Kate McKinnon

Hi everyone, welcome to another episode of Good Hang. We have a great hilarious guest today, the amazing Kate McKinnon. Kate, who you know from SNL and films and the world and Kate and I go on an adventure and we're gonna talk about woodworking. We're gonna talk about sketch. We're gonna talk about what do you do next when you have fulfilled your dream? And in Kate's case, it's homesteading and being in the movie The Roses and writing the second book in her Millicent quib series. So I'm so excited to talk to Kate today. And before we do, always, we check in with someone who knows our guest, who has a question for our guest and we have a great one today. Kate's fellow cast member, her chosen sister, you know her from SNL, from Shrill. She's an incredible comedian and actress and writer and person, 80 Bryant, 80? Hi! (upbeat music) This episode is presented to you by Paul Molliv. Some of the best memories you'll ever make are around the dinner table. You'll never regret trying out those new recipes that may or may not go sideways or putting on a spread so big that your in-laws are still talking about it years later. Brownie points. So when it comes to the dishes, it's nice to know that there's a product that works as hard as you do. Paul Molliv ultra removes up to 99.9% of Greece. Leaving your dishes sparkling clean. Visit paulmolliv.com shop now. ♪ Let out what he's saying ♪ ♪ And I have a mother who's really good ♪ We're talking to you from Los Angeles. Yeah. That's where I am. That's where you live now. I know. I know it's weird. 80? I had a moment today where I was like, I was just excited about talking to you and just thinking about, I know this sounds very basic, but just like the women of SNL. Like just like, you know, there's not, there hasn't been as many as you think. Now and totally, it's like a major crew of cool stars and girls. It's true. Like I think you and I were at a photo shoot and somebody I feel like we were at the same photo shoot when someone said the number of cast members of SNL. No, and it wasn't a lot. (laughs) Totally. Also, I don't know, I felt this at the 50s where like then when you have kind of everyone in the room, not counting the hosts, you're kind of like, this is little, like this is a little group, you know? Yeah. I got a laptop here, so I'm gonna see how many cast members have been on SNL. But yeah. Guess first, I jelly bean jar, guess? Okay, yeah. Let's guess before, okay, I won't look. Three. We see like, 140? Is that wrong? Yes, 167. Come on. That's the black box theater, honey. That's just a full black box theater. You always see everything in theater sizes. That's a stadium. (laughs) (laughs) But yeah, but I was thinking about like, it is. It's a great group. It's like of which I'm very proud to be a part of and I know you are too. Name, oh my God. Yeah, it's like very overwhelming to me if I think about it at all. I know, me too. And you and Kate McKinnon are guests today. Yes. They're at the same time. And the people, especially the women that you are there with at the same time means a lot. So tell everybody when did you guys start? When did you start and we were starting at the same year? When did what year? Well, she had kind of a weird thing where she started like, five shows at the end of the previous season. Maya Rudolph did that too. Maya started it like the end of a season. Which that seems like so stressful. To me, I kind of don't know how she did it 'cause she also like came in alone in that moment. But I think Kate and I, we shared an office and also just we both are like scared. And I think we both were also like, we like are both extroverts for our jobs, but I think we're both kind of secretly like introverts who like to be quiet and hidden. And so we were, we bonded over that I think. It's funny you say that that was one of the questions I had for her today is how she managed being in such an extroverted job as an obvious introvert 'cause I really find her to be a genuine introvert. Yeah, I mean, I think in some ways like, it's part of her genius is like, she's almost like a recluse who has to go and have like time. But then it's so fruitful. Like I, I mean, once, like one of the first times I went to her apartment, I was like, oh my God, what are all these cool paintings? And she was like, I did this, you know? And I was like, what? You know, on same like, or we would be writing a sketch and then she would be like, well, get up keyboard and then like be playing a full and you're like, wait, you play the piano. And then like she was like, well, I do play the cello too. Like it just, she is like a sneaky freak. She has a million skills and talents, kind of like a savant kind of thing. And that's why she's like mysterious in that way. She is, she definitely is like an onion. Like she, and it also not to make it about me, but I'm feeling such shame about the fact that if I knew how to play the cello, you would know it, babe. (laughing) You'd know it, you'd know it day one. (laughing) Oh, I see him everywhere. I'd be like, well, I do cello, but I do piano too. (laughing) And I paint a little on the side, but anyway, let's get back to you. Like I would say, it would be on my-- And I guess I'm, sorry, I'm one of the greatest sketch comedians of all time too. That's just like the other thing I do. And I can build tables and garden and like, you know, like, and I'll take a, I'll take a grand day latte, please. (laughing) I know, there's, she is, and I have to say 80, I find this with you too. Both of you guys have a very calm energy that's like, draws you in. Neither one of you, you're very like, come hither. (laughing) Come hither. That is what everyone always says about me. I'm sexy kind of come hither. Why? Are they? Because you both are like, there's not a lot of push. There's not, yeah, not a lot of push. I think we really helped each other in that way because like, I, you know, especially when you get to SNL, it's so overwhelming, it's like so cool. And I think sometimes we both would have the instinct of like, is it okay for me to leave this party and go home? Yeah. And we often for each other were like, I would like to. Let's go. You know. (laughing) We gave each other permission to like, be the ones to go first, basically. That's actually a good fact. And we're really helpful at times, you know? Yeah. But I'm so honored to be thought of as come hither. That is like, that might be my new like, cello, like, come hither. Ms. Pola thinks that I'm how come hither. (laughing) Cut to your cosmetic brand, come hither. Come hither, baby. And you're like, and then you're like, where is it being sold? I'll never tell. (laughing) Before I get to your question for Kate, what's the first stuff you did together and wrote together? You know, one of the first things I think we really started like putting our heads together on stuff were those like girl music videos that we would do. Kind of like, twin bed, I think was one of the first ones. And then we did like back home ballers and a couple after that. But that was like one of our first like, we both were like, oh, we like music. And let's try this, you know. Did you shoot them at the Douglas house? Yes, awesome. I feel like our generation was some of the last to still go to the Douglas house 'cause they don't go there anymore. For people listening, the Douglas house was just like a big house about 45 minutes outside of the city where if you watch in the 90s and 2000s, every commercial was shot at. Every fake commercial was shot at. It's gay, like all the, oops, I got my pants, all the, from there. And like for our generation, it was like lower back tattoo remover and like the roombo that went up your pants and it was, and just so many mornings, like super tired at the Douglas house. Completely. Yeah. I would lay in their rooms as if they were my own. Just so rudely. Like I would never do that if I was shooting in someone's house now, but at that time I was like, I gotta lay on the floor and here, on someone's couch or bed. I don't know. You gotta know how anything works. Like our space. And also, I just, like what I love about watching you on the show and all the women of SNL and Kate too, is just like never worried when you perform. Like never, always feeling super relaxed that you're in control of what you're doing, There you have it. like a deep sense of play and like something natural does happen, I think is the longer you're there, which is just like you get a good case of like the fuck it's like who cares? Like let's just try. 100% and you and Kate as seniors were really fun together. Well, we were like doing bad behavior. Basically. Like what? Like what was your bad? Well, just I feel like she, I mean, she's the number one culprit of this in my time at SNL, which was she would basically perform so funny during the week, so funny during rehearsal and then it dress or I mean at air, it was just something that you had never seen before. And I would be, you know, like I'd, I with her whatever and I'd be like this bitch is let me rip. And I'm just like at her mercy, you know, so fun. It's a thrill, you know, well, I'm excited to talk to her today. And also like a little, I'm intrigued by Kate always because Kate is like has a million hobbies and interests and she is, you know, she's not on as a person. She's not like a, she's not like a, you can actually go pretty deep and go into these crevices of her mind. So I'm excited to get there. But what do you think, do you have any question for her today that you think she might want to be asked or, you know, a story she might want to tell or anything you think you'd want to know? Well, it's funny because I feel like knowing her, I'm like there's no question she wants to be asked. I have already heard that she's like, she told somebody, she's like, Amy's going to look into my soul and I don't want that. She doesn't want to do this interview. She's going to be. She wants to do no interviews by the way. I know. Okay. I'm stalling. I guess my question is like, what's her perfect day of solitude, which might include like an indoor activity, probably an outdoor activity knowing her and also like a meal she would make just for herself. I feel like that's like where she's in her Buffalo state. And I'm like, what's she doing? What's her dream version of that or even, you know, how she spends her time like that? That is such a good question because asking somebody about what their, you know, quote unquote kind of perfect day tells you so much about them. And I definitely feel like Kate's perfect day is a solo day. I wish I like respect massively. Totally. That's a fantastic question. Wait, I feel like there's one last question you should ask Kate. This is just a least one, but ask her what she used to carry her hair extensions in. Don't know what the answer might be, but I think she went from Emma. What she used to cart those around in perfect. Can't wait. All right, 80, thank you so much for getting on. It's so great to see you. I'm yeah. I'm here. The attitude is it just drew me in from minute one, babe. Come, come here. Anytime you wish. Say hi to Connor. Lots of love. Okay. Bye. Bye. Oh my god. Wait, McKinnon. Wait, what's going on with this water? Oh, water. Look at this water. Talk to me about this. Do you try to get through this a day once a day? I try. I put it away for months at a time. And then I say, where's my jug? Oh my god. How many gallons is in here? This is one gallon. Actually, this is not full, but you couldn't see how that was going. This is nice. Yeah. And you do try to get a gallon a day. No. When I'm doing, when I'm being good and cool. That's why your skin is so good. It's this gallon jug. It's, thank you. Yeah. No, it's good because it weighs 25 pounds one fall. So you're getting a bit whatever this is. And it's really good in a zoom because it's funny. Your zoom is flagging. And then you bring this into frame without introing it. That's another five minutes material for your zoom. I love this jug. Thank you so much. Here, you can may. I'm going to put it over here for continuity. Yeah. So we can make sure that it doesn't as Lauren say co star. Okay. I know. Thank you. Yes. Let the audience come to you. And keep your jug on the floor. Try to get your jugs all the way to the floor of your game. Hi, Fred. Hi. You did a beautiful congratulations on this. Thank you. I'm so happy that you're here. I'm really happy to be here. I know that you do not like to do interviews. Well, and my first question is just something very, very simple, which is, what is God's plan for us? God has gone. God has jumped ship. God is taking a break. And God do a different universe. God was like, yikes. This was a miss and I shall. I'll let them do it. Yeah, we are. Da, da, do, capital D. Dood. No, I know that you don't like love interviews, but I think. What is so special about you, Kate? As I feel like you just deep end it pretty fast. Like you like deep and complex conversations. Bless you for saying so. I would, I'd like to, what is your sign? Virgo. Got it. Capricorn. Oh, of course. Good. Finally, finally a reasonable person. And your Myers-Briggs. E and T.J. Got it. Good. What's yours? Yes, your definite eye. And also your enneagram. Four. Wing five. Of course you're a four. What are you? I'm an eight. And that's the one wing nine. I'm the challenger. The challenger. And you are the romantic ascetic. The ascetic. The ascetic. I was going to say, I'm the ascetic. No, no, I'm the ascetic. Oh, look at so funny. I don't know. Yes. Wait, but what is eight to get? Eight is the challenger. So eight is the likes to lead. There's problems with vulnerability. So like, doesn't go with feelings first, action first. Four is lots of feelings. Yeah. Right? So if you're at Thanksgiving, the eight is maybe at the table arguing about vaccines or something. The four is in the basement looking through photo albums of old Thanksgiving. Yes. Would that make sense? Yes. And saying stuff like, it's all over. Yes. Okay. Awesome. Like, we are doomed. Like God is God is God is God. And I need you also to know that my face is covered in poison. I can't see. Okay. Can't see one piece of evidence for it. Can't see at all. You're incredible makeup artists. Yes, who we love. Cassie. Yes, Garcia. Also, I work with. Yes. Incredible. I'm not sure if you're going to be able to see it. I remember so clearly, I believe we were in, maybe we were at the Kennedy Center Honors in DC or something. And I was telling you about my desire to go to the woods. And you were like, in New York, the nature that we have is our pets. And we need more nature than that. And so that I always had that in my head. And I, um, I did it. You did it. How does it feel? It's the best. I belong on the homestead. Yeah, I believe it. I believe it. Did you feel that way when you were younger? Did you feel an affinity to nature? Were you that kind of person like young kid who liked to be in the woods? I loved bugs and science and making nature crafts. I remember making little bits of mud and putting them in places. And I remember every time we went to a seafood restaurant, I would say, "Mom, can I take the empty clam muscle and lobster shells home with me and put them in the bathtub?" And after rinsing them of marinara sauce, she would let me put them in the bathtub and I would get in with them. And I would get in with them. alone, like I liked getting on my bike and riding through the neighborhood, like feeling alone. But talk to me about without, you know, obviously revealing anything to personal, what is your homestead? What do you do on your homestead? Talk to me about what happens there. Are you farming? I think the reason I've done it is that I believe very much that we are doomed and I want. My goal is surviving the apocalypse four days. Okay, that's it. If I can make it to four, I will have achieved something along weekend, like a holiday weekend. That's such a good, that's such a funny thing to think about is what it would take for four days. It's more food than you think, obviously. It is. Yeah. And I would, I know I wouldn't make it past two hours, but I'd like to think that I could go 48 and I would be crying the whole time as a four wing five. But I would like the lack of invitations to social gatherings in the apocalypse. That would be fun. Okay, you are a true introvert, which I am ashamed of because I love people. I am fascinated by and love to talk to and listen to people. But the word fascinated is the part you are fascinated by people. People are, that's what I think I feel from you is a fascination and a curiosity about the world and people. That is what is so compelling about being around you is you are very curious about many things. But I've sensed that people in general, like a lot of people, it's just, it's not really your gig. It's just like one on one people feels like or two on one, or are you like it? One on one, two on one. But you know, but when we were talking about you going like getting back in a nature and kind of checking out, I think it was in the context of New York City being overwhelming and being there for a long time because you lived in the city for how many years? Twenty. And you were on a, on SNL for how many years? And every day you saw hundreds of people. This is the poison I was just a big up a hair excuse me. At any point you need a cold contrast. Sure. And so you were like, but it was fascinating that you were in a bustling city on a bustling show. And it makes total sense that you want to go somewhere and just get a little bit quieter and more peaceful after that experience. How does an introverted person like you, how did you make that? Managed the hugeness that was that show. It's such chaos. Do you want me to do an impression of myself at the after party? Yeah. Okay. So you are, let's say you're an agent that I know. Great. Okay. And I'll just be talking to you. Okay. Really close. Really cool. Tell me about your parents. You know, that kind of thing. Yeah. You wanted, but that's what I'm talking about. You like a one-on-one connection. You like people. You want connection. I really do. Yeah. When I watch you on SNL, you're so connected to what you're doing. You're very relaxing to watch because you don't seem nervous. I'm better than I was. You don't seem. But you don't seem. But was that all, am I getting it totally wrong? Like was inside a whirly, whirly swirly or was inside kind of peaceful when you, were you in the zone when you would perform? Oh gosh. Always terribly nervous, horrifically nervous. Less so at dress. I always felt I did it. I did my best at dress and then air was just less good because I was thinking about the cameras. But when it was just dress and just, I could really sometimes, if I was really in it, feel like I was in dialogue with the people in the audience and like we were sharing something. You know, I feel like sketch is like you see something that you love that delights you and you're like just showing it to people and then you're like, do you guys like it too? Because I think this is funny and if they do, then then you're like, you have a connection and I felt sometimes like I was just with friends. I mean, Lauren said that I'm sure it should feel like you're in your living room playing. Oh, it's good. And I did get to that point. You definitely did. I mean, first of all, we got to see, I mean, this might make you uncomfortable this kind of praise, but I feel like this. Here she goes. Okay, hold on. Hang on. Praise is coming. Okay. Praise is coming. There are people on that show that I felt were natural on that show. No, whether or not they felt natural is their own personal story. But you, Maya Rudolph, this is my opinion, you, Maya Rudolph, Dana Carvey, Will Farrell, who just kind of came onto the show, fit right in and just became just like instant captains, just instant crushers, just so good at that show because that show needs a specific kind of something. I don't know. I don't even know. And I always felt that from you, just this calm confidence when you were performing. And it's interesting to know that inside, you were not feeling that way. What did you do when you were not feeling like you did well? Like how did you manage that feeling? I mean, I can't think of any time you didn't do well, but it's so fun. I'm sure you felt that. They were planning it. Desperate failures. That haught me even now. I know a lot of failures and they still sometimes, I'll think of something that didn't work or that I didn't, I just couldn't get there in time with the writing or the performing and it still stings. And I still feel shame and that, you know, and that's on me. But I also have made the terrible mistake of reading stuff, reading stuff, which I truly wish I could go back and have never looked at the internet because it has, you know, that haunts me as well. And also, you just cannot remember the good things. You just can't remember. No. For the hundred good things, you just can't conjure them up, but the one bad one, you'll never forget. Yeah. There are phrases that I have read that not even that mean, right? Sure. Not unfounded. Things with a kernel of like thoughtful critiques that I agreed with that have ruined my life that will be on your head. Okay. But so when you were, like, did you have any, okay, talk, like, were you, did you like to rehearse all the time? Were you in your room rehearsed? Did you go, were you the kind of performer who go, you're in your room before you're doing your sketch, quiet and intensely working on it? Did you like to play around and stay loose before seeing? Because I didn't really ever get a chance to work with you very much. We only did a few small things together. Did you like to be alone and get ready for stuff or did you like to stay loose and, you know what I mean? Yeah. I think I mostly like to wing that. I, there were, like, I don't know if you can relate if it was like a just a two person scene that was like really a scene that required, like, your eyes are so beautiful. I'm mine. Yes. My God, Kate. You know what? You should. You should. You should. I'm like the sun. And I'm having trouble concentrating on what I was saying. I, um, I do. My queen, my queen. Um, I, if it was like a two person scene with a lot of lines, yes, I would try to not memorize but become very intimately familiar with the lines. I could feel that that you like to know your lines, which some people don't really try to do because people don't know, but it changes a lot at SNL. So sometimes you're a little screwed if you know your lines too well. Right, right. Um, so if it was like not changing that much, it was like a, like more acting. Yeah. I mean, I would sort of like to like run through it a few times, but otherwise I, I liked to, uh, wing it. Um, that's what I mean is you have, you had a very groovy flow and a lot of the stuff they did. And so who knew, babe, that inside was, you know, a bunch of mice carrying ladders and stuff like, like who knew? And so when we talked about you, like, hit in the road and get in home stedding basically, what I feel like was underneath that was like, here's the new next chapter of chapter of the version of my life. Like, you know, if my life is a book. I'm interested in what the next chapter is. What is the, what would you like, what would you title this chapter of your life, post-SNL? Growing, growing your own food, prepping for the apocalypse. - My goodness. - What would you say, what era are you in? - Getting real. - Getting real. - Or 41. (laughing) - Or getting, getting within a positive heat, getting real. (laughing) - Well, let's be honest, I feel like I had one dream. One dream, it was SNL. Did it? Done. Loved it. Awesome. Not quite sure. Not quite sure what to really be like single-minded about. I love filming movies and the small amount of episodic television. - What do you love about making movies? - I love being able to, I love going somewhere for a month or two and walking around and falling in love with 80 new people and the circus, the camp of it, the summer camp. You went to camp? - I never did. - Oh my God. - I know, I went to a day camp, but I never went away. I would have loved to have gone away from home. But yeah, just this idea that you had this stolen time almost in another place. - You can be anything. And I love that. And I also love, I just love movies. I think they're wonderful. - Yeah. - As a medium. And I love doing a scene as scripted and then trying it 80 different ways and they pick the best one. And as opposed to like you've got one shot, one opportunity to seize everything you ever wanted. Are you capture it or will you let it slip? - Do not miss your chance. 'Cause opportunity comes once in a lifetime. But that was what SNL was. - Yes. - So you did it so well. So you feel like you, yeah, I hear what you're saying. It's like, okay, I did that. I did that to the best of my ability. Now I wanna, you know, practice my backhand basically. Or not even my backhand, just try a new shot. - Yeah, totally. Like I loved doing pre-taped pieces because for that very reason, and I have loved, truly loved every experience I've had working on a film. So I'd love to do more of that. And I, but there's only so many hours in a year that, you know, SNL took up so much of all of our lives. And when it's over, it just leaves a time hole. And so I had to film my time home. - And that's the name of your workshop. - You feel your time home with Kate McKinnon. - And so I've done that. I've tried to be useful in growing food. And I've also taken up carpentry as well. - Okay, I've heard about this. - Can you talk to me about the materials you're using? Because I know a little bit about woodworking from Nick Offer. - Right from Nick Offer. - Have you spoken to Nick? - I've never, no, like I've meant to. - He has an amazing workshop and he's such a good teacher and share of knowledge. And tell me what you like about woodworking and carpentry. What's your favorite part? - It is, well, I think it's in Magines because my grandfather was a woodworker. My father was an architect. And I just, I love the practicality of, you can manipulate this material and then you can spend time in it. - Yeah. - How crazy is that? You can sit on it. I love to sit on things I do. (laughing) It's just so much, it's a sketch, a book, a something it's so effemorable. And to say, I will sleep on what I did today. - Yes. - It's like, real. That's like life, you know? - That's cool. - Do you like to work with what kind of wood? - I've been doing mostly trim carpentry which is moldings and paneling. And I've been using reclaimed hemlock for that mostly. - You've been making your own moldings? - Yes. - I thought I was the only one. Then I'm backstage at that SNL 50 concert. I'm talking a brandy carl oil. - She's doing trim carpentry. (laughing) - I'm like, brand, of course you are. She's like, John Stewart's doing his trim. I'm like, (laughing) turned out, it's trite what I'm doing. Everyone's doing trim carpentry. You're doing trim carpentry, I know. I mean, people think I'm doing trim carpentry, but I'm not. So when you're making stuff, like it was something like, when you're working with wood, what happens when you make a mistake? - I feel, 'cause I'm asking, I'm very intimidated by working with wood. I feel like if you measure wrong, you're fucked like you can't. What do you just kind of, - I put it up inside the home anyway. - Yeah, I have absolutely decreased the property value of that with my shoddy work. Yes, I know that I have. - It is not brandy carl oil level. - No. - Nothing is. - That's true. - That's true. What do you wanna make? What's the dream thing you wanna eventually make? Do you wanna move on from molding and moldings and do you wanna make furniture? - Do you make furniture? - I have, I made a table. - Dang. - That was cool. But honestly, I would like to move into plumbing and electrical. I would like to have all the skills of a general contractor. - I love that. I love that. - You love that? - Well, because the end is near. You know, we have to, well, someone's got a wire at the shelter. - Yeah, exactly. If we're gonna get one more day in that shelter, we're gonna need have it. And we're gonna need to fix the toilet. - Yeah. (laughing) - Yeah. - I so, I'm late, I'm late. I mean, I have no doubt you will. I have no doubt you'll learn about plumbing. And, - I mean, that's the way it's the way. - You think so? - Well, it's someone's job for a reason. (laughing) - Yeah, that's a way to-- - That's a two-year certificate at minimum. - Yeah. - So, but yes, I would like to acquire all of those, the skills that can make a home function for four days. (clapping) (clapping) - Well, what I like about this conversation is that I feel like we're going out in the woods and then we're coming back into the city. - Yeah. - Back and forth. So, coming back into the city, if I can. - Yes. - Can you speak about the last show of you, or yours at SNL? Because I remember that feeling very powerful, I'm very moving and I think we spoke about it and it was for you. It was a very beautiful send-off where you walk up into the stairs. As Ms. Rafferty. - Yeah, yeah. - Meeting the aliens. - Finally, maybe, we don't know. (laughing) - Finally meeting, you know. Or them taking you away, or you willingly going, we don't know. - Yeah. - What do you think happened to her and you? But that walk up the stairs and like the wave, goodbye, it was really beautiful. - That's really cool. What was your last show like? - I thought it was really beautiful too. It was not my pitch. That was Streeters, I don't know, in my key day. Came up with that. My pitch was that I did this character, Sheila Sovange. - Oh, yes. - The bar fly. And my pitch was that I would tongue every single person when you get this. (laughing) - In a line and, you know, I thought ultimately that the alien thing was a little more meaningful. (laughing) - And had a better tone. So we went with that. So everyone narrowly missed sucking my face. - A good vice, a good vice, a good vice. - A good vice. - But that was very emotional because it was, I mean, you did over 200 shows or something. - You did over 200 shows or something. And those people are everything to me. - Jenna. - Yeah. - Chris Kelly, everybody. And Lauren, who has been a surrogate father to me. And I could cry now thinking about what he has been to me in my life as I'm sure we all could have done. - What, can you speak a little bit? What has he been? What has he done to, like what was your relationship with him? Like, my father passed away. I was 18. I loved my father beyond. And he, Lauren just was nothing but paternal. And when you have somehow by the grace of whatever earned the esteem of a man like that, a man who's that like larger than life, it just, it means everything. And so I was like, just sad to go. I had, I had to, I had reached a point where I was like yawning during the show. And that just did not, that was not working for me physically anymore. Yeah. And there, there you have it. So it didn't mean I wanted to get away from those folks. You love those folks. The folks. And boy Kate, they love you. You know who loves you so much? And there's a million people who do. Seth Meyers. God. He loves you. He, you are, he just is like, and again, praise coming in, prepare. But you were just such a natural captain when you were in there on that show. You just, you led that show through a lot of years and you were in a lot of sketches. And you were doing a lot. You were, you were carrying a lot on your shoulders in that show, whether or not you felt it or not. And you were, you were being asked to do really big, playing like really important people at important times, whether it's Hillary Clinton or Rudy Giuliani or like you were playing all the, it was the world, you, the world is nuts. And it's weird. And I know from experience, 'cause we both played political figures to play people in real time that are also existing in real time in the world. And there's real world consequences. And it's very strange. (laughing) - Yes, yes, yes. (laughing) Yeah. - What was it? - How did it feel? Did you feel in your responsibility when you were playing anybody? Or did you have to kind of let that go and not worry about it? - No mama, I felt a lot of, I felt a lot. - Yeah. - I'm sorry, just to talk about Seth for one second. - Yes, let's go back to Seth. - When Seth left. It was in February. That was another that I felt like. I only overlapped with him for two or three years or so. But he and he is not very much older than me, but I felt like he was like, had a paternal thing and like when he left, oh my God, I was so crushed. And I forget that life goes on and you like, you form, you know, other connections and stuff, but that was like, oh, I love that guy. - Yeah. - Oh God, I love that guy. - Yo, ex, any horse. What were we saying about to live a politics? - To live a politics. - Politics, you know what? - Politics. Well, it's a double-edged sword. I felt, and let me know how this lands for you. - Yeah. - But I felt it was a double-edged sword in that. I felt like I was really doing something with my life, something meaningful, being engaged in the most peripheral possible way in culture, in history, in the, like, yeah. Just on the sidelines, putting on a wig, right? You know, doing little songs about whatever was actually going on, but like, being in the smallest way, a part of that felt like I was doing something meaningful. And with that came, you know, like, there was one article that was like, will she hurt Hillary Clinton? - Oh God. And I was like, oh God, y'all. (laughing) Y'all. - Shouldn't read. - Should not have read. - Right. - Should never have looked, but that, like, that notion, just broke my brain. And like, obviously, no one, I think, doing a satire has the power to actually influence, but I did not want to hurt anybody. Even people I vehemently disagreed with politically. Like, I still didn't want to ever hurt anyone's feelings. And so, yeah, there was some balancing to do there. - Did you ever meet anybody while you were dressed as them? - Yes, I met Secretary Clinton, Senator Warren. That was awesome. (laughing) - Oh my gosh. - Oh, you guys did a really fun, you guys did like a TikTok switcheroo. - Yeah. - She was like, after there was some vote on the floor of Congress, I believe it was, on January 6th, about, I forget what it was, and all the Democrats were saying no, and all the Republicans were saying, yes, I forget what about, but they were going down the list, calling the names of all the Democratic senators, and everyone was saying, no, no, no, and then it got to her and she was like, no! (laughing) - And then, I know it's the question you get asked all the time, but I do love this question, which is, well, too. Did you ever go on the server and watch sketches that bombed? We used to watch our sketch. Do you kind of like it when sketches bombed a little bit? Like, did you ever enjoy that? And did you ever rewatch a sketch that didn't make it? We used to go and watch our sketches from dress that bombed, and just like, oh, and just watch it together, like you know, kind of like cross us together. And it was just like such a nice feeling, basically just a reminder that everybody bombs, basically. Did you ever do that? Yes, there were a few hits that we would watch over and over again. (laughing) There was one rehearsal where a person, I won't say, who simply stopped doing this sketch and sat down on the stage. Sure. That was a fun watch. - Yeah. - Yeah, just stuff like that. - Yes, yes. - We had a host again, I won't say, who like halfway through just kind of fell asleep a little bit. - Yeah. - And it was like, this was during dress and was like, okay, well, I guess the characters asleep now. - Don't blame 'em, agree? - It's laminated. - And it's a tough gig. - Did you find that hosting was so much harder than you could have ever imagined? - Yeah, I wanted to be back with the, I didn't want to be, yeah, I know. I wanted to be like, I kept being like, where are you guys doing over there? Like I kept wanting to be over there. Yeah, yeah. And who did you love? Who, what host did you love? Like, then you just think about, you're just like, oh my God, that's so like. - I remember really living Amy Adams. - Yes. - And we blunt. - Yes. - Those are the two that pop into my mind. But just I loved, I loved actresses who were wonderful comedic actresses and also actresses. - Oh, that's so interesting. At what time was your first? - I enjoyed weirdly often athletes because they wanted to be coached. And they would be like, how do you want me to say it? How do you want me to do it? And I'd be like, oh, thank God. This is exactly how I want you to do it. You know, and they felt really good about that. Like there was no, and they would, if they scored, they were like, yay. And if they didn't, they were like, this isn't my gig. Like they just, they didn't feel, and it relaxed me. It relaxed me when athletes would host. Or people like that. People who are just like, this is so weird that I'm here. - Charles Barkley of her host, when you were there. - No, did you love, oh my God. - You loved him? - Now there's a funny athlete. Jesus Christ. He may be the funniest man alive. And I did do one of my bar fly sketches with him. So I have, his tongue has been in my mouth. And I, it was nice. - Fantastic. Okay, so we do this thing on the show where we talk to people before our interview. I don't know if you know this. We talk well behind their back. We talk to somebody who knows them, and they give me a question to ask them. So we talk to Adi Bryant today, the great Adi. Oh, here we go. Dearest waterworks. Adi and you, like tell me a little bit about what Adi, what it meant to have Adi there when you were there and like working with her. What was your relationship like? - I mean, she taught me about like so much about comedy, but she also taught me about just like being a person. Comedy is, I mean, she's a genius, but like just one of the most solid people I've ever known. And I, she just, she, like when I moved into my apartment, she was like invest in your base, which she was basically telling me to like get kind of, okay, furniture, which like I wasn't planning to do it. (laughing) But she just, I think in many ways, she taught me how to live. And how to be okay, even in silence, I was like, okay, this is my sister. Everyone here is my friend, this is my sister. (laughing) - We were rewatching the sketch of you in '80, as I think it was Henrietta and Ann, the PowerPoint ladies who couldn't get the PowerPoint to work. - It was, I was reminded-- - 15 more of those. - I was reminded of that the other day. And I was asking the Calhurona, did you come up with the phrase, "Did you file?" And she said, "No, that was 80." - Did you files? I like when 80 says, when 80 says, I don't think I can learn anything anymore. (laughing) I don't think I can learn anything new anymore. - Oh my God. - That, and, okay, so 80 had a question for you, which is, she had two great questions for you. One is, ask Kate what she used to carry her hair extensions around in. (laughing) - Do you remember? - It was a tiny linen drawstring polka dot bag that I think she gave me? - Okay. - Great. It seemed like an item that 80 would have 'cause it was polka dot it. - Yeah. - And it was like sweet and drawstring. - Okay. So I'm gonna take your word for it. Well, there's no way we can check. And then, but the second question was, what would be your ideal day? 'Cause we were kind of talking about, what we were talking about earlier that, there's this part of you that loves that feeling of performing and being, you know, meeting 80 new people and being on the road and being part of the circus. And then there's a part of you that wants to kind of be in the woods and in nature and be in kind of a peaceful version of your life. What is Kate McKinnon's perfect day? How would it go? - I would wake with the sun. I would garden for a couple hours, do carpentry for a couple hours, and then gather my mother and sister, the loves of my life, or some other folks that I love and make pasta together and eat it. - From scratch. - Damn. That was my 40th birthday party. It was a pasta making party with my family and my best friend and her family. - That sounds great. - My 40th birthday party. - Yeah, my 40th I was still filming Parks and Rec, so it was like a bar somewhere in the middle of filming. My 50th I had a dance party. And that was so fun because I love dancing and I prefer dancing over talking. - Yes. - Do you like to dance? - I love to dance and I also prefer dancing. Like I will leave a party after 10 minutes if it's just talking because I can't. - 80s said the same thing that you two gave each other a lot of permission to leave parties, which is what friendship is all about. Okay, we're gonna talk about your incredible book because, and I wanna talk to you about books, but I wanna just do a very quick rapid fire. Number one, gardening tip. Or any gardening tip. - Chh-chh-chh, compost. - It's all about hankan. - Okay, I can't make compost. - Oh, god. - No, it's a pain in the ass. - Yeah, I gotta do it. - Yeah. - Okay. - No, it's terrible. - Favorite ice cream flavor. Chocolate fudge brownie? - You said that really casually. Do you not like ice cream? - No, I love it. - Okay. - Favorite childhood movie. - The producers. - Mm-hmm. - We watch the producers every week in our house. (laughing) - Favorite books growing up. - Rolled doll. And I love to good at lists. I love to book about geography. - Do you, are you good at geography? - Cultures of the world. - I do love geography. - Do you have a good geographical sense? - I would say yes. - When you're standing somewhere, you wanna know where North is and you talk that way. Like it's west of the highway. - Yes. - And you know where countries are. - I do. - That I do. - That's great. - I love the countries and I love to know their capitals and I love knowing countries and capitals. It's a hobby. - I'm gonna give you one. - Argentina. - Buenos Aires. - Aides. - Canada. - Ottawa. - China. - Beijing. - Costa Rica. - Well now that is it San Juan? - Close. - No, it San Jose. (laughing) - Is it? - Yeah, San Jose. - Please go. Okay, thank you. (laughing) Let's see Ethiopia. - Adiz Ababa. - Dang. (laughing) - Hungry? - Budapest. - Iran. - Tehran. - Libya. - Tripoli. - And the last one is the capital of Senegal. - Is it, no, Acra is the capital of Ghana and the capital of Senegal is, fuck me. - I knew this. - I really, it's with an R. - Yeah, there's an R at the end. - It's Dakar. - Yes! - Fuck. (clapping) - Shit. (laughing) - Kate, that's impressive. - Hobby. - In fact, during a read through at SNL, when I wasn't in any sketches, I just was practicing my capitals. (laughing) - For fun. - So let's talk about the Millicent Quib School of Atticate for Young Ladies of Mad Science. Your second book. Incredible. Congratulations. - Thank you. - You have a series now, the Millicent Quib series, and you have one and two. And two is out. - Yes. - And is a New York Times bestseller. - Tell us about this book, why you wrote it, what's it about? - I. - Yeah. - Well, I started writing it 12 years ago before SNL. - Amazing. - And then I just kind of kept at it intermittently throughout that time. And I love middle grade literature. Because I think it has things in common with sketch comedy, i.e. funny hair and funny names. (laughing) - And a sense of hope. - Yeah. - Right. - Questions of identity and questions of belonging. You know, a sketch is often about a fly in the ointment, an odd man out. - I wanted to write about being a 12 year old girl in a repressive turn of the century town. I didn't grow up in a repressive turn of the century town, but I grew up in a town with, you know, normal folks. And I felt like a freak. I think every 12 year old feels like a freak. And I loved science and I loved bugs and I loved like, icky stuff. And I had, I was fortunate enough to have adults in my orbit who were funny and weird. My parents among them and a lot of my teachers. And I think having that kind of a mentor who celebrates what is unique about you instead of stepping on it is absolutely instrumental. And so I want to write about a mad scientist who's a pariah in this town who takes these little weirdos under her wing and teaches them mad science and they fight the bad guys and have adventures. And I wanted to write something that hopefully would inspire young people to go outside for the first time in days. (laughing) - Touch your breath. Touch your breath. - And I mean, the times of my childhood that which was before cell phones, which are just the best time. I mean, one day, me and Alexis North found like a fox skull in like someone's hedges and like there was an earwig in it. And it was the great talk about the best day of my life. Oh my God, the earwigs in that fox skull, we were just like, the world is a magic. - It's made of magic. And I wish children had some more access to that kind of stuff. - Yes, yes. - And I wanted to inspire them to go outside and touch your buck. - Okay, well, I feel like, you know, this interview started with you worrying that you weren't going to be funny or something. Like, remember that? - I feel I wasn't. (laughing) - I'd like to start again, please. - You're not? (laughing) - You're so nuts. (laughing) But I want to finish this thing. Last thing, which is, I think people in comedy are all, as we know, they're all different kinds of people. Do people come up and expect you to be a certain way? And are they surprised when you are quieter and more reserved or more introverted than they expect you to be? I think they are and sometimes they're disappointed and vocal about that. I've gotten a lot of, wow, you're not funny in real life. Or, speak up. What? I've gotten, I've gotten, you're so serious for a comedie. Yeah. You're being very serious. Oh, you're being very serious. Well, or, oh, that's not funny. I've had that. I'm sorry, it isn't. It wasn't very funny. Anyway, nice to meet you. Oh, shit, I got to ask you one question. Oh, fuck, I forgot one question. And it's the best question and it's the best one to ask you. Go for it. What is making you laugh these days? What are you watching, reading, listening to, watching a video of when you need to lighten up? I'll tell you. There's a man on YouTube. Can't wait for Australia. He cleans drains. He clears, hopefully, hopelessly disgusting clogged restaurant drains filled with grease. I love unclogging videos. This man, this is the earth saying this. You never see his face. He is enthusiasm on two feet. He says, he'll say, oh, you guys, these, he's what dreams are made of. Can you believe we get to be clearing these drain? These ones, chalk a block. Let's fire up the jet. Oh, you little ripper. Come on, you good thing. Like he has like, freight and it's about. And then he'll be like, oh, these are cockroach. Oh, there's some corn there. Toilet paper. Oh, this is what dreams are made of. And I just, I love enthusiasm. And I would recommend it's called drain cleaning Australia. Okay, I'm just going to watch one little thing before he does that. Oh, amazing. Drain cleaning Australia. Also, I love his, his commentary about what he finds. Okay, stand by. This one says, sewage spraying into the sky. Is that good? Okay, here we go. We're back. Oh, I never blocked dry light. And I'm just going to let the lovely castamin over here. Get out of my brush from dry and cleaning Australia. You're home. So he goes to him. He goes to meet the people first. Let's see. Let's. And he's. Oh, sorry. We got to come. You pay for you. You don't pay for you. You don't pay for you too. Are you kidding me? It's a price. They want me to pay to cut out the commercials. No. I'll wait until the skip button. Okay, here we go. You little ripper. (laughing) And wow, you can see all the tree roots still down there. So we punched a hole through the blocking. - I get it. - Tram roots are the least of his problems. Usually it's like, a doxxened-sized piece of hair or grease or human shit. It is, and he's like, "Woohoo! Woohoo! You little ripoff!" Kate, thank you for being here. Thank you. I can't tell if your eyes are green or blue. I think they're both, and it doesn't matter. They're just score-matches today. (laughing) All the matters is here. - Yay! (clapping) - Thank you, Kate McKinnon. You are so interesting to talk to, and I love being around you and your beautiful skin. Check out Kate's book, and in this polar plunge, I just wanted to talk about the books that I loved when I was in middle school. There were many, many series of books that I loved, but we talked a lot about home-steading today and growing your own vegetables and pulling potatoes out of the earth. And it made me think about Little House in the prairie and Laura Ingalls Wilder. God, I just, I loved those books. And here's a tip in my polar plunge. If you need to take a wonderful nap, put on an old episode of Little House on the Prairie and the sound of the clop of the horses and the music, and like (humming) and then Pa just coming in from the cold and somebody putting like a hot cake on the fire and it's gonna knock you out. You're gonna go right to sleep. So read the books, incredible books from Laura Ingalls Wilder. Watch the TV show and try to stay up as long as you can while you do. Okay, thanks so much for listening. Thanks Kate for being here. I love talking to you and see you soon, bye. (applause) - You've been listening to Good Hang. The executive producers for this show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weissberman and me, Amy Poler. The show is produced by the Ringer and PaperKite. For the Ringer, production by Jack Wilson, Kat Spalaine, Kaya McMollan, and Alayezan Eres. For PaperKite, production by Sam Green, Joel Lovell, and Jenna Weissberman. Original music by Amy Miles. ♪ I love the money, what's it really good, hey? ♪