This is FRESH AIR. STRONG: Well, it was sort of a mix of, like, I'm making fun of myself, and then I'm thinking about people I'd seen on Facebook. Illustration by Quinton McMillan. In the almost nine years that she's worked on SNL, Cecily Strong has also showcased her impersonation prowess on several occasions, portraying celebrities likeJeanine Pirro,Rachel Maddow, Senator Dianne Feinstein, and, perhaps most famously, former First Lady Melania Trump. As the featured entertainer, Strong had the difficult task of roasting politicians, including then-President Barack Obama, to their faces. It's on or near the Hudson River. So we did her on "Update.". I watch enough to try to get a voice down and the way someone speaks and their mannerisms and their face, but not too much, she says. STRONG: Yes. And you can't have love without having a lover's spat. And it's like, you don't know what corn puddin' is? You know, we were getting ready for one of those - I think they were two "Update" specials because it was an election year. The weird part? Colin Jost filled in, and eventually Micael Che replaced Strong as his co-anchor to start Season 40. A leprechaun has explained to the couple - in song - that they can't leave Schmigadoon until they find true love, which means the depth of their love is about to be tested. She has a new memoir called "This Will All Be Over Soon," and she stars in the new series "Schmigadoon!," a satire of classic musicals from the '40s and '50s. Later that year,she would again address the topic while appearing on Late Night, including a new discovery she made after conferring with a medium. Strongs last episode set for Saturday, December 17 has Austin Butler as the host and Lizzo as the musical guest. During an appearance on Busy Tonight (via IMDb), Strong confirmed that Lucy is a good flying partner except for when it comes to using the plane's bathroom together. And then just being loud and over annunciating and trying to have a stern look, you know? GROSS: This is FRESH AIR. Cant we just keep using the wheel? BRYANT Bad? Somehow they made it happen. She barely rehearsed, since they didnt acquire the tub in question until the last minute: Saturday afternoon, I got a text like, do you want to come test out the tub? Now in its 46th season, the cast is made up of new faces, but the show's hilarious spirit is still alive and well. I don't have enough gym credits to graduate on time. And you couldnt see this at home, but the audience was standing during the entire cold open. Along with legendary mainstays like Jeanine Pirro, she introduced new sidesplitting interpretations of folks ranging from former Trump lawyer Sidney Powell to hard-right congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. GROSS: That's really funny. Now that delta is causing this resurgence, what's your level of anxiety now? But I certainly - I remember getting to go backstage after "Secret Garden." GROSS: That's pretty great. GROSS: Let's hear you as the Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party. But she left the desk, preferring to do sketch comedy, which she's great at. We'll first hear the voice of Michael Che on "Weekend Update.". Cecily Strong was born on February 8, 1984 in Springfield, Illinois, USA. (Laughs.) KEY: (As Josh Skinner) Oh, no - no, no, no, no, no, no. And it almost cost me my brother. STRONG: Well, I actually will say the police had a program that I was really lucky to have. Talk about the process of writing that. And so I think they thought that might be a good outlet for me. You want to try with other people? STRONG: It's hard to say, honestly. Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key star as a couple of trying to reinvigorate their relationship by going on a hike designed for couples who need to reconnect. It sounds like all that is going to change in 2021. I did, like, a video for kids - for schools to show about kids with parents with drug and alcohol problems. You put the bowl in your belly 'cause it's good for the soul. UNIDENTIFIED CHORUS: (As characters, singing) I got us corn puddin'. The Unhinged Brilliance of Cecily Strong. America So She Could Breastfeed Privately, Michael J. And I think, because my - we'd already gone through things with my brother. This is FRESH AIR. According to Newsweek, the hilarious "Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation with at a Party" actress had a hard time believing the news after NBC notified her: "She [an NBC executive] must mean like the show was nominated and she texted all of us or something. What was it like to try to figure out what was funny in those conditions? Chicago's highly prestigious improv comedy club, The Second City, has been a pipeline of sorts for Saturday Night Live dating back to the 1970s. To revist this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. And if people arent in masks, do we have to now explain why theyre not in masks?. WebCecily Strong Best known as a Supporting Actress based on credits in that role in 6 films, with $313,826,553 worldwide aggregate box office (rank #12,144) Best-known acting Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. KEY: (As Josh Skinner) And you're not sick? Her reactionsit was like, wow, shes just screaming. You know, I wasn't a super popular kid. I mean, he did a couple attempts here and there. He would perform in the Gridiron show put on by the state corps, imitating the governor. This is FRESH AIR. And is it hard for you to keep a straight face when he's having trouble keeping a straight face? Or I'll go to my garage. My mom is in Mexico. I've always loved musicals. Because if you threw your BlackBerry at her, she would just delete everything right off of it. In fact, with a whopping 73 Emmy wins (not to mention 275 nominations), SNL has taken home more Emmy hardware than any other television series in history. COLIN JOST: Fox News personality Judge Jeanine Pirro returned to television tonight after being suspended two weeks for controversial comments about a Muslim congresswoman. STRONG: (As Melissa Gimble) Guys, we're actually in the middle of something. I don't know exactly where you live. Elvis star Austin Butler hosted the Dec. 18 episode, which turned out to be Strongs last. It was like as soon as I started singing, I knew what to say. Early last year, it was reported that Strong would be both producing and starring in a musical comedy series forApple TV+. Weve been doing it one way for damn near a decade. Does that flexibility to go and come back make you more likely to stay? But if you've got some extry (ph) STRONG: (As Melissa Gimble, singing) I sure would like a taste. A plan was hatched for her to cameo as the Trump adviser and former Fox host: Shed film it from the Schmigadoon! And we were making the sets and making our props and hair and makeup, so it was really - we had a fun little make believe studio here. STRONG: Thank you. costar Keegan-Michael Key. I was licking a soft-serve ice-cream cone. That's where everything's OK. The Unhinged Brilliance of Cecily Strong. The Schmigadoon! STRONG: (As Melissa Gimble) So you're ready to give up on us because of what a leprechaun said? It was right in my wheelhouse, Strong admits of watching Guilfoyle over the summer. What's on TV & Streaming Top 250 TV Shows Most Popular TV Shows Browse TV I feel like my bubble just burst recently. UNIDENTIFIED CHORUS: (As characters, singing) Just 'cause you feuded don't mean that you're concluded. GROSS: Well, I wish you well. Although her performance received a mixture of reviews, some of her rips on President Obama were undeniably hysterical. - which is now streaming on Apple TV+. by Michael Major Apr. STRONG: Oh, definitely. Although details on the project are still largely under wraps, Variety reports that the show, which is penned by Despicable Me screenwritersCinco Paul and Ken Daurio, will follow a couple who discovers a mysterious town calledSchmigadoon during a backpacking excursion. This was a standout season for Strong, even though she largely only appeared in the back half, having been busy filming her AppleTV+ vehicle Schmigadoon! I thought it was just going to be, Well, if we manage to physically get through it, itll be something, but it turned out to be favorite is not the right word but definitely the most meaningful. (Laughs.) GROSS: A turning point in your young life (laughter) was in 1999 when you were a sophomore in high school. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. She does basic research as she begins preparing for an impression. And I think, you know, whatever name is next to an Emmy nomination, it still feels like everybody there is a part of that - why there's a nomination. After joining SNL in 2012, Strong went on to create countless recurring characters like Cathy Anne and Tammy the Trucker and impersonate celebrities like Kendall Jenner, Megyn Kelly and Liz Cheney. So she and Tucker decided to focus on her (and did they ever!) And so it was like, I was going to be a fifth-year senior, which just felt bonkers. It feels like a little bit of other-planet behavior - all of us. So it's like something my family had already been dealing with. It just felt like, I've fallen through the cracks. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters. And we both enjoy malapropisms, I think, as much as each other, so it's a lot of that. I know its a good show if Ive made the safety team a little nervous, Strong says. Strong joined "SNL" as a featured player in 2012. It wasn't like I'm pulling out. I know from your new memoir that when "Saturday Night Live" did some episodes with everybody at home, that you were - you didn't want to participate at first, and you didn't do one or two of the shows because you just didn't feel ready to perform, I mean, because you really were in a serious state of depression and anxiety. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. One of those passionate fans is actually Cecily Strong, who took to her Instagramand showered the team with praises after their historic victory: "So excited to be this excited. GROSS: Like, among the shows he did was terrific revivals of "Music Man," which is, of course, referenced (laughter) in "Schmigadoon!" Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. You're nominated for an Emmy for your work on "SNL," and so are some of the other cast members. And I'm now back to worrying about someone I love with COVID. We were in his office, and he was like, have you seen this lady? In the latest episode of Schmigadoon!, Melissa ( You have to do people that everybody knows. She is an actress and producer, known for. So here you are on "Weekend Update" as Judge Jeanine Pirro. And I was talking about something else, and then I sort of made fun of myself, like, yeah, because, you know, that's - well, that's an important thing for society to hear or something. Who doesn't love a good dog? And then they went, oh, wait a minute; there's one more pocket. You not only - because you were expelled, you not only weren't allowed to attend the ceremony; you weren't allowed within a three-block radius of where the ceremony was, and you were threatened with arrest if you overstepped that boundary. GROSS: I love the way mansplaining becomes, like, don't man-terrupt me. You see everybody go so hard on these big ideas, and a lot of them dont make it, but you perform them 150 percent and its thrilling. Fortunately, it wasnt. And then it took a while to really understand, here's all of the things we're going to put in place, here's all the safety measures, until I finally felt safe. Im at the end of the hall at 30 Rock getting into this vat of water, going, Oh, this is great, guys., Yet the sketch, which shows off Strongs incredible pipes along with the effortless Pirro-esque slurring, went off perfectly. The comedian, 39, stopped by Andy Cohens Watch What Happens Live earlier this week where she admitted that its hard for me to watch the show right now.. While talking to Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Showin 2018, Strong noted that Donald made it a point to tell her how the former model felt about her impression when he hosted the show back in 2015: "She pointed at me when she walked in and then I think [Donald] said, 'She likes your impression.' Tables, microphones. set as a Trump thought bubble for the cold open, a recreation of the first Trump-Biden debate. I was a new cast member. 8 at the box office. ! Strong recalls. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. It kind of felt like that a little bit. By And I think that's probably why I enjoy rewatching it so much, is just taking myself back there. My brother actually did try to kill himself in eighth grade. I ended up going back upstairs and my soon-to-be great friend Colin Jost helped me out and walked me over to the secret night time elevator, Strong continued. STRONG: No, I would - it feels great because, this past year especially, I'm just - I'm so proud of the show and being a part of the show. And - yeah. So if he wants my puddin', he'll have to marry me. BRYANT This is part of my SNL amnesia, I lose it all when its over. Is everyone OK today? Thats all going through your head. But I was just always performing around the house. And this is from the February 20, 2017, edition of "Saturday Night Live." It's still - and I think, like, even though that seems crazy to say in the middle of summer, I think it's been a wild couple of years, and so I'm just - I'm OK with not knowing. And it seems like - you know, my other thought is, like, COVID is something we have to learn to coexist with. God, this whole musical is so much fun. Are you reverting to that level of fear again? Oh, he'll have to marry me. Let's get back to my interview with Cecily Strong. But she kept going, what? WebMelissa Gorga & Cecily Strong (Podcast Episode 2023) Cecily Strong as Self - Guest. That's called a double standard. You've just really got her down (laughter). BRYANT OK, I shouldve just said that. And he was showing me clips of her, like, doing man on the street interviews. GROSS: And Hal Willner, who you mentioned - he died of COVID. And she's nominated for an Emmy for her work on "Saturday Night Live." So, at least for the three of us, I feel like thats become our approach on coming back or, really, about anything. Our relationship [with Israel] will be better in the next administration, just as soon as Israel makes a generous donation to the Clinton Foundation. Although Strong may have never made it on the pitch, she has enjoyed a long and successful career as an actress, so living up to half of Andrew Shue's legacy will just have to do. Worth it, though.. They may not be as funny as some of the ridiculous, parodical ads she's appeared in on SNL, but you have to assume that Strong's Triscuit commercials hold a special place in her heart. Stop. Of course I love you. "It was like being on a vacation. However, she confirmed that she would be appearing in the series 50th anniversary in the foreseeable future. No. She sent the creative team a picture of a magician in a box of wine for inspiration. UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #3: (As character, singing) You can't eat a fish without getting some bones. Strong also has a new memoir called "This Will All Be Over Soon." So you're back on Fox? But in order to develop that point, JOST: That's great. GROSS: You did you first paid gig when you were 10. For Strong, that start came in the form of commercials. Ive had the time of my life working with the greatest people on earth., A post shared by Cecily Strong (@cecilystrong). ", which is a loving satire of classic musicals from the '40s and '50s. Luckily for us, but maybe - who knows? And I just - I did theater. The iconic sketch comedy show has been bringing laughter to audiences since its first episode aired way back in October 1975. STRONG: Right. She's always got a very gravely serious affectation. So I want to ask you about another character that you've done, and that's the Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party. Rupert Murdoch Knees Trump in the Balls While Hes Doubled Over Coughing Up Blood, The 42 Best Romantic Comedies of All Time, We take stock of the best rom-coms everfrom, What Really Happened During the Making of. STRONG: You know, we definitely loved the exclamations, you know, saving those for the - what. Could be fun. GROSS: And he's not just a Broadway producer. All rights reserved. So it was very nice to be in the room with other people and to see people perform. I am ready to go, but Ill always know home is here, she penned on social media at the time. Like, he's just - when he's managing it, he is the most delightful, wonderful - my brother is, like, one of my favorite people in the world. And she used the playbill and a lot of those pictures. Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key star as a couple of trying to reinvigorate their relationship by going on a hike designed for couples who need to Throughout her tenure on SNL, Strong had a strong celebrity impersonation game. GROSS: So when does a decision have to be made? STRONG: I haven't. That felt like a privilege. My heart is bursting. So somebody at Fox News said my name into a bathroom mirror three times, and here I am. In December 2022, Strong revealed she was leaving SNL, after being with the cast for 10 years. And so I want to play that scene 'cause it'll give a sense of how people just kind of break out into song around you and how you sometimes just chime right in. This Mueller report completely exonerated the president, and therefore everybody on the Trump train, woo, woo (ph). So, really, I was appreciative for those kinds of weird challenges just to get me out of my head. And I would be driving home. WebLast night's final Saturday Night Live of 2022 is also the last for Cecily Strong as part of the sketch comedy series.The news turned watching the episode into an emotional experience for fans, and the cast capped it all off with one last "sketch" allowing them to sing Strong off of the show.The sketch begins with the premise that Strong is playing a character who's She's nominated for an Emmy for her work on "Saturday Night Live." And then my uncle is also a Broadway producer. I was losing my mind. Saturday Night Live has been off the air since May, which has allowed its stars time to reflect on what theyve ultimately concluded was one of the most powerful seasons in their collective tenures at the show which is not to say it was easy or even fun.

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