Studio 8H, analyze the art of character work and impressions, and touch on her successful transition to post-SNL projects. Throughout, the trio swap stories about auditions, green room nerves, SNL legends, unforgettable hosts (including Donald Trump), the importance of comedic partnerships, and the joys and challenges of leaving the iconic show.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. SNL Memories & Departures

• Dana and David introduce Cecily, reflecting on her SNL tenure and the unique gap she left:
  • "She kept upping her game all through the seasons, and it's hard to leave, but she did." (02:47, Dana)
  • Cecily describes her exit as bittersweet:
    • "I think Christmas would be a great time [to leave]... it's a happier show and I'm going to be so sad to leave." (56:19, Cecily)
• Discusses the emotional process and the timing of cast departures:
  • Cecily emphasizes wanting a "happy" exit and not making it a drawn-out goodbye. (56:08)

2. Early Influences and Audition Stories

• Cecily credits Phil Hartman as a personal "true North Star," especially for straight-man roles:
  • "I do think... I've played a lot of straight characters, and he just is such a great straight man." (16:29, Cecily)
• Recounts her roots in theater, family support, and cautious optimism about an SNL dream:
  • "Even at the audition, was like, well, I can't. I don't want to say it out loud even. Cause this is so... this just doesn't happen." (17:07, Cecily)
• Recalls her Chicago comedy training (Second City, IO, Groundlings):
  • "Chicago is still a Midwestern city... I enjoy the Midwest a lot more. It's a lot chunkier. People are more friendlier." (35:55, Cecily)
• Audition nerves and myths:
  • Cecily describes prepping six short bits, strategizing to avoid redundancy, and the intimidating presence of Lorne and team:
    • "Some people... do like a three minute monologue [for an impression]." (38:54, Cecily)
    • "Lauren told me... my second [screen test] was funnier than the first and he said that's why he hired me." (49:52, Cecily)

3. Behind-the-Scenes at SNL

• Audition Process & First Days:
  • Getting the show meant a series of auditions, nerve-wracking waits, and even a "speed-dating"-style meet with producers:
    • "There were like two long tables... I love Trader Joe's, you know, cute cucumbers and wine." (44:12, Cecily)
• Sketch & Update Dynamics:
  • Cecily discusses switching from Update co-anchor back to sketches, preferring the creative range of sketches:
    • "I liked being a guest on Update... I was more valuable in sketches than at the [Weekend Update] desk because I'm also not a standup." (52:39–54:32, Cecily)
• Notable Impressions & Characters:
  • Cecily breaks down developing voices for Gemma (Cockney/British reality star) and Kathy Ann (redneck, hard-living type), focusing on vocal tics and physicality:
    • "You have to make it feel like you have big teeth, too... it's sort of like if you're talking around your teeth." (10:06, Cecily, on Gemma)
    • "If you think about... try to talk like you have no teeth... sometimes it's sort of starting from there." (22:32, Cecily, on Kathy Ann)
• Physical Comedy & Chaos:
  • Cecily, Dana, and David discuss the unique joy of live chaos (dogs, props, unexpected mishaps) adding to the magic of SNL:
    • "That became my favorite part of the show... The thing that sets us apart is having it live and not perfect." (75:50, Cecily)

4. Memorable SNL Guests & Hosts

• Cecily shares the surreal oddities of working with Donald Trump:
  • Trump’s table read quirks—refusing to wear glasses, misreading lines ("told ya turkey legs"), and taking personal phone calls about book sales during rehearsal.
    • "He just did not believe that The Giving Tree... was a real book, as he was in a full tree costume." (32:18, Cecily)
• The vibe difference between American and British hosts:
  • "Every British host we had almost had like a giggly, like little kid... willing to do anything." (27:44, Cecily)
• Reflections on dealing with host nervousness and encouragement:
  • "I thought of my role as an RA throughout the week, just always being encouraging, like, how do you feel? That's normal." (33:21, Cecily)

5. Classic Sketches & Collaborations

• Update Characters:
  • "Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation with at a Party": Came out of overheard real-life encounters; roots in taking herself less seriously at auditions. (41:59–44:12)
• Porn Stars Sketches (with Vanessa Bayer):
  • Built around malapropisms and understated wit; Cecily's character perpetually more "out of it."
    • "My porn star was always a little bit more out of it than Vanessa's." (66:21, Cecily)
    • "How can we skirt around me saying a name? Like, she'd say, 'I'm Brecky,' and I'd go, 'And you can too!'" (68:56, Cecily)
• Other Faves:
  • Gina Perino Update bits (physical, bombastic energy); Best Buy firing sketch with Bobby Moynihan ("going out with a bang"); Two-handers with Aidy Bryant, Vanessa Bayer, Bobby Moynihan, and others.
    • "I did a lot of two handers for a long time over there, which I really loved... It's fun. It's a very clean, simple thing." (74:09–74:41, Cecily)
• The joy of letting chaos reign, especially in sketches with physical props, unpredictable elements, or live animals.

6. Post-SNL Career: Schmigadoon & Beyond

• Cecily discusses "Schmigadoon!"—its musical homage, surreal premise, and demanding production:
  • "Couple at a rut in their relationship... they end up in this magical town called Schmigadoon, but they find out it's a musical every day." (59:47, Cecily)
  • "Second season there are more looks and worlds covered... felt a bit more frantic, but we got it done." (60:52, Cecily)
• Touches on performing "The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe," with Lily Tomlin’s presence on opening night described as "more nerve-wracking than Lauren at that audition." (57:26, Cecily)
• Commercials, memoir ("This Will All Be Over Soon"), and embracing new opportunities post-SNL:
  • "You were not supposed to do commercials when you came off there. In the 90s, you were not supposed to do commercials... I root for you guys." (80:17, David)

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Timestamps for Notable Segments

• SNL 40th/Bidding Sketches: "Bye Bye" with David (07:06–09:17)
• Gemma's Cockney Accent Demo (09:57–11:13)
• Phil Hartman Influence / Early Comedy Roots (16:13–17:07)
• Cecily’s SNL Audition Story (37:52–49:52)
• Kathy Ann Character/Physicality (19:36–22:32)
• Donald Trump’s SNL Table Read Stories (29:20–32:29)
• Reflecting on Sketch vs. Update Roles (52:39–54:32)
• Porn Stars Sketches with Vanessa (66:21–69:09)
• Schmigadoon Premise (59:47–60:52)
• Departing SNL and Reflections (56:08–62:58, 78:26 onward)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Auditioning:
  • "There's really... I don't know what the strategy would even be for that. Sometimes you just have to go, do. Go do it." (40:37, Cecily)
• On SNL Table Reads:
  • "He went, 'Huh. Oh that's great. Uh huh. My book just went to number one.' And we all just went, wow." (31:33, Cecily, on Trump interrupting rehearsal for a phone call)
• On Leaving SNL:
  • "I got to leave, like, happy, which I know doesn’t always happen." (78:54, Cecily)
• On Legacy:
  • "I feel like the greatest thing since leaving has been, like, seeing that people maybe see me now the way I saw Amy and Tina and Maya and Kristen walking in. And that was, I think, like, that's just a great thing to have in my pocket for a bad day." (84:14, Cecily)

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Tone & Atmosphere

The conversation is warm, candid, and heavy on comedic banter—punctuated by affection for SNL, genuine admiration among comics, and an expert’s eye for the artistry of sketch and character work. Cecily’s humility and comic intelligence shine through, while Dana and David keep the discussion lively with personal anecdotes, SNL shop talk, and plenty of laughs.

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Summary Takeaway

This episode is a treasure trove for SNL fans and comedy nerds: a rich behind-the-scenes tour of Cecily Strong’s SNL years, the camaraderie and chaos of late-night sketch comedy, and the thrilling (sometimes terrifying) moments that defined her career. Whether you want to know about audition strategy, the subtleties of crafting characters, what it's really like to say goodbye to SNL, or just want to hear funny people riff, this episode lets you be a fly on the wall for some of the best stories in showbiz.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

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[A]

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[B]

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[A]

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[B]

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[A]

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[B]

Quickly learn how we can find you specialized talent in finance, accounting, technology and more at Robert Half we know talent. Visit roberthalft.com talent today. Cecily Strong is with us right now. This is one we aired a few months ago. We got to have a nice little chat with her. She was on the show when Dana did it, I think. And she were there when you, when you hosted, right?

[A]

Yeah, I mean we, yeah, she was in that cast. She had a nice long run on snl. We talked all about, all about that and you know, just the leaving of SNL's kind of bittersweet and you're walking out the world. And she was on a show,

[B]

Michael Key.

[A]

Right.

[B]

And yeah, she was. When she left, it was one of those ones that they feel a little bit because when a good cast member leaves, it's tough. I mean they cover it. But you know, she's one of the ones that was Just a consistent hitter every week.

[A]

Yeah, she kept just. Just upping her game all through the seasons, you know, and it's hard to leave, but she did, and the show's really funny. It was three years ago at the time, so I don't know.

[B]

Is that what she was on three years ago?

[A]

Well, according.

[B]

Feels like we just talked to her, but anyway, they go so fast. But a lot of. A lot of good things. We had a great time with her, and she gives us a lot of insight to what it's like over there. And also life after.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Snl.

[A]

Yeah. She's a. An adorable person.

[B]

Yeah. Cecily Strong.

[A]

Here we go.

[B]

Everyone off. She's here.

[A]

The thing about Cecily is she's always prompt. You'll find that she'll be on the Zoom a little bit earlier than when it was scheduled, like 35 to 45. Oh, sorry. Hi. I love your sweater.

[C]

Yeah, well, thanks. We're doing a similar themed.

[A]

Well, this is a. Yeah. Kind of colorful. It's the perfect puffer. That's David. David has a perfect puffer. I'm in Northern California. It's freezing, and there's a hypersonic river. You know, there's never a rainstorm. It's always the cyclone bomb, so. But it's kind of nice.

[C]

Still going. Is that still happening?

[A]

Oh, yeah. We haven't quit. Northern California never lays down with this. They. They never quit.

[B]

I suppose I'm not apologizing for my hair, but I'm just gonna say we're just gonna deal with it on this.

[C]

It looks like a fashion choice. It's kind of hip.

[B]

That's what it used to look like.

[A]

I'm gonna say two words right now about David's hair. Bad. Bad boy. Back me up. Bad boy. Right? Uncapped, ready to fight.

[C]

Hair.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

And bad boys never go out of style.

[B]

Right? Bad boy lost his comb.

[A]

Bad boys never go out of style. So they're in style, and they're going to stay in style.

[B]

I think you're seeing it.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Dana was saying it rains, and you're not in L. A. I don't think, but it's raining always now. It's a new thing. You think with the taxes and everything, the only thing we get is good weather. Now we. We don't have that. So when it rains, the weatherman goes like this. It's going to pour for seven days straight. And then you. And there's such a big drought here. Everyone goes, oh, good. And he goes, but it's not going to help the drought. Did you think that? And I go, oh, I did think that. And I go, no, see, it's funny you would think that, but the drought is getting worse. And I'm like, I don't think I know what a drought is then, because why is all the rain not helping? And they're like, it's nothing.

[A]

It's got to go underground, man. It's all about recharging it underground.

[C]

But it was like, well, it's good to fill the ones overground too, I think.

[A]

I don't know.

[B]

I don't know what's getting filled.

[C]

Celebrate the little wins, right?

[B]

I thought it was a little.

[A]

It was a little. Shasta is a mofo. That thing is so huge. And it's good. It's gonna get so full when the mountains start to melt that they're gonna have to release water. Here's my point. If it rains outside, I don't really have a point. I take. I took a one hour shower yesterday just to kind of. Just because it was raining outside. I go, how much could it hurt? Yeah.

[B]

I didn't know where you were going with that, but okay.

[A]

I'm so punchy and I have nothing.

[B]

But.

[A]

But at least I'll admit it ahead of time. Cecily, we're so glad you're on this show. We're so excited.

[C]

It's wonderful to be here. I just adore you both. I hope you know that. I think I told you both that. The 50th, but I don't. Or the 40th. I mean, geez. But I don't know if you remember.

[A]

50th is next.

[B]

The 40th. Cecily. It is Cecily, right? You say Cecily.

[C]

Yes. Cecily. Yes.

[B]

I'm gonna say it wrong. Okay.

[C]

People do say wrong. You've been saying it right. I appreciate that.

[A]

I'm Dana and he's David. Yeah, no, it's. Cecil is very hip. Cecily is like works at a mall or something.

[C]

Cecily I don't know about.

[A]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

When we did the 40th, aside from the excitement of it all and seeing everywhere you turn someone was fun to see and old new cast. Whatever, whatever. She was assigned the thankless job of doing my bye bye with me, which, you know, the show was so throwing together.

[C]

It's not Thankless. That was very exciting. I mean, can you imagine her? Yes. Yes.

[B]

It didn't kill and get off the charts and win awards.

[A]

Well, yeah, Just for a second for our audience. David used to do a care. His first character that landed an absolute Catchphrase, flight attendant as you get off the plane saying bye bye.

[B]

Right.

[A]

So then on the 40th, you two are in the sketch. Fill us in. What happened? How'd you get together? How did. Where were you in the show? Hour three or hour six?

[C]

We ended the Californians.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

And I actually have the picture of you and I standing there, I think, with Bradley Cooper, but I have the little frame on my wall. Yeah, I love it.

[B]

You know what was fun about that was. I think it was I talked to shroom taker Michael Shoemaker, and he.

[A]

Shroom taker? What's the shroom taker with Michael?

[B]

His name sounds like shroom taker.

[A]

I thought it's like he deal psilocybin. I'll just have a small amount, Marie. Sorry.

[B]

Anyway,

[A]

so anyway, you guys did the sketch show the Californians, and then the end, you two were placed on the soundstage kind of at the. At the edge of their set and did a goodbye. Bye bye. Bye. Bye. Bye bye. Yeah, it was.

[B]

It's funny because a shoemaker, I asked shoemaker, I said, what if? Because the show is obviously so thrown together, no one cares. What if when someone's leaving a sketch, they just walk by and we go, bye bye. And he goes, yeah, we could probably do that. So he talked to Higgins and then they said, you would be good for that. And then we stood there and I have a picture. I think it's probably from here. Is it from rehearsal or is it from the real show? I have one, I think from rehearsal.

[C]

Oh, I'm not sure.

[A]

And hey, gang, let's put it on social media when I have it. But his episode comes out.

[C]

Yeah, it doesn't matter.

[B]

But it was fun because Taylor Swift was in it. So basically day. And it was very unorthodox. They do this sketch that's a big favorite sketch, and then when they're leaving, we just stand there for absolutely no reason and go, bye bye.

[A]

I remember it. I remember it now. Yeah, it's. It's kind of meta or whatever that word means.

[B]

It was fun. And Taylor Swift was in it. She was very tall.

[C]

She is very tall.

[A]

Was she swift in a way, in her movements? Sorry, it's all I got now.

[C]

Why do you ask that?

[A]

Well, I. I don't know. Maybe some subconscious connection. So anyway, Cecily, we're. We've been watching all your cool stuff, getting re. I. I didn't even know where to start. We can go chronologically. But one thing that I did absolutely love as a someone who loves accents, Is the way your British indiscernible character, Gemma, super, super cockney. Like that is just music to me.

[C]

I love music to be ears.

[B]

I'm Gemma.

[A]

Would you give us this. You don't have to do it. I mean, just talk through it in that. Just give us a three seconds.

[C]

Well, I think you also have to make it feel like you have big teeth, too, I think, because I was. I was watching a lot of a British reality show, but everybody gets their teeth done, so.

[B]

So Gemma Collins.

[C]

That's. There is a Gemma Collins who is on the show that I was watching.

[A]

A lot of A slight bite.

[C]

Yeah, yeah. Sort of like if you think. If you're talking around your teeth like that, how loud that. So you have.

[A]

Wait, I want to hear.

[C]

It's just like you're talking around your teeth. It's. There's a show called the Only Way. It says six, and it's sort like that. And they do a lot of, like, American vocal fry almost.

[A]

Oh, it's so refined. I love that. I. God, I love that.

[C]

I love that, too. I'm. It's. It's fun for me. I'm. It's just what it sounds like to my ear. I feel like there's always that. A million comments. They're like, that's not how that sounds. Which are the most fun people to be watching?

[A]

Yeah, the ones who are upset. We don't sound like that. But you're teasing it out and making it a character. I mean, there's. You're doing something lispy or something with your teeth.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

It gives you a little.

[C]

It's almost like a little lisp because of the teeth, I think.

[A]

Is that. Is that a little. Who's that great actress, Olivia Colman, or, you know, she did the Queen. Is that the name of that actress?

[C]

Yeah, I assume so. Yes.

[A]

Let's. Let's say that's her name. She's on the crown. She has a little over five. Anyway. I love that. So that's why we wanted to start. Well, just fanning out.

[C]

Okay. Well, I'm a fan. And Dana, just. You know, I also. I just want to say I also have a picture of you from the 40th. It was. It was a huge deal. I think I was in my second year on the show or something, so

[A]

it was like 20. 2014.

[C]

Yeah, it was very cool. I have a picture of you and Mike Myers and your Wayne's World getups, and I got to stand in between you two, and that was very exciting.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Wow. It Was that night. Yeah. When you just say it's Billy Crystal. There's Steve Martin. Oh, Bill Murray. It was in the audience. Oh, there's Eddie Murphy, Tom Hanks. There's Donald Trump. I mean, it's just like Keith Richards. Everybody was famous that you looked at. So it was nerve wracking in that way. Yeah. 40th. That darn 40th.

[B]

Did you get a plus one?

[C]

I did, actually. To the party. I did. What was that? Should I. I don't know. Is that.

[B]

No, I'm calling Lauren. On the other.

[A]

Somewhere in the room. The most. The toughest one. A cast member. Some were put in the overflow room. Rough. Next year we'll have a net up top. There'll be no overthrow. People in sort of like a loose circus net. They'll bounce around. It'll be like that thing of like, they'll see show. So I had to go.

[B]

I had to go in there and get Rob Schneider.

[C]

I love the Lord.

[A]

Yeah. You. You must do your own version of Lauren.

[C]

But I can't do it in front of like the best Lauren. Lauren impersonator.

[A]

Everyone has different ones, you know.

[B]

Who was everybody?

[A]

Samberg did the. He does the quiet one. Bill Hader just, you know, it'd be really nice if, like it was a good show. You know, there's the quiet Lauren and. Right. I don't know. Everyone has their.

[C]

I like to imagine that Lauren. I like to do Lauren when he's like laughing so hard at a sketch or imagining that he really loves her. Oh, my fucking God.

[A]

Oh, no, they didn't.

[C]

Fuck.

[A]

Shit. That is my shit.

[C]

Him really going on.

[A]

Well, that's. To that point Lorne has. He'll be very casual if something hits him and we've never talked about this. He. He goes into almost a convulsion or spasm. He has a laugh from 0 to 10. Puts his head down. We've never talked about. That is a.

[B]

That is a really good observation because he does at.

[A]

Read through.

[B]

If he. If you can make him laugh and slap the desk or something, you're like, holy shit.

[C]

Oh, yeah. And just to be clear, he doesn't say those. That's what I know. I like to put that on him. Yes. But I have seen him a couple of times in 11 years laugh very hard.

[A]

Yeah, yeah. How is he? You know, we were talking with other cast members the other day and Lawrence. Lawrence Keenan. I don't know how these go in order. Whatever. This comes out in 2026 anyway. But Lawrence kind of amazingly, I'LL say sort of brilliant, passive aggressive, intentionally sarcasm to get you to relax. That I'll get you started. Like, it'd be really nice if this sketch would really be funny. That'd be a good thing. You know, those kind of statements which Keenan said relaxed him, you know.

[B]

Huh.

[A]

It either can relax or put pressure. I think initially it put pressure on me when I first got there. Yeah, I was just so fudgeing scared. But eventually I got used to his sense of humor, the dryness of just,

[B]

you know, Dana, sometimes I remember I was behind one of the. You know, where the sketches are. So if you walk in for people at home, behind the sketch is like, nothing. And so I'm just waiting to go in with some goofy outfit on. And Lorem comes around the corner with a.

[A]

They're like 20 seconds.

[B]

And then I'm getting nervous looking at my sides. And then Lauren walks with an Amsdale light, casually, and he goes, you want to try tonight? I'm like. And then he just drifts off and I'm like, am I not trying ever? You know? And then I botched the sketch because now it's in my head.

[A]

Yeah, he has his style.

[C]

I think it's a little. It's kind of Lauren being sassy, I think.

[B]

Yeah, he's very sassy.

[C]

Okay, Lauren. He's got his little dig called sassy.

[B]

Remember, Dana, with Phil Hartman, who Cecily likes.

[C]

Right. You've read it.

[A]

Let's go back a little bit to your house, how Cecily Strong became Cecily Strong. We don't have to spend much time on it, but I thought it was very, very interesting. And you, amongst other people, have mentioned, or at least if this is accurate, Phil Hartman is kind of a true North Star. Will Ferrell did as well, and we all love Phil, and he was brilliant, so.

[C]

Well, I. I also think, listen, I have so many. Like, I. I feel like I've spent a lot of time with you both on the show, like, watching and really enjoy. There's so many people I love, and usually it's just when you say one thing in an interview, then it kind of.

[A]

Yeah, I know.

[C]

But I mean, I'm. I was just a huge fan of the show in general, and I do think, you know, I've played a lot of straight characters on the role, and I think he just is kind of like the. The. Such a great straight man.

[A]

Yeah, he'll play. He'll. He'll take the lead if you need it, or completely play the bass, so to speak. Hold it down. Do you know, you actually reenacted. I mean, did you, like, you had an uncle who was a Broadway producer?

[C]

Yes.

[A]

Your mom and dad were kind of at a certain very young age, kind of saying, cecily, maybe this is for you. Or do I get that right? Like, when did that dream occur to you?

[C]

I think I never, like, for real had the dream, even at the audition, was like, well, I can't. I don't want to say it out loud even. Cause this is so. This just doesn't happen. And I don't want to be disappointed if I got to Audi, you know, that I should be so happy that I got to audition, I got to be here. But I think I was, like, when I was three, I would just perform a lot around the house. And my parents are like, I don't know. And they put me in a drama class. Like, I hope that's it. I hope that scratches that itch and it's not something worse.

[B]

Well, kids like it. Then you keep with it. Like, you know, I think every kid is like, we got into comedy in our house, and everyone just liked comedy. But I agree with you that when you say you're auditioning for something or when I start doing standup, you don't want people to go, how'd it go? And if you don't get it, you're like, ugh. And then they go, oh, right.

[C]

Then it's like a bummer thing when you're like, well, I wanted to be happy about that.

[B]

That was the idea initially.

[A]

Well, the pressure keeps building because it's going toward 50 years. Like, it was enough for me to even imagine I could be on it, but there was only 10 years before me. Now a cast member goes, okay, check out the history of the show before you audition. It's like, months of pouring through so many sketches, but I could not believe that's a very common theme for people of being very humble about auditioning. Like, my God, this is a dream. And. And just some of the darkness of the people who. It went asymmetrical and they didn't get it, you know, and it's something. And then they've gone on and done great. It's not the one lane to go, but for you, it was kind of

[C]

definitely and certainly, like, at the time, I mean, and I'd done theater for a long time before comedy, and I really only got into comedy after college. Not that I like, I. I guess, like, officially study comedy. I don't know.

[A]

So we didn't before.

[C]

I get. You know.

[A]

So you were in Theater all the time. Then you got busted for pot, got arrested. Okay, so you went to jail.

[B]

Your pot dealer says you went to jail. These are wrong.

[A]

A little bit of a rebel in those days, I guess.

[C]

Or, you know, like.

[A]

Or was everyone.

[C]

I think, kind of. Maybe that was just the thing in the year two. I don't know. But I def. I was like a. I wasn't really a bad kid. I really. I like. I got good grades. I liked school. But then I also, like, smoked cigarettes and.

[B]

Whoa.

[C]

You know, But I was like, in with the theater crowd. That's not like the cool kids at school.

[A]

No, not at all. You know, you do smoke a good cigarette, just. But you don't light it. Right. With Cat, Is it with Kathy.

[C]

Yeah. I was a smoker for a long time, so I. But. And that's always the thing I look at when I watch people smoke on camera. So you can tell. I always feel like the people who have never smoked always go like. Like their whole hand and that and that.

[A]

Yeah. And breathe.

[B]

I put all the cigarette and my

[C]

fingers in one like this. Yeah. That's a very straight hand.

[A]

So Kathy Ann is like a redneck, quasi alcoholic or whatever.

[C]

She's just kind of lived hard.

[A]

I. I've seen them in Montana, where I'm from originally, and I go there a lot. I've seen those people. And she's. That sound that looked like a fun character to play.

[C]

So much fun. And I. I do think it's like so many of the people that I just love in real life and love to watch. And actually, it was. I worked at Greenblatts for.

[A]

Right next to the Laugh Factory.

[C]

Right next to the Laugh Factory. And this is when I was smoking and I'd go outside for a cigarette every now and then. And there was, like, a local lady in the neighborhood who would yell on the street a lot. And so she sort of was where it came from. And she said, and it always be like, oh, don't make eye contact because she'll come over here. And it said, like, they tried to give my brother dui. And I said, it's probably your own breath blown back in your face. And she was just that kind of energy, attitude.

[A]

Wow. But a lot of those characters in our neighborhood met that person. And that's such a special specific rhythm.

[C]

Yeah. And I think they are everywhere. I don't think it's like, she's got a bit of an accent, I guess, but I don't think it's like, definitely a Sunday. It's like in Michigan, it's in. It's in a bar everywhere. Every state.

[B]

Bit of a tweaker twist to it. Like you don't know really what you're getting to. And it's a little crazy in the eyes.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

And again, I'd like to think that there's some teeth interaction, you know, like missing a tooth or there's a rotten tooth.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

How would that affect the way the voice interaction.

[A]

Yeah, that would.

[C]

That. That's kind of like. Right. She. She also got, like, a mild speech

[A]

impediment, too, because there's another missing tooth and the tongue kind of wanders in there.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

There's, like a sore back there.

[C]

There's stuff in the mouth.

[B]

Bitter cheek.

[A]

For our theater students that listen to this podcast, they're.

[C]

They're freaking right now.

[A]

Well, just the idea of pretending. Okay. His character is missing a tooth. Yeah, I have. Cecil has beautiful teeth. I'm gonna somehow make that part of the voice that the tooth is missing. Okay. That was for the theater fans. Great. Well, Dana, one last taste of it so people can listen to that. Yeah.

[C]

Well, if you think about. If you try to talk like you have no teeth, you know how that. Sometimes I think it's sort of starting from there.

[A]

It's starting from there. When we did.

[B]

Bye. Bye, she said approximately how many teeth

[C]

does this and how big are they? Does she whiten roughly how big?

[B]

Centimeter wise. Just will help me a little bit.

[A]

We're bouncing around. I love.

[C]

I love we're keeping with teeth. That's good.

[A]

Well, I love that you're willing to kind of explain the. The character rhythmically and the voice thing. It's really interesting to me.

[B]

Well, and that gem who. Benedict Cumberbatch was American, right?

[A]

Benedict Cumber. Cumberbatch slumber party.

[C]

He did like, a Cumberbatch slumber party. He should host that.

[B]

Did he. You say with adults? Is it more fun for him to play American accent and you're taking the Gemma.

[C]

I think that was. I mean, I hope that was fun for him. It sounded like it was at the time. He might have been just doing whatever that week, but I imagine it would

[B]

because, you know, it's probably more fun. Yeah.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

He was cool, right? Fun to work with.

[C]

So much fun.

[A]

I did a guest spot there and just met him. He seemed very earnest and humble and ready to work and hoping he's doing a good job.

[C]

I don't know if you got this vibe at all when you guys were on the show, but if. Sorry, my dog Come on. She's making things up. She's very dramatic. I'm sorry, the focus wasn't on her. She was making things.

[A]

That's saying, what is this person doing

[B]

talking with you on the zoom?

[A]

She's like, that's talking to herself.

[C]

I'm sitting over here. No one's paying attention.

[A]

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[A]

You know, David, people keep asking about my 2026 Resolute resources.

[B]

Yes, they do. I'm one of them. You. I know what you're trying to say. The people keep asking about your 2026 resolutions. And I've got the usual ones. Read more or read at all.

[A]

Hit the gym.

[B]

Hit the gym. Learn how to crochet. Get the knitting needles on.

[A]

Really?

[B]

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[A]

Skiing.

[B]

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[A]

I would really want to get back into running, honestly. For sure. I do a lot of hiking.

[B]

Yeah, they're cushioned right where you need it most. Sweat wicking.

[A]

That's good.

[B]

Is that good?

[A]

Yeah, it keeps the sweat away. Packed with tech that keeps you comfortable and locked in. So comfy socks. It's a great idea.

[B]

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[A]

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[B]

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[C]

I was gonna say, don't you. I feel like a lot of the English hosts or British hosts were sort of so game to kind of nerd out with us and.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Not that American hosts aren't, but I just felt like across the board, kind of every British host we had almost had like a giggly, like little kid just really would be willing to do anything.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yes. I. I find the same thing. There's something about their, their training, their attitude. Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

There's something very potent and kind of

[C]

like silly goofy too, which I thought was a fun thing about Benedict.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Because while he. I guess he does it is kind of a silly name, but it's also a very buttoned up name, I would think.

[B]

Sure. When you, when you meet the host in the Monday meeting, I think that's where you get a vibe. I mean, they are nervous for sure. And you're nervous. I'm nervous because I'm starstruck most of the time. You're right. Or you're new on the show, whatever. You know, you're always starstruck. And they bring in some big names. So I think you get a vibe in a first meeting what they're going to be like. Are they going to be fun or they. Some people just. You pitch them something, they go, sounds great. Anything. And then they're up for anything. And you go, this is going to be fun. And some go, oh, I don't know. They're just tense. You can tell they're tight. And they're like, can you do Russian accent? Oh, I don't. I don't really do accents. Really. And then you're like, okay. And then everyone pitches. When you walk out of there, you go, I got a feel for it. I got a feel for it.

[C]

Yeah. I feel like I'm not as good at that. I think I felt like I didn't quite get to know every host until After a table read. Because sometimes you just guess so wrong.

[B]

You know that's true. They can really come along.

[A]

No.

[C]

Yeah. Or like you've just given them something that's so the wrong thing for them.

[B]

Were you there? Were you there when Trump was on? Because I just heard a story that Pete.

[A]

Oh yeah, baby.

[B]

And he said, is this. They said, Dana dear. This. He goes, first of all, they, that Trump came to read through this. You can corroborate. Maybe I'm getting wrong.

[C]

I know that. Yeah.

[B]

And he said like, I don't really read. I don't really like, like sort of ad lib instead of read sketches. That was part of it.

[A]

And then he said ad lib, like nobody's business.

[B]

He said, let me, I don't have my glasses. And then Lauren said, you can use mine. And he's like. And then there was an end of a sketch maybe at Disneyland where he says, he says, see you later. And then he looks at everyone else and goes, chicken leg, no turkey legs. Like let's, let's go eat turkey legs.

[C]

Let me tell you because it's one of my favorites.

[A]

Oh, let's hear.

[C]

Well, here's. There's a couple things that happened. He didn't bring his reading glasses to the table read and was like, oh, I didn't know what that we were going to be reading or something like that. Yeah, it's kind of like. Well, it's the table read

[A]

with scripts.

[B]

45 scripts.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

And so Ivanka was there. And there was a sketch that Ivanka was in that was set at like medieval times. And at the end of it he goes, told ya. The grammatically was written told ya. Like told you. So to her. He's talking to her period. And then it says turkey leg. Like, would you like to go get a turkey leg? That's how one would read that sentence. But Donald Trump read it as told you turkey legs to Ivanka. Like, like he was calling her turkey legs.

[B]

And then he's funny.

[C]

He looked at us like, okay, weirdos. And it was like, we're not doing. You read it wrong. And then he also in the middle of it, got a phone call and took his call. So we all just waited. I've never seen anyone like do that to Lauren yet, you know. And he went, huh. Oh that's great. Uh huh. My book just went to number one and we all just went, wow. Wow. Had to applaud just the moment. Just the fact that you would interrupt the table read to take your very real call.

[A]

My book just Went to number one. And I know you gotta do some things, but I think I deserve a little bit of applause.

[C]

And then he asked to be put into the Drake, the Hotline Bling skit. The Dad. I think it was like the dad dance or something that I remember his funny little weird dance to be put in that.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

And then the other thing he did was they did a Giving Tree sketch. And Jenna always tells the story. Our stage manager, because he's like, that's not a real book. And she kept saying, what do you mean, that's a book? And he just did not believe that the Giving Tree, as he was in a full tree costume. And I do have a picture from my monitor, my dressing room, from rehearsal of just his face in this tree costume.

[B]

The Giving Tree, just a rumor.

[C]

Did not believe, obviously was not brought up on the Giving Tree.

[A]

I know books. I read a lot of books. I see books. I've heard about books. So I know when there's a book and it's not a book. Excuse me. I know a lot of books. Excuse me, let me finish. I know about books. Let me tell you, no one like him. What Everything's been said about him, but there he's a one off.

[B]

Those table reads are cool. I mean, you can learn a lot. I remember the first Alec Baldwin.

[A]

He was great.

[B]

Like, I didn't know what. You know. You don't know what you're getting into. And sketch after sketch, you start to go, oh, my God, these are pretty much cold. Reads like they've never seen the sketch. And they're walking in, someone's going, hey, mind sketch is number 41. And if you could play it, like, quiet at the beginning, but then you build, and they're like, right. And, you know, they're trying to absorb it all. You don't know what the fuck's going on.

[C]

Right.

[B]

And they're John Goodman, always learning eight songs.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

They're having to sing a song. The hosting is so complicated.

[C]

Yes. And I think they're mainly just kind of in shock. I'd like. I thought of my role as kind of an RA throughout the week, where you're just sort of always being encouraging, like, how do you feel?

[A]

Great.

[C]

That's normal. I think that's normal. And by Saturday, you're gonna be.

[A]

Yeah, it's very funny when. Because they're walking into your turf and they can be kind of nervous. And I I. With a superstar, you know, like a big movie star, and you can tell they're out of their element and you're kind of going, you're doing great. And, you know, just read it off the card. Just read it straight off the card.

[C]

Right. It's like putting it in my head that they need encouragement from me. I'm probably like, wearing a blanket and slippers. My life isn't. I don't have it all together. I'm like, you're doing great.

[A]

I was doing a guest spot, I think, Church Lady Update, because I'd done Fallon. And then Lauren would always say, you'll be doing Church lady on Saturday. Okay, I'll call my travel agent. And then it was Benedict Bunkerbach. I remember afterwards, just at the Good Nights, he goes, was his. It's pretty good. Okay. Right? It's okay. I go, no, it's great.

[B]

Great.

[A]

But funny, me telling you I can't,

[B]

you know, I wonder if anyone's ever gone. It was pretty good. You could have done better.

[C]

I wouldn't. I would.

[B]

I mean, to any host. Would you ever. Even if they're bombing, you're going, you're doing great. You got to keep them upbeat, you know?

[C]

Right.

[B]

Just never go real on them.

[C]

No.

[A]

So can we circle back around how you. Your audition. I just want to know the pro. So you. It's just to jump around a little bit. You went to CalArts for theater, so. So you're studying, you're getting better, you're starting to get funny. And then you go to Chicago.

[C]

I went, yes. So I stayed in LA for like nine months, seven to nine months or something. And I was just kind of like, I don't think this is going to be the way I do this business if I'm going to do it. It was just sort of. I didn't really understand how any of it worked. And business wise, like, couldn't get an eight. It was just. I felt bad as this business can feel sometimes. And so I took a class at the Groundlings, though, and I really liked it. And so I was like, well, I'll move back to Chicago and rent will be a lot cheaper. And every now and then my mom can buy me groceries. And I. And I went to Second City. I started taking classes.

[A]

Second City?

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

What was the vibe difference when you got to Chicago, Louisiana. It just feels more pressure and just weirder.

[B]

Right?

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Chicago is still a Midwestern city.

[C]

Yeah. My family was in Chicago. And yeah. Yeah, I do. I enjoy the Midwest a lot more. It's a lot. A lot chunkier. People who are more friendlier, who are friendlier in public. I don't know.

[A]

Chunky and friendly.

[B]

You have a slight accent, too.

[C]

LA there. Slight accent. Like to eat, like to laugh and drink. You have to because it's so cold. You have to find ways to enjoy life while you can. But.

[A]

And in la, it's just.

[C]

Yeah. And actually, I loved my class at the Groundlings. I really had a good group. But I definitely. I was like, there's just. There's so much more of that kind of. Especially that comedy sketch and improv. This is just like. That's so much of what Chicago is.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

And I took classes at I.O. eventually was doing. I did some shows at the Annoyance. And, you know, then we would do a couple of those shows you buy. You rent out the theater and beg your friends to come for $5 tickets. You may have five audience members that night. Yeah.

[B]

Bring your show. Bring your show.

[A]

And when did you, you know, like how you met people either been at Second City, SNL or coming back to say hello, or then it became sort of in your purview, as they say. SNL is a possibility.

[C]

It still was not. It was like a possibility. But again, like, I wouldn't be so foolish as to say that out loud. It's just such a outlandish, you know, like, that's not going to happen to me. And I knew that they did auditions, but even you had to audition for the audition. But. And I was like, in the box office at IO one night when Sharna was like, you should do this. And I thought, well, I don't know if I'm ready. And I hear. I heard, like, if you audition for Lauren once and he doesn't and you don't get in, he never wants to see you again or something.

[B]

Never again.

[C]

You know, there's all the. I've heard that the things that people pass around and like, you can't get pregnant in a hot tub. You can only audition once. You know, just the info kids pass out.

[B]

You can't get pregnant in audition.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Urban myths or whatever. Yeah.

[C]

And so. But then I took a workshop that was. What was it? Characters and impressions or something. Because I didn't do a lot of impressions and I never really thought of myself as an impression person. But I got. I think I put together six. Six things, you know, but I. And I kept them all short. And I think that's what helped me in the end was because you get a tiny hook. Yes. And you're like, some people. This is very indulgent. And. And everybody's doing similar. You know, there's the old. I forget his Name. Because I'm Sam Elliot. Who was it? You know, the, the old guy with the mustache that everybody.

[B]

Sam Elliott.

[C]

Sam Elliott, yeah. Was like, well, eight of you are gonna do Sam Elliott, so you don't need to do like a three minute monologue.

[B]

Yeah, I like when they say, like, I think this is a good trick. Like Dana. I've learned a lot about impressions from Dana. And people don't realize the longer you do it, the harder it is because you have a few hooks.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

Oh, that sounds like them. But the longer you go, it doesn't. And when sometimes you ask people to ad lib as a character, they go, no, I want. I. I know that's so much harder because you want to write something that includes the hooks. Right.

[C]

And where you. And yes, like your thing in. And your. I know I sound like them here, but I can't say the word chalk.

[A]

So you're going to audition at IO

[C]

or at IO at IO.

[A]

And to your mind, you were in. There was maybe 10 of you or whatever. And so you were strategizing, knowing who was maybe going to come on before you. So you were not redundant. And then who was there? Was it lieutenants, you know, Lauren's minions, basically.

[C]

Well, I know.

[A]

Was Lauren there or them?

[C]

Lauren was there. I think. Lindsay Shook us was there. Aaron Doyle, I think was there. Colin was there.

[B]

Oh, really?

[A]

The whole canon of people who can decide whether you're going to be on

[C]

Saturday Night Live, there was a. Yeah, they were all there. But I mean, I didn't know who anyone was except Lauren, really.

[B]

I get nervous when you just said that. I was like getting nervous going, oh, my God. Walking out, going, here we go. This is all that matters for everything. They'll never see you again. That's true. You think if they did not like you, then why would they see you right away again? They. It takes a long time.

[A]

What did you do? Did you have any methodology for dealing with that pressure or when you got out there, you got a laugh and felt comfortable or what happened?

[C]

Yeah, I think I got laughs. So that's. I mean, really there's really. I don't know what the strategy would even be for that. Sometimes you just have to go, do. Go do it. You know, it's like you don't have

[A]

to realize you're just trying to control your nerves and actually have fun is the. Is the goal. And then how do you try not to try?

[C]

Right. I probably looked like I was trying, but I think they forgive it. But I was also like, I'm comfortable around an audience at this point. This is certain. My family was there, so I imagine if I hadn't gotten any laughs, it would have felt terrible. But luckily that didn't happen.

[B]

It's also your home theater. It's not like at The Daily on 8H. 8H is barren.

[C]

And it's a super friendly audience. Right. And everybody's laughing because, you know, it's like in all of our best interests for anyone to succeed.

[A]

So what was your first. Ladies and gentlemen, Cecily Strong. Do you remember your first bit or your first laugh or first character that you did and. Or an impression or what did you start with? Hello, I think.

[C]

Well, we did this.

[A]

Hard to start sometimes.

[C]

Yes, it was hard to start. I think the biggest was like we did Girl at a Party kind of two weeks in. It was during one of those elections.

[B]

Oh, you came in with that one.

[A]

So I just. So another thing that you do, these long names of characters you're talking about Girl, you wish you hadn't started a conversation with parties. It's kind of the. Which is one of your first big hits.

[C]

Yes, the one that's. Everyone knows how to say the name. I was actually was trying to write an update character with Colin Jost. And I did do for my audition, I did a little boy that I overheard at Mother's Day restaurant in Forest Park, Illinois. But it was my. The intro was half of the.

[B]

Is that the name of it?

[C]

Yeah, yeah. It was like a chubby little boy that I overheard it. That was awesome. See you next Saturday. Something like that

[B]

just that much is funny.

[C]

Yeah. You would get it anymore.

[A]

You see the boy? You see the boy?

[C]

Yeah. You see that little boy Loved his pancakes. So I. I was trying to write something with Colin and I kept sort of being like. And that's, you know, that's a good one because it's important for society or something. And was. We were joking around like that. And I remember Jay Farrow was writing something, but you just heard him yelling the N word in the hallway. And so I think I said and can I say the N word in mine. And so that was Girl at a party's bit too. She was always like a little. Just assumes that she's got the right to do everything too. And I had. I'd like heard a story from a male friend of mine who there was like a girl to bar. And I'd heard a couple, like a couple people in my life were telling me, you know, they'd like seen a cute girl at a bar or something. And then she said something racist or offensive just kind of out of nowhere. And it was like, where did that even come from? Yeah.

[A]

So wait a minute. So you actually use the real word on your audition?

[C]

Oh, no, I've never. No, no.

[A]

Yeah. No, I didn't know. So that this Jay Farrell was screaming.

[C]

He used the real word. I certainly. No, no, I said, can I use the N wor. Which I think. I think we did put that in an early girl at a party.

[A]

Did Jay Farrell and you get the show on the same night or.

[C]

No, he was. I can't remember if he was a year. I think he was two years before me.

[A]

Oh, okay. So he was already in the cast when you auditioned.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

Okay. And he just happened to be screaming in the hallway. I thought it was from nerves that

[C]

he screamed, no, no, no. Jay was. Yeah, got it. Jay is. Yes.

[A]

Yeah. Did you get the show from that audition?

[C]

I. Well, I. So I. We had like speed dating. The next day they asked nine of us to go to the hotel where Lauren and his peeps were. And I. There were like two long tables. So I think I had an awkward conversation with everyone for five minutes. The only thing I remember saying was like, I love. And I love Trader Joe's. You know, cute cucumbers and wine. Yeah. I don't know.

[A]

And they're all just staring. Was anyone laughing in a friendly way or were they just looking at you?

[C]

I. I feel like they were encouraging, but that was.

[B]

Sure they know you're nervous. I'm sure they know. Everyone that walks in that door is like saying, stupid.

[C]

Right, Right.

[A]

It's impossible not to. So you do the audition, you do this little, like, meet up with them, and then what happens? You get a phone call.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

So then I got six months.

[C]

I got another phone call, I think the next day or something that. To fly out for a screen test. And it was an all girls screen test. And AD Was in the ETC show at Second City. And so she got. She got flown out from that too. So ad and I. It was. What was nice was 80. And I really did every step together. So we went to that first screen test. Yeah. And I knew her. I was a fan of hers, honestly, in Chicago. And I was actually. I think I understudied her at that point too, on her role on etc. And so we had a. We did our first screen test in New York and then went home and kind of didn't think about. Oh, no. Then the day I flew back and I got a call driving back from the airport to fly out to New York again, to just sort of sit in the office and talk to them.

[B]

It's Lauren Pickup. Guess who. Guess who hit me on the hip.

[A]

Can you do the person who you don't want to see with. They're trying to converse with you.

[B]

It doesn't have an Uber app, but she does.

[C]

We like the little fat boy, but

[B]

can he be fatter?

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

After the New York screen test, were you starting to think, maybe I'm going to get this? I mean, did you call your parents? Who do you call?

[C]

Yeah, I. I think I definitely called my parents and. And probably only my. My parents would be the one because again, it was like, I don't. I just don't want to say too much and jinx it or. Or make people think that I think I'm going to get this. Yeah.

[A]

Right. But you did check in with them just because they knew you when you were three being friends.

[C]

They'd known me for a while, so. Right.

[A]

But you probably downplayed it. Like, I don't know if I'll did this, this, and this.

[C]

And of course, they probably, at that point, assume you'll get it. I don't know. Maybe they did. I don't know.

[B]

It's pretty far down the road.

[C]

Yeah. It's such a. Right. And especially to go from, like, I'm understudying Second City and touring and like, it's just such a big jump from that to now I'm on TV and even, you know, like, living in Chicago versus New York, work.

[A]

Well, just going in that building, the 30 Rock and seeing 8H for the first time is hallowed ground.

[C]

Right.

[A]

All of it would give you a slight stomachache or something or diarrhea inducing,

[C]

and you have to kind of wait forever, you know, as there was. I don't even know how many people were in that screen test. You can just sort of like, sort of hear people in the hallway and kind of like, I don't know when it's my. I don't know when I'm up.

[A]

It's torture.

[B]

You're there for like eight hours and

[C]

someone just goes, now, those were the longest days of my life.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah, it's. That's scary. There's a waiting thing. Dana and I talk about, like, it's waiting to see Lauren. There's some weird thing about it's always waiting and it just drives you bananas.

[C]

Yeah. And then your anxiety does kind of build up. I'm like, I hope I'm gonna. Can I stand by the time I'M out.

[B]

I think when Lauren gets someone like you on the other side of it, they're thinking, like, you probably see this Now. You've done second, so you've done IO. You've done all these things. It's sort of a safe bet at some point, like you're not just out of nowhere, plucked out of nowhere.

[A]

They.

[B]

They do like to hear about you. I think they need a little buzz maybe for one season. And then they hear your name again. And if they keep hearing it, they go, we got to check her out and it's almost done deal then, you know, at the beginning.

[C]

Yeah. Well, I certainly had. No, I don't. I. There was never. I never thought I was safe. You know what I mean?

[A]

Sure.

[B]

On your end.

[C]

Yeah, right. On my end. And I think, like, I don't know that there was any buzz necessarily, although I'm sure Sharna probably said something, but I think I was a bit out of nowhere. And so I went for two screen tests. So then we went again at the end of the summer and Lauren told me, he said my second one was funnier than the first. And he said that's why he hired me.

[B]

How crazy.

[A]

Reliving it. You almost get more nervous later on.

[B]

Weird.

[A]

I mean, but you look at your. You've prepared yourself for whatever reason. You took all the steps so that it would be a possibility that you would get on Saturday Night Live. So let's move into. Now you're on Saturday Night Live on it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Does anyone telling you anything? Are you sharing an office with AD or what's going on?

[C]

I actually. I shared an office with Joe Kelly, who now does Ted Lasso with Jason. And I think he was there for Jason's last season and he was.

[B]

So

[C]

he really, like, took me under his wing. And he was sort of our social coordinator, too, so we went out a lot. My first first couple years, you know, we'd go out every Wednesday, went to Amsterdam with a bunch of people.

[A]

Restaurant up. Where was it? I think. I'm sure I went there.

[C]

Amsterdam. The. The.

[B]

Yeah. Country.

[C]

Europe. Yes.

[A]

Oh, the real Amsterdam.

[C]

I thought it was.

[A]

I thought we went to Amsterdam's, which was. I thought a restaurant I went to on Amsterdam.

[C]

We had our table in the back of Amsterdam.

[B]

You guys would go to Amsterdam every Wednesday night.

[C]

Every Wednesday night. I swear I'm telling the truth.

[B]

All the way.

[A]

You could take Paul's jazz that. It'll be fine. Just be back for read through.

[B]

They're wild.

[C]

You got to let them.

[A]

So you get on snl and you start traveling the world.

[B]

They're wild.

[C]

Yeah, I. Yeah, I had to. I didn't. I wasn't able to pay my health insurance premium until January, though, so it did. I think it was like my first tax return. That's when I got to go to Amsterdam.

[B]

Ooh. I. I saw that you. At a certain point, you were on Update. How is that. How is that true? And how does that discussion happen? And then you wanted to go back to sketches more.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

It's time consuming, right?

[C]

Yeah, it was. And it was. So I went on. I went on with Seth for a bit, which. And it was really easy then because Seth had been doing it and he had done it with the. With Amy before, so he sort of knew how to do that duo. And then Seth left, and then I knew Colin was coming in, and I think it was just. It was kind of like. It became very clear that this was gonna take a lot of work to sort of figure out what our update would be. And that's when I kind of. It was kind of like, I don't want to put. I don't want that to be my whole thing on the show, to have to, like. I just felt it was gonna take more work than I. That would take away from getting to do sketches. And it's sort of like, I really. I liked being a guest on Update and felt like I had had much more success doing that than being a guest.

[B]

The host is like the straight man.

[C]

Yeah. And I kind of like. I just. I was like, the. It's. It was a cool honor. It was great. And there was a great team writing jokes. It feels like a whole different world at snl, like, the update room versus Sketches. But I certainly was like, I want to be. Be in the sketch world more, and I don't want people to not write me into sketches because of Update. And knowing that it was going to need all this work was sort of. We had a lot of talks about it, and it was like, I just. I would rather go back to just being in the cast then. Like, I think it could have been done maybe if we had. If it were just more. If we had, like, a rhythm already, but we just didn't. It was so new, and it was. You know, when the audience, when they lose someone, it just. Everything takes a bit more work. So it's getting used to not having Seth, and they're kind of like, they don't like you already because you're not Seth. And it was. Yeah, I just was like, I don't want that uphill battle when it already is so tough to sort of figure out your place at that. At that place.

[A]

And we're all the better for it because your range is extraordinary. And so it seems like if it. If Update usurped you and your energy and time, we wouldn't have all these great characters. You're just a natural sketch player, and you're someone who you want on your team. I mean, Lorne must have loved it when he discovered you could play this, you could do this, you could do that. You know, it's great to have somebody with that kind of range in your sketch.

[C]

Well, and I think. Because. Right. I don't know that, you know, now being there for a while, you sort of see how all. How many different types of people do this show and make it work. And you're always like, there's people who. Our standups. And they're. You know, it's just like, not everybody comes from, like, a theater background, so you're only gonna depend on the person.

[B]

You're more valuable probably out there in sketches.

[C]

I definitely think I was more valuable in sketches than at the desk because I'm also. I'm not a standup. And so it was. It was just. Wasn't as natural.

[B]

It's newscaster Y. And it's good jokes. And they have great joke writers. Usually an update.

[C]

Always great joke writers.

[B]

I think I. I think. Dana, is this possible? I was only there six years, but I think I lived through. Doing bits with Dennis on Update, Kevin Nealon, Norm and Colin Quinn.

[A]

Wow. Probably. Yeah.

[B]

Finishing then. Then Kevin had a long run, then Norm, then he got fired, and then Colin. And when I left. Yeah. Wow.

[A]

Crazy.

[B]

And it is hard. And Colin always says they were mad. Norm got fired and sort of took it out on column.

[C]

Yes. Right. That would be hard to step into right after. Right.

[B]

Because it wasn't. Wasn't. It's not Colin's fault. He's great. But you're just following. And they're like, wait, where's Norm? What happened?

[A]

Yeah, that's true. And Colin talked about that he felt he should be sort of Norm, like, in a way, like, yeah, he's very affable and friendly and he wishes he'd been more like that. Anyway, everybody has regrets, but you're the longest running female cast member.

[B]

Just a tenured.

[A]

A fun stat.

[C]

Although I'd like. I do think if someone, like, officially ran the numbers, I.

[A]

Because, like, number of episodes.

[C]

Number of episodes. Because Kate was there like five episodes before AD And I got there and then.

[A]

Right.

[C]

I missed some because of other shows. So I. I felt like I was pretty darn close to AD And Kate. Like, I think we're all leaning at the tape.

[B]

We'll go back.

[A]

I'll call it a wash.

[C]

I would call it a wash and just.

[A]

Yeah, it's essentially around a decade.

[B]

Did you just rip the band aid off and leave? You didn't make it a long goodbye, Right. I think yours is sort of out of the blue.

[C]

Well, it wasn't really, though. It just wasn't a thing. I was like broadcasting to everyone. But when I went back that year, the way I went back when talking to Lauren was like, I would like to leave this year and I think Christmas would be a great time because it's a happier show and I'm going to be so sad to leave. So hopefully that'll be something more on

[B]

the other end of this conversation.

[A]

He gets attached to his cast members.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

Maybe stay till February, I think.

[C]

I think they would. Yes, I'm sure he would have. It was probably like, we don't. We're not going to talk about it and broadcast it because I think there was still a lot of people holding out hope that I would not leave.

[B]

Was it when you. Did you go to Schmigadoon and then come back? Is that what happened in 20, 2020?

[C]

I did smigadoon that fall and got back in December. And then last year I did a play. I did this one woman show in la. So I missed the first. Yes, yes.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

Another long title.

[C]

It was. Right. Exactly. I'm comfortable with filling those shoes.

[A]

Did you hear from Lily at all?

[C]

She came to opening night, which I found out that day. And that was. I think maybe that was even more nerve wracking than having Lauren at that audition.

[A]

And Lauren asked that, yeah, make sure you're there in the opening night, Lily. But don't let her know until like a couple hours before because, like, she works very well under pressure. But you probably scored. I'm sure she was incredibly sweet.

[C]

I would assume she was wonderful. I mean, I think it was. I got to get applause for her at the curtain call, which was really. I was kind of like, can I get through this? Can I say these things? That weeping. But it was very cool having her there. And then unfortunately, Jane Wagner, who wrote the show, didn't get to the show, but we did a. I went and saw her at her house, which was really cool, seeing all her and Lily's. It was like a museum, really. So they have all their Things in

[B]

search of intelligence, search of sign.

[C]

The search for signs of intelligent life in the universe.

[B]

And yet for short, I know people call it is F A, J, J,

[A]

Q, Q, F, R. Yeah.

[C]

Just for short,

[A]

I call it spaceship monologue.

[B]

The space. By the way, I saw.

[A]

I saw. You can't not do Adam Sandler when you say that.

[C]

Yes. I thought you were saying Chicago, which is our second.

[B]

And it looks very involved like that. Is it a hard show? I think you produce maybe also. But is it hard? Because it's first of all very unique, which is so hard to do these days. And then the dancing and the singing and the jokes in the songs. All that stuff has got to be tough.

[C]

Oh, definitely, I think. But there's a lot of outside rehearsals. There was a great. We have a great choreographer and great music team. So it was sort of. It all felt like we were. Once you were shooting, it felt very ready because especially that first season we was such strict Covid rules. So we really were so limited with. With how much time we got with each other.

[A]

So just tell everyone what it is for our, our viewers. Yeah. You and Keegan Michael Key, I love his name. Star together and then. Go ahead.

[C]

Yes. So we play a couple that are. They're sort of a newer couple. They've fallen, they met and have a great thing and then they're sort of at a rut in their relationship and arguing a lot and they. My Melissa just finds a hike for them to sort of. It's like a romance hike or a love building hike.

[B]

Rekindling.

[C]

Yes, a rekindling hike. And they go on it and they're arguing and caught in a rainstorm and somehow they end up in this magical town called Schmigadoon. But they find out it's a musical every day. They've gotten themselves trapped in an old fashioned musical.

[B]

They can't get out and they can't

[C]

get out until they find true love.

[B]

That's a good, really interesting setup and it's really well done. I mean I was watching, going, just knowing a little bit about production being on movies and how hard everything is. Just when I do my basic crummy movies to have this with like so many things happening and so many jokes written and just how it's got to be so tight. Everyone looks great. Very good job.

[C]

I will say the second, the second season there are more looks and worlds covered. So I think it was somehow we had the same amount of time, but I think like 20 more pages or something, so felt a bit more frantic. But we got it. We got it done. And it's. I think it's. Where do you do it in Canada?

[B]

Oh, you do?

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Schmegadoon Canada.

[C]

In Schmigadoon Canada.

[A]

I always like it in the. We watched the first episode. I love when people are going into a surreal environment. That can't be true. But it is.

[C]

Vancouver.

[A]

Yeah. And your character's kind of going, well, let's go with this. And your boyfriend's going, this isn't.

[C]

He's very skeptical. Right. He's not a musical person.

[A]

Yeah. And then just so people know, you'll randomly say something to these people that you don't even know, and then they'll have a well choreographed, brilliant Broadway song.

[C]

They'll just start. Right. And they were such great dancers. I remember there was one. It was like 8 in the morning or something. And this guy just did 16 flips in a row. It's like, wow, what a different morning you and I have had.

[B]

You went on A Tunnel of Love and there's a guy. There's like a bad boy guy standing there and then he sings you. This is probably early on when you don't really know that's what's going on, which is very funny reactions. And then I guess you guys start to get used to the fact that this is where you are.

[C]

Yes. Yes. And right. We stop asking what they're doing every time. Accept it once we figure that out. Yeah.

[A]

That's on Apple TV.

[C]

That's on Apple TV. Plus the new season, which is Chicago, is April 5th.

[A]

If you like Broadway musicals, which everybody does.

[C]

And then I hopefully, I do think first season, I think a lot of people who were not. Do not consider themselves musical people. We had a good amount of people.

[B]

I'm not a musical person. I liked it.

[A]

Well, it's kind of science fiction in a way. Fantasy.

[C]

Hopefully there's like something for. For everybody, I think, having Keegan and I. Let's like a comedy audience in jokes.

[B]

Yeah. That maybe would have jokes in.

[C]

Think that that was a show for them.

[B]

Well, the songs have jokes, so it's not just watching, you know. Yeah.

[A]

It's very original. I would check it out. I would check it out. And you and Keegan are great.

[B]

I see Keegan out a lot. I see him around in the best.

[C]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

Always good mood.

[C]

You can hear him when you're out too. He's. Oh, I feel like when he enters the room, you know, he's there. There's like a. Yeah, he's a big scream. Laugh.

[A]

A lot of fun.

[B]

Energy.

[A]

Could we just touch on as, as we go through your life here, some of your classic. Yes. Sketches. Like, I, I know that you. I just kind of personally, I just

[C]

want to say this is very cool for me. Just want you to know that we've

[B]

been watching you all morning, laughing out loud at your stuff. And that's why me and Dana are going back and forth before we called you, and we were like, did you just see this one? You see this one?

[A]

We're alums, and, and we don't want to make it too grandiose, but it is a seminal experience for us in that place, Lauren. And, and, and being on live TV with your friends, who you make lifelong friendships with. So this is very enjoyable. But I, I, I just kind of thought there was so many great cast members in that decade, and then I personally sort of started to notice you and notice you doing, you know, like, really connecting with the audience, because I think it takes a while for the audience go, oh, we like Cecily.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

Yeah, she, she just made me really laugh. And then it happens and builds. So I just saw that maybe, at least it was for me, those last two or three years, you were just at another level or some other level happened of, of confidence.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

And, and Gina Perino. Yeah. Was like, sorry, but like a heavyweight character. Like a big, loud, bombastic. And that must have been fun just to play that person, that, that Persona is so aggressive.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Yeah, definitely. And I, Tucker and I. Brian Tucker wrote it with me, and he wrote it as a sketch first, just sort of a Fox News thing. But no one really knew who she was at the time, even though we were like, she's a great character. But the first time we did it, I don't think there was a big response. And then we tried it again on Update, and it was sort of. I was excited because it was a way to do a bit of physical comedy, too, because I wanted to. And the first sketch that we wrote, we had her in a chair with a seatbelt. Felt worried that she was going to fly out of her chair. Well, then let me fly out of the chair. That'll be our thing. Yeah.

[B]

You know, she always yells Dana. Because she was yelling for a Cobb salad and they didn't have a cranberries on it. One cranberry, right?

[C]

Yes. That's her volume or something.

[B]

She never went down on volume after that.

[A]

Yes, but yelling at a waiter, it was a big, powerful one. And then I'm always interested when people can do, because I don't know if I had that gear. Play, play. Subtle. Dumb. And I'm just looking at the two porn stars you did with Vanessa Bayer. There's a. Describe those two characters in the rhythm of how you're acting. Dumb, but not dumb. I mean, how do you describe that?

[C]

Yeah, Well, I think my porn star was always a little bit more out of it than Vanessa's and sort of. But it was kind of. That's how the pair worked. And I think mine's just. I remember seeing. I think it was like a Tyra Banks or something early on. And she had a porn star on. I forget who it was, but she was so like. Yeah. And I'm happy doing that. And it's just her. The way she was speaking was. I was like, oh, I want to do that. And I think it was also just a way to writing with Colin Jost. We like to do a lot of malapropism. And so it was. Which we do a girl at a party and then we wound up doing important. You know, it's like an excuse for a lot of bad puns too, honestly.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Right. But it's fun when you land a hard laugh with something that's so soft spoken.

[C]

I think that was like even more than girl at a party. I think that was the most. I felt the best after that first year. You know, I think it was Jamie Foxx's episode. I think that's what it was. And it was my first year and we were the last sketch and I think. And Lauren gave us. You know, it was that it was still more cushioned when you're in that last spot and you can kind of. I just. The audience went so wild for it. And it was so much fun to have that reaction for the first time

[B]

at 10 to 1.

[C]

Yes. Yeah. And kind of be like a little dirty. And it was just. It was really fun.

[A]

Cause you had a series of lines. The one I saw today was this morning was I got banged. And then something really. You're both doing it so obviously casual and so soft spoken. But anyway, so I'm glad to hear that. That would be something for me. It was doing Johnny Carson. Cause I didn't really. I wasn't thinking about whether the audience was gonna laugh. Cause I knew what I was saying was almost too funny. At least to me internally. So I felt like you had that connection with that character where it's just like all thrown away and really soft spoken. But super funny.

[C]

Yes. I think that's sort of how. With all of it too. We Just. We kept saying, like, how can we. We just wanted a framework to be able to say these awful things. And we were like, oh, they're. They were porn stars, but they're not anymore. And then, then we. It was like. And we had a lot of fun running gags like, I never got a name. It was always like, how do we do that this time? How can we skirt around me saying a name?

[A]

Like, can you give me an example of that?

[C]

Like, she'd say, we're not porn stars anymore. I'm brekkie. And I'd go, and this is brekkie. Or she said, I'm brecky. And I said, and you can too.

[A]

Yeah, it's your non sequitur. Weird.

[C]

Yes, that. Really, I'm not. I'm not always paying attention. That gal at every moment.

[B]

They may have done drugs.

[C]

They may have done drugs. Yeah, you kind of hope that they did.

[B]

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[A]

Yes, yes.

[B]

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[A]

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[B]

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[C]

or preservatives and 30 grams of protein.

[B]

You can find it in the frozen aisle. Marie Callender's what having it all tastes like. There was just a. I thought it was very cute when you and Kristen did. It's such a weird thing. You're on a date with the 10

[C]

year old kids, but you guys just

[B]

carry the whole thing and you're so, so keeping live and funny and just sort of odd. But very likable girls.

[C]

Yeah, I think when I think I wrote it with Mike o' Brien and it was like we just wanted to really write the best date that someone could. You know, there's something that felt really good and it was like, and then it just happened to be 10 year olds but they really felt like this is a really, a date. That's good.

[B]

I know the way you played it was, that's just, just fun to watch because I obviously, you know, you start these, you don't know where it's going and if you're in comedy, you don't know what's and it just, it's fun to watch these things unfold. And then you guys just seeing two pros just being very funny on their

[C]

side of it like and having like Tim and Bobby. Yeah, it was a lot of giggling.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I'm sure that just looks like a super fun rehearsal also.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

And you and Bobby Moynihan, you and he did the best by firing. That must have been kind of fun because it was just so loud and and you were supposed to be getting fired so you just deconstructed every other employee.

[C]

Right, Right. They're going out. They're going out with a bang. And it was, that was the first show I'd gotten a sketch on and I got that on and girlfriends on and it was so great because Bobby had been there for a while and sort of like I really trusted whatever if he's saying this is good then I trust that it's really like I hadn't quite yelled at the table yet. Yet before. This is my first Time yelling at definitely.

[B]

This happened to me twice. Not as much as Dana, but to either write something or co. Write something. And when you. You originally get a big one on, it's so much of your focus to have two on is almost throws you. Yeah, that's too much.

[C]

Yes, yes. It was, it was crazy that they both. I was sort of like, how does that, how will that work?

[B]

Because you have to oversee him direct. Like there's so much to do with them and go to wardrobe and costumes and set design and help with every aspect. You're like, oh my God, just gimme one. Let me just see if I can figure one out.

[C]

Right. And you're like, is this gonna work? It's my, you know, wanting to make sure everything is like you've thought. Right. You've thought through everything. For that. For the first one.

[A]

But then after was the other one girlfriend's talk show. Sorry.

[C]

Was the other one girlfriend's talk show.

[A]

Talk show with 80. So there's your bandmate from.

[B]

There's your 80. Yep.

[A]

So you have a comfort zone with her.

[C]

Yeah, I really, I did a lot of two handers for a long time over there, which I really loved.

[A]

Two handers meaning duos.

[C]

Yeah, yeah. Where you know, me and Bobby or Vanessa and I. 80 and I. Yeah.

[B]

Kate and I. Wayne's World was a two hander.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

Hans and Franz. I'm gonna say two hander.

[B]

Yeah, exactly.

[C]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

You know, but yeah, I think it's. It's fun. It's a, it's a very clean, simple thing. You're. You're playing a rhythm with your other person and it's just nice.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Also for getting laughs off a straight part was you and Bill Hader when he hosted and you're going to play Uno with your friends.

[C]

Oh yeah. Well, that one we were. I wrote a lot with James Anderson and Kent Sublet and I was like, we just have to like. What I know of Bill is like we just have to give him a big toy.

[B]

Really.

[C]

So it's like give him a big motorized wheelchair

[B]

and then you climb on him. I didn't see that coming. No, you have the courtesy of courtesy blanket. So it's not like. And she goes, sex is sexual.

[C]

Right. It's not a sexual thing. It's science.

[B]

And she has no. Sex is sexual.

[C]

And it's sort of, you know, this awful. Trying to make your friends feel bad. Like, you know how much I want a baby.

[B]

Yeah. It was all good.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Try not to laugh. Of course. Because he's Banging to everything. Driving his fucking screen.

[C]

Right. And there's no, you know, we still only get however many rehearsals. And then. So it is. It's so we don't know how many

[B]

of it's backing up. You don't even know who's gonna hit a table or you guys are gonna get your leg broken or.

[C]

Yes. And I think like the controlled chaos was sort of. That became my. My favorite part of the show. You know, it's like the one. The thing that sets us apart from everything else is having it live and not perfect. Yeah, yeah. So. And it was sort of like throw in a dog, throw in some wine that you're throwing or some, you know, just there's. Then you have chaos that you're kind of like, I don't quite know what's going to happen.

[A]

So then it keeps the audience senses that having fun.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

They want it for sure.

[A]

I had a dog with a massive head wound. Hair, of course.

[C]

Right.

[A]

You know, but that was.

[B]

I was just Won an Emmy.

[A]

The notes after dress was the dog is pushing a little. Could we get the dog? Like not like. Like find the leads.

[B]

The dogs hosting during February sweeps with Jay Z.

[A]

So you do 10 years. You go through all these different cast members coming and going when you first came in, who. Who was there and who left pretty shortly after that. Or. Or were you.

[C]

We wound up being a. We had a pretty. We had a core cast for a long time together.

[A]

It came in.

[C]

Yeah. So I was. When I. It was Bill and Jason and Fred's last year when I got there.

[A]

You caught them for one year.

[C]

Yeah, so I got one year with them.

[B]

Solid. Yeah.

[C]

Which was so exciting, you know, to have those people around when you're first there is really exciting. And then Bobby, Taryn, Jay, Vanessa, they were sort of the next. And Naseem were all sort of the next upperclassmen. And then AD, Kate and I and Beck and Kyle. We were sort of. We were there for a long time together.

[A]

Yeah. You did have a nice long run together. Kyle Mooney, Beck Bennett, Kate, of course you. Yeah. Like a re. The show keeps.

[C]

And Kenani. Yes.

[A]

And Kenan Thompson, just the perennial cast member. It was just always.

[B]

When you leave Keenan, it's always funny. Funny. A weird feeling when the shows are still on.

[C]

It's definitely weird. It feels like it was much longer. It feels like a much, much more time has passed since I've been there. But I also. I think one of. I. I know A.D. and Kate and a couple other people I've talked to and even Kristen, I talked to her when she first hosted. It was kind of like, you can't. I haven't been watching. I think you have to kind of walk away for a while to be able to leave.

[B]

So it's very weird to watch it

[A]

after there's people doing your job. Yeah, it's weird.

[C]

And I think all the anxiety I feel like, would just come back right away and I would. I just don't. I think it's. I'm good where I am with this distance.

[B]

Hey, you did a good run. I mean, my God.

[A]

Yeah, it's. It's pretty comprehensive. Do you feel. I don't know, you probably feel so many things, but somewhere you must feel a nice level of satisfaction. You lived your dream.

[C]

Totally.

[A]

And you.

[C]

Yes. And I got to leave, like, happy, which I know is. Doesn't always happen.

[A]

No.

[C]

I mean, there's.

[A]

Heard of those stories.

[C]

Yeah. And I, you know, there's. I had a tough couple years, like everybody does, and so it was really nice to get to leave that way.

[A]

Yeah. Going out with a bang. And now you have schmigadoon. Is that Schmigadoon?

[C]

I think that's.

[B]

You also may not know this. You're in a phone commercial. Commercial.

[C]

That's right. Yes.

[B]

You wouldn't know that.

[C]

You might. I don't know if you've seen it.

[B]

I don't know. You can find it on YouTube, though. Yeah, you have to go to YouTube.

[A]

I'm a big fan of tech commercials and phone, you know, potato chips and tacos is harder. Although I'm for sale at this point. I will. I will bite a taco.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

But when you're doing phone companies or that sort of Apple commercial or whatever, that's sort of nice. I mean, I think the commercial.

[C]

Very nice.

[A]

You look great, and it's just sweet and it's kind of smart. So, yeah, I'm a big fan of doing commercials. As soon as you come off snl, come off.

[C]

Great gig.

[B]

I. Yeah, it's a great gig. And then you got. I think. Who was in it? Seth was in the one.

[C]

Seth has been. Yeah. Jessica Williams just did one. So they've been.

[A]

You were not supposed to do commercials when you came off there. Right. In the 90s. You were not supposed to do commercial. So that. I'm not envious. I don't hate the people who do the math. I live through them and I root for you guys. But, yeah, do the commercials.

[C]

I know it was like a new thing that we got to do a commercial. During our time on the show, that was always like such a. No, no. But I think it is, however, a couple years.

[B]

Yeah, I got shot down on that. I have to tell her. I have to tell her one thing before you get your last word. Dana. Born in Springfield, Springfield, Illinois. My daughter lives in Springfield and growing up in Springfield. So I'm saying there's hope for her to come out like Cecily, because you did it and. And you. And you liked it. You were there for a while.

[C]

I did move pretty quickly, actually. I was a year and a half when we moved to Oak park, which is right outside of Chicago.

[A]

What are your recollections?

[B]

What was the mall like when you were there at one.

[C]

But I'm sure it's what made me who I am.

[A]

Them.

[B]

Do you go back or no, you just.

[C]

Springfield.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

No, not to spring.

[B]

She's like, I did go back.

[C]

I went back once. I. It's a. It's far away from Chicago, but I went. I. It was when Barack Obama announced Joe Biden as his running mate. It was in Springfield and a couple friends and I joked.

[B]

He did it at the J. Crew at the mall there.

[C]

The J.

[A]

Crew.

[C]

Yeah. I got an autograph.

[A]

So you have a memoir out. This Will All Be over soon, which I love the title, written during the pandemic and that's available on.

[C]

Wherever you can find all the book places.

[A]

Yeah, book places. So I. I'm just so. I don't know. I'm just so thrilled that we. When they said Cecily's in, it made me very happy. Oh, yeah.

[C]

It's like. I think it's like a rite of passage to. To get to talk to you guys and. And you are both some of the best to have ever done it. And it's. You're doing well on the other side.

[B]

Very nice.

[A]

I love funny people. And we did ask Keenan about, which just as a kind of a pithy question, like, oh, who's the greatest? We all have to make a name up or whatever. You know, rank things. And he had. Gave the best answer. He just said spontaneously, the women. Oh, that's all the women. Because the amount.

[C]

Freaking doll.

[A]

He is adorable. He's like, you want to adopt him.

[B]

Smart guy, too.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

The amount of women. And you're in that continuum between Amy and. I'll forget the names. Too many. Sherry o' Terry and Maya. Maya, Molly, Kristen, Amy.

[C]

Right, right, right.

[A]

Yeah. So many women who've done such brilliant work on that show in recent history. But we fancy ourselves. It sounds high Flute A slight, casual, funny oral history of cast members interviewing cast members. We know where the grease paint is stored, so this has been a pleasure. David, do you have any final statement?

[B]

No, I like it. You get to talk about snl, not bore everyone. Because at certain times, you just start talking about it and you're like, all right, well, forget it. I should stop. But it's fun to talk about because it's on your mind. Mind. It'll be on longer than you think. You just keep

[A]

from Saturday Night Live. And the great thing about the way the world works now with live streaming, all these venues, you're just gonna work. You're gonna do whatever you want to do in show business for decades now, but you'll always be from Saturday Night Live.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

You know, which. It's a great legacy.

[C]

It's right. Everybody's. It's not. Yeah.

[B]

Could be way worse. It's great to have. I mean, yeah, you. Everything sort of comes from there and, you know, came from improv places when

[A]

you can do live sketch comedy and do it with. With joy and. And. And do it with. As an expert, everything else that you can do.

[C]

It's kind of.

[A]

You know, it's like.

[C]

I feel like the greatest thing since leaving has been, like, seeing that people maybe see me now the way I. I saw Amy and Tina and Maya and Kristen walking in. And that was, I think, like, that's just a great thing to have in my pocket for a bad day. Like, I'm. I'm amongst those names, and that's.

[A]

You are a thousand percent amongst. And the. Everyone loves it at a certain age, one of Lauren Isms, you know, whoever's 14 at the time, but you've. You've got your. Your cast, your primary cast and your people and those fans are so connected you forever, which is very sweet. You know, they're 14 now, but you'll run into them later and they'll be so. So it's such an honor to be on that show and to be humble about it and just be grateful we're on the wall. We get to do this.

[B]

Yeah. We got to do a fun job for a long time.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. So anyway, we're gonna get started in a minute. We're just gonna take a break, but we like to do pre interviews.

[B]

As long as I think we got a good show here.

[A]

We do.

[C]

We know what we're going to talk about now.

[A]

Thank you very much. I like to say we're going to see you around campus in show business and for sure at the 50th.

[C]

Yes. Right.

[A]

You know, so that'll be exciting. I hope I get to do something with you.

[C]

I know.

[A]

Do something.

[C]

I would love that.

[A]

We'll put you in Wayne's.

[C]

We got to start thinking about I. Yes, please. That's one of the first movies I think I, like, had memory. Like. Like, that's probably. I have the most memorized of mo of all movies.

[A]

Oh. I like to play. I'm sorry. Trying to think one line.

[C]

And I think I did, like, you bought me, of course, a gun rack. And I'm like, what am I gonna do with a gun? I don't even own Ag Gun.

[B]

Ag gun.

[A]

All of it.

[C]

Great movies.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Surreal. But anyway, best of luck to you. I'm gonna be watching your show with my sister who's visiting tonight,

[C]

and the new one is April 5th, so.

[A]

And it comes out April 5th for the next season.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

All right.

[B]

Hey, guys, if you're loving this podcast, which you are, be sure to click follow on your favorite podcast app. Give us review 5 star rating, and maybe you can share an episode that you've loved a friend.

[A]

If you're watching this episode on YouTube, please subscribe. We're on video now.

[B]

Fly on the Wall is presented by Odyssey, an executive produced by Danny Carvey and David Spade, Heather Santoro and Greg Holtzman, Maddie Sprung Kaiser and Leah Reese Dennis of Odyssey.

[A]

Our senior producer is Greg Holtzman, and the show is produced and edited by

[B]

Phil Sweet tech booking by Cultivated Entertainment.

[A]

Special thanks to Patrick Fogarty, Evan Cox, Maura Curran, Melissa Wester, Hillary Schuff, Eric Donnelly, Colin Gaynor, Sean Cherry, Kirk Courtney, and Lauren Vieira.

[B]

Reach out with us. Any questions be asked and answered on the show, you can email [e-mail] that's a U-A C-Y dot com.