June 11, 2024 • 38 mins
For Kristen Wiig, stage fright is an asset. It’s only when this feeling subsides—and a job or role feels comfortable—that she knows it’s time to push her boundaries. This is what led her to leave The Groundlings, an L.A.-based comedy troupe, to join Saturday Night Live, where over seven seasons she established herself as one of the most celebrated cast members in its history. It also drove her to move from live television to film, which she did with a hilarious flourish in Bridesmaids. Her recent role on the Apple TV+ series Palm Royale proves the point that Wiig always rises to the occasion. On this week’s episode of Table for Two, the actress, writer, and producer has lunch with host Bruce Bozzi and discusses her transition to the silver screen, the experience of working alongside Carol Burnett, and why Aunt Linda is one of her favorite S.N.L. characters.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Hey, everybody, it's Bruce Bosi and we are back at
the Sunset Tower on a very beautiful Los Angeles day.
What do you normally eat when you come to the tower.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Oh, it depends what time of the night it is,
It depends where I've been.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Before, Yes, exactly. Today we are having lunch with an
incredible comedic actress. She started her career here in La
at the Groundlings really set her foundation. She auditioned for
Saturday Night Live and got on season thirty one and
quickly rose in season thirty two to be one of
(00:39):
the leading players at SNL.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
I just became so aware that I'm such a loud cheer.
My husband's just like sometimes I'll be eating and he'll
just be looking at me. I'm like, I'm just eating,
like I don't know how else to two.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
She next leveled us in the movie Bridesmaids, and you
have seen her ever since. Just give us incredible performance
and says currently she is on palm roil.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Now ice cream could do different toppings, which I love
a choice with that.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Right, the cookies, we're doing, all the dessert, We're.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Doing all the dessert. We'll just skip right to it.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
So sit back today, definitely have a glass of rose
and enjoy because we have Miss Kristen Wig. I'm Bruce
Bosi and this is my podcast Table for two. Hey, everybody,
(01:38):
thanks for pulling up a chair today on Table for two.
I am sitting looking at this beautiful woman. Wow, am
extremely talented actually someone I've had the pleasure of knowing
now for some time. Miss Kristin Wig.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Hello, I'm so happy to be here. I'm hungry, so
this is great, right.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
We're hungry. And when we say that, look at the court.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Oh look at this with the bullet.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
We're all obsessed with this mullet. But can we just
start by you grew up in New York, but I
can't pronounce a place. You grew up in Kenneth Canon.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Oh well no, I was born and it's called Canon
diaguased to. I know, it was very hard to learn
how to spell that as a child when you had
to write where you were born. I was like, look, God, yeah,
it's like one of the Finger Lakes finger Lake towns,
And I was born there and I lived there till
like three, and then Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and then back to
(02:38):
upstate New York Rochester.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Okay, Yeah, that was the vibe the East Coast, by.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
The East Coast vibe, and it still feels I don't know,
I think you feel I don't know, grounded is the
word whenever you go back to the either the place
or the coast.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
You were born.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Like, I feel like California is my home, but there's
something like I came from the coast.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Yeah, and there's something in the in your d n
A if you believe like all that. Oh yeah, the
universe where you were born and that's we can talk about.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
All that if you want, really, like I mean that
you love that kind of stuff.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Wow, you'd have to educate me.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Well, no, I mean I don't know if i'm I'm
if I have that much knowledge.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Well, so you're signs, but yes, okay, what is your sign?
Speaker 2 (03:29):
I'm a Leo.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Okay, virgo cuss.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Okay, I'm on the last day of Leo, and I
have some Leo trades, but there's definitely some Leo trades.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Sid because that's what happens because I'm aries ps but
just after Pisces ends.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Yes, you've got a.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Little a little bit of both exactly.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Which I think is good. Yeah, I don't know, I
have more traits.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
You call them to l A Yes, I mean I'm
sort of yes, yes you come to and the Groundlings, Yeah,
which seems to have been like such a foundational place
for really talented people.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
I mean that's where I speaking of the universe. Something
guided me there and that just changed my life. Even
as far as my close friends are all from there,
I'm still very close with that group. And I don't know,
I learned how to be on stage. I learned how
to write there, I learned how to be in a
(04:30):
in an ensemble. I learned about, you know, making other
actors look good and improvising and that it is a
group effort, and how to feel when things work and
when things don't work well, I mean, the audience will
tell you. But yeah, I just feel like that was
(04:52):
I mean, even just socially, just sort of the best
years that end SNL.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Is it sort of like and we'll get of course,
is it almost like your high school years? Those are
your people, and.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Like, yeah, you just kind of stay, you bond your
yeah group, I think because it's very and sort of
like SNL, we kind of say that we've all sort
of like been through war together and you just are
kind of bonded for life. I think when you're really
vulnerable in front of other people and you get scared
(05:24):
and you fail in front of other people, there's just
something that I don't know, there's just a connection there.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
I think.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
I don't know how to explain it.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
Well, I think, well, you know, looking at your work
and when you are, when I've watched you on SNL
or the Groundlings, you know you have to be so
open to failing and learn how to feel because.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
That's really really hard to be funny.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
But because you take the chances yeah, I mean the
characters that you've sort of if you're too afraid to fail.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Yeah, And it gets harder as you are in the
business longer, the older you get to do something that
fails because you feel like it's such a bigger deal.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
The idea of failing and risk. So barber Stride Sin
says too, if she's in this book, if you haven't
and you are somewhat interested, you must do the audible.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Because yes, I ought to hear her.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Yea, because she tells you and then she adds extra stories,
and then she reacts to her own stories, and it's
and she leaves no stone unturned really okay, remembered, I'm
everything in her life where you're like.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
I grew up listening to my mom was obsessed, so
I was.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
She said that iconic duet that she did with Judy
Garland Happy Days, Judy was shaking and Jay and she
was so and she was so young and she was
new to the game, but she was not nervous, she said.
As she aged, she realizes, Oh, it gets harder as
you get older and more successful, because you become more nervous.
(06:59):
And I think that's failing of not to be you know.
I think that is well.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
When you're trying something and you fail, you sort of
have that. I don't know if excuse is the right word,
but it's easier because you're like, Okay, well I'm trying
new things. I don't know what's going to work. And
I think the longer you're in this line of work
and people see all the stuff you do, when you
do fail, it's kind of like, well that didn't work,
(07:26):
why is she doing that?
Speaker 1 (07:27):
And it just.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Feels more rough. Yeah, it's it's actually something I'm trying
to work on right now, is just being a little
more free with that stuff, because that's ultimately what as
an actor you have to kind of do.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
It's so funny to hear this coming from you, because
of your success and how good you are that one
would I think the person who sits on my side
of being a fan and a viewer of television and film, you,
I wouldn't think that. I think like, oh, you got this,
like you.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Know no, No, I feel like whenever I feel like
I've got this, I need to change my careers. And
I felt that way with SNL, especially because I think
I think like, ultimately, our job is kind of like
(08:22):
uncomfortable and there's no predictability, there's no like real safety,
and so I think that's part of it.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
I mean, you'll just have another job.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Or even just safety in like creating a character or
all of it. It's just it's very like there's no
stability and that's just what it is. So I think
for me, and I always said that with SNL because
that felt like that environment. And I've said this before,
like the moment I feel super comfortable here, I feel
like is when I.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Have to leave.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
It? Still, I don't know. So at any time I
do a new job, I'm nervous.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Yeah, because you don't know that it makes complete sense. Yeah,
know what is going to come out of you? You
don't know who it's going to be. You don't know
if it's going to be good or bad. Yeahah, that level.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Of or is this the one where I'm gonna like,
you know, have a panic atitarck or something. You know,
you just think like, okay, well, is this the job
that is just gonna I don't know.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
You quickly went from season thirty one to thirty two.
You went from feature was it, yes, thirty one thirty
two boom by the boom. Yeah, so when you were developing,
because that's I've spoken. Colin was on the show recently
and we talked about that, and he's incredible, and you
know he's so incredible. Pressure of like the week and
writing his sketches and now you're like pitching your sketch.
(09:46):
That's pressure. I mean, if you know how to talk
to us about.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
That, I think because I knew it was going to
be pressure, and I went in with just low expectations
of my and I was so scared. I really didn't
I don't know. I only could go up as far
as like my my mood about the place. If that
makes sense because I went in just like I'm new,
(10:14):
I'm just gonna like learn from the people that have
been here before. I'm happy to be here. What I'm
hearing is I knew it was a scary place in
a way. So I think that helped me because I
think I think what I'm saying is if I would
have gone in like we were saying, like I got
this or I belong here, even, I think I would
(10:37):
have had a different experience in the beginning because I
knew my sort of experience at the Groundlings. I was
very comfortable on that stage. I knew I had characters
that you know, would get into shows and worked or whatever.
But I was like, I could go to SNL and
(10:57):
it could just not work. Like the most terrified I
ever was was when I did a character from the
Rawlings at SNL, because I was like, if this doesn't work,
like I'm out, Like that's my that's me, Like, that's
my sense of humor, that's how I write, Like this
is not this is wrong going to go well?
Speaker 1 (11:13):
Like when you chose so that So what you're saying
is so like you had a character that you developed
at the ground Lanks worked. It was great. And now
you're at S and now and it's like okay, Christen,
like what what do you got? And you're like, oh, okay,
I'm going to do this character that I developed. Yeah,
you're waiting to see. Did it ever not work?
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Oh? I had dad a lot of things, and so
many worked. Yeah, I mean, and also things that work
on a stage don't necessarily work on a TV show.
The character Aunt Linda that I do, she was that
was a scene and I tried to get her on
the show like four or five times in a scene
(11:53):
and it just wasn't. There was something about it because
she's so unlikable. It was kind of like why aren't
people just getting up and leaving? Like the scene doesn't
make sense? Why are people still talking to her? So
then it was like, oh, let's put her at the
update desk. So I kind of had to like rework.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
Interesting where she could be unlikable.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
And v she could Colin just has to sit there.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
And when you because you just did your fifth you
joined the five year club five yeah club, and Linda
was on that yeah kind that was hysterical. Thank you,
(12:46):
Welcome back to Table for two. Before the break, we
were talking with our guest Kristen Wigg about her time
on Saturday Night Live. She was a cast member for
seven years, and I'm curious what it was like performing
alongside a different host every week. You clearly must get
to a point where you're like, okay, not like I
(13:07):
got this where it's time for me to leave, but
like I understand now I've been doing it long enough
where I understand the week, the rhythm of the week,
and how to do it. And now I also know
how to help and work with the guest, right, because
that's a very tough THINGU. Yeah, when you're working with
a guest who might not necessarily be funny funny, you
(13:27):
know they're an actor, there's do you were there times
where you're like, okay, I am because you want everyone
to look good. I'm going to kind of wrap my
arms around this person because let's say the scene isn't
necessarily working.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
I mean, I certainly can speak just for the show
in general. It's just their job, our job to make
the host look good. Like that is what we were
always taught, like, have a great show, make the host
look good. So if you have someone who's an athlete
maybe or just for an example and you don't know, like,
(14:01):
are what's this going to? Be?
Speaker 1 (14:04):
Sure?
Speaker 2 (14:05):
I think the writers are so good at I don't know,
creating just certain scenarios and scenes, whether it's a character
that someone already does in the cast and having them
be sort of like their partner in that.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
I feel like the show is just really really good
at at doing it. You kind of know people's I mean,
you don't really know, but you get an idea maybe
of who they are, like what they're doing.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
Right, And I see that you're saying, it's the community
of that says, Okay, this person's going to be the
host this week, so okay, this person is an athlete,
so we know, so let's kind of meaniately like they're
not an actor.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
We have to like sort of cater to what they're
great at. And people always surprise you and them thinking
of like Peyton Manning who just came in and was
just like hilarious and ended up posting I don't know
times or something, so I'm s sure the second time
he came back, the writers approach it a little differently
because they know what he does.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
Yes, you know, yeah, but do you have a favorite
Kristen character. I mean, there's so good. There's so many,
you know, not a favorite one that like you're like, oh,
I love when she comes.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Out, Like I really do love doing Aunt Linda because
I get to sort of release, like I don't know,
she's very animated, so I kind of like lose myself
in her a little bit. So it kind of distresses me,
if that makes sense. And I think the target Lady
for me is just that's one of the characters I
(15:38):
brought from the ground so that one just feels like
special to me, if that makes sense. I don't know.
It's weird when you have these characters that kind of
feel like you're children even though they are.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
You me, do these characters come to you like you're
shopping and awstin you're looking at this.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
Woman on your like sometimes oh my, yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
Look at this kind of like you know, there's always
those crazy see like New York ladies that you see
like or like the crazy La ladies to Tan they've
been around and you're like.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
Totally I mean I think, yeah, being when I was
at the groundings and being on the show, you're constantly
having to come up with new material every week, and
so you have these like I don't know, comedy and
tennis all and where you're just like listening to people
and watching people because you're always like trying to find
ideas and you're trying to like find people to become. Yeah,
(16:29):
so I don't do that so much now, But back then,
it was like, yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
Wow, no, our fries are coming. Oh everything's going wow.
I mean we're double fried up ladies and gentlemen. That's
a beautiful salad.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Really beautiful.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
I appreciate that, Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Okay, you're going to do the first? What am I am?
Speaker 2 (16:53):
I saying that? Which what's better? Normal?
Speaker 1 (16:55):
Just like what I mean, they're both going to be
good because the fry is a fry, right.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
You know what though, these fries are my favorite kind
of fry because I like a thin fry. But I
don't like a soft fry.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
I agree.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
I don't really like soft foods.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
And you mean, like a mashed potato a little too mushy,
a little too much.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
I need like a crunch.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
I mean, I think I'm a it's very good.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
I'm a truffled person.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
Yeah, it's very it's kind of nice.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Traffle with mayo ketch Up with Regular.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Oh my god, Truffle with Mayo first, Yeah, ketch Up
with Regular was Bridesmaids. The moment that you were like,
was that the moment where life changes again? And that
(17:46):
kind of I mean.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
If yeah, I think if we're talking like chapters and
SNL being the one before, I think that was probably
the next one.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
Would you tell during the shooting of that? No, could
you get through a take of that? Or do you
all like really actually hate each other and it's like
we can imagine?
Speaker 2 (18:07):
No, it was one of the best experiences of my life.
And I mean talk about being bonded.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
Yeah, ever, those those girls only imagine.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
Yeah, I mean I think for me too, because we
wrote it right, it felt like, oh maybe I can
start doing this kind of thing, writing for myself and
my friends. I mean like, I mean, the whole experience
was life changing in so many ways.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
Yeah. To be able to write, you know, to have
the gift of both that must be completely How does
that come the genesis of an idea where you're like, oh,
this is an idea that I'm going to develop.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
I mean, I have to give my writing partner credit
for that. Annie Mamelo, jud had approached me to write something.
I didn't really have an idea, and I really had
been writing with Annie at the Groundlings a lot. So
I was just like, hey, do you want to write
something with me for.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
I mean, that's like.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
And we had a couple ideas and then that was
the one that sort of stuck and it fit for
a lot of reasons. We liked that it was about
friendship and not just a straight up love story romantic comedy,
and that it did have a big female cast, and
and I think it's something that people could relate to.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
I think so the one fun getting married and the
you know, the dynamics of the friendship were going to end.
I think it was completely relatable on so many levels,
even you know, the relationships you have with who. That's
when I found really saw like, oh, who knew John
Amm was so funny, you know what I mean? Like that,
I was like, oh, oh, this is so funny. Great,
and the dynamics, and then of course the way the
(19:56):
movie does end out, because it is in a way
it's a romantic comment between two girlfriends, you know, that
have this divide and then come back together and they
you know, they find each other and.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
That's I mean, romantic relationships are obviously important, and that
is the majority of well that's sort of definition of
the romantic comedy. But and we've always said, like female
friendships are so like your friends. I mean I'm not
just specifying women, but your friendships, especially as you get older,
(20:29):
it is to your family like that that's the person
you call. That's like they're so important, especially during that time.
I think, too, who am I?
Speaker 1 (20:40):
How do you feel, like just recently to go back
and be a movie star and be hosting SNL, because
like it must feel it's weird, weird.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
You know, it's weird because I want to be in
the cast, you know what I mean, Like I don't
want to be the one that's like in the separate meetings,
Like I want to be everybody.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
You're like, hi, I'm here.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Well, I mean it was in the obviously when I
first went back, it was cool to sort of look
behind the curtain because you don't know what it's like.
It's like, what goes on in that meeting?
Speaker 1 (21:10):
Where are they going?
Speaker 2 (21:11):
That was kind of cool, Yeah, my thing because everyone's
still there, like all the producers, and I mean obviously
changes here and there, but like if I were to
go back and it was all new producers and all
new crew, it would be a completely different experience and
I would feel like I'm going back to a place
I don't work anymore, right, But it's all the same people,
(21:32):
So it's like it's like, I mean, it's like a family.
I know that's what people say, but it really is.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
Yeah, you know when I was a page at NBC. Wait,
when was that nineteen eighty nine? Well, yeah, so all
day you'd give tours and I had the Today Show assignment,
and then and every Saturday, you know, I'd give tours
and at SNL, you know, you'd have your break. And
then it was year fifteen because it was Gilder Rinder
(21:59):
when she passed was a big and that was year
she passed. It was also like the fifteen year anniversary party,
and you'd work all day and you've worked between the
morning and then we all of course that we weren't
supposed to, would go to the after party. And I literally,
on this given Saturday, I wanted to work that Saturday,
and there was a Bob Hope's picture was on the wall,
(22:19):
and it Saturday's like birthdate, and the nineteen eighty nine.
I was like, so, you know, you give four tours
a day, which doesn't sound like a lot, but a lot,
And all day I told everyone Bob Hope died. Oh no,
but Bob Hope hadn't died because you know, they have
these things ready for you, and so for whatever reason,
I was like, I just need to tell you all
(22:40):
as we're in studio, like whatever, Bob Hope is dead.
And then when I found out later, I'm like, I
told all these people, Oh, anyway, we we got well.
I mean I didn't know.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
That's why did he tell why on the news?
Speaker 1 (22:57):
Why is it not making like? Why is this idiotol
page alphre right exactly. But we would work the door
of studio eight h and the people that try to
crash because it was old school then, so there's not
all gloss like it was right, and people would always
be like, no, I'm on the eighth floor and we'd
be like, you know, you're not like Saka, I go
(23:17):
up to the nine to flour. You're talking about really power,
famous people like you had power like it was. It was.
It was probably one of the best jobs I've ever had,
and to your point, very specific because of the people
I was doing it with in that year at that time,
and that's kind of the fun of life. But it
really is a group. It was just was fun.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
I mean even the people that I went in with,
like me, sadeikis Andy Bill, like that is just a
group that will always be because you all show up
like so scared and then when you leave the show
(24:00):
like so much has happened, like that seven years your
life has completely changed, right, And I think knowing people
before is like it's really important, no complete, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Thanks for joining us on Table for two. Christian Wig
stars as Maxine in the new Apple TV Plus show
Palm Role, a period comedy drama about Palm Beach high
society in the late sixties. I'm a huge fan and
I want to know all about the process of making
the show. So okay, let's I'm obsessed with Palm Role. Okay, yeah,
(24:57):
I mean, okay, so what did you know? I mean,
you're first of all, how your style about the wig
and the tan and your character. I mean you singing
the song with the leggings? Is that all there is?
With the Astronaut? I was not I thought you in
(25:18):
The Astronaut are really I was like, Okay, this makes
sense to me. He disappears.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
That's my husband in real life.
Speaker 1 (25:26):
Yes, he's really hot. I was like, I hope hits
it with Astronaut because I saw I had no idea
he's really hot. What happened? What happened to his character?
Speaker 2 (25:40):
I don't understand why you.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
Got to oh to watch season two?
Speaker 2 (25:46):
I mean, I don't know. We don't have the season
two yet, so we don't.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
Oh.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
Well, I can't say anything.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
No, I know, But how did I not know? I literally, Christian,
I'm watching this in the water. It's hysterical, and you're like,
I'm like, this guy is so hot.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
I can't wait to tell me you said that.
Speaker 1 (26:06):
Your palm beach is so up of that moment of
it's fun, it's glitchy. It's the dynamics of the being competitive,
the women, the How did you sort of dive into
your character because your character, you know, comes from a
different place, Like what was that character development? Like what'd
you base did you have something a person in mind?
Speaker 2 (26:28):
I didn't really have a person. I mean, it's it's
very very loosely based on a book Mister and Missus
American Pie. And because of the way that I sort
of interpreted her in the book. And also she's doing
a lot of things that aren't really the traits of
(26:48):
someone you'd root for, I know, But so we need
people to root for her because she's the main character,
and so I don't know, it was just sort of like,
what if she's just really positive and sunny and she
knows what she's doing, but she kind of has good
reason for it in her mind.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
There's something I like when I'm conflicted and confused about
someone that I'm watching.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
Yeah, they good?
Speaker 2 (27:16):
Are they bad? So I think making her very positive
and sort of sees everything half full glass halfful it
helps you root for her, even even though what she
wants is like what lady right, like you don't get it.
Speaker 1 (27:35):
Yeah, And I think you're making a very valid point
with how to sort of make her someone that you
do root for word because first of all, most of
them you don't, because they really are like just you know.
I mean, I can Janny's.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
But it's Alice and Janney. So you love her.
Speaker 1 (27:53):
Right, you love her right? But your character is interesting
because really, at the end of the day, we all
just want to belong and that's where I think she's
coming from like this was her childhood dream. These were
her early influences as she was growing up. Totally. She
idolized the life, wanted the life. She saw the life
as being like problem free, problem for you, right, And
(28:17):
so she didn't understand first of all the cutthroat like
pardon like party scene, I'm gonna take you down and
all the dupe listen to this.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
Oh yeah, she just thought they were going to lunch
and eating shrink.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
Right, So I think that's where you And because she's
so sunny, and because she's also styled you look so beautiful.
Speaker 2 (28:36):
Boy, well that's that's Alex Freeberg right there. She's incredible.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
Whoa the style is crazy.
Speaker 2 (28:42):
Yeah, she is just one of the best costume designers
I ever.
Speaker 1 (28:48):
So, you know, I when you guys were shooting it,
Tay Taylor who directed, didn't he directed.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
He directed the direct he'd produced and directed four.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
So he you know every now, and that was send
Brian and myself, you know, just a still and it
was like, oh my god, like Bewitched, you know what
I mean. It was like of that era of those
like that.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
That's so funny that you bring a Bewitched because we
had always said that my character was very Samantha and
then Allison's character was very Andorra, And we had a
picture of the two of us that we had put
next to the two of them. It's true that it's
not that funny.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
That is funny. Yeah, I'm hitting on some things. Yeah,
the astronaut, Yeah, the endoor Samantha. I just feel we're here,
but it is. It's great. And Carol Burnett, Oh yeah, great.
What did you learn working with this woman who is
like the icon pioneer? What were the takeaways for you
(29:49):
and was it intimidating to be on the set with
someone with that sort of pedigree?
Speaker 2 (29:54):
The idea was intimidating because she's one of my idols.
But as soon as you meet her, it's there's nothing.
She's so like warm and welcoming. You can't help but
just feel like a big mush like she's she wants
to be there. She's always in a great mood, she's
talking to everybody. She just sort of reminded me that
(30:18):
like we're not that I forgot, but you know when
it's like our sixteen mom baby that like we're so lucky,
we're so lucky to be doing the thing that we
want to do with our lives, and that is never
lost on me, and I feel so grateful and I
never ever ever want to take advantage of that and
(30:40):
always be grounded in the sense that like it could
go away at any moment. And I'm doing a scene
with Carol Burnett, right, and how did they get here?
Speaker 1 (30:52):
Right? Like that?
Speaker 2 (30:54):
I just and she's so fucking funny. She's ninety she'd
be ninety one very soon. Yeah, And she's just on
it and with it and like funny, and she's just
so warm. I don't know how to explain it. She
was just like a light. And every time she came
on said it was just like, oh, everyone's in a
good mood. Now you can't complain. You can't be in
(31:15):
a bad mood. She's here.
Speaker 1 (31:17):
Yeah. What's likable about your character is the exuberance of
like the girl who wants to be in the talent
show and she's not really good, but.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
She's that's the best person to watch well.
Speaker 1 (31:29):
To watch and you know you're like and even though
and the rehearsal when you're like and the vines are
gotta come down, I gotta do this, and you better
take gya gerber. You better do it this ready, don't
do it this way. It's really a great character. Thank
you son.
Speaker 2 (31:44):
It was a collaborative effort. Yes, we had just from
production design to the directors that came in to costumes,
hair and makeup. I mean, I've never had a job
like that. It was just you couldn't wait to get
on set and like see what everyone else was wearing,
which was so cool.
Speaker 1 (32:05):
Yeah, beads and yellows and blues, and it just.
Speaker 2 (32:10):
Was so like sunny and I don't know, it's like
it was like summer.
Speaker 1 (32:14):
I wondered it had to be like that at that time.
I mean, I do believe all that stuff is based
on you know, you do she did her research totally.
Speaker 2 (32:23):
Yeah, I mean I I wasn't fully aware what a
bubble it was, even just fashion wise, because you think
about late sixties, early seventies and you don't really think
of that. But it was just like this tiny little
place in Florida just had this thing going on that
(32:45):
thankfully Sla Marens was.
Speaker 1 (32:48):
Right.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
But and it's still I like that in the sense
that it's its own, it's its own like micro cosm.
Speaker 1 (32:59):
It is, it's its own, and then.
Speaker 2 (33:01):
All cities have their little things like, oh, that's a
New York style or that's whatever. Say, but but the
Palm Beach style in that time was just so yummy.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
Yummy is a good world, Yeah, it really is. What
are some of the things that you'd like to do?
Is there a pivot to something that's more serious that
you wanted you? Are you writing something that like? Is
there a character? Is there a movie that influenced you
(33:32):
that you know?
Speaker 2 (33:33):
Yes, I'm at such the beginning stages of Like a Seed,
but I don't even want to like mention it because
I don't even really know what it is. But I
know that's the direction I'm going to go, and I'd
love to direct it and maybe not be in it.
Speaker 1 (33:50):
Right Well, okay, I have two things sus asking me
about that, so let's just say just light lightly tell us,
like the vibe of the seed? Is it a serious seed?
Is it a no?
Speaker 2 (34:04):
I think it's a mix. I like, I like a mix.
Someone called palmerl a serious comedy, which I thought I
kind of liked that.
Speaker 1 (34:11):
Oh yeah, see that.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
So I think it'll have comedic elements, but not like
a straight.
Speaker 1 (34:21):
Up yeah comedy.
Speaker 2 (34:23):
Okay, I think that's just kind.
Speaker 1 (34:25):
Of where I just wanted more. It's a tease.
Speaker 2 (34:27):
I like that, it's a stay tuned four years from
now and finally got a death.
Speaker 1 (34:33):
Why it's like table for two and I'm a hundred
and I'm like, I'm.
Speaker 2 (34:38):
S liking about it.
Speaker 1 (34:41):
The directing thing is interesting because I was talking to
an actor who their belief in actors directing themselves. It's
very difficult, they say, and he referenced a couple of
actors who have done it, and it's sort of there's
it doesn't work, not because they're not rate, but because
(35:02):
one has a natural inclination when you're looking at the
day's work to be looking at you first. It's like
when you look at a picture of a group of
people and you're like, oh, it's a good picture.
Speaker 2 (35:11):
But.
Speaker 1 (35:15):
I like this one and everyone else is.
Speaker 2 (35:19):
One.
Speaker 1 (35:19):
As you've already posted it, you're like, I'm sorry, I've
gotten melled at by my friends who are like, you
are so mean. You only post the ones that are
good of you, and I'm like, no, I don't, but
of course, yeah, it's just that's it's hard. Do you
feel that would be challenging to look at.
Speaker 2 (35:39):
A Yeah, oh my god, I can't even watch things
that I do. I mean, I don't, I don't. I think.
I think also with the directing, I am nervous to
do it, and I think I just want to. I
don't want to worry about myself. I just want to
see it as this thing that I'm making. Yeah, I
don't want to be in it.
Speaker 1 (35:59):
Yeah, I love that You'll be a great a great director.
Speaker 2 (36:03):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (36:04):
You have to.
Speaker 2 (36:07):
Yeah, it's it's something I've always wanted to do. I
don't know when that will be, but I know it
will happen.
Speaker 1 (36:26):
I just want to say, as we sort of wrapper lunch,
I'm very grateful that you took the time to have
lunch and come because it's not like it's easy to do.
You have to actually move, it's not like flipil computer.
You know. Yes, I'm asking you, and you look fierce.
Thank you, But I just want to congratulate you on
(36:48):
palmerl Thank you and everything you've ever done, because you
are of the gift and giving me and so many
people so much joy and so much laughter, and in
this time where there's so much other stuff going on,
that is a true gift.
Speaker 2 (37:01):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (37:02):
And palm oriol is amazing. So I encourage everyone to
just binge your way, and I am waiting for the
announcement for season two. That's what I'm saying. That's good.
Speaker 2 (37:14):
Thank you for saying all that.
Speaker 1 (37:15):
So thank you, Miss Kristen Wig, Thank you for joining
me today.
Speaker 2 (37:18):
Thanks for all the fries and all the everything.
Speaker 1 (37:21):
And we're gonna have many more meals to get yes.
Speaker 2 (37:23):
And we're going to record all of them.
Speaker 1 (37:35):
Table for two with Bruce Bosi is produced by iHeartRadio
seven three seven Park and Airmail. Our executive producers are
Bruce Bosi and Nathan King. Our supervising producer and editor
is Dylan Fagan. Table for two is researched and written
by Jack Sullivan. Our sound engineers our mel b Klein,
Jess Crainich, Evan Taylor, and Jesse Funk. Our music supervisor
(37:59):
is a Poster. Our talent booking is done by Jane Sarkin.
Table for two Social media manager is Gracie Wiener. Special
thanks to Amy Sugarman, Uni Scherer, Kevin Yuvane Bobby Bauer,
Alison Kanter, Graber, Barbara Jen, Jeff Klein and the staff
at The Tower Bar in the world famous Sunset Tower
(38:20):
Hotel in Hollywood. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the
iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you listen to your
favorite shows.
Hey, everybody, it's Bruce Bosi and we are back at
the Sunset Tower on a very beautiful Los Angeles day.
What do you normally eat when you come to the tower.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Oh, it depends what time of the night it is,
It depends where I've been.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Before, Yes, exactly. Today we are having lunch with an
incredible comedic actress. She started her career here in La
at the Groundlings really set her foundation. She auditioned for
Saturday Night Live and got on season thirty one and
quickly rose in season thirty two to be one of
(00:39):
the leading players at SNL.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
I just became so aware that I'm such a loud cheer.
My husband's just like sometimes I'll be eating and he'll
just be looking at me. I'm like, I'm just eating,
like I don't know how else to two.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
She next leveled us in the movie Bridesmaids, and you
have seen her ever since. Just give us incredible performance
and says currently she is on palm roil.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Now ice cream could do different toppings, which I love
a choice with that.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Right, the cookies, we're doing, all the dessert, We're.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Doing all the dessert. We'll just skip right to it.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
So sit back today, definitely have a glass of rose
and enjoy because we have Miss Kristen Wig. I'm Bruce
Bosi and this is my podcast Table for two. Hey, everybody,
(01:38):
thanks for pulling up a chair today on Table for two.
I am sitting looking at this beautiful woman. Wow, am
extremely talented actually someone I've had the pleasure of knowing
now for some time. Miss Kristin Wig.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Hello, I'm so happy to be here. I'm hungry, so
this is great, right.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
We're hungry. And when we say that, look at the court.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Oh look at this with the bullet.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
We're all obsessed with this mullet. But can we just
start by you grew up in New York, but I
can't pronounce a place. You grew up in Kenneth Canon.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Oh well no, I was born and it's called Canon
diaguased to. I know, it was very hard to learn
how to spell that as a child when you had
to write where you were born. I was like, look, God, yeah,
it's like one of the Finger Lakes finger Lake towns,
And I was born there and I lived there till
like three, and then Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and then back to
(02:38):
upstate New York Rochester.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Okay, Yeah, that was the vibe the East Coast, by.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
The East Coast vibe, and it still feels I don't know,
I think you feel I don't know, grounded is the
word whenever you go back to the either the place
or the coast.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
You were born.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Like, I feel like California is my home, but there's
something like I came from the coast.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Yeah, and there's something in the in your d n
A if you believe like all that. Oh yeah, the
universe where you were born and that's we can talk about.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
All that if you want, really, like I mean that
you love that kind of stuff.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Wow, you'd have to educate me.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Well, no, I mean I don't know if i'm I'm
if I have that much knowledge.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Well, so you're signs, but yes, okay, what is your sign?
Speaker 2 (03:29):
I'm a Leo.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Okay, virgo cuss.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Okay, I'm on the last day of Leo, and I
have some Leo trades, but there's definitely some Leo trades.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Sid because that's what happens because I'm aries ps but
just after Pisces ends.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Yes, you've got a.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Little a little bit of both exactly.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Which I think is good. Yeah, I don't know, I
have more traits.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
You call them to l A Yes, I mean I'm
sort of yes, yes you come to and the Groundlings, Yeah,
which seems to have been like such a foundational place
for really talented people.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
I mean that's where I speaking of the universe. Something
guided me there and that just changed my life. Even
as far as my close friends are all from there,
I'm still very close with that group. And I don't know,
I learned how to be on stage. I learned how
to write there, I learned how to be in a
(04:30):
in an ensemble. I learned about, you know, making other
actors look good and improvising and that it is a
group effort, and how to feel when things work and
when things don't work well, I mean, the audience will
tell you. But yeah, I just feel like that was
(04:52):
I mean, even just socially, just sort of the best
years that end SNL.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Is it sort of like and we'll get of course,
is it almost like your high school years? Those are
your people, and.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Like, yeah, you just kind of stay, you bond your
yeah group, I think because it's very and sort of
like SNL, we kind of say that we've all sort
of like been through war together and you just are
kind of bonded for life. I think when you're really
vulnerable in front of other people and you get scared
(05:24):
and you fail in front of other people, there's just
something that I don't know, there's just a connection there.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
I think.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
I don't know how to explain it.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
Well, I think, well, you know, looking at your work
and when you are, when I've watched you on SNL
or the Groundlings, you know you have to be so
open to failing and learn how to feel because.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
That's really really hard to be funny.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
But because you take the chances yeah, I mean the
characters that you've sort of if you're too afraid to fail.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Yeah, And it gets harder as you are in the
business longer, the older you get to do something that
fails because you feel like it's such a bigger deal.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
The idea of failing and risk. So barber Stride Sin
says too, if she's in this book, if you haven't
and you are somewhat interested, you must do the audible.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Because yes, I ought to hear her.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Yea, because she tells you and then she adds extra stories,
and then she reacts to her own stories, and it's
and she leaves no stone unturned really okay, remembered, I'm
everything in her life where you're like.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
I grew up listening to my mom was obsessed, so
I was.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
She said that iconic duet that she did with Judy
Garland Happy Days, Judy was shaking and Jay and she
was so and she was so young and she was
new to the game, but she was not nervous, she said.
As she aged, she realizes, Oh, it gets harder as
you get older and more successful, because you become more nervous.
(06:59):
And I think that's failing of not to be you know.
I think that is well.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
When you're trying something and you fail, you sort of
have that. I don't know if excuse is the right word,
but it's easier because you're like, Okay, well I'm trying
new things. I don't know what's going to work. And
I think the longer you're in this line of work
and people see all the stuff you do, when you
do fail, it's kind of like, well that didn't work,
(07:26):
why is she doing that?
Speaker 1 (07:27):
And it just.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Feels more rough. Yeah, it's it's actually something I'm trying
to work on right now, is just being a little
more free with that stuff, because that's ultimately what as
an actor you have to kind of do.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
It's so funny to hear this coming from you, because
of your success and how good you are that one
would I think the person who sits on my side
of being a fan and a viewer of television and film, you,
I wouldn't think that. I think like, oh, you got this,
like you.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Know no, No, I feel like whenever I feel like
I've got this, I need to change my careers. And
I felt that way with SNL, especially because I think
I think like, ultimately, our job is kind of like
(08:22):
uncomfortable and there's no predictability, there's no like real safety,
and so I think that's part of it.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
I mean, you'll just have another job.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Or even just safety in like creating a character or
all of it. It's just it's very like there's no
stability and that's just what it is. So I think
for me, and I always said that with SNL because
that felt like that environment. And I've said this before,
like the moment I feel super comfortable here, I feel
like is when I.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Have to leave.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
It? Still, I don't know. So at any time I
do a new job, I'm nervous.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Yeah, because you don't know that it makes complete sense. Yeah,
know what is going to come out of you? You
don't know who it's going to be. You don't know
if it's going to be good or bad. Yeahah, that level.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Of or is this the one where I'm gonna like,
you know, have a panic atitarck or something. You know,
you just think like, okay, well, is this the job
that is just gonna I don't know.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
You quickly went from season thirty one to thirty two.
You went from feature was it, yes, thirty one thirty
two boom by the boom. Yeah, so when you were developing,
because that's I've spoken. Colin was on the show recently
and we talked about that, and he's incredible, and you
know he's so incredible. Pressure of like the week and
writing his sketches and now you're like pitching your sketch.
(09:46):
That's pressure. I mean, if you know how to talk
to us about.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
That, I think because I knew it was going to
be pressure, and I went in with just low expectations
of my and I was so scared. I really didn't
I don't know. I only could go up as far
as like my my mood about the place. If that
makes sense because I went in just like I'm new,
(10:14):
I'm just gonna like learn from the people that have
been here before. I'm happy to be here. What I'm
hearing is I knew it was a scary place in
a way. So I think that helped me because I
think I think what I'm saying is if I would
have gone in like we were saying, like I got
this or I belong here, even, I think I would
(10:37):
have had a different experience in the beginning because I
knew my sort of experience at the Groundlings. I was
very comfortable on that stage. I knew I had characters
that you know, would get into shows and worked or whatever.
But I was like, I could go to SNL and
(10:57):
it could just not work. Like the most terrified I
ever was was when I did a character from the
Rawlings at SNL, because I was like, if this doesn't work,
like I'm out, Like that's my that's me, Like, that's
my sense of humor, that's how I write, Like this
is not this is wrong going to go well?
Speaker 1 (11:13):
Like when you chose so that So what you're saying
is so like you had a character that you developed
at the ground Lanks worked. It was great. And now
you're at S and now and it's like okay, Christen,
like what what do you got? And you're like, oh, okay,
I'm going to do this character that I developed. Yeah,
you're waiting to see. Did it ever not work?
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Oh? I had dad a lot of things, and so
many worked. Yeah, I mean, and also things that work
on a stage don't necessarily work on a TV show.
The character Aunt Linda that I do, she was that
was a scene and I tried to get her on
the show like four or five times in a scene
(11:53):
and it just wasn't. There was something about it because
she's so unlikable. It was kind of like why aren't
people just getting up and leaving? Like the scene doesn't
make sense? Why are people still talking to her? So
then it was like, oh, let's put her at the
update desk. So I kind of had to like rework.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
Interesting where she could be unlikable.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
And v she could Colin just has to sit there.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
And when you because you just did your fifth you
joined the five year club five yeah club, and Linda
was on that yeah kind that was hysterical. Thank you,
(12:46):
Welcome back to Table for two. Before the break, we
were talking with our guest Kristen Wigg about her time
on Saturday Night Live. She was a cast member for
seven years, and I'm curious what it was like performing
alongside a different host every week. You clearly must get
to a point where you're like, okay, not like I
(13:07):
got this where it's time for me to leave, but
like I understand now I've been doing it long enough
where I understand the week, the rhythm of the week,
and how to do it. And now I also know
how to help and work with the guest, right, because
that's a very tough THINGU. Yeah, when you're working with
a guest who might not necessarily be funny funny, you
(13:27):
know they're an actor, there's do you were there times
where you're like, okay, I am because you want everyone
to look good. I'm going to kind of wrap my
arms around this person because let's say the scene isn't
necessarily working.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
I mean, I certainly can speak just for the show
in general. It's just their job, our job to make
the host look good. Like that is what we were
always taught, like, have a great show, make the host
look good. So if you have someone who's an athlete
maybe or just for an example and you don't know, like,
(14:01):
are what's this going to? Be?
Speaker 1 (14:04):
Sure?
Speaker 2 (14:05):
I think the writers are so good at I don't know,
creating just certain scenarios and scenes, whether it's a character
that someone already does in the cast and having them
be sort of like their partner in that.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
I feel like the show is just really really good
at at doing it. You kind of know people's I mean,
you don't really know, but you get an idea maybe
of who they are, like what they're doing.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
Right, And I see that you're saying, it's the community
of that says, Okay, this person's going to be the
host this week, so okay, this person is an athlete,
so we know, so let's kind of meaniately like they're
not an actor.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
We have to like sort of cater to what they're
great at. And people always surprise you and them thinking
of like Peyton Manning who just came in and was
just like hilarious and ended up posting I don't know
times or something, so I'm s sure the second time
he came back, the writers approach it a little differently
because they know what he does.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
Yes, you know, yeah, but do you have a favorite
Kristen character. I mean, there's so good. There's so many,
you know, not a favorite one that like you're like, oh,
I love when she comes.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Out, Like I really do love doing Aunt Linda because
I get to sort of release, like I don't know,
she's very animated, so I kind of like lose myself
in her a little bit. So it kind of distresses me,
if that makes sense. And I think the target Lady
for me is just that's one of the characters I
(15:38):
brought from the ground so that one just feels like
special to me, if that makes sense. I don't know.
It's weird when you have these characters that kind of
feel like you're children even though they are.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
You me, do these characters come to you like you're
shopping and awstin you're looking at this.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
Woman on your like sometimes oh my, yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
Look at this kind of like you know, there's always
those crazy see like New York ladies that you see
like or like the crazy La ladies to Tan they've
been around and you're like.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
Totally I mean I think, yeah, being when I was
at the groundings and being on the show, you're constantly
having to come up with new material every week, and
so you have these like I don't know, comedy and
tennis all and where you're just like listening to people
and watching people because you're always like trying to find
ideas and you're trying to like find people to become. Yeah,
(16:29):
so I don't do that so much now, But back then,
it was like, yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
Wow, no, our fries are coming. Oh everything's going wow.
I mean we're double fried up ladies and gentlemen. That's
a beautiful salad.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Really beautiful.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
I appreciate that, Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Okay, you're going to do the first? What am I am?
Speaker 2 (16:53):
I saying that? Which what's better? Normal?
Speaker 1 (16:55):
Just like what I mean, they're both going to be
good because the fry is a fry, right.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
You know what though, these fries are my favorite kind
of fry because I like a thin fry. But I
don't like a soft fry.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
I agree.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
I don't really like soft foods.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
And you mean, like a mashed potato a little too mushy,
a little too much.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
I need like a crunch.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
I mean, I think I'm a it's very good.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
I'm a truffled person.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
Yeah, it's very it's kind of nice.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Traffle with mayo ketch Up with Regular.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Oh my god, Truffle with Mayo first, Yeah, ketch Up
with Regular was Bridesmaids. The moment that you were like,
was that the moment where life changes again? And that
(17:46):
kind of I mean.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
If yeah, I think if we're talking like chapters and
SNL being the one before, I think that was probably
the next one.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
Would you tell during the shooting of that? No, could
you get through a take of that? Or do you
all like really actually hate each other and it's like
we can imagine?
Speaker 2 (18:07):
No, it was one of the best experiences of my life.
And I mean talk about being bonded.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
Yeah, ever, those those girls only imagine.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
Yeah, I mean I think for me too, because we
wrote it right, it felt like, oh maybe I can
start doing this kind of thing, writing for myself and
my friends. I mean like, I mean, the whole experience
was life changing in so many ways.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
Yeah. To be able to write, you know, to have
the gift of both that must be completely How does
that come the genesis of an idea where you're like, oh,
this is an idea that I'm going to develop.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
I mean, I have to give my writing partner credit
for that. Annie Mamelo, jud had approached me to write something.
I didn't really have an idea, and I really had
been writing with Annie at the Groundlings a lot. So
I was just like, hey, do you want to write
something with me for.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
I mean, that's like.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
And we had a couple ideas and then that was
the one that sort of stuck and it fit for
a lot of reasons. We liked that it was about
friendship and not just a straight up love story romantic comedy,
and that it did have a big female cast, and
and I think it's something that people could relate to.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
I think so the one fun getting married and the
you know, the dynamics of the friendship were going to end.
I think it was completely relatable on so many levels,
even you know, the relationships you have with who. That's
when I found really saw like, oh, who knew John
Amm was so funny, you know what I mean? Like that,
I was like, oh, oh, this is so funny. Great,
and the dynamics, and then of course the way the
(19:56):
movie does end out, because it is in a way
it's a romantic comment between two girlfriends, you know, that
have this divide and then come back together and they
you know, they find each other and.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
That's I mean, romantic relationships are obviously important, and that
is the majority of well that's sort of definition of
the romantic comedy. But and we've always said, like female
friendships are so like your friends. I mean I'm not
just specifying women, but your friendships, especially as you get older,
(20:29):
it is to your family like that that's the person
you call. That's like they're so important, especially during that time.
I think, too, who am I?
Speaker 1 (20:40):
How do you feel, like just recently to go back
and be a movie star and be hosting SNL, because
like it must feel it's weird, weird.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
You know, it's weird because I want to be in
the cast, you know what I mean, Like I don't
want to be the one that's like in the separate meetings,
Like I want to be everybody.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
You're like, hi, I'm here.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Well, I mean it was in the obviously when I
first went back, it was cool to sort of look
behind the curtain because you don't know what it's like.
It's like, what goes on in that meeting?
Speaker 1 (21:10):
Where are they going?
Speaker 2 (21:11):
That was kind of cool, Yeah, my thing because everyone's
still there, like all the producers, and I mean obviously
changes here and there, but like if I were to
go back and it was all new producers and all
new crew, it would be a completely different experience and
I would feel like I'm going back to a place
I don't work anymore, right, But it's all the same people,
(21:32):
So it's like it's like, I mean, it's like a family.
I know that's what people say, but it really is.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
Yeah, you know when I was a page at NBC. Wait,
when was that nineteen eighty nine? Well, yeah, so all
day you'd give tours and I had the Today Show assignment,
and then and every Saturday, you know, I'd give tours
and at SNL, you know, you'd have your break. And
then it was year fifteen because it was Gilder Rinder
(21:59):
when she passed was a big and that was year
she passed. It was also like the fifteen year anniversary party,
and you'd work all day and you've worked between the
morning and then we all of course that we weren't
supposed to, would go to the after party. And I literally,
on this given Saturday, I wanted to work that Saturday,
and there was a Bob Hope's picture was on the wall,
(22:19):
and it Saturday's like birthdate, and the nineteen eighty nine.
I was like, so, you know, you give four tours
a day, which doesn't sound like a lot, but a lot,
And all day I told everyone Bob Hope died. Oh no,
but Bob Hope hadn't died because you know, they have
these things ready for you, and so for whatever reason,
I was like, I just need to tell you all
(22:40):
as we're in studio, like whatever, Bob Hope is dead.
And then when I found out later, I'm like, I
told all these people, Oh, anyway, we we got well.
I mean I didn't know.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
That's why did he tell why on the news?
Speaker 1 (22:57):
Why is it not making like? Why is this idiotol
page alphre right exactly. But we would work the door
of studio eight h and the people that try to
crash because it was old school then, so there's not
all gloss like it was right, and people would always
be like, no, I'm on the eighth floor and we'd
be like, you know, you're not like Saka, I go
(23:17):
up to the nine to flour. You're talking about really power,
famous people like you had power like it was. It was.
It was probably one of the best jobs I've ever had,
and to your point, very specific because of the people
I was doing it with in that year at that time,
and that's kind of the fun of life. But it
really is a group. It was just was fun.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
I mean even the people that I went in with,
like me, sadeikis Andy Bill, like that is just a
group that will always be because you all show up
like so scared and then when you leave the show
(24:00):
like so much has happened, like that seven years your
life has completely changed, right, And I think knowing people
before is like it's really important, no complete, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Thanks for joining us on Table for two. Christian Wig
stars as Maxine in the new Apple TV Plus show
Palm Role, a period comedy drama about Palm Beach high
society in the late sixties. I'm a huge fan and
I want to know all about the process of making
the show. So okay, let's I'm obsessed with Palm Role. Okay, yeah,
(24:57):
I mean, okay, so what did you know? I mean,
you're first of all, how your style about the wig
and the tan and your character. I mean you singing
the song with the leggings? Is that all there is?
With the Astronaut? I was not I thought you in
(25:18):
The Astronaut are really I was like, Okay, this makes
sense to me. He disappears.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
That's my husband in real life.
Speaker 1 (25:26):
Yes, he's really hot. I was like, I hope hits
it with Astronaut because I saw I had no idea
he's really hot. What happened? What happened to his character?
Speaker 2 (25:40):
I don't understand why you.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
Got to oh to watch season two?
Speaker 2 (25:46):
I mean, I don't know. We don't have the season
two yet, so we don't.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
Oh.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
Well, I can't say anything.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
No, I know, But how did I not know? I literally, Christian,
I'm watching this in the water. It's hysterical, and you're like,
I'm like, this guy is so hot.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
I can't wait to tell me you said that.
Speaker 1 (26:06):
Your palm beach is so up of that moment of
it's fun, it's glitchy. It's the dynamics of the being competitive,
the women, the How did you sort of dive into
your character because your character, you know, comes from a
different place, Like what was that character development? Like what'd
you base did you have something a person in mind?
Speaker 2 (26:28):
I didn't really have a person. I mean, it's it's
very very loosely based on a book Mister and Missus
American Pie. And because of the way that I sort
of interpreted her in the book. And also she's doing
a lot of things that aren't really the traits of
(26:48):
someone you'd root for, I know, But so we need
people to root for her because she's the main character,
and so I don't know, it was just sort of like,
what if she's just really positive and sunny and she
knows what she's doing, but she kind of has good
reason for it in her mind.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
There's something I like when I'm conflicted and confused about
someone that I'm watching.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
Yeah, they good?
Speaker 2 (27:16):
Are they bad? So I think making her very positive
and sort of sees everything half full glass halfful it
helps you root for her, even even though what she
wants is like what lady right, like you don't get it.
Speaker 1 (27:35):
Yeah, And I think you're making a very valid point
with how to sort of make her someone that you
do root for word because first of all, most of
them you don't, because they really are like just you know.
I mean, I can Janny's.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
But it's Alice and Janney. So you love her.
Speaker 1 (27:53):
Right, you love her right? But your character is interesting
because really, at the end of the day, we all
just want to belong and that's where I think she's
coming from like this was her childhood dream. These were
her early influences as she was growing up. Totally. She
idolized the life, wanted the life. She saw the life
as being like problem free, problem for you, right, And
(28:17):
so she didn't understand first of all the cutthroat like
pardon like party scene, I'm gonna take you down and
all the dupe listen to this.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
Oh yeah, she just thought they were going to lunch
and eating shrink.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
Right, So I think that's where you And because she's
so sunny, and because she's also styled you look so beautiful.
Speaker 2 (28:36):
Boy, well that's that's Alex Freeberg right there. She's incredible.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
Whoa the style is crazy.
Speaker 2 (28:42):
Yeah, she is just one of the best costume designers
I ever.
Speaker 1 (28:48):
So, you know, I when you guys were shooting it,
Tay Taylor who directed, didn't he directed.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
He directed the direct he'd produced and directed four.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
So he you know every now, and that was send
Brian and myself, you know, just a still and it
was like, oh my god, like Bewitched, you know what
I mean. It was like of that era of those
like that.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
That's so funny that you bring a Bewitched because we
had always said that my character was very Samantha and
then Allison's character was very Andorra, And we had a
picture of the two of us that we had put
next to the two of them. It's true that it's
not that funny.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
That is funny. Yeah, I'm hitting on some things. Yeah,
the astronaut, Yeah, the endoor Samantha. I just feel we're here,
but it is. It's great. And Carol Burnett, Oh yeah, great.
What did you learn working with this woman who is
like the icon pioneer? What were the takeaways for you
(29:49):
and was it intimidating to be on the set with
someone with that sort of pedigree?
Speaker 2 (29:54):
The idea was intimidating because she's one of my idols.
But as soon as you meet her, it's there's nothing.
She's so like warm and welcoming. You can't help but
just feel like a big mush like she's she wants
to be there. She's always in a great mood, she's
talking to everybody. She just sort of reminded me that
(30:18):
like we're not that I forgot, but you know when
it's like our sixteen mom baby that like we're so lucky,
we're so lucky to be doing the thing that we
want to do with our lives, and that is never
lost on me, and I feel so grateful and I
never ever ever want to take advantage of that and
(30:40):
always be grounded in the sense that like it could
go away at any moment. And I'm doing a scene
with Carol Burnett, right, and how did they get here?
Speaker 1 (30:52):
Right? Like that?
Speaker 2 (30:54):
I just and she's so fucking funny. She's ninety she'd
be ninety one very soon. Yeah, And she's just on
it and with it and like funny, and she's just
so warm. I don't know how to explain it. She
was just like a light. And every time she came
on said it was just like, oh, everyone's in a
good mood. Now you can't complain. You can't be in
(31:15):
a bad mood. She's here.
Speaker 1 (31:17):
Yeah. What's likable about your character is the exuberance of
like the girl who wants to be in the talent
show and she's not really good, but.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
She's that's the best person to watch well.
Speaker 1 (31:29):
To watch and you know you're like and even though
and the rehearsal when you're like and the vines are
gotta come down, I gotta do this, and you better
take gya gerber. You better do it this ready, don't
do it this way. It's really a great character. Thank
you son.
Speaker 2 (31:44):
It was a collaborative effort. Yes, we had just from
production design to the directors that came in to costumes,
hair and makeup. I mean, I've never had a job
like that. It was just you couldn't wait to get
on set and like see what everyone else was wearing,
which was so cool.
Speaker 1 (32:05):
Yeah, beads and yellows and blues, and it just.
Speaker 2 (32:10):
Was so like sunny and I don't know, it's like
it was like summer.
Speaker 1 (32:14):
I wondered it had to be like that at that time.
I mean, I do believe all that stuff is based
on you know, you do she did her research totally.
Speaker 2 (32:23):
Yeah, I mean I I wasn't fully aware what a
bubble it was, even just fashion wise, because you think
about late sixties, early seventies and you don't really think
of that. But it was just like this tiny little
place in Florida just had this thing going on that
(32:45):
thankfully Sla Marens was.
Speaker 1 (32:48):
Right.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
But and it's still I like that in the sense
that it's its own, it's its own like micro cosm.
Speaker 1 (32:59):
It is, it's its own, and then.
Speaker 2 (33:01):
All cities have their little things like, oh, that's a
New York style or that's whatever. Say, but but the
Palm Beach style in that time was just so yummy.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
Yummy is a good world, Yeah, it really is. What
are some of the things that you'd like to do?
Is there a pivot to something that's more serious that
you wanted you? Are you writing something that like? Is
there a character? Is there a movie that influenced you
(33:32):
that you know?
Speaker 2 (33:33):
Yes, I'm at such the beginning stages of Like a Seed,
but I don't even want to like mention it because
I don't even really know what it is. But I
know that's the direction I'm going to go, and I'd
love to direct it and maybe not be in it.
Speaker 1 (33:50):
Right Well, okay, I have two things sus asking me
about that, so let's just say just light lightly tell us,
like the vibe of the seed? Is it a serious seed?
Is it a no?
Speaker 2 (34:04):
I think it's a mix. I like, I like a mix.
Someone called palmerl a serious comedy, which I thought I
kind of liked that.
Speaker 1 (34:11):
Oh yeah, see that.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
So I think it'll have comedic elements, but not like
a straight.
Speaker 1 (34:21):
Up yeah comedy.
Speaker 2 (34:23):
Okay, I think that's just kind.
Speaker 1 (34:25):
Of where I just wanted more. It's a tease.
Speaker 2 (34:27):
I like that, it's a stay tuned four years from
now and finally got a death.
Speaker 1 (34:33):
Why it's like table for two and I'm a hundred
and I'm like, I'm.
Speaker 2 (34:38):
S liking about it.
Speaker 1 (34:41):
The directing thing is interesting because I was talking to
an actor who their belief in actors directing themselves. It's
very difficult, they say, and he referenced a couple of
actors who have done it, and it's sort of there's
it doesn't work, not because they're not rate, but because
(35:02):
one has a natural inclination when you're looking at the
day's work to be looking at you first. It's like
when you look at a picture of a group of
people and you're like, oh, it's a good picture.
Speaker 2 (35:11):
But.
Speaker 1 (35:15):
I like this one and everyone else is.
Speaker 2 (35:19):
One.
Speaker 1 (35:19):
As you've already posted it, you're like, I'm sorry, I've
gotten melled at by my friends who are like, you
are so mean. You only post the ones that are
good of you, and I'm like, no, I don't, but
of course, yeah, it's just that's it's hard. Do you
feel that would be challenging to look at.
Speaker 2 (35:39):
A Yeah, oh my god, I can't even watch things
that I do. I mean, I don't, I don't. I think.
I think also with the directing, I am nervous to
do it, and I think I just want to. I
don't want to worry about myself. I just want to
see it as this thing that I'm making. Yeah, I
don't want to be in it.
Speaker 1 (35:59):
Yeah, I love that You'll be a great a great director.
Speaker 2 (36:03):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (36:04):
You have to.
Speaker 2 (36:07):
Yeah, it's it's something I've always wanted to do. I
don't know when that will be, but I know it
will happen.
Speaker 1 (36:26):
I just want to say, as we sort of wrapper lunch,
I'm very grateful that you took the time to have
lunch and come because it's not like it's easy to do.
You have to actually move, it's not like flipil computer.
You know. Yes, I'm asking you, and you look fierce.
Thank you, But I just want to congratulate you on
(36:48):
palmerl Thank you and everything you've ever done, because you
are of the gift and giving me and so many
people so much joy and so much laughter, and in
this time where there's so much other stuff going on,
that is a true gift.
Speaker 2 (37:01):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (37:02):
And palm oriol is amazing. So I encourage everyone to
just binge your way, and I am waiting for the
announcement for season two. That's what I'm saying. That's good.
Speaker 2 (37:14):
Thank you for saying all that.
Speaker 1 (37:15):
So thank you, Miss Kristen Wig, Thank you for joining
me today.
Speaker 2 (37:18):
Thanks for all the fries and all the everything.
Speaker 1 (37:21):
And we're gonna have many more meals to get yes.
Speaker 2 (37:23):
And we're going to record all of them.
Speaker 1 (37:35):
Table for two with Bruce Bosi is produced by iHeartRadio
seven three seven Park and Airmail. Our executive producers are
Bruce Bosi and Nathan King. Our supervising producer and editor
is Dylan Fagan. Table for two is researched and written
by Jack Sullivan. Our sound engineers our mel b Klein,
Jess Crainich, Evan Taylor, and Jesse Funk. Our music supervisor
(37:59):
is a Poster. Our talent booking is done by Jane Sarkin.
Table for two Social media manager is Gracie Wiener. Special
thanks to Amy Sugarman, Uni Scherer, Kevin Yuvane Bobby Bauer,
Alison Kanter, Graber, Barbara Jen, Jeff Klein and the staff
at The Tower Bar in the world famous Sunset Tower
(38:20):
Hotel in Hollywood. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the
iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you listen to your
favorite shows.
Host
Bruce Bozzi
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