"Kate McKinnon"

Summary

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SmartLess Podcast Episode Summary: "Kate McKinnon"

Release Date: September 15, 2025
Hosts: Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett
Guest: Kate McKinnon

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Overview

In this lively and heartfelt episode, the SmartLess crew welcomes comedic powerhouse Kate McKinnon. The conversation traverses her journey from a quirky kid growing up on Long Island to her rise as an SNL legend and now a published author. With signature warmth and improv, the hosts tease out the roots of Kate's comedy, her experiences with fame, her new venture into writing, and her surprisingly hands-on passion for carpentry. Fans of honest, off-the-cuff storytelling and genuine laughter are in for a treat.

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Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Early Comedy Roots and Family Influences

[14:33 - 17:10]

• Kate reveals her childhood in a Long Island family where “everyone was doing voices, you had to do voices, or you got kicked out.”
• First big ‘laugh moment’ came while playing Cyrus in a church pageant — in a British accent, no less.
  • “I just always liked to do different voices other than my own because my own… you’re hearing it, it’s like...”
• Discusses the quirky, humorous environment of her North Shore, Nassau County upbringing.
• Notably, her grandfather was Joey Buttafuoco’s auto mechanic, so the Long Island Amy Fisher saga felt close to home.

Quote:

“There were always… everyone was doing voices. You had to or you got kicked out.”
— Kate McKinnon [16:35]

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2. Path to Performing: College, Sketch Comedy, & SNL

[22:06 - 32:44]

• Kate attended Columbia University, majoring in theater but never imagined comedy as a viable career.
  • “Never did I ever, ever think that was possible.” [29:01]
• Her professional ‘plan’ post-college involved selling popsicles as Pippi Longstocking in Union Square or teaching English in Romania.
• Landed first job via open call for the Big Gay Sketch Show on Logo, followed by years performing at UCB (Upright Citizens Brigade), mainly solo shows involving “45 or so wigs that were gross and had chicken juice in them.”
• Auditioned for SNL after a showcase in LA, at the invitation of SNL staff. Bobby Moynihan's encouragement helped her through pre-audition nerves.

Quote:

“I was 22. And I thought, well, this’ll be easy… and then I learned it became clear that it was a difficult career.”
— Kate McKinnon [23:16]

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3. SNL Experience: Joys, Challenges, and What Came Next

[32:44 - 36:47]

• Kate describes her years at SNL as both “always hard and always fun.”
• She doggedly rehearsed for her SNL audition (“must have said that out loud 50,000 times”) but generally prefers to wing it.
• Deep affection for the SNL crew, especially stage managers and cue card team, admitting “I cannot memorize dialogue...I forget. I can’t remember stuff anymore.”
• Leaving SNL was emotionally tough:

  “I just, I hate, I hate goodbyes. I hate change. And so it was not a decision made lightly and I was just so sad…” [35:32]

• Post-SNL, she relishes simple pleasures: earlier bedtimes and focusing on new creative outlets.

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4. Identity, Visibility, & Navigating Fame

[40:35 - 42:27]

• Will asks directly about her coming out timeline; Kate clarifies she was already openly gay before SNL, thanks to early Internet visibility through the Big Gay Sketch Show.
• Reminisces about presenting Ellen DeGeneres with an award, with Beyoncé at her table (“The shoulders [of her dress] were so tall...it was so resplendent. I couldn’t look at her”).
  • [42:23]

Quote:

“I am a coward. And I don’t know if I would have had the courage to do it if I had not already done it.”
— Kate McKinnon [41:17]

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5. Writing and New Creative Outlets

[46:00 - 51:46]

• Kate introduces her new middle-grade book series, Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science.
  • The second book, The Secrets of the Purple Pearl, sees girls at a mad science etiquette school embarking on adventure.
  • Fascinated by “funny names, big hair, and funny voice” as essentials to her character creation.
• She distinguishes between YA and middle-grade fiction:

  “YA is like monsters and making out… middle grade is fantasy, it’s discovering your identity, it’s grappling with questions of… Who are you? What are you for?” [50:57]

• Collaborated closely with illustrator Alfredo Cáceres:

  “I described and he created.” [52:19]

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6. Passion for Carpentry and Daily Life

[46:15 - 47:46; 53:06 - 54:48]

• Kate shares her serious hobby: “Carpentry. I always said...I would make cabinets.”
• Built a workshop in her garage, sources materials from Lowe’s, and enjoys making cabinets, molding, and paneling.
• Enjoys cooking daily (“three times a day”) and gardening, often making fresh vegetable dishes.

Quote:

“So when I left SNL, I needed to know that I was jumping to something which was making cabinets. And that’s what I have done in my spare time.”
— Kate McKinnon [47:26]

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7. The Classic SmartLess Banter & “Tri-State” In-Jokes

Scattered throughout episode

• Friendly ribbing about New York traffic, bridges (Kosciuszko, Triborough, Whitestone vs. Throgs Neck), Long Island, and upstate living.
• Running gag about Jason’s and Will’s fake “impressions,” Sean’s bag of audition wigs, and the hosts’ upcoming projects.
• Multiple callbacks to real and imaginary New York commutes.
• “You know how to coax a laugh. You’re the best.” — Jason Bateman [55:30]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On being funny for the first time:

  “I was playing Cyrus, King of Persia… I decided to do it in a British accent to make myself feel more comfortable. And those Methodists, they got a kick out of that.”
  Kate McKinnon [15:16]

• On solo sketch shows and props:

  “I would stop at the Gristide’s… buy a cake and a full rotisserie chicken… lugging a lot of props and wigs. I had amassed a collection of 45 or so wigs that were gross and had chicken juice in them.”
  Kate McKinnon [24:25]

• On SNL audition nerves:

  “I was horrifically nervous… I was going to the restroom often… But then Bobby Moynihan… said, ‘Hey, you’re funny.’ And then I could breathe.”
  Kate McKinnon [29:28]

• On honest career plans:

  “My plan was that I was going to dress up as Pippi Longstocking and sell popsicles in Union Square…”
  Kate McKinnon [28:08]

• On what she’d do if not famous:

  “Carpentry… Always said I would make cabinets… and now I have made a cabinet. Yes, I have.”
  Kate McKinnon [46:15]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Kate Joins the Show / Introduction – 09:20
• First Big Laugh, Family Influence – 14:33–17:10
• Sketch Comedy Origins, Big Gay Sketch Show, UCB – 22:06–25:16
• Will's Failed In Living Color Audition Story – 25:16–26:08
• SNL Audition, Bobby Moynihan’s Pep Talk – 29:28–30:08
• Leaving SNL & Next Steps – 35:32–36:47
• Coming Out and Ellen Tribute/Kate’s Visibility – 40:44–42:27
• Carpentry Passion – 46:15–47:46
• New Book: Millicent Quibb Series/Purple Pearl – 48:31–51:46
• Daily Life, Cooking, Gardening – 53:06–54:48
• Rapid-fire Banter, Farewells – 55:14–57:02

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Tone and Atmosphere

Throughout, the tone is playful, generous, and occasionally absurd. The hosts and guest are unscripted and supportive; the in-jokes about NYC, fake beard auditions, and “deep dulcet tones” layer in a warm, familiar camaraderie.

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Summary Verdict

This episode delivers an affectionate, open, and insightful look at Kate McKinnon’s life and art. It reaffirms her as both an inventive performer and a thoughtful, down-to-earth creative. Whether discussing childhood, SNL, woodworking, or the value of a well-timed laugh, Kate charms with humility and wisdom.

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Listen to this episode for:

• The real inside scoop on breaking into and surviving SNL
• Kate’s love of “voices, wigs, and chicken juice”
• Advice for creative reinvention (plus, you just might learn which New York bridge reigns supreme)
• All the loving chaos and wit that make SmartLess a must-listen

Transcript

[Will Arnett]

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[Jason Bateman]

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[Sean Hayes]

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[Jason Bateman]

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[Will Arnett]

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[Sean Hayes]

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[Will Arnett]

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[Jason Bateman]

Birds get the bag.

[Sean Hayes]

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[Jason Bateman]

Don't hit the sack, hit the drive thru.

[Sean Hayes]

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[Will Arnett]

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[Sean Hayes]

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[Will Arnett]

Hey, you guys, now is like the perfect time for me to do some vocal warmups because nobody's around, so. Pingy, pingy, pingy, pingy, pingy.

[Sean Hayes]

Popcorn.

[Jason Bateman]

Peanuts.

[Will Arnett]

Get them if you want them. Hey, I got some Twizzlers over here.

[Jason Bateman]

And I got a little payday if.

[Will Arnett]

You want a payday.

[Sean Hayes]

Hey.

[Kate McKinnon]

Woo.

[Sean Hayes]

Welcome to Smart Less.

[Jason Bateman]

Smart Less. Smart Less. Smart Less.

[Sean Hayes]

Let me tell you something. This is why we don't have a video component on this show. What's going on today? On top of my head.

[Jason Bateman]

Don't you dare. It looks. You look gorgeous.

[Sean Hayes]

See, I'd have to.

[Jason Bateman]

You know who you look like? You look like the star of that very successful new streaming show called Black Rabbit that we all love.

[Sean Hayes]

That show's amazing.

[Jason Bateman]

You look like the star of Black Rabbit. Black Rabbit. Streaming now on Netflix. Netflix?

[Will Arnett]

Wait, it's not out yet, is it?

[Jason Bateman]

Well, no. By the time this airs.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

What's the date, Jamie?

[Will Arnett]

When does it come out, Jay?

[Sean Hayes]

September 18th.

[Will Arnett]

Wait, Jason, that's Really exciting. It's only good.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, my God, the show is gonna be so good.

[Sean Hayes]

It's gonna be. We don't need to talk about that. We don't need to talk about.

[Will Arnett]

That's exciting.

[Sean Hayes]

I do think it's enough with the London thing and the Long island thing, Los Angeles. And me. My heart, my mind, my eyes, my ears. My chest misses the feeling of your chest against it.

[Will Arnett]

I know.

[Sean Hayes]

Please come.

[Jason Bateman]

Did you. Were you at dinner last night? I was gonna. I was gonna FaceTime. You were. Did you go?

[Sean Hayes]

No, there was no. There was no Sunday fun day.

[Jason Bateman]

I was gonna FaceTime you out of the blue because I know you love it.

[Will Arnett]

When's the last time there was a Sunday fun day?

[Sean Hayes]

Two Sundays ago. Weeks ago, maybe three weeks ago, man. Because we were.

[Will Arnett]

I do work that a lot.

[Jason Bateman]

Hot fudge Fun day.

[Sean Hayes]

Well, one more time. Still rolling?

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah. Fudge fun day.

[Sean Hayes]

Hot fudge fun. Oh, you did say it right, because.

[Will Arnett]

You would have a hot fudge there.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah. Oh, you put it together. Hey, thanks. Yes.

[Sean Hayes]

But you brought your own fudge, isn't that correct?

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, yeah.

[Will Arnett]

Well, around the corner. That's where it's made.

[Sean Hayes]

I mean, that's a. That's a. Sean, remember I brought my.

[Jason Bateman]

Own fudge to my birthday party?

[Sean Hayes]

You did. Bless your heart.

[Will Arnett]

Yes.

[Jason Bateman]

You were out of town. No, I brought.

[Will Arnett]

You brought your caramel toppings.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, brought my own caramel to my. To my birthday party. Because we went to this place and they. They were like, oh, they don't have the full arsenal of Sunday toppings on Sunday nights. Whatever.

[Will Arnett]

That was nice.

[Jason Bateman]

But luckily our friend Sean organized it very sweetly. Jb, you were in Atlanta and. No. And then I show up with my. I had it in my pocket, and I did it a little bit for effect because I knew I was going to get for it. I pull it out. Sean, actually, you didn't really give me. You kind of laughed. Kimmel gave me a lot of. And then sure as when the ice cream came out, everybody said, hey, could you pass?

[Will Arnett]

Could you pass caramel sauce?

[Jason Bateman]

Kimmel was first.

[Will Arnett]

Was it caramel sauce?

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, it was caramel sauce. And I was like, oh, do you want some now, camel?

[Sean Hayes]

You know, Wait, Sean, how do you say that word, caramel? I say caramel. Caramel ice cream or caramel swirl. Right. I mean, I. I kind of toggle between the two.

[Jason Bateman]

How's it spelled? How many A's are in there?

[Will Arnett]

Spelt. Spelt. Spelt.

[Sean Hayes]

C, A spelled A, M, L. There's two A's, right?

[Jason Bateman]

I Said spelled. I said spelled.

[Will Arnett]

You said spelt.

[Jason Bateman]

I didn't. I meant I. It came out as that. I meant Sean.

[Sean Hayes]

I know this guy.

[Jason Bateman]

Please. It's from the guy who says caramel. Are you joking?

[Sean Hayes]

He's still. I still can't believe he was shocked that Beatles.

[Jason Bateman]

What are you saying? That is you're getting thrown out of a moving car. Put caramel on.

[Sean Hayes]

Wait.

[Will Arnett]

I have a crazy story.

[Sean Hayes]

I'd love a new dad joke.

[Will Arnett]

Or we could save it.

[Sean Hayes]

I've worn out my. My haze. Can.

[Will Arnett]

I can do a lot. I have lots of dad jokes ready.

[Sean Hayes]

Okay, hurry up because our guest is probably falling asleep.

[Will Arnett]

All right, you want a long story or a short dad joke?

[Jason Bateman]

Short dad joke.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

Amal and Juan are identical twins and their mom only carries one photo in her wallet because if you've seen one, you've seen.

[Sean Hayes]

Boy, that's a. That's a long way to go for.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

I laughed out loud when I heard that.

[Sean Hayes]

Uh huh. All right, all right, we're gonna get to our guests, but real first I just wanna say, you know, saw Will's film second time you did. I'm still.

[Will Arnett]

I can't wait to see it.

[Sean Hayes]

Little fucking starstruck. When I'm looking at this guy now, he's kind of ruined things. It's kind of like when I saw you doing your Tony Award winning play that you're now doing in London. It's you guys. You guys, you've got real talent. You know, you really dumb it down on this show, but you both have a little something special in there.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, y.

[Sean Hayes]

You pick.

[Jason Bateman]

Ouch. Boy, that compliment hurts.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, I like to like to balance it out, but me Arnett, it's. Listen, listener. It's called. Is this thing on triple dot? Some people say ellipses, but it's a. It's a great film. It's coming your way, I think towards the end of the year.

[Will Arnett]

Wait, so Black Rabbit comes out in September. Is this thing on? Comes out in November.

[Jason Bateman]

December.

[Will Arnett]

It's like, oh, December, December. This is like a big deal.

[Sean Hayes]

But if you're at the New York Film Festival, you can see it there in October.

[Jason Bateman]

That's true. That's true. Well, thank you, thank you, thank you. And. And if you're in London right now still, even now, if you're in London, you can go to Delacorte at the Delacorte Theater. You can go.

[Sean Hayes]

How about Oscar at the chimney Chimichurri sauce Barbican.

[Jason Bateman]

What about Oscar?

[Sean Hayes]

What about that?

[Jason Bateman]

What about Oscar? What about Oscar?

[Will Arnett]

Oh, God.

[Sean Hayes]

It's called. What is it called? Leave it, Toskar.

[Jason Bateman]

Leave it. Here comes Oscar. Hey, what do you know about Oscar? Leave it. Leave it to Oscar.

[Sean Hayes]

All right, listen to me, guys, guys.

[Jason Bateman]

Quick, quick reminder before the guest, I just want to say tickets go on sale Friday, September 12th, for our Hollywood bowl night that we're doing right now.

[Sean Hayes]

Very excited about that.

[Jason Bateman]

Very, very excited. Saturday, November 15th, right?

[Will Arnett]

Is our show date Saturday, November 15th? Yeah. It's going to be incredible.

[Sean Hayes]

Come, come enjoy the chat and giggle under. In a very refined setting there in the hills of Los Angeles. There won't be any fireworks, but. Except on stage, huh, guys?

[Jason Bateman]

There'll be a lot of fireworks.

[Sean Hayes]

All right, let's get into the show, please.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

For your listening pleasure today we have for you a woman with a real handle on how to make you laugh. But she's not a joke teller. She's an actor of the highest level. Her ability to play characters that are so odd and eccentric, it's something you end up watching with amazement and shock as you dab the laugh tears from your ey. It's why she's been nominated for every single year she was on Saturday Night Live. I think I got that right. I could not be a bigger fan of her talent. And for just being around her, very cool of her to come hang out with us today. Please welcome one of the greats, Ms. Kate. The great McKinnon. Willie. Got it.

[Jason Bateman]

Yes.

[Sean Hayes]

Is she still awake there she.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, wait, she's in the Criterion closet. Uh oh, she's got the Criterion Collection behind her.

[Sean Hayes]

Are those DVDs behind you or just a bunch of one acts?

[Kate McKinnon]

No, no, they're books. I'm in. Hi.

[Sean Hayes]

Hi.

[Will Arnett]

Oh, hello.

[Kate McKinnon]

No, I'm in the offices of the publisher of the book that I'm here to promote.

[Sean Hayes]

Okay, let's start right off with it.

[Kate McKinnon]

But we don't have to talk about it right away. But we should.

[Jason Bateman]

No, let's pretend like we're not, and let's let it come up organically.

[Sean Hayes]

The name of the new book is Purple Pearl. It's about a deep sea diver. Tell me. Take it, Sarah.

[Jason Bateman]

That's her volume.

[Kate McKinnon]

Okay, this is the.

[Will Arnett]

Oh, she's putting her glass. That means she wrote a book.

[Kate McKinnon]

These are fake glasses that I wear to feel more comfortable. They provide a barrier between me and my interlocutors that I need in order to feel safe. Yeah, I can see you, but you can't come close to me.

[Jason Bateman]

Wait, are you reading from the book right now? Is this the first chapter? Of the book. Wow. Wow.

[Kate McKinnon]

I have never been on a podcast before.

[Sean Hayes]

No, truly?

[Will Arnett]

Are you serious?

[Sean Hayes]

This is your first podcast?

[Kate McKinnon]

I've never been. Yes. And I'm afraid, and I.

[Sean Hayes]

No, don't be. We're super safe. It's like we're just hanging out. It's a safe place. And no one can see you. They can just hear you.

[Will Arnett]

No.

[Kate McKinnon]

Okay.

[Sean Hayes]

Even though you look incredible, even though.

[Kate McKinnon]

I have these glasses on to protect.

[Will Arnett]

Are you literally in a closet? Is that why you're whispering?

[Kate McKinnon]

No, no, I. No, this is. I speak in dulcet tones. This is my real voice. And the presence of the microphone in my mouth is also making it easier for me to speak in my most DOSA tones.

[Sean Hayes]

You just have it deep, deep in the throat.

[Jason Bateman]

You know what's really powerful, Kate, is when you can bring it down and you can bring. You control the tone and the volume like that. That's real power.

[Sean Hayes]

They lean in. Yeah, they pulled over.

[Kate McKinnon]

They pulled the car over. Or they leave.

[Will Arnett]

No, they could leave, but if they can't see you, if they can't see you in the glasses, at least they can hear you now.

[Sean Hayes]

Hey, listen, Purple Pearl is about somebody who dives for pearls. They're only purple if they're. So this is a diver that is particularly talented at diving deep. I think I've got it right.

[Kate McKinnon]

It's a diver. It's a diver named Natalie. Okay. And she has lost her costume jewelry, and she gets in trouble because it's her mother's costume jewelry.

[Jason Bateman]

What? A cat?

[Sean Hayes]

Is this really it?

[Kate McKinnon]

And no, it's not. But I think I've just plotted my new series, so I am gonna go because I'm inspired.

[Will Arnett]

By the way, if you open a show with somebody losing costume jewelry, I'm always.

[Jason Bateman]

Me, too. Me, too.

[Kate McKinnon]

Have you ever lost something?

[Sean Hayes]

Have I ever really weren't supposed to lose my phone?

[Will Arnett]

My dad.

[Sean Hayes]

That's the worst. That is about the worst feeling.

[Kate McKinnon]

That is about the worst thing.

[Jason Bateman]

You know what you lost a few years ago, Jason, but you found dignity. Yep. Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah. And I just hit my head on the wall behind me. Hey, listen, I want to get right to Kate McKinnon.

[Jason Bateman]

Can I just say, I think one.

[Will Arnett]

Of the funniest to ever live.

[Jason Bateman]

I think you're so.

[Kate McKinnon]

Oh, gosh.

[Jason Bateman]

Funny. No, you are so great. No, this is part of the podcast. You have to put up with this on the podcast.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

You have to sit here praise for an hour.

[Jason Bateman]

You're so funny, and you're so original and cool. I just. I Don't know you at all.

[Sean Hayes]

Really?

[Jason Bateman]

No.

[Sean Hayes]

And I feel like you've never met her.

[Jason Bateman]

We've. Kate, we've never.

[Kate McKinnon]

I feel like we have been, you know, a lifelong fan.

[Sean Hayes]

Have you ever met our guest?

[Will Arnett]

I'm passing. We've said hello. Yes. I've never liked on the Road. Yes.

[Kate McKinnon]

Yes. We were. I was driving at a red light.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, was at a red light.

[Jason Bateman]

You drive an 88 Volvo station wagon. Right?

[Will Arnett]

That's me. But, Kate, I remember the first time I was doing the Maya Rudolph Show. It was like it was gonna be a thing that was only one episode.

[Jason Bateman]

Underrated. I'm very underrated.

[Sean Hayes]

Here it comes.

[Will Arnett]

And it was your first year, I think, of Saturday Night Live. And Lorne was at this shoot that I was doing with Maya. And I turned to Lauren. Lauren. And I said, hey, that new girl, Kate McKinnon. And he said. He goes, isn't she special? I go, she is such a superstar. And he's like, I know. We all know. We all feel it. And I was just like. So everybody knew it, right? When you came on.

[Jason Bateman]

Lorne said that.

[Sean Hayes]

Lorne.

[Will Arnett]

Michael said that? Yeah.

[Kate McKinnon]

That's beautiful. Thank you for saying that.

[Sean Hayes]

But now, Kate, when was the first time you heard that? Like, how old were you when you privately. Cause you're a very humble person. You didn't, like, go out and say, hey, everybody thinks I'm great. You just. Internally, you thought, hey, you know what?

[Will Arnett]

I think I can make people laugh.

[Jason Bateman]

And I like the feeling. And I want to do a little.

[Sean Hayes]

Bit more of it. How old were you? Were you like.

[Will Arnett]

It's ASMR episode.

[Sean Hayes]

Were you, like, 20? When did it start happening?

[Kate McKinnon]

Wow.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, my God. This is the most intimate smartness ever.

[Kate McKinnon]

Is it okay?

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Kate McKinnon]

Well, I know. I. Gosh, you know what? It was okay. I was in a pageant at church. A play.

[Sean Hayes]

Really?

[Kate McKinnon]

I was playing.

[Jason Bateman]

What denomination?

[Kate McKinnon]

Methodist.

[Jason Bateman]

Okay.

[Kate McKinnon]

But, like, Northern Methodist. So, like, everyone is, like, just gray and of, like, Dutch descent and, you know, chalky skin. And we were doing a play, Daniel and the Lion's Den. And I believe I was playing Cyrus, King of Persia.

[Jason Bateman]

This one I don't know so well.

[Sean Hayes]

So you're playing Cyrus. That's the choice part.

[Kate McKinnon]

I forget that. Yeah, no, it's really good part. And I decided to do it in a British accent to make myself feel more comfortable. And those Methodists, they got a kick out of that.

[Sean Hayes]

They thought it was a hilarious choice. Yes.

[Kate McKinnon]

They weren't offended because he's the King of Persia. Why would he have a British accent. No, no. Well, I know I was doing a British accent and they were laughing and I. I just always liked to do different voices other than my own because my own. You know, you're hearing it, it's like.

[Jason Bateman]

So it was a choice. It was a choice.

[Kate McKinnon]

It was a way to choose.

[Jason Bateman]

What I'm saying is there was a Methodist to your madness.

[Sean Hayes]

But did you think. But did you think it was going to be funny or were you doing it to, like, kind of protect yourself and then the laughter was a bit of a surprise. Or were you trying.

[Kate McKinnon]

Is that what you just said?

[Sean Hayes]

Really? So it was a surprise. You were like, oh, if I kind of bend things a bit, A, it protects me and B, I get laughter. And that could be nice social capital.

[Kate McKinnon]

Yes, exactly.

[Sean Hayes]

Yes.

[Kate McKinnon]

Yes.

[Sean Hayes]

And how old were we?

[Kate McKinnon]

I want to say 10.

[Sean Hayes]

10.

[Kate McKinnon]

But there were always in, you know, growing up in my family, there were. Everyone was doing voices. You had to do voices or you got kicked out.

[Jason Bateman]

The family.

[Sean Hayes]

Around. Around the dinner table.

[Kate McKinnon]

Kicked out? Yeah. No, I didn't have a brother around the dinner table. You know, waking up, going to bed. Just voices. Voices.

[Sean Hayes]

Long island people were funny people.

[Jason Bateman]

What part of Long Island?

[Kate McKinnon]

You know, the North Shore.

[Sean Hayes]

The North Shore?

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

Like, we're talking about Suffolk.

[Jason Bateman]

Suffolk. We're talking Suffolk?

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah. People are washed.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, Nassau.

[Kate McKinnon]

No, NASA.

[Sean Hayes]

Very good.

[Kate McKinnon]

What about.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, he's all.

[Jason Bateman]

We talking, like Douglaston. What are we talking about?

[Kate McKinnon]

No, not quite Douglaston.

[Jason Bateman]

Okay.

[Will Arnett]

Did you see that documentary about that guy who killed all those people and.

[Sean Hayes]

Hey, Kate, hold on one second.

[Kate McKinnon]

Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

The Gilgo beach guy.

[Will Arnett]

Yes, yes, I just knew him. It was crazy.

[Sean Hayes]

Quick hot take from Sean on the documentary True Crime Series.

[Will Arnett]

It was some unbelievable.

[Jason Bateman]

Why don't you mention the mass murderer?

[Sean Hayes]

Anything else from. From 2022? You want to hit the audience, too? How about Barbie? Have you seen that?

[Jason Bateman]

Hey, that Ted Bundy. How about Barbie?

[Sean Hayes]

What about that weird Barbie? I'd love to.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah. By the way, Kate was in Barbie.

[Sean Hayes]

She was romantic. Did she play weird Barbie? Stupid ass. Back to you, Kate.

[Will Arnett]

Wait.

[Kate McKinnon]

We growing up, you know, our being the big thing. No, no, sorry. Gosh. The big thing growing up. I mean, the microphones.

[Sean Hayes]

I know it's right there. You don't need to throw.

[Kate McKinnon]

I'm licking the microph that I feel like I don't need to project. The big thing growing up was the Amy Fisher Joey Buttafuco incident. Joey Buttafuco was my grandfather's auto mechanic.

[Sean Hayes]

No way.

[Kate McKinnon]

And it was exciting because it was ours. It was Long Island. It was Long island to a T. And, you know, I didn't.

[Sean Hayes]

Was your grandfather deposed?

[Kate McKinnon]

Was he deposed?

[Sean Hayes]

Was your grandfather deposed?

[Kate McKinnon]

I suppose not. He would have said. But we. It was just we. You know, and my friends and I, we would play. We would play that. We'd play. We would enact the saga.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, really?

[Kate McKinnon]

You know, and I didn't realize at the time that Amy Fisher was being trafficked.

[Jason Bateman]

Amy Fisher was being trafficked?

[Kate McKinnon]

Oh, yeah. You know. You didn't know that?

[Jason Bateman]

No, of course not.

[Will Arnett]

I didn't know that either.

[Kate McKinnon]

She was 17. He was 35. It was, you know. Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

She was being trafficked from Suffolk to Nassau.

[Jason Bateman]

Well, there's a ton of traffic. Yeah, especially. Especially as you get into Great Neck if you're. If you're on the Northern Parkway. Forget it.

[Kate McKinnon]

Will.

[Will Arnett]

What do you.

[Kate McKinnon]

You know your stuff.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, I do. I'm showing all this.

[Kate McKinnon]

You've been on the Meadowbrook Man. What is that?

[Jason Bateman]

Of course I've been on the Meadow Brook. I'm not.

[Kate McKinnon]

You're from there. What is this?

[Jason Bateman]

I'm on Long island right now?

[Sean Hayes]

Yep.

[Kate McKinnon]

Wow.

[Will Arnett]

We'll be right back. This episode is supported by FX's the Lowdown, starring Ethan Hawke. Allow us to introduce you to Lee Raybon, a quirky journalist slash rare bookstore owner slash unofficial truth seeker who is always on the tail of his latest conspiracy. This time, his most recent expose puts him head to head with a powerful family that rules Tulsa. Meaning only one thing. He must be onto something big. FX's the Lowdown premieres September 23rd on FX stream on Hulu. This is an ad by BetterHelp. Who do you guys go to in order to solve your life's problems? The group chat, Oversharing with strangers. Sometimes I do that on a podcast called Smartless. Well, you know What? That's where BetterHelp comes in. They've been around for over a decade, helped millions. And out of 1.7 million client reviews, they've got a 4.9 rating. BetterHelp has qualified and experienced counselors that meet localized standards for counselor vetting and care delivery. They do the initial matching work for you so you can focus on your goals. A short questionnaire helps identify your needs and preferences, and you can switch to a different counselor at any time, completely online. You can pause your subscription whenever you need to. BetterHelp is hit trust certified and complies with GDPR standards, which means they meet some of the highest global standards for data privacy. As the largest online therapy provider in the world, BetterHelp can provide access to mental health professionals with a diverse variety of Expertise. Find the one with BetterHelp our listeners get 10% off their first month at betterhelp.com smartless that's betterhelp.com smartless.

[Sean Hayes]

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[Kate McKinnon]

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[Sean Hayes]

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[Sean Hayes]

Plus they provide fast, reliable white glove delivery right to your door. Visit your local Ashley store or head to Ashley.com to find your style.

[Will Arnett]

And now back to the show.

[Jason Bateman]

So you did the play. What happened? Did you start doing sketch come like you don't automatically go from Daniel and the Magic lion playing Cedric. He was playing Cedric the Entertainer. And then all of a sudden you're doing stand up and you're in. Lorne Michaels thinks you're the great next. Like what happens?

[Sean Hayes]

There you are, you're done playing the cello.

[Jason Bateman]

You've played Amy Fisher. You played Mary Jo. You played.

[Kate McKinnon]

No, I was Joey.

[Will Arnett]

Oh, you were Joey.

[Jason Bateman]

You were Joey Butterfield. Okay.

[Kate McKinnon]

Who was trafficking?

[Jason Bateman]

She was trafficking. Okay. So then what'd you do? Did you go to nyu? What'd you do?

[Sean Hayes]

Columbia. She's a smartie.

[Kate McKinnon]

I went there. But you know, I did the plays in high school.

[Sean Hayes]

Sure.

[Kate McKinnon]

And I did sketch at Columbia. And then I auditioned. I went to an open call for a show, the big gay sketch show, which was on the now defunct Logo Network Photographs.

[Sean Hayes]

They're very talented.

[Jason Bateman]

Italian, groundbreaking.

[Sean Hayes]

This is an Italian critic we have stuck in the back of the theater that's been in the process of getting thrown out for it never gets old.

[Jason Bateman]

It never gets funny. Okay, wait.

[Will Arnett]

So big gay sketch show, was that the.

[Kate McKinnon]

So that was the first thing I ever auditioned for. And I got it.

[Will Arnett]

You got it? How old were you?

[Kate McKinnon]

I was 22. And I thought, well, this'll be easy.

[Jason Bateman]

Sure.

[Kate McKinnon]

And then I learned it became clear that it was a difficult career. And so then I did UCB in New York, the episode of the Citizens Brigade Theater for many years.

[Jason Bateman]

26Th street days.

[Kate McKinnon]

Yes, exactly. And then I auditioned for what? Say again?

[Sean Hayes]

I just want to stop for one second here at UCB. We're on 26th. We've got people coming in and out. Will probably. You didn't meet her there, Willy, I.

[Jason Bateman]

Didn'T see you there. I was there every Sunday night at Ascat for about 12 years.

[Kate McKinnon]

I was so afraid to even go to Ascat.

[Sean Hayes]

Wait, what's the difference between Ascat and UCB?

[Jason Bateman]

No, but you know, Ascat, this is the Sunday night show that we used to go to.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, it's like an improci.

[Jason Bateman]

It's an improv show and Ian Roberts.

[Sean Hayes]

What's the difference between that and UCB?

[Jason Bateman]

UCB's the theater. Ascot was the Sunday night show, which was like a big long herald, the.

[Will Arnett]

Name of the show anyway.

[Jason Bateman]

Okay, so you were too afraid to go to Ascot, but who were you on? Were you in. Were you on a comedy team or.

[Kate McKinnon]

Like with a. I did sketch and I did a lot of one woman shows.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh.

[Kate McKinnon]

And I had. No, never. And I, I. But that involved a lot of like, I would have. I did one where I had to. It had a cake in it and a full rotisserie chicken and seven wigs. And so I would have to bring all the wigs. And then I would stop at the Gristide's grocery store above and buy a cake and a full rotisserie chicken and bring them down. And so I was lugging. Those days were exciting days and just lugging a lot of props and wigs. I had amassed a collection of 45 or so wigs that were gross and had chicken juice in them. And they got all chickeny and they got all cakey.

[Will Arnett]

Uh huh. But when you went back, really quick sidebar. I had an audition for In Living Color when I was like 20.

[Sean Hayes]

So a new segment called you, Sean.

[Will Arnett]

Go ahead and auditioned for In Living Color when I was 21 years old to replace quote, the white guy is Jim Carrey. And I go in with a bag of tons of wigs and I sit down and the woman, the cast director sitting right across from me and I go through all these characters that I put together in like 24 hours. And at the end of it, not one laugh. Not one laugh. And she goes. Wigs are fun, aren't they?

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, fuck.

[Will Arnett]

And that's it.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, Shawnee, wait a second. I had to hold. No.

[Jason Bateman]

How did we not know this?

[Sean Hayes]

I had no idea that you had a bag of characters to match a bag of wigs.

[Jason Bateman]

I was just saying.

[Sean Hayes]

Can we just Give us your best one? Shawnie. Sorry, Kate. One second is gonna.

[Kate McKinnon]

I want this too.

[Will Arnett]

I made them. I made them up in 24 hours. I don't even remember what they.

[Sean Hayes]

You done. Hello. What's your mate?

[Jason Bateman]

There he is.

[Will Arnett]

Hello, mate.

[Sean Hayes]

That guy's probably got severe bangs, right?

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

All right, back to you.

[Jason Bateman]

Back to Kate.

[Will Arnett]

So Kate you said. You said when you were in big gay sketch show or something, you said, oh, boy, this was. This is really hard. It's not what I thought it would be. What did you mean by that? What was hard?

[Kate McKinnon]

Oh, just get. Just. Just, you know, be. Being. Being a comedian, being an actor. I mean, you stuff getting jobs, you know, very, very difficult and finding your voice and developing material. You know, this.

[Sean Hayes]

It's a ton of work life.

[Kate McKinnon]

It's a lifelong craft. You know, practicing the craft. I thought I was naive and it's, you know, it turned out to be a whole thing, but glad it's hard.

[Jason Bateman]

It's not easy to navigate. It's harder to navigate than the Van Wyck between four and six. Am I right?

[Sean Hayes]

Hey, am I right?

[Jason Bateman]

Are we talking about the Van Rip or what?

[Kate McKinnon]

Wow. You take the Southern state all the way. What do you think?

[Jason Bateman]

I'm not a maniac, but I will sometimes take the Bell Parkway. I'm not lying from jfk. I'll take the belt.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, the belt's great. You can't put a semi truck on the belt.

[Jason Bateman]

You can't put a semi truck on the belt. And then I'll take the Brooklyn Battery title.

[Will Arnett]

Oh, my God.

[Kate McKinnon]

No, but really, you take the lie all the way out.

[Jason Bateman]

Obviously I take the lie. I'm not a man.

[Kate McKinnon]

Well, I don't know. I don't know you. At some point, you're switching Kate.

[Sean Hayes]

The plan going to Columbia. The plan going to Columbia, since you majored, graduated with a degree in theater, was to be an actor. As you're living. Correct. This was how you're going to feed yourself?

[Kate McKinnon]

No, I did not. I never in my wildest dreams imagined that that was possible.

[Sean Hayes]

Come on. I can't believe that you're a smart person. By virtue of going to Columbia, you major in theater, you come out with a degree there. How were you planning that you were going to tack to a completely different. To feed yourself and provide shelter?

[Kate McKinnon]

The summer I graduated from college, my plan was that I was going to dress up as Pippi Longstocking and sell popsicles in Union Square. And my gimmick would be that I would be dressed as Pippi Longstocking and so everyone would buy my popsicles. So that was my professional plan.

[Sean Hayes]

Great markup potential on popsicles.

[Kate McKinnon]

I also was really wanting to teach English in Romania or one of the Balkan states.

[Jason Bateman]

Or Romanian in England.

[Kate McKinnon]

Yes.

[Jason Bateman]

Wait, wait. So you didn't imagine it? I find that so. I mean, you must have known that even Sean Hayes thought he could make it in show business, you know, with his wigs. Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

I got one on now.

[Kate McKinnon]

Never did I ever, ever think that that was possible. No.

[Jason Bateman]

Okay. So how did the audition for SNL happen? Then? You were at ucb. You did like, Lindsay Shookas came down and saw you. What happened?

[Kate McKinnon]

I was doing a showcase in LA and they invited me to audition, and then I did.

[Sean Hayes]

And how did that audition go? Was it. You were very nervous, I would imagine.

[Kate McKinnon]

I was horrifically nervous. I was going to.

[Sean Hayes]

The restroom often.

[Kate McKinnon]

The restroom often? No, I was horrendously nervous. But then Bobby Moynihan, I guess maybe had seen me at UCB doing a one woman show, and he came up to me and he said, hey, you're funny. And I. And then I could breathe. And that was it. So I do credit him with everything.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, that's nice.

[Sean Hayes]

Giving you a little prop up right beforehand.

[Kate McKinnon]

No, but seriously, like, you know, just when someone reaches out to you in the dark, here she comes, you know, and some. All it takes is one.

[Sean Hayes]

Get it.

[Kate McKinnon]

Because when someone has the kindness to see you preach it, then you get a little bit taller.

[Sean Hayes]

Mm.

[Kate McKinnon]

And you. And you can fly.

[Sean Hayes]

Yep, we're gonna be right there.

[Kate McKinnon]

And I flew. No, but, no. If he had not done that, honestly, I would be in Romania.

[Sean Hayes]

And they received you well. Was there generous laughter and warmth from the people in the dark?

[Kate McKinnon]

I heard some titters, mild titters, which was so encouraging. Cause I had heard that there would be dead silence. So I was prepared for dead silence.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Kate McKinnon]

And then when I got a single titter, I thought, okay, I'm flying. But I'd also practiced it a lot. Like, I like to wing stuff. I don't know about you guys, but that I thought.

[Will Arnett]

Have you ever listened to the show?

[Sean Hayes]

I'm all out of questions now. They don't let you know on the spot there, right? Do they call you? Does your agent call you? Are we represented at that moment by an agent? How did it all.

[Kate McKinnon]

I don't think I did at that point have represent. I think I had. No, that's not true. I did have. I did have an agent and a manager at that point. Bless me.

[Sean Hayes]

And so. And so you get the call, you're elated, you're nervous, you go to. You go. What was the first day like over there at snl? Was it what you thought it might be?

[Kate McKinnon]

It was. I got guys. I just was really, really nervous.

[Sean Hayes]

I'm sure they all were.

[Kate McKinnon]

Oh, well. So the thing was, it was just me. I was hired alone, what, five at the last five episodes of a season. Oh, my God. So I just. It was like, here's your computer, and bless them. I had known a few folks there from UCB who rescued me from the choppy, choppy waters of my own nervousness and really helped me out.

[Sean Hayes]

Were you writer or performer?

[Kate McKinnon]

Performer.

[Sean Hayes]

Performer. Right out of the gate.

[Kate McKinnon]

I just want to say, with that audition, I practiced so many times. I must have said that out loud 50,000 times. And I felt okay about it because I had done that, but usually I'm winging it.

[Will Arnett]

I feel like the performers that really stand. I mean, you tell me, because I only hosted once. I've never been a cast member, but from what I see is the people that really stand out on Saturday Night Live really do their homework and really work on characters or the dialogue. Because a lot of the times I can't see you reading the cards like, you're so in it. I don't see you reading the cards. And a lot of people I do see reading cards and both, you know, everybody does both. But is any of that true that you memorize a lot of the stuff as opposed to you personally?

[Kate McKinnon]

I cannot memorize dialogue.

[Will Arnett]

There you go.

[Kate McKinnon]

Whatever ability I ever had left with my reliance on those cue cards, and now I cannot memorize. And I forget. I'm just. I can't remember stuff anymore.

[Jason Bateman]

I'm not gonna give another shout out to Wally. We've done it too many times on this show, so I'm not gonna do it.

[Sean Hayes]

But he is an incredible card.

[Jason Bateman]

He is an incredible number card artist.

[Kate McKinnon]

Love you.

[Will Arnett]

Do you miss it, Kate, at all?

[Kate McKinnon]

I do. I miss the people. I miss Wally. I miss Jenna and Chris the stage manager so much. I miss all of my friends. I miss Lorne Michaels. And yes, I miss it. And I miss being able to participate in commenting on current events. But I also am so happy to be going to bed at 10:30, which is when I would normally go to bed.

[Sean Hayes]

Did it get harder or easier as your talent, confidence, popularity increased? You'd think it would get easier, but maybe it gets harder because of the, you know, people are watching you expectation.

[Kate McKinnon]

I. It was always hard and always fun.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Kate McKinnon]

And I.

[Jason Bateman]

It's the way people often describe Sean. You know that, right?

[Sean Hayes]

Often hard.

[Jason Bateman]

Always. Always hard and always fun. That's me.

[Sean Hayes]

That was a scandal in high school, I think.

[Jason Bateman]

I mean. Yeah, I know. Sorry. It's just like. It's just a fucking crapshoot over here. Kate, look, we don't want to take you down memory lane, but we have to because we want to get to know you.

[Sean Hayes]

We want to know, let's shuttle all the way through SNL now.

[Jason Bateman]

Okay.

[Sean Hayes]

Let's get to the end of SNL and we bundle it, we make the decision to move on. Frightening. But great success right out the door. And, and, and, and now you're flying high. And, but I bet it was a little, a little nerve wracking at the beginning, right?

[Kate McKinnon]

Oh, just, just, I don't, I don't, I don't like change. And so it was just terrible. I just, I hate, I hate goodbyes. I hate change. And so it was not a decision made lightly and I was just so sad. I just was so sad and really do miss everybody that I worked with because has, it's, it's a beautiful, it's such a family and it's, it's wonderful.

[Jason Bateman]

And I, it's like Olive Garden, that place, right?

[Kate McKinnon]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But I, but then I, I wanted to, when you're there, you are eating.

[Jason Bateman]

Breadsticks and plus they do have also like unlimited bread.

[Sean Hayes]

What about, what, what were you, were you, were you writing books while you were doing this? Where does the writing come from?

[Kate McKinnon]

Oh, oh, that was just, that was something that I started doing to when I like wasn't at snl. I just, I always loved, you know, I love, I love characters, I love big hair and I love sashimi. Funny names sashimi.

[Sean Hayes]

And we will be right back.

[Will Arnett]

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[Kate McKinnon]

It.

[Will Arnett]

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[Sean Hayes]

And now back to the show.

[Will Arnett]

Can I ask you a serious question?

[Kate McKinnon]

Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

What about.

[Jason Bateman]

What about. Hang on.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, I gotta come in. I gotta get in there. So the big gay sketch show. You were obviously gay and out because you were on a show called the Big Gay Sketch Show. But then when you went into Saturday Night Live, did you. Were you out and proud? Or was it something you struggled with keeping a secret? Or am I an idiot? And you were out and I just didn't know or did that play any part of it?

[Kate McKinnon]

Bless your heart. Bless your heart. No, I was out. It was on the Internet.

[Will Arnett]

Okay, great. So it must be true.

[Kate McKinnon]

It was on the Internet in 2006. So there it was. And I'm glad. I'm glad it was.

[Sean Hayes]

Because no pun. No pun on the glad thing for Tracy.

[Kate McKinnon]

Glad as a LGBTQ organization, because it was already done. And so I. You know, I am a coward. And I don't know if I would have had the courage to do it if I had not already done it. I would have had to.

[Sean Hayes]

But then. Did you. Does my Wikipedia research accurate? You confirmed all when you gave Ellen an award and thanked her for blazing the trail of kicking the door down. Question.

[Kate McKinnon]

I did. I think it was pretty obvious the whole time. I did give Ellen that award. Yes.

[Will Arnett]

Okay.

[Sean Hayes]

Wiki really framed that as a pivotal moment.

[Kate McKinnon]

Well. Okay.

[Sean Hayes]

I'm sorry.

[Kate McKinnon]

Okay. I thought I was gay before that, but that's cool. No, that's interesting.

[Jason Bateman]

No, they're trying to claim it.

[Kate McKinnon]

Beyonce was at my table that night.

[Sean Hayes]

Beyonce was?

[Kate McKinnon]

Yes. And she was wearing a dress. That was so nice.

[Sean Hayes]

Nice shirt.

[Kate McKinnon]

The shoulders were so tall. And I don't know how she saw to her left or to her right.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, wow.

[Kate McKinnon]

I guess she didn't need to. It was so resplendent. She was so. I couldn't look at her.

[Jason Bateman]

Well, the confidence. To just know that you only need to look forward. That really speaks to a level of confidence that you're not worried about. About what's on either side. It's all smooth sailing. It's, it's, it's, it's, it's. Everything's wide open. Wider than. Wider than the Grand Central Parkway. Monday at 10pm Just nothing.

[Sean Hayes]

It's great. It's great. These callbacks. You gotta. Gotta keep your knees bent. Kate. He'll keep coming. Do you think? Do you think?

[Jason Bateman]

Stupid.

[Kate McKinnon]

I mean, before it turns into the northern state. Sure.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

Yes. Obviously.

[Sean Hayes]

Obby. Now, do you think that the Triborough.

[Kate McKinnon]

Is my favorite bridge? I don't know about you.

[Jason Bateman]

I do. I do. I like the Triborough.

[Sean Hayes]

Not the gwb. No tap and zero trash.

[Jason Bateman]

That's way too far north.

[Sean Hayes]

What's that? What's that called? Cuomo.

[Jason Bateman]

Now, you know what's kind of underrated. Is the Queensborough.

[Will Arnett]

Oh, my God.

[Kate McKinnon]

I love. I also love the Queensborough.

[Jason Bateman]

Queensborough Bridge is pretty good.

[Sean Hayes]

Also referred to as the Midtown or bridge or the 52nd Street Bridge. Bridge.

[Jason Bateman]

No, no, never referred to as that. So, Kate, it is up in Midtown. It is up in.

[Kate McKinnon]

It's the one that parkways with you all day. Will, I really could. This is fun stuff.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, you love the cr. The Cross. Cross Bronx Expressway. Yeah, yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, oh, I do like the Cross Bronx.

[Sean Hayes]

And what is the name of the Polish bridge? Kayanaski.

[Jason Bateman]

Pulaski Bridge. That's on the. That's on the bqe.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, she's got the first one.

[Jason Bateman]

No. Is that right?

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, she's got the first name. You've.

[Kate McKinnon]

Oh, I'm sorry. This Kosciusko is. Is into Greenpoint. Am I thinking of the wrong bridge?

[Sean Hayes]

No, I think.

[Kate McKinnon]

Where's the wrong one?

[Sean Hayes]

Say it one more time, Will.

[Kate McKinnon]

You know what I'm talking about. Help me.

[Sean Hayes]

It's all lit up now. They got nice colored lights.

[Kate McKinnon]

Reach in and rescue me.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, oh, oh.

[Kate McKinnon]

Is it not a bridge?

[Sean Hayes]

It is a bridge.

[Jason Bateman]

But. It's a. But it's an inter. Brooklyn Bridge though, right?

[Kate McKinnon]

Chaos. Yes, yes, yes.

[Sean Hayes]

We're in a four wheel slide here on the Kishanuski.

[Jason Bateman]

This is pure chaos, you guys.

[Sean Hayes]

Hey, you know, you know, Kate, here.

[Jason Bateman]

On the list, it's the Kosciuszko Bridge. No, that's on the bqe, right? That's the Kosciusko. That's the one that's on the bqe. The Koszusko Bridge.

[Kate McKinnon]

Thank you. Because I thought I lost my. My marbles.

[Jason Bateman]

You're right. When you come off. Anyway.

[Kate McKinnon]

All right, so guys, on the Pulaski.

[Jason Bateman]

Let'S take a look at the live track traffic. If we could.

[Kate McKinnon]

Be on the Veritas.

[Sean Hayes]

You know, by the way, a little sidebar here. I'd like to start a. A side hustle, something. Yeah, I'd like to see Will Arnett host Saturday Night Live.

[Kate McKinnon]

You never have, Will.

[Sean Hayes]

I know. Wouldn't you love. Jeez. What about for the movie coming out?

[Will Arnett]

Yes, for the movie coming out.

[Jason Bateman]

It's been too long. It's been too long.

[Sean Hayes]

Who's running things over there now? Lindsay is. Is. Is. Is she still there?

[Jason Bateman]

No.

[Sean Hayes]

No. Well, whoever is. Is in there. Let's. Let's get Arnett over there at least as a musical guest.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, there's too much. The history is too storied.

[Sean Hayes]

You know, they love that over there. Makes it For a great story.

[Jason Bateman]

Anyway.

[Kate McKinnon]

Bring your bongos, Will, and just play them.

[Jason Bateman]

Who told you about the bongos?

[Kate McKinnon]

I gave you those.

[Sean Hayes]

Hey, if you could.

[Jason Bateman]

You did give me those.

[Sean Hayes]

Kate, if you weren't a New York Times best selling author or America's sweetheart on the TV or film. Let's not forget about the film jobs. What would you be doing?

[Kate McKinnon]

Carpentry.

[Sean Hayes]

Truly. You and Nick Offerman.

[Kate McKinnon]

Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

Really?

[Kate McKinnon]

And Jon Stewart. They say. I. No, it's a thing that. Yeah, folks are doing carpentry and so am I, and I'm doing it, and that's what. But I always said. I have always said.

[Sean Hayes]

I know you have.

[Kate McKinnon]

That I would make cabinets. That I would want to make cabinets.

[Sean Hayes]

It's true.

[Jason Bateman]

You threatened the world with that.

[Sean Hayes]

No, with the whole witch's hate story.

[Will Arnett]

I said that.

[Kate McKinnon]

And I. And I. And I now I have made a cabinet.

[Jason Bateman]

Is it true?

[Sean Hayes]

Really?

[Jason Bateman]

A real cabinet?

[Kate McKinnon]

Yes, I have.

[Sean Hayes]

Do you do an Amish style with no nails?

[Kate McKinnon]

No. Oh, I'm not that good. I'm not a carpenter.

[Sean Hayes]

Now it sounds like we're upstate when we're making cabinetry.

[Kate McKinnon]

Sure thing.

[Sean Hayes]

Sure. So you got like a handsome old farm, Like a barn up there that you've kind of refurbished.

[Kate McKinnon]

It's fine.

[Sean Hayes]

Sure. No, I'll bet it's fine.

[Kate McKinnon]

I've got a garage, and I got a bunch of stuff in there.

[Sean Hayes]

Tools.

[Kate McKinnon]

Bunch of stuff going on. Yeah. So that's my new.

[Jason Bateman]

You got a workshop in the garage?

[Kate McKinnon]

Yeah, I got a workshop.

[Sean Hayes]

Way. Truly, you've got a bench. You've got a bunch of power tools and things like that. I bet this is fun to buy. You love a Home Depot.

[Kate McKinnon]

I go to Lowe's. I have a local Lowe's. And yeah, that's what I. So when I left snl, I needed to know that I was jumping to something which was making cabinets. And that's what I have done in my spare time.

[Sean Hayes]

And you've just done the one so far.

[Kate McKinnon]

I've done a bunch of stuff.

[Sean Hayes]

Okay. You don't need to scream. What's your favorite? What's. What are you. Are you most proud of the Lowe's?

[Jason Bateman]

We nailed it. Sorry, go ahead. That was just a quick word from the gang over at Lowe's that just came through on my text. I'm so sorry. I'm shameless. Guys, I'm sorry. I just made 4, 200 bucks.

[Will Arnett]

Oh, wait, Kate.

[Sean Hayes]

Do you have. Do you have. Have a certain thing in woodworking that you feel like you're best at?

[Kate McKinnon]

You know, trim, molding, paneling.

[Sean Hayes]

Save the clean, please.

[Will Arnett]

Oh, really?

[Jason Bateman]

Okay, sorry. Different. Sorry. Okay. Hey, Kate, by the way, this book. So I have a five year old and is this book gonna be appropriate for my five year old?

[Kate McKinnon]

Okay, so the books. Okay, so I was joking before about the book being about a diver named Natalie. That's not true. The book is the second in a. It's the second book in a series of books called the Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science. Okay. And it's a middle grade novel, which is for ages, you know, 8 to 14. Harry Potter is a middle grade novel. Heard of it? Anyway, so come on at us. Roald Dahl was a middle grade author. Heard of him? Any horse? So this. No. So I started writing this book. I came up with this idea with these characters, like 10 years ago. And whenever I wasn't at SNL, I would be writing this thing. And then. So when I finished at snl, finally I had time to complete.

[Sean Hayes]

When she starts talking fast, you guys leave her alone.

[Kate McKinnon]

And so this, this. So the Secrets of the Purple Pearl is the second in the Millicent Quib series, and it's about a mad scientist who starts a school for girls in a repressive turn of the century town. And then in the second one, the Purple Pearl, you know, they're at a hotel and they're having an adventure and they're looking for a purple pearl.

[Jason Bateman]

No, I do like those. I do like. Those books are what, the middle.

[Sean Hayes]

What's it called?

[Kate McKinnon]

Middle grade? Middle grade.

[Jason Bateman]

Middle grade. Middle grade books.

[Will Arnett]

I still read them.

[Jason Bateman]

I read Harry Potter when it first came out of the 90s, because I was like, what's going on? I want to kind of know.

[Sean Hayes]

In between your Holocaust books.

[Jason Bateman]

In between.

[Sean Hayes]

In between this guy. You have any questions on World War II, bring them to Willie.

[Jason Bateman]

That's a true story. You know what? I'm not reading World War II stuff anymore.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, what have you moved on to some sort of.

[Jason Bateman]

I just finished.

[Kate McKinnon]

Who knows the ending?

[Jason Bateman]

I just. I do. That was the. I just read this book about the. The siege of Mecca. That was a couple weeks ago. And then I read Freedom by Jonathan Fransen. That was really good. It's a little. It's older, but I. I just read it recently.

[Sean Hayes]

That's. That's fiction, though. Yeah. Friendson.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah. Yeah. So it's really sort of on my horizon recently. Thank you. Were you writing. Were you writing when you were like, at SNL and stuff? Or did you have designs on writing literature in this way?

[Kate McKinnon]

Yes. I wanted to. I really. I wanted to be a. A ya? No, a middle grade novelist.

[Sean Hayes]

But why?

[Kate McKinnon]

Okay, so middle grade. So the thing about YA is it's like monsters and making out love that. Middle grade is fantasy. It's discovering your identity. It's grappling with questions of do you want to be? How do you want to appear in the world? Who are you? What are you for?

[Sean Hayes]

Right.

[Kate McKinnon]

What are you fighting for? What are you willing to sacrifice to fight for it? These are the questions of middle grade. And. And so I'm very drawn to the genre also. These books can be really funny, and characters can have really good funny names. And I think names and hair and funny voice are the most important that does a character make.

[Sean Hayes]

Now, what about the illustrations then in these books? How involved with you, with that are you?

[Kate McKinnon]

I would say that I was involved. The illustrator is a beautiful artist named Alfredo Caceres. And he did such beautiful art. I did have, like, ideas of what the stuff, you know, because it's imagination and I could see it in my mind. So I made little doodles. And then he made beautiful art.

[Sean Hayes]

Right, so you had some notes. And was Alfredo amenable to your notes, or was that an interesting creative negotiation?

[Kate McKinnon]

It was a beautiful collaborative process. And he's. It was wonderful. Okay, I. I described and he created.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

Kate McKinnon. It's a Monday and you have to talk to us donkeys. And then you hang up. You leave. You leave the publisher's house.

[Kate McKinnon]

Whatever. Donkeys, Kate. Okay, you're some of my favorite comedians.

[Sean Hayes]

What's the rest of.

[Jason Bateman]

Why are your eyes closed? You keep closing your eyes when you say that. When you leave, when you leave the publisher's office, where do you go? What do you do on a Monday like today? Had you not been doing this? What are you doing?

[Sean Hayes]

Well, it's hot in New York. She's going to Union Square to sling Popsicles. Right?

[Jason Bateman]

No, but I mean, are you going to the movies? Are you going to a bookstore? Are you going for lunch? Are you watching reality tv? What are you doing? This is the thing we want to know about Kat McKinnon. Okay, let's get inside the mind. What are you doing?

[Kate McKinnon]

I do. I do. Well, I'm gonna be doing some stone masonry later, but that's another story. I do watch a lot of reality television.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, what's your favorite? Wait, are you a Love island girl, or are you an alone girl?

[Kate McKinnon]

I have. I have done all of that.

[Sean Hayes]

Try Outlast on Netflix, Outlast, Jason Show. Yeah, listen, I mean, you know, I'm totally.

[Kate McKinnon]

Oh, you did, you did that?

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, it's like a combo between alone and survivor.

[Kate McKinnon]

I really.

[Jason Bateman]

It's an aggregate show. Yes, that's an aggregate joint.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah. Yeah, we got a new one.

[Kate McKinnon]

Wow, you got your hands in a lot of pies.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, well, that got him in so much trouble, obviously, back in the day.

[Sean Hayes]

So then. So you're going to.

[Kate McKinnon]

You're licking cherries off your stuff.

[Will Arnett]

Wow.

[Sean Hayes]

So wait, so we're. So we're driving back upstate in your Volvo stage.

[Jason Bateman]

In the Volvo stage.

[Kate McKinnon]

Prius and a Prius. Prius hybrid.

[Sean Hayes]

Okay, good for you. And you'll be there by. You'll be there.

[Jason Bateman]

You'll be there 4:35.

[Sean Hayes]

Well before dinner and depends on.

[Kate McKinnon]

On the traffic on the gw.

[Sean Hayes]

Are you. Are you a cooker or do you. Or do you like to order in?

[Kate McKinnon]

I cook every day, three times a day.

[Sean Hayes]

This is an honest podcast.

[Kate McKinnon]

I cook every day, three times a day. I must.

[Jason Bateman]

What's the most? What's the most? What's the thing that you cook for yourself? Yeah, you go to.

[Sean Hayes]

What?

[Kate McKinnon]

You go to. I cook. I, you know, I'm, I've become a gardener. Big gardener. And I.

[Jason Bateman]

You have veggies. You got veggies.

[Kate McKinnon]

So I make. I just chop up whatever I've got and I just.

[Sean Hayes]

Pasta primavera.

[Kate McKinnon]

I do it. Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

Parmigiani.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Kate McKinnon]

Yeah, that's what I do.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, my God.

[Kate McKinnon]

A melange. A vegetable melange. Over whatever.

[Jason Bateman]

I got a question for you, and I want you to be honest with me.

[Kate McKinnon]

Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

Okay.

[Jason Bateman]

Whitestone or Throg's Neck Bridge? If you're going to Westchester.

[Kate McKinnon]

To get off Long Island, I'm just.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, to get off Long Island. No, be honest.

[Kate McKinnon]

Frog Zack.

[Jason Bateman]

Snack, snack.

[Sean Hayes]

Hey, you know what? We're gonna take it out on a high note right there.

[Kate McKinnon]

White stone.

[Jason Bateman]

Kate McKinnon, you're one of the all time greats. You're, you're, you're, you're. You're a comedy heavyweight. I swear to God.

[Sean Hayes]

You know your way around the. Try the tri state area.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, my God, you can coax a laugh out of people.

[Sean Hayes]

She can hammer a nail, she can pick a carrot.

[Jason Bateman]

You know how to coax a laugh.

[Sean Hayes]

You're the best.

[Kate McKinnon]

I can pick a carrot. Yeah, and I think you could too, by the way.

[Jason Bateman]

You just bought yourself a little discount. Next time you go into Lowe's, that's guaranteed.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, they nailed it.

[Jason Bateman]

Lowe's. We nailed it.

[Sean Hayes]

And you know what else, Kate? You nailed it today, huh?

[Jason Bateman]

You did nail it.

[Kate McKinnon]

Oh, thank you, boys.

[Sean Hayes]

And I know you don't like goodbyes, so when you're done, you can just slam that laptop and just blow us a little kiss and we'll pretend it's not over. And we love you. And we love you all. Can't wait to see you again. Did you get the script yet for Office Christmas party, too? Just check your inbox. Okay. We'll see you on set.

[Kate McKinnon]

I will. I thank you. I thank you. I'd like to play a different character.

[Sean Hayes]

No, no, no. Yeah, we're all gonna rotate.

[Kate McKinnon]

I'd like to play a desk.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, so you guys. You two knew each other from that a little bit.

[Kate McKinnon]

Oh, we.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, we go so far back.

[Jason Bateman]

So you go bury the lead much?

[Sean Hayes]

No, I don't like to talk about my own stuff. It's Black Rabbit, September 18th there on. Or outlast, if you like reality.

[Jason Bateman]

Do you guys shoot that in Hiram, Georgia? Is that where you shot Office Christmas Party?

[Sean Hayes]

Well, I know it was a lot of night shoots on a soundstage.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

Thanks, everybody. Love you. Mean it.

[Kate McKinnon]

Thank you so much.

[Sean Hayes]

We'll see you soon. Kate McKinnon, everybody. Read the Purple Pearl.

[Jason Bateman]

The Purple Pearl.

[Sean Hayes]

And get ready for the next bit of acting from. From our Miss here, because she's the tip top.

[Kate McKinnon]

Thank you.

[Sean Hayes]

All right.

[Jason Bateman]

The great Kate McKinnon, guys.

[Sean Hayes]

Thank you for doing the show, Kate.

[Kate McKinnon]

Right. Catch you later.

[Jason Bateman]

Bye.

[Kate McKinnon]

Okay, bye.

[Sean Hayes]

Bye. Slam it or you just leave it. There it is. Yeah. Well, now, that is just a nice person there with incredible levels of talent and creativity all packed into one brain.

[Will Arnett]

A. Yeah. What? She's made so many people laugh.

[Jason Bateman]

Y.

[Sean Hayes]

You know, on that wiki page, they've got all of her impressions listed that she did on Saturday Night Live.

[Will Arnett]

Incredible.

[Sean Hayes]

It must be like 50 or 60 names there. And I didn't even start clicking on them because I would have been late for the. The record, but good Christ.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

Do you guys do any impressions? Truly?

[Jason Bateman]

No.

[Sean Hayes]

Hey, Arnett, stop trying to Google a good buy.

[Jason Bateman]

I'm not.

[Will Arnett]

I got one.

[Sean Hayes]

Do you really? All right, keep it. Keep it warm. Any impressions from either one of you or. Actually, Sean, we've heard your British cab driver. Was it earlier?

[Will Arnett]

Something like that.

[Jason Bateman]

That.

[Sean Hayes]

Okay, wait.

[Will Arnett]

What's a. What's an impression?

[Sean Hayes]

An impression of, like, a famous person. Like, what about, like, remember?

[Will Arnett]

Did you ever see that show.

[Sean Hayes]

Take your time.

[Will Arnett]

Did you ever see that show the Night of? Do you ever see that show on HBO the Night of?

[Sean Hayes]

Yes.

[Jason Bateman]

Sure.

[Will Arnett]

And that the woman who The. The older woman who played the prosecutor.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. What is her name?

[Will Arnett]

What's her name?

[Sean Hayes]

She's such an incredible actor.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, she's so good.

[Will Arnett]

I. To talk. I used to imitate her.

[Sean Hayes]

That's very good.

[Will Arnett]

All the time. And she. Boy, we have to. I have it all on my shoulder here. We got.

[Sean Hayes]

Wait, by the way, you just reminded me of something.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

I saw over the weekend, Amy Madigan plays a character in a movie called Weapons.

[Will Arnett]

Oh, I want to see that movie.

[Sean Hayes]

This movie is so godamn good. This guy. Zach Kreger, writer, director. Holy, is he talented. I just watch Josh Brolin's in it. This movie so, so freaking good. You guys, I'm. I'm serious. It's.

[Will Arnett]

No, I heard it's got 100 tomatoes.

[Sean Hayes]

Amy Madigan plays somebody very disturbing and has got wigs and teeth and a voice.

[Will Arnett]

I'm all in.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, my God. Is it good?

[Will Arnett]

Oh, my God. Love wigs.

[Sean Hayes]

It's. It's. No. Is this thing on? But it'll. It'll do until it comes out. Okay.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

And. And Oscar's keeping things. What does it keep it. Keeping it tight. Keeping it right with Oscar.

[Will Arnett]

Let's ask Oscar. Is that what it's called?

[Sean Hayes]

Let's ask Oscar.

[Jason Bateman]

Well, it's actually called Night Oscar, but I wish it was called called Goodbye Oscar.

[Will Arnett]

Oh, Lord, help us.

[Jason Bateman]

Cue the music. Smart Smart less. Smartless is 100% organic and artisanally handcrafted by Michael Grant, Terry Rob Armcharve and Bennett Barbico. Smart Less.

[Will Arnett]

For a limited time at McDonald's, get a Big Mac Extra Value meal for $8.

[Jason Bateman]

That means two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a.

[Will Arnett]

Sesame seed bun, and medium fries. And a drink.

[Jason Bateman]

We may need to change that jingle.

[Sean Hayes]

Prices and participation may vary at Capella University.

[Kate McKinnon]

Learning online doesn't mean learning alone. You'll get support from people who care.

[Sean Hayes]

About your success, like your enrollment specialist.

[Kate McKinnon]

Who gets to know you and the.

[Will Arnett]

Goals you'd like to achieve.

[Kate McKinnon]

You'll also get a designated academic coach who's with you throughout your entire program.

[Sean Hayes]

Plus, career coaches are available to help you navigate your professional goals.

[Kate McKinnon]

A different future is closer than you think with Capella University. Learn more at Capella. Edu.