Kristen Wiig

This episode is brought to you by PayPal. You know that shiny object you've had your eye on forever? Maybe it's the perfect gift for your mom, your friend, or yourself. Go on and add it to your cart because PayPal gives you the flexibility to buy what you love now and pay later. Shop your favorite brands like Gap, Nordstrom, and Target, then check out with PayPal or pay later with PayIn4. No late fees, no interest, just savvy holiday shopping. Shop now with PayPal. Subject to approval, learn more at PayPal.com slash PayIn4. PayPal, Inc., NMLS 910457. Hello, everyone. Welcome to another episode of Good Hang. Oh, this is a good one. We have comedy legend, Kristen Wiig. You may know Kristen from SNL, from Bridesmaids, from Barb and Star, from Palm Royale. We're going to talk about a lot of stuff today. We're going to talk about working together on a show at the same time. We're going to talk about Carol Burnett and how much we love Carol and everything she does. We're going to talk about The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and why I should start watching it immediately. And we're going to talk about her new movie, Gabby's Dollhouse. So that's out, and we're going to get into all of that good stuff. But we always like to start our shows with someone that knows our guest and can speak well, well of our guests behind their back and can give me a question to ask our guests. And we have another celeb. I mean, another comedy great. Another former SNL cast member who I had the privilege to share the stage with. And that is Bill Hader. You all know Bill Hader. Barry, SNL. What I need to say, you know. You know Bill. Bill? Bill? Can you hear me? I'm going to get my cans on. Woo-hoo! Get up, what do you say? All I ever wanted was a really good day. Hi! How's it going? It's going good. I'm Zooming you from the studio, and Wig is coming in today. Thank you for doing this. Oh, no problem. Thanks for having me. Of course. I hope I can get you in the stude. Oh, man, I'd love to. How's life? Life's good. We're just, like, yeah, just writing. You know, the girl, you know, Hannah's, you know, 16. Harper's 13. Haley's 11. Yeah, they're great kids. Yeah, just very sweet kids. So, very, very, very lucky. I mean, they play a lot of jokes. My 13-year-old yesterday scared the shit out of me. She sent me a, I was in bed reading, and she sent me a text, and I looked at it, and it was a picture from underneath my bed. And I go, and I hear under my bed, and I was like, fuck, oh, my God. And she was underneath my bed. And I was like, what the fuck is wrong with you? And she just was dying laughing. She was like, oh, my God. All right, good night. Good night. Just, like, just scared me. It was so creepy. I was like, why did you do that? She was like, I don't know. Just hid under my bed. Because she's your child. Yeah, my child. Yeah, exactly. Okay, so we're going to talk about wig. And, you know, I'm so, like, I'm getting ready for this interview, and I'm going to do an interview today with her. And it's like, I don't even know where to start with Kristen. She's so good, so talented. She's done so many things during SNL, after SNL. Like, she's had this incredible career on her own terms always. I mean, you two have done so much incredible work together on the show and in Skeleton Twins, which is just beautiful work from the both of you. And I guess, how would you describe Kristen as a, you know, as a friend and a performer? You know, Andy and I had started the show. Jason was already kind of, but we were all kind of in the same, we were freshmen all at the same time. And then Kristen came in, like, three shows later. So I remember going into her office and we were writing a Vincent Price sketch. And I was kind of like, I've been here for three weeks, so hey, newbie. I know where the bathrooms are. I know you have to change elevators at this floor. And she said, hey, do you, we're writing this, you know, Vincent Price thing, you know, if you have any old character or something, you know, it was like, Amy's playing a cigarette girl. Do you remember that? We used to Chesterfield cigarettes and you tap dance and Fred's doing something. And she went, oh, I'm, I'm a, maybe do Judy Garland. And I'm like, oh, what would that sound like? And she went, maybe like, oh, do you ever get the feeling that your hands are made out of sand? And I went, okay, you're really good. Then I was like, um, nevermind. Okay. I didn't realize who I was talking to. That's a really good line. And the impression was like spot on. She's just so good at like, at knowing how, what would work on the show too. Like just. That's a perfect. Yes. I always say like, I don't know if you've, I felt like here's what the show likes. Here's what I like. And I was trying to find this V then diagram. And like her, it was like the same diagram. It's like what she actually found funny. The show, it just, it worked on the show. And I watched her for seven years. And at every table read, I feel like she did something different. Yeah. She's such a crazy range. Yeah. The range. That's the word I'm looking for is I was like, how did she, how'd she do that? I know. She played this Italian guy once. I've never done a show, but she played this Italian man once. And he would just go, oh, oh yeah. And so I'd be like, I do. And he's like, oh yeah. Oh baby. Yeah. And I was like, where did you fucking get this? You know, when you're just like, where did that come from? And she's like, I don't know, you know, but she just kind of, it just felt very effortless to her in a way that I, I always really admired. And I really admired. And again, you know, you, you, you, Maya, you guys are this way. It was like before the shows, It was like, focus, but cool as cucumbers. Go out, do the show, come back, and just had this confidence. And she had that as well, you know? Yeah, she really did. It felt like she entered the show a fully formed cast member, ready to go. Completely, yeah. And she also made it look fun. Yeah. There wasn't like a science to it. I don't know if this makes sense. There was no like, equational thing. She was just being goofy. Yes. And it didn't seem disposable at the same time, though. And that's really hard. It was like, wow, that's a thing I'm going to remember. And that was fun, but she's still just loose and having fun with it. Yes, totally hear you. Does that make sense? I don't know. It's 100% the best way to sum her up. Like, I feel like when I was watching her do her sketches, I could sense her laughing about them the night before. I remember she did a Penelope sketch. And Liza Minnelli was in it at the end. The Liza Minnelli? The Liza Minnelli. Yes, the Liza. And she, and the thing was Penelope was always making things up. And it was like, oh, I can't do that because I'm going out with Liza Minnelli and a tomato tonight, right? And Liza Minnelli showed up at the end. And when Liza Minnelli came out on stage and goes, hey, Penelope, I just saw Kristen just try so hard. I was like, just hearing her go, hey, hey. And she had a tomato with her. She was like, hey, Penelope, me and tomato are excited to go out. Biting her lips. Like, found it so funny. Yes. Another one I'll say, the other one I remember was I was, I was a game show host and a thing when, when Maya hosted. And it came, it was a game show. She had written it with James. And she was, before the sketch even started, it started on air. Kristen was looking at me and laughing really hard. I didn't know why. She was just laughing and shaking her head. Like, your first line is so stupid. And I was kind of like, I think I, yeah. And then, and they had changed it between dress and air. And my first line was to Vanessa Bayer, who was a contestant. I go, before we went to the break, you said, you said the answer to the question was beef. I'm sorry. The correct answer was nine. And as I was saying it, Kristen was like, shaking her head and laughing like, I'm sorry, dude. We couldn't think of anything. Yeah. Like, that's what I think of her. It was just like, she's just having fun, you know? Yes. Yes. So well said. So well said. Okay. So do you have a question? Do you think I should ask her anything about anything? It doesn't have to be about SNL or comedy, but anything that I could ask her on your behalf or, I I'm just always curious if she was always that confident and that ability was that, was that a thing when she started at groundlings, did she come in going like, did she have, because as you said very well, she came in fully formed. And I was like, was it always that way because she had such a confidence in her ideas. Yes. Yes. That, that, that kind of, I remember asking her, I was like, how do you write this? Like, how did you do that? And she goes, I don't know. I just think it and I do it, you know? So she just, she's always got such a massive confidence in her ideas. That's a good, really good way to put it. wired that's a really good way to put it forte was kind of that way too totally would do a thing and you would go what how did you where did that come from and you know that look in their eyes where they're like it never occurred to them that that might be a crazy idea or yeah like my character has remember i was in a sketch of hers and i feel like a character either i did or a character had pepperoni nipples like nipples of pepperoni i was like where'd you come up with that it was like looking at you like well we're on a sketch show i would take it too literally i don't know but yeah that would be a question i was like yeah where did that was there ever a moment early days where it was that learned and honed or did that did she just come out that's a great question thanks bill i know chris is going to be so psyched we talked today thank you so much for doing it all right thank you thanks buddy talk to you soon bye this episode is brought to you by wayfair who are all about making your home into a happy place and trust me i know look we used wayfair to outfit our green room here we have a little extra room next to us where people wait to get ready to come on good hang um they get psyched up they get pepped up they do their vocal exercises whatever they need to do and wayfair has outfitted it i mean we have chairs and tables and couches and everything you know makes it comfortable and nice and the overall experience is just amazing and i'm so happy to be here with you today and i'm so excited to be here with you today and i'm so excited to be here with you today and i'm so excited to be here with you today it's been wonderful so why not find something that makes your home your happy place head over to wayfair.com and find something that's just your style today that's w-a-y-f-a-i-r.com wayfair every style every home hi bud thank you for doing this you know i know you don't do a lot of interviews i feel very i feel honored i mean you know yes you do what you need to do for work exactly but you and and you follow through with your obligations with that oh yes yes i do my job yes yes but you don't love to you know um you want to kind of keep your your life private yeah yeah and like if i'm promoting something i'm happy to talk about that sure but you know there's such a the line is so blurred now i'm happy to discuss anything with you because you're my friend but you know i know it's it's when it's someone that you don't know and they're asking you certain personal things you're a little bit like you know i'm not sure if that's the right word but i'm not sure if that's the right word but i'm not sure if that's the right word i don't know i know and also i learned something from you many years ago that i think about all the time which is also i mean i what i love about how you interact with your work is like you put it out there but you don't necessarily you kind of just like put it out there and it's out there i don't want to know i know and it's such a great it's very healthy because it doesn't matter i know i know it doesn't actually i remember sandberg telling me a long time ago like during snl you can read a million reviews and you can quote the bad ones like word for word like i can remember things people said about me oh yeah so i like i just haven't having this movie come out this kid's movie and i texted my publicist and i was like don't send me anything yeah like i will probably call her at some point and say did they hate it right do they like it but i don't want to be sent because it just gets in your brain and it's not what your experience is yeah i don't know i i'm easily i'm sensitive too that's same and i you said something to me that i think about all the time which is i had like an evening where i was or whatever wore an outfit felt good in it had a good time and then went home and saw the picture of it and just was like or like just felt really sad and you were like oh i don't like i don't do that i don't look at pictures after an event or something like i trust that where what you know like i just kind of like remember the feeling of it and i'm working with great people and i when i head out the door i feel good and i like like leave it at that and i think about it all the time because bigger than like how we look it's just like the idea of like the world weighing in on your mental on your own and believe me i got there because i would go and look and then i would just feel horrible i'm like but wait why do i feel bad i know i thought i liked it and then in my mind i'm like well now did i i just yeah i know yeah so i i think about you all the time when i do try when i try not to look at pictures of myself um but we are going to um change our faces into cats for this oh great we're gonna put a cat filter i want yeah we're gonna put i'm gonna have flames coming out we're gonna be it's gonna be babies this is good hang babies and we're gonna i want to look 30 years younger but naturally you look incredible you look incredible and i do feel like you are like i an introvert but i do think you're probably more introverted than people would assume right i would agree with that and i find people are often disappointed no but it's true i think also because our people know us our origins into the public life is comedy so people think if you're at a dinner table and someone says kristin tell that story and 14 people look at you that's my nightmare i'm so bad at it i'm really bad and and i was talking to my husband i was like i'm really bad at like telling stories and he's like yeah he's like i've noticed you're you are and i was a little shocked but then it made me realize that like it's true i i don't like that i don't yeah i'm not good at it halfway through i realize everyone's looking at me and then i'm like how did this how does this end i'm like i'm not and some people are so good oh yeah and some people when they go in to tell a story they like settle in like here we go like a warm sweater and i'm in and i'm like don't stop because i don't want people to ask me to tell a story i know because it's it is it is like i mean there's so much to talk to you about today and like i like i don't even know where to start because there's so much good stuff to talk about i want to talk about groundlings and i want to talk about the beginnings of things because i feel like i don't think a lot of people know your beginnings of things like what what were you like as a kid were you it's like i don't know i don't know i don't know you said that you didn't know you said you had no like big plans to be an actor or performer at all no no i mean i i would like watch movies and be like oh yeah i want to do that but i think that's like everybody wanted to were you ever like in a school play or or you know no i mean i an attention seeker in any way i think maybe a little bit just from like my parents getting to being like i'm gonna cause trouble oh you became a little bit of a troublemaker yes i did i did and i don't know if that turned into like but you caused a little problem i didn't i'm not bragging about it i feel terrible especially now that i'm a parent well but what kind can you share any i mean i was got detention a lot i was suspended a handful of times i've had police come to my house for like a prank prank phone calling stuff okay but still they came yeah um and that was scary but i was i think because and i and i i'm bringing it back to like parents divorce which don't turn this off it's gonna be funny um uh it really affected my life yeah and i think i went into like my friend group which i think happens a lot where if things are like uncertain at home like your friends become your family and i was just always with my friend and always sleeping over at other people's houses and some of the people i was hanging out with were like uh troublemakers i guess and i just kind of like got in with a little bit of the wrong crowd i think young and then i moved when my mom moved to rochester and i moved with her and at the time i was like i don't want to move these are my friends but thank god that like saved my life yeah it really is true like especially now that you have kids you know and we we know that like it that whoever you're around the proximity of who you're around can really dictate what kind of choices you make yeah i know and it's hard as a parent i know i mean my kids are five so i'm not i can't totally but even when my kids were five you'd see other five-year-olds you'd be like you gotta stay away from them i know you're like do you really want to have a play date with them really no are you sure i don't know because they seem nice yeah they're like and then you just pick up you just hold the phone upside down and you're like i just called their mom and they're not home they've moved they'll be at school on monday their mom said no more play dates okay so you but where do you grow up where where's hometown before rochester lancaster pennsylvania right and then rochester town yeah which also probably added to a little bit of the mischief like yeah because there wasn't a lot to do you know like playing playing that down at the creek and running through the cornfields i really was but yeah i i don't know i don't know if it's the place or just who i was hanging out with i don't know yeah and then is it really true that a psychic told you that you were being actress okay let me just clarify this story okay is that a fake story because fake news it's not totally fake um i'll give you like the short version but i i was living in arizona i was going to school there i was at the university of arizona in tucson and i did not really want to be there yeah and i just felt like i was supposed to be Somewhere else. um I was an art major and I just I wasn't like I wasn't connecting with something I did take an acting class it was like acting 101 I think that's what it's called um and I was terrified to do it because I hated speaking in front of the class like would skip school which is always the worst thing because then you have to come back on a different day and do the book report when everyone else is like we did this last week it's just even more awkward but I hated speaking in front of the class like I would just get anxiety so I didn't want to take this class I took it I loved it and I was like I don't want to be here I'm not supposed to be here and I do have this theory that if you ask yourself questions in the mirror you cannot lie to yourself and it's very uh yes that's deep like looking in the mirror and just being like where what do you want to do and it was like I want to move to LA and try to be an actor and that had kind of never come out of my mouth before it just seemed like something so yeah far I'm not I just didn't seem like anything that would ever happen so and at this time in Arizona I was like you know going to like spiritual bookstores as we do in our 20s getting crystal yeah oh my god pendulums of terror like I was like really in like a nice like healthy way yeah um and I wasn't like doing voodoo or anything um and I went into this bookstore and there was a sign that was like I swear it said like psychic mike it was like a dollar a minute and I was like I'm gonna go see that guy and I went in and I sat down and he was like oh give me your ring and he was like holding my ring and he was like he's like what are you doing here he's like why are you here he's like you should have been in LA like a year ago no way just swear on my life love it he could have said that to every person he's like what are you doing here that's what he says to every person and they're just like because no one knows you don't go into a psychic because you know what you're doing right exactly but I I like went home and packed up my car whoa and my because my roommate at the time lived in LA and I was like can I come stay with you didn't tell my parents packed up my car bad girl drugged my cat drove to LA and just quit quit quit school quit school dang you are a rebel wig yes you're a rebel it was very uh I think because I knew someone sure it was less scary um um um coming home and like going to LA and like going to LA and like going to LA and like going to LA but yeah and to like get an apartment and got a job I mean back then it was you only needed to know like one person to make a humongous career and life change it was like I'll just go same thing with me I knew someone who had graduated from college who was my old roommate who was living in Chicago so I was like all right I'll just move to Chicago like she's there like that's all you needed was one person and we didn't have like phones no or anything like that we just drove we just drove with like a map and a cat and a map and we were just like and then we just looked at and then the signs were just arrows yeah it just said Hollywood yeah it just said success Hollywood acting town and you just and you pulled up so you go to Groundlings what year do you get in Groundlings what year do you start I I waited a couple years because once I got to LA I was like I've never acted before oh so you didn't start right I was like what this town is full of every person here is trying to do that and I I got freaked out and I worked at like a hot dog restaurant and then I worked at anthropology and I was like doing all these like odd jobs and then um a friend of mine that I was working for when I was doing like painting I did a million jobs um he was like have you ever been to the Groundlings and I was like no what is it and he's like you should go he's like I just think you'd like it and yeah that first show I'd never seen improv I'd never seen like live sketch but it was like Jen Coolidge um Michael Hitchcock uh and I was just like this is what I want to do wow yeah this is it oh my god they're just making stuff up I was like I don't have to like read and say I don't have to like read and say I don't have to say a line a certain way that's like right or wrong I could just like do that and it was like nine it was that it was the 90s so you're doing sketch and improv and like like everybody like hoping to get on SNL yeah just like that was the goal yeah it was like and you're watching people go and get on SNL yeah and then Mad TV came out yeah that was the thing and a lot of people were auditioning for that right right because that was happening out here I remember there was that time when it was like you can audition for Mad TV and SNL like you like it was very like one or the other now and it was like babe no one's offering me either job you're like having imaginary conversations in your head about like if Mad TV asks I'm gonna say no it's like they're not asking well wait did you do sketch in college yeah I did like improv and like an improv group in college and we did like sketches at the end of the show and it was and you know it was I loved my improv group it was called my mother's flea bag which is like sure and um you know I love an improv group name oh yeah and my mother's flea bag had been around forever you know and it was like a little frat for like a little nerdy frat or sorority and we had all these rituals and customs and at the end of our show we would go it's it's it's my mother's flea bag like as if it was like live from you know like we were doing some like version of SNL and we would do sketches and improv oh that's so cute but you didn't do any sketch or improv in um University of Arizona no no no no no no amazing so then later you go can you I mean your audition for SNL is it is weird to like have auditions out in the world I don't know if did you watch any of the 50th stuff when they were showing I haven't watched see you don't watch it's good and I've never seen my audition I never want to ever see it because I did too okay you audition and then what happened well okay you auditioned then you got it and you turned it down I turned it down because mad tv was coming back no I uh I auditioned and then I didn't hear anything and then the season started and then you're like I'm not on okay I'm not there and then oh wait no how did it go maybe no no maybe that's wrong I auditioned no that's not right I auditioned uh didn't hear anything then they asked me to audition again and I was like I did everything oh I was oh that's a nightmare what okay I don't even know what was in that second audition and then and then I didn't hear anything and then the season started and that's when I was like I didn't get it no but then they called me and they were like can you you we'd love a spot for you whatever I forget can you come in like two weeks I'm finding that out that they hired you after the season had started yeah you guys had done three and then they were like come watch uh I I literally got there on like uh Friday I came I watched Lance Armstrong's show and then comedian comedy's Lance Armstrong but I remember being like what because to watch a show from the floor yeah no matter what is intense but knowing that I was starting on Monday and nobody no no one knew because nobody told anyone notoriously not good at onboarding no no they're not good at onboarding and then I just showed up on Monday but yeah but I I do remember going to the party and going outside and calling my friend and like sobbing because I was like what I was so overwhelmed I didn't like know anybody and I'm like in I was like in New York you know what I mean I didn't I didn't know the city and I was so scared yeah because I knew no matter what I was gonna be on and I just didn't know what like how do you get there from never even being on the floor yeah like eight days later or whatever like being on the show I mean the only thing I compare it to and I know it sounds kind of cheesy but it feels like it is like an emergency room where someone's like you're gonna have to save people's lives just watch what we're doing now like that was how it felt you were like and again it's not saving people's lives what we did but like it's like this really well-run emergency room where everyone knows what they're doing and they have a part and you're just like in everyone's way like do you need a scalpel no totally and they're like you have to know how to do this like no one's gonna teach you yeah or like you know we have a meeting in 10 minutes it's like no no no one told me no one told me did that happen when you were there oh my god I mean I started at 9-11 so they were that was your first show that's right when when when cut to commercial yeah when Rudy Giuliani said like why be funny and Lauren Lauren said can we be funny and Rudy Giuliani said why start now And the first responders were on stage. That was my first show. And it was like, and everyone was like, I think comedy is over. And, you know. But here. And I remember thinking, well, maybe like hang in there for six more months so I can just tell my parents that I did this show. Yeah, that was. And that was. Maybe I don't think I knew that. And talk about no, no, not, no one told you where the meeting was, but people were like fleeing the building. Yeah. Because there was anthrax in it. So. What? There was anthrax sent to 30 Rock in like two or three weeks and people were running out of the building. And I was like, where's everyone going? And they're like, we're leaving because there's anthrax in the building. I was like, so we should go. We should leave then. I don't want to get in trouble. So, yeah. So you and I both had. That's so wild. It's so, there was no, you know, there was obviously Shoemaker being one of them. Yes. Like great producers who took us aside and said like, make sure you do this, whatever. But it was, you were really thrown to the wolves, which I guess is kind of like how the show is. And I think that's why it's great. Yeah. I know. But, but Wig, from the minute you started and I did watch your audition and it's so good. And it's, it's every single character. Oh, I think every single character in your audition ends up being a fully realized character on the show, which is amazing. I don't, that can't be true. I think it's true. And you're so like, you arrive at that show, in my opinion, ready and confident to try what is the job, which is like to try. You're dumb ideas. Do you think it was the, it was, it was Groundlings that got you ready for that? Like, do you think that's what? I think Groundlings helped me realize what I do and my voice, like as a writer and as a performer. So I was kind of like, I'm going to do that. And if that doesn't work, then I know I'm not going to like work here. So I remember that first, like Tuesday, no, Wednesday read through. Yeah. Oh my God. Um, I was like, if they don't get it, like this, this is where I know if like, it doesn't translate beyond that theater on Melrose and that like, I'm in a different place. Do you know what I mean? Yes. But that's, that's, you know, okay. So we do this thing on the show where we talk to, we talk well behind people's backs. We talked to Bill Hader today and your brother and, um, and, and Hader and I were talking about you and how great you are. And we were saying that there's this feeling that we always got from you, which is exactly that, which is like, you were putting up stuff that made you laugh and you were like, well, this is what I enjoy. It was, you know, there wasn't that feeling of like, let me try to get something that might get on, or let me try to get something that might please the host or whatever. It was always like your confidence in your idea. And his question for you is the one that like, I feel like I'm asking right now, which is like, when, how did you get the confidence in your own ideas? Where did it come from? I, it's weird. Cause I don't see it as confidence. Um, I think I just kind of, I don't know. I'm just talking. I've never really answered this, but I think I kind of wanted to know where I was in the world as far as like my, uh, point of view. And like the more I would put up that I thought was funny, the more I could. I could kind of like hone what, what kind of works and what doesn't. Yeah. But I do remember Forte telling me once in his office, me saying something like, I don't know if Lorne would like this or, and he was like, don't do that. He's like, never write for, if you think someone else is going to think this is funny. He's like, write if like you think it's funny. And I, like, I always carried that with me. I mean, you and Will Forte share that. You guys both share that feeling of like. When it comes from either one of you, there's no doubt that the two of you have been laughing about it. And like, it like, you find it the funniest. Even though it might just die a slow death. But I love those times too. Yes, same. Like writing those. I remember you and I wrote something that to this day, like James and I quote when we were like performers in like a cafe. Oh, and it died a terrible death. And I remember we were like describing. Describing the way someone looked as a pencil because they had a yellow outfit on and like a pink hat or something. We just said they look like a pencil. I don't know. Well, it didn't work out either. Maybe the way James, but there was something about it that when you're doing it and you know that little moment where like this is the little hook where the audience laughs and when they don't and you have like four more minutes. Oh, I know. It's exquisite. It's exquisite though. It's like a sweat that if you get through the fever of it, then you feel like you, your immune system is like stronger. Also, you were seeing your heroes. I'm sorry for me. You included. Everyone's doing their best and everyone has stuff. Sometimes it doesn't work. Yeah. And you're like, oh, okay. This happens to everybody. Yeah. But the cool thing about it is when you show up and there's like 50 sketches to read, people, people think that they're. Going to work. And you just never know. I know. It's so weird. So much of your stuff worked like crushed. I mean, it's like, okay, well, you've talked about this and I've heard you talk about it and really made me laugh. You're for the first sketch you were in at SNL. Oh, yeah. Was when you. Right. Yeah. We're pregnant in the butt. My character was pregnant. Your character. But it's funny because back it up. Even. To like my first pitch, because that was J.B. Smooth. Right. The great writer. The great. J.B. Smooth. The great everything. Yeah. The best picture. Incredible. And he pitched this thing where you were pregnant in the butt and everyone was laughing. And I didn't know that like he's like, he just does like funny pitches. Right. And he wrote it. I think. And it got on. And he often, he often, J.B., I think you often pitch stuff that maybe you weren't going to write. Yes. You know what I mean? I always pitch stuff I wasn't going to write. And that was kind of the thing on Monday night, you would be like, um, and you just kind of bullshit your way to get a laugh. And then you'd be like, okay, now I really have to buckle down. But I think because the response was so funny, J.B. was like, I should, I got to write this. That's the other thing. And you're like, oh, I wasn't really going to write that thing. Yeah. It was my very first sketch. Jason Lee. Jason Lee was the host. Foo Fighters. Yes. Foo Fighters. Foo Fighters. I did say that. Foo Fighters. I'm so happy. That was my first sketch. That was your first sketch. And do you remember the first? Like, I mean, the first character, you have so many, but do you remember the first one that was a recurring that you thought, was it Target Lady? Like where you felt like, oh, I'm going to get to do this again. Like I have some kind of. I don't know. I know. It might have, was it A-Holes with Sudeikis? It was either A-Holes or Target Lady. Yeah. I mean, for people who don't remember, um, you know, Kristen has done so many characters. I mean, we could talk about them all day, but there was, there was Target Lady who was of course, very, very excited about Thanksgiving. She was getting approved and had an incredible haircut, great wigs, um, incredible wig. And then another great wig and another character was A-Holes, which is Sudeikis, Jason Sudeikis. And you, and you guys were kind of like, just like the worst people to show up anywhere. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And you did a great move where you would play with your hair and chew gum. Real simple. So there you are. You're at SNL crushing it. Bridesmaids comes out. While you're on the show. Yes. That's, I don't think people understand that. I mean, I don't think I did either. The timeline of that, you were still on the show when the gigantic, um, incredible explosion that is Bridesmaids happens and you're still, and you know, a lot of people have to kind of launch and then figure out their, their way after they leave the show. You're kind of having this moment while you're still having a full-time job on the show. What was that like? Was it hard to balance? Like going back and forth? You're shooting or press or any of that stuff? Or do you remember it being kind of smooth? I don't really think I knew how well it was doing until like later. Yeah. Until I was off the show. Yeah. You had some more perspective on it? I think so. And you and Annie Mamalow who wrote it together. Yeah. Like, did you guys get to have a moment where you said, looked at each other and said like, holy shit. Later. Yeah. Because I remember after opening weekend, they were like, well, we tried. And we were like, sorry. Really? Why? Because, you know, opening weekend was always the thing. It was a comedy and it didn't make a certain thing. And we were like, oh, well, okay. We just thought like, that was it. Wow. And then I think just more and more people kept seeing it. And then it kind of happened later. Yeah. It was a grower. Wow. That's so cool. I mean, it's still, we talk, we're talking about stuff from 20 years ago, but it still remains a lot of people's favorite comedy and it's still a spec for what it looks like to have a show. To have like a bunch of women in a film together, writing their own material. Like, like what a hard, well done, mostly female comedy. Like it's still such a superior piece of work. Thank you. Wig. Thank you, Amy. You're welcome. No question. It got to commercial. This episode is brought to you by eBay Live. Here's how it goes. First, you're watching the eBay live stream telling yourself, I'm just looking, and then Boom, you see a vintage Rolex go for an absolute steal. Suddenly, a rare beanie baby pops up. Adrenaline hits, and you're bidding. You might lose that first one, but you bid again and win. And that winning rush? Incredible, because you beat everyone to it. Meanwhile, on eBay Live, you don't just watch the action. You're in it. Download the eBay app to stream and shop live. eBay Live, things people love. This episode is brought to you by AutoTrader. If car shopping feels like a whole thing, buying your car online on AutoTrader makes it way easier, really. Shop tons of cars online, compare prices, check financing, and trade-in options from wherever you are. Start online, test drive at the dealer, and finish wherever works for you. Your info stays with you, so there's no starting over. Plus, you're working with local dealers with real people there to help. Buy your car online on AutoTrader, really. This episode is brought to you by Boar's Head. We all know what it's like to host over the holidays. You want everything to taste delicious and to feel a little special, but the doorbell's ringing, the kids are running wild, and you'd rather be hanging out with your guests than stuck basting something for six hours. The solution? Boar's Head Sweet Slice Uncured Ham. Slow-roasted and delicately smoked to provide all the flavor of a traditional bone-in ham. It's the perfect, effortless centerpiece to any holiday meal. Fine. Sweet. Slice uncured ham at your nearest Boar's Head deli. For holiday entertaining inspiration, recipes, and more, visit boar'shead.com. This episode is brought to you by Sleep Number. Look, we all know sleep is great, but if you're chasing an even greater sleep, Sleep Number mattresses can make it happen. You can make them firmer or softer, cooler or warmer whenever you want, so you can fall asleep and stay asleep easier. Plus, they're designed to last for 25 years, so you can enjoy it for the long haul. What's not to love? What's not to love? Upgrade your sleep this holiday season and save with code Amy at sleepnumber.com. There's so many funny characters that I want to talk about, but I won't embarrass you by going through them. But I've said this to you before, my favorite character is the surprise lady. Thanks. That's one of my favorites. I love her. I love her for a million reasons. I love her because the way you play her is so funny. I love her wig. Fantastic. Fantastic wig. Oh. Always in a turtleneck. Always. Well, she had died in it. She had died in it. That's right. That's right. Did you write it? I think that was in the script that we pulled it over. And when I say that was one of my favorites, that comes from doing it. Yeah. I like being in a sketch where there's a lot of people. And there are moments where everyone is looking around like, what is going on? I love that moment. Yes. I love a cut to Kenan just like, we got to get out of here. Like, this lady is nuts. We got to get out of here. That's my favorite thing. That actually would be a really good way to sum up a lot of your characters. Oh, yeah. Most of my sketches, if you go back and look, like, no, you've got to cut to people being weirded out by me to remind the audience that I'm weird. But why I love the surprise lady so much is because there's a lot of wig in it, I think. Because she is nervous, but excited. And she loves a party. And she cannot wait to deliver that good news. She can't wait. And the physicality of her and the way—so funny. God, I just watch clips of it all the time. I love it. Yes. I love it so much. It's so funny and stupid. Funny and stupid. Yes. Which is the best. Which we know is the highest praise in comedy. Agree. Like, the more people go, oh! Oh, that's so dumb. That's so dumb. And you're like, yay, I did it! Okay. Speaking of, like, hilarious, funny, and physical, can you just talk for a minute about what it's like to work with Carol Burnett on— I can talk. Oh, your season is coming out. I can talk November. Season two is coming out November. Okay. November 12th. Yes. Palm Royale. Palm Royale. So many things I could say about Carol. When I met her, I just fully cried. And I was not expecting it. And I don't—that is never—except for when my kids were born, and I saw them and I cried. I can't remember a time when I just—I didn't think I was going to cry, and then they just—it just, like, burst out of my eyes. I wasn't expecting it. I watched her as a kid. And there's—she's, as you know, she's just the greatest person. She was very important to us. Yes. So important to us. And the fact that she just did it as a woman during that time, and so many people said no. It makes perfect sense that you guys were working together because you definitely have— I mean, you have that thing that she has, which is you're able to enter a scene and just dominate in that way in a hilarious, joyful, and confident way. But you also, like— Tiny, small, and grounded things, too. I think you have a lot of other interests, too. Yes, I do. Like, I actually think you—like, for people who don't know, you're an artist. You love to—and you're a musician. What's your relationship to music and singing and making music? Well, music is definitely the thing that I need to create anything else. Like, if I'm going to draw, I have to have music on. Or if I'm writing something, it's always to, like, music that I am picturing will be. And this part of the thing. I think it, like, opens up that part of my brain that allows me to go in and be like, what do you really think? Because if I just sit there, I think, like, oh, what will they think? Yeah, for sure. And then, I mean, I've always sang. Like, I sang in, like, you know, the choir when I was a kid. Have you ever thought about wanting to sing? Yeah. Sing, sing. Yeah. Like, I mean, you do sing, sing, but, like— But I would love to do— do like a help like a record record i would love to do that you should you should but i don't even know how to like get started just this just you just can you weigh in on the comments on this how does kristin get started how do you get into the music business it also feels like you could do you could dip your toe into some version of it where it didn't have to feel so like yeah like like a thing yeah like you could join someone's band whose band should you join again weigh in if you've got a band just take them in a new direction just quieter it's just a little bit quieter just calling them up be like guys guys i know you have your thing and your thing works great you've been doing it a long time and we think what if you just and your fans would love to sit down you and i've got the music for it your fans would love to put their arms down do you go to still go to rock shows anymore because when we were young and and out and about we did it up we did it up that's why those honestly the best years of my life like being in new york and on we and being young and we did it up and now i do not do it no don't do it the thought of going to a concert the thought of getting ready to go out at 11 o'clock which is what i used to do oh my god oh my god never can you imagine i go out to dinner with my friends at six o'clock okay let's talk about 6 p.m because i want to be home i love to eat dinner at 6 p.m me too what's your ideal bedtime well you mean sleep or get in the bed great question because those are different from hours um i would say what is your what is your ideal time to be in bed what do you try when do you try to get in bed 8 30 9 o'clock love it asleep by 10 10 30 yeah because i do like waking up early yes when everyone else is asleep so i can have my my little quiet time yeah because you have little ones and you have to kind of get ready for that because morning is intense morning's tough yeah now that i have teenagers it's really funny now like oh my mornings are i have five hours before people wake up i'm like it's 10 30 yes you have to get up yeah but don't they say it's like a brain thing yeah they have to let them sleep and a teenager wrote that i was like mom here i i heard it was a brain thing article i'm supposed to sleep the scientist said um okay we're gonna get to gabby's dollhouse which just came out okay so cute is it fun to play a villain you've played i know that character looks so funny and fun well my kids love gabby's dollhouse okay and so okay i knew that this was gonna be this was gonna go a long way for me at home yeah um and then the script happened to be really cute and ryan craigo the director's dream awesome um yeah and it was just really fun and we had the premiere on saturday and i got like a little emotional watching it because it's so positive it is so it's got such a great message and you know when you're in a theater just with other people having the same experience and like you're just completely blocked out from what's going on in the world there was just something so like oh this is gonna go out in the world and it's like really nice yeah I feel you man I it's like the world is rough right now and it's like anything that's like some kind of like funny or peaceful or I guess just like anything that just can like take you away I can't do anything dark right now no no I can't it's already everything is already so dark I mean that's why I ask my guests this and I'll ask you this is like what what's making you laugh like I'm asking people all the time like what do you what do you watch on we got a fly we got a fly all right oh we got a fly that's all let's get it I was told there'd be no flies in here I had a sweet before I got here I have a fake I have fake I have fake bread that has a quarter in it let's see if we can catch the fly why is there a quarter I don't know I think because you need to have something in there right yeah it's a fake roll and then it's ceramic and yeah there's change in it do you have that thing sometimes when you feel bad for inanimate objects yes so do I have you seen Julio Torres's stuff um uh he does a bunch of stuff about with inanimate objects he's a stand-up he's hilarious that's like a thing and it is a very um where I look at things and I feel like oh he's lonely yes yeah I do that happens to me yeah how does it manifest for you how do you see it I remember so specifically I was in the bathroom and you know how you have like um it's like a pill thing and maybe it's like I don't know if it was like allergy pills and you pop them through and there's like two right and I needed two but there was one left over and so I grabbed that one and then one from the other one and my dad was like why didn't you just get two from this one I was like well that one's been by itself for so long and I I feel like he thought that was cute but I wonder if he was like oh no yeah I remember thinking well clearly I wouldn't just these two have been together the whole time this one's been together for so long I don't know if it's been by itself now I sound crazy no I completely relate like like when you're a kid stuffed animals like you have to like make sure that like they can breathe you why are you laughing yes okay and I often rotate because I think well you've had a good view for a while and this one has been back I feel bad when I'm like this one has been behind the other one or in a drawer and I'm like that one has been in in the dark for too long yes I totally do that okay me too and same just a random objects and I wonder if there is some kind of like well what's the we're anthropomorphizing things we're making them feel like they're human but there must be some kind of connection to like our or maybe we don't want to be left alone cut to commercial cut to commercial cut to a slow commercial is that lip gloss cut cut to a sad lip gloss commercial do you have much money of makeup that would be so smart that would be smart just having people put their makeup on but everyone's sad and they're crying because people be like did you see that commercial you're right that's a great idea happy like putting on their makeup what if people are just bummed out you're so right if they're putting on lotion tears are coming down and they would be like I remember that I'm buying that or they come they come home after a long night and they're like they throw up and then they put their makeup back yes and then they put it back on you're so right yeah clinic um so what are you listening to watching do you watch comedy and no I know it's hard right I can't do it it's hard I have a hard time watching it's not hard but as a kid I think what made me fall in love with tv and film is that I would get completely lost in it now I'm like oh they shot this at night did they eat before like is this the beginning of the night shoot you know what I mean hair is different oh his hair is different they shot this out of order I noticed that stuff and it drives me insane me too and my kids sometimes you know I'll be like this isn't in Canada they'll be like mom I'm like it's not Canada I totally noticed that too the trees and they're just like mom stop I totally do that too okay so I do watch reality oh and I am not ashamed you shouldn't be oh I'm a bravo gal for sure okay what who are you all have you done the bra have you done um Andy Cohen and talked about watch what have you done that and talked about the house who are your faves who do you love so many I mean there's it depends like different cities have different I'm I'm about to Salt Lake just started a new a new season yes new season of Salt Lake which is one of my favorite okay we're here we're here Jenna just said what makes Salt Lake so good for people like myself that don't know it's just bonkers great um everything that makes that just the the fashion the what the ladies they're just I love it so much I have noticed like at night it probably isn't the best thing to watch before I go to sleep because it gives you nightmares just because of the yelling and the brightness yeah like all the things you're not supposed to have before you go to sleep right um the yelling and the brightness but I love I love watching non-acting yes it helps my brain not it helps me turn it off a little bit now I get a little embarrassed for people and stressed for them watching what reality oh reality yes oh I yes but but what is it about watching non-acting that like relaxes you because I've heard that quite a bit from people who watch it it's weirdly relaxing even though there's like conflict all that stuff can you do you know why well I think with acting you're watching someone who has looked at a scene studied a scene they're doing the scene they've edited it's the best version um there's effort there there's so many people working on it and then with reality it's just like this just happened these two people are talking and this lady said that thing and oh my god and I just I don't know I don't know I don't know I don't know I don't know I like just being out in the world and seeing these people yes walk around and just their parties and their outfit there's so many parties I love these women so much they are my family can we watch a clip from Salt Lake that you would if you were to if I've never I've never watched Salt Lake oh oh my god I know this is hard but what would be one I guess maybe what about when when the the van when Jen Shaw gets I would say Jen Shaw yes Sprinter van Sprinter van you can't just write Sprinter van because you will get every franchise they're always in a Sprinter van okay I genuinely don't know what I'm gonna see here okay should I give you some context please please so Jen Shaw is currently right or did she get out and incarcerated incarcerated okay incarcerated okay with Elizabeth Holmes they're in the same and they're buddies one can hope one can hope um they were going on a trip and the FBI there's so much exciting laughing because this is what I'm taking my time up to talk about no I love it the FBI was raiding her I'm just looking at you Jenna raiding her house yeah so she like didn't show up and it's the all the girls on the van realizing what is happening I'm not selling it as well you have to so okay when the FBI shows up is this yeah maybe that's it there's a couple here but the police are looking for oh but it's when she's on oh this is what it is she's on the van she's and she's like oh okay she finds out and she leaves saying that her husband's in the hospital oh is that the clip where she goes on a long rant about my husband's in the hospital that's not Jen Shaw okay um okay here we go let's see what this is this is incredible guys what if she's on the run what if she's on the run like get a red start yeah that's true they're all on the phone is in the hospital but thanks wait you think call Cherie you think she got a trip off call that this was happening all right okay they're all on the phone in the sprinter van all with sunglasses on no one's taking their sunglasses off Amy this is that was one minute okay of an entire episode almost I can't recommend it enough I gotta tell you when you explain it it does sound fun I mean there is something about Real Housewives which is like if you didn't get on board it's like I don't even know where to start I can tell you what season to start with any city because there are seasons to miss okay okay that's good to know I would I wouldn't mind that because I have heard I mean I don't even know where to start I don't even know where to start Las Culturistas Bowen they're obsessed yes and they talk a lot about Salt Lake yes and I do feel like now might be the time to start if there's a new season starting if you have 3,000 hours to kill now is the time you know the holidays are coming you're gonna be all smuggled in but I kind of get it it's like with the world being like so there's so much like that these stakes are relative I mean she did go to jail she did she went to jail and not one person took their sunglasses off the whole time no Amy they can't amazing amazing oh my god all right i love you wig i'm so grateful you came and did this i hope you had a good time i had the best time is it oh is there anything i've i asked you about hater is there anything else we need to ask thank and thank you to bill for doing this that was really sweet bill i know love that guy i know and you guys are so good in skeleton twins by the way what a great i mean so many you've done so many great things like but the the the way in which you naturally like it's just very brother sister stuff there totally it's so natural there yeah do you believe in past lives before we go yes you do oh my god yes and do you feel like there are people in your life that you've known before oh yeah hopefully i think especially people in your inner circle have been there before yes for sure yes i do too like you meet someone and there is something about you and bill in that film that feels very familial i love that maybe yeah i wonder well i believe in all that stuff you do what's the most woohoo thing you believe in do you believe in um um yes i mean i probably do do you believe in ghosts yes have you seen a ghost no i haven't seen one but i've felt them there have been times where i've gone into i can when i go into a place sometimes i can you can feel the energy especially if like maybe someone died there do you believe in astral projection like people visiting each other in dreams yes you do yes my great aunt visited me in a dream after she died whoa yes totally what was that like what was i woke up and i sobbed and i was like 14 but i knew she was there wow yeah wow i believe in all that stuff i know what do we know what do we know i'm trying to be less it is like science-based yeah um i'm trying to be more open and it's actually a goal of mine is like to try to be like less of a detective when it comes to that stuff and just kind of like open it up into my life i don't want any ghosts i don't want to see i don't want to have anything to do with i love ghosts i respect them i just don't want to see them no i have had my house ghost busted though you yes a professional ghost buster online yes okay no my friend had her house ghost busted and she was telling the story she's like i don't know i call her she lives in new mexico i was like that's crazy what's her number because she told me things that had happened after post bust and i was like oh this is interesting and we've learned from it from psychic mike that you will pack up if somebody tells you to back up i will get out of there yeah and i did it and i swear to god my house felt different she did it online i love her though that's great i love you wait thanks for doing this so much meant so much you did it thank you thank you so much kristin you are awesome you're just it was so fun to have you here and like i really do count myself lucky that i got to be on the same time with you and i really do count myself lucky that i got to be on the same time as you let alone the same show as you and for this polar plunge you know we i didn't even know where to start to talk about the hilarious comedy that kristin has has given us over the years so i just i want to take this time to just remind everybody of all of the ridiculous hilarious characters that kristin has given to us over the years dunise from the lawrence welk show and gilly and penelope and um uh who else um god so many we target lady and we talked about the lady who couldn't wait to you know ruin a surprise and judy grimes and um oh my god and and shanna shanna the like sexy lady at the office and um uh the hollywood dish lady who spits her water out and mindy grayson the woman who can't get password i mean there's like i could there's like a lot of people who are like oh my god i i can't stop and and won't stop um but anyway just do yourself a favor and look those all up i mean honestly if you're looking for something to make you laugh any clip from wig anytime is going to do that so um thank you so much for um for coming and doing the show wig appreciate it and uh thanks so much for listening and check us out again soon bye you've been listening to good hang the executive producers for this show are bill simmons jenna weiss berman and me amy poehler the show is produced by the ringer and paper kite for the ringer production by jack wilson cat spillane kaya mcmullen and alea zanaris for paper kite production by sam green joel lovell and jenna weiss berman original music by amy miles this episode is brought to you by sephora holiday gifting can be a tough gig you're frantically searching second guessing everything and accidentally buying your dad eye cream he's never going to use thankfully sephora is here to save us from ourselves whether you're shopping for a total beauty guru or someone whose whole routine is hand soap sephora has the perfect gift for everyone on your list and if you're still lost don't panic their beauty advisors can guide you to safety this holiday season we all sephora shop gifts at sephora and give something beautiful pink panther is here coach and spotify are teaming up to bring music and style together and they want you to be part of it grab your friends and head to the tabby tour hitting cities around the world and see what's going on in the world and see what's going on in the world and the country with live performances from special artists exclusive experiences and personalized products and discover custom playlists on spotify built just for you based on who you are and how