WEBVTT - Kristen Wiig and Dick Cavett 0:00:03.920 --> 0:00:06.680 This is Alec Baldwin and you're listening to Here's the thing. 0:00:08.080 --> 0:00:11.799 For some people, destiny arrives early, hands them a map, 0:00:12.119 --> 0:00:17.200 and clears a path toward the future. For others, destiny 0:00:17.239 --> 0:00:20.280 shows up later while they're still kicking around in the woods. 0:00:21.040 --> 0:00:24.200 My guests today, Dick Cavin and Kristen wigg took two 0:00:24.280 --> 0:00:27.320 very different journeys, but both ended up right where they 0:00:27.320 --> 0:00:31.000 were meant to be. As a little boy, Dick Cavitt 0:00:31.040 --> 0:00:34.280 loved to talk. A month ago on this stable and 0:00:34.320 --> 0:00:36.520 I was going through old envelopes of stuff, I found 0:00:36.640 --> 0:00:40.879 three report cards. Dick Miss learned to control his talking 0:00:42.200 --> 0:00:45.600 is on two of them. Dick Miss learned to let 0:00:45.640 --> 0:00:50.160 others talk occasionally. One of the wittier ones UH put down. 0:00:50.840 --> 0:00:53.920 And when his family finally got a television, he fell 0:00:53.960 --> 0:00:56.360 in love with that too. It was only a matter 0:00:56.400 --> 0:00:58.960 of time before Cavin would combine the two with a 0:00:59.000 --> 0:01:02.880 talk show that generated some of the medium's greatest moments. 0:01:03.040 --> 0:01:04.759 That come didn't kiss me then when you came out? 0:01:04.800 --> 0:01:07.880 If I'm so well, let's see this is the third show. 0:01:08.840 --> 0:01:11.880 By the fifth show, we'll go to another hell of 0:01:11.920 --> 0:01:15.880 a kiss. I come out. But let's say you happened 0:01:15.920 --> 0:01:18.360 to meet my first guest, Kristen Wigg when she was 0:01:18.400 --> 0:01:21.640 in college. If you brought up the idea of her acting, 0:01:21.800 --> 0:01:25.560 let alone being on Saturday Night Live, she'd probably stare 0:01:25.600 --> 0:01:29.679 at you blankly. Yet Lauren Michaels has called Wig one 0:01:29.680 --> 0:01:33.640 of the best performers in SNL history. She has changed 0:01:33.720 --> 0:01:36.800 the conversation about women in comedy. So it's hard to 0:01:36.800 --> 0:01:40.640 believe Whigg's career almost didn't happen. I was an art major. 0:01:42.160 --> 0:01:45.040 It wasn't really for me. I was kind of in 0:01:45.120 --> 0:01:50.400 my I hate the word party phase. I hate that word. 0:01:50.760 --> 0:01:53.880 I was having fun, I guess at that time, and 0:01:53.920 --> 0:01:57.400 I I was taking it easy. And then I didn't 0:01:57.400 --> 0:01:59.040 really know what I was having, Like what am I 0:01:59.040 --> 0:02:00.880 going to do with my life? You're in your ring 0:02:00.960 --> 0:02:04.760 ding ding peg. I've never used that term, but I'm 0:02:04.760 --> 0:02:07.080 going to And then I went back to Rochester because 0:02:07.120 --> 0:02:08.840 I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. And then 0:02:08.880 --> 0:02:12.560 I just started like taking classes at the local community college. 0:02:12.639 --> 0:02:14.440 And then I was like, I want to travel art 0:02:15.200 --> 0:02:18.480 art classes and there's no performance element of you doing 0:02:19.480 --> 0:02:23.040 and more people saying to you, God, you're funny. I 0:02:23.080 --> 0:02:25.440 don't think people wake up when they're twenty three. You 0:02:25.440 --> 0:02:29.080 know what, I never really did plays. I mean, if 0:02:29.120 --> 0:02:30.720 I had to give a speech and class, I would 0:02:30.800 --> 0:02:33.680 try anything to get out of it. I hated talking 0:02:33.720 --> 0:02:37.000 in front of people. I still actually don't really like 0:02:37.280 --> 0:02:39.360 doing that. If I myself and it's a group of people, 0:02:39.400 --> 0:02:43.040 it still makes me nervous. Anyway, after I was back 0:02:43.080 --> 0:02:45.560 in Rochester, I did a Knoll semester. Do you know 0:02:45.560 --> 0:02:48.000 what that is? It's like outward bound, where you like, 0:02:48.040 --> 0:02:50.239 live outside and learned. Is it like meaningful or is 0:02:50.240 --> 0:02:53.840 it ring ding ding? No, it's meaningful. People are searching. 0:02:54.639 --> 0:02:58.519 Oh yes, of course for three months searching. There was 0:02:58.560 --> 0:03:00.280 a little bit of that. So it's it's cool to 0:03:00.360 --> 0:03:04.000 what knowles National Outdoor Leadership School. You're laughing in me, 0:03:04.080 --> 0:03:07.040 it's like outward found leadership. Yeah. It was like you 0:03:07.120 --> 0:03:10.560 learn how to live outside and like you and if 0:03:10.560 --> 0:03:12.120 you get lost in the woods, like I wouldn't know 0:03:12.120 --> 0:03:13.680 what to do. And if I was with you, I 0:03:13.680 --> 0:03:15.840 would bring up this conversation and say you're on your 0:03:15.840 --> 0:03:18.520 own get lost. Would be in the hotel watching Bride's 0:03:18.560 --> 0:03:21.720 Maid pay per view. Anyway, long story short. After that, 0:03:21.840 --> 0:03:26.080 went back to Rochester, and then applied to the University 0:03:26.120 --> 0:03:30.000 of Arizona. Went there for a year. Why there, Um 0:03:30.080 --> 0:03:33.680 it was a boyfriend thing, okay, and then you're pretty 0:03:33.680 --> 0:03:36.760 normal kid up until now. Pretty normal. Yeah, And then 0:03:37.280 --> 0:03:40.400 then I took an acting class. Where at University of Arizona, 0:03:41.240 --> 0:03:43.320 my major was studio art and you could pick three 0:03:43.360 --> 0:03:46.160 different types of art for that major, and it was 0:03:46.200 --> 0:03:50.200 like sculpture, painting, and I just tried this class called 0:03:50.360 --> 0:03:55.160 performance Art, which was very like writing poems and doing 0:03:55.440 --> 0:03:59.240 kind of yes, like very weird light changes and things 0:03:59.240 --> 0:04:01.640 like that. It was literally acting one on one that 0:04:01.760 --> 0:04:06.760 was class one class, and I was terrified to take 0:04:06.800 --> 0:04:09.360 it because I, like I said, I hate standing up 0:04:09.360 --> 0:04:12.360 in front of people and performing. But something about this 0:04:12.400 --> 0:04:16.839 class we learned about improv and my teacher was really supportive, 0:04:16.880 --> 0:04:18.600 and at the end of the class he was just like, 0:04:18.839 --> 0:04:22.720 have you ever considered doing this? And I was like, oh, yeah, right, 0:04:23.680 --> 0:04:27.440 it was my teacher. Yeah. I just kept thinking about it, 0:04:27.480 --> 0:04:30.400 and I wasn't really happy there. I didn't really like 0:04:30.600 --> 0:04:33.840 the art program wasn't really for me. I don't want 0:04:33.839 --> 0:04:36.000 to say I had an epiphany, but I did have 0:04:36.240 --> 0:04:38.440 one of those moments where I was like looking at 0:04:38.480 --> 0:04:40.200 myself in the mirror, and I was like, what are 0:04:40.240 --> 0:04:42.480 you doing? What do you want to do? If you 0:04:42.520 --> 0:04:44.520 could do anything in this world, what would it be? 0:04:45.080 --> 0:04:47.039 And I was like, I want to move to l 0:04:47.080 --> 0:04:51.560 A and try to be an actor, which was crazy, 0:04:51.680 --> 0:04:55.479 but I didn't stop myself. I packed my car like 0:04:55.839 --> 0:04:58.000 the next day, and my roommate at the time in 0:04:58.040 --> 0:05:01.440 Arizona lived in really hills and she said I could 0:05:01.440 --> 0:05:03.720 come stay with her. Started flowing in that direction. Yeah. 0:05:03.720 --> 0:05:06.640 I didn't tell my parents that I was leaving Arizona, 0:05:08.279 --> 0:05:11.200 and I just kept saying, God, it's really hot here. 0:05:11.560 --> 0:05:19.400 There's so much sand everywhere, exactly West Hollywood, Arizona. UM. 0:05:19.440 --> 0:05:22.040 And when you got there, how quickly did you get 0:05:22.040 --> 0:05:25.200 into the groundlings thing? Not quickly because I moved there 0:05:25.360 --> 0:05:27.719 and I was like, I need to get don't you 0:05:27.440 --> 0:05:29.200 kind you were kind of creeping up on this show. 0:05:29.480 --> 0:05:32.760 I got there and I was like, what is it? 0:05:32.880 --> 0:05:37.000 Was a piv. I got there and I was like, 0:05:37.040 --> 0:05:41.040 what am I doing? Because l A is a city 0:05:41.160 --> 0:05:45.440 of actors and performers and writers and filmmakers for the 0:05:45.440 --> 0:05:47.359 most part, I mean, that's where they all go. And 0:05:47.400 --> 0:05:54.599 I had zero experience. I wasn't you know, nineteen and 0:05:55.680 --> 0:05:59.279 I just got a job and wasn't really doing anything 0:05:59.680 --> 0:06:05.279 doing one I worked at anthropology anthropology, yeah, and I 0:06:05.320 --> 0:06:09.279 did like, were you security? I wasn't security, No, but 0:06:09.320 --> 0:06:11.000 I did a lot of visual stuff because of my 0:06:11.080 --> 0:06:12.960 art background and to help with like the you know, 0:06:13.320 --> 0:06:15.960 displays and stuff. But when you say you weren't sure 0:06:16.000 --> 0:06:19.040 what you were doing, there's something about you in the 0:06:19.040 --> 0:06:20.840 time I've known you and been around you where you're 0:06:20.839 --> 0:06:23.640 still kind of that way. Oh yeah, I don't think 0:06:23.760 --> 0:06:26.680 I'm ever going to figure it out. I don't know, 0:06:26.760 --> 0:06:29.680 do you ever? I don't know. I mean, I think 0:06:29.680 --> 0:06:31.680 that there's two types of people in the business that 0:06:31.720 --> 0:06:34.360 I've met. That is the ones that have that very 0:06:34.640 --> 0:06:37.919 Mickey Rooney kind of I'm going to be in show business, 0:06:38.240 --> 0:06:40.520 you know, since they're kids and they just wanted to eat, sleep, 0:06:40.520 --> 0:06:42.919 and drink it. Then there's people who are, if not accidental, 0:06:43.720 --> 0:06:47.880 there's certainly have a sense that they're visiting I'll do 0:06:47.960 --> 0:06:51.919 this for now, you know. Yeah, I love performing, but 0:06:52.000 --> 0:06:54.320 there's such a big part of me that's like, don't 0:06:54.360 --> 0:06:57.039 look at me, do you know what I mean? It's 0:06:57.040 --> 0:07:00.599 hard to find that balance. I think also like people 0:07:00.640 --> 0:07:02.480 assume if you're an actor that you just like walk 0:07:02.520 --> 0:07:05.560 into a room and you're like, hello, listen to this story. 0:07:05.600 --> 0:07:10.160 I want everyone to gather ut And the exact opposite. 0:07:10.640 --> 0:07:12.240 If I'm in a room full of people and someone 0:07:12.280 --> 0:07:14.680 says like, hey, Kristen, what happened at that thing, I'll 0:07:14.720 --> 0:07:17.679 just be like, oh, I'll start sweating and your drinking. 0:07:17.680 --> 0:07:20.320 Going to the dinner and someone else does all the talking. Yeah, 0:07:20.320 --> 0:07:23.840 that's why I like going to dinner with you. But 0:07:23.960 --> 0:07:26.240 so when you're there and you get into the groundlings, 0:07:27.000 --> 0:07:30.240 groundings opened everything up. How So because for you you're 0:07:30.240 --> 0:07:32.320 thinking acting and it was a performing on class. You 0:07:32.360 --> 0:07:33.920 said I'm gonna go to ELI to be an actress. 0:07:34.160 --> 0:07:35.880 And do you feel that you crossed the line and 0:07:35.920 --> 0:07:38.600 it was I'm a comedian or I'm a comedy actress. 0:07:39.120 --> 0:07:41.080 You never felt that way. No, I think it was 0:07:41.560 --> 0:07:45.720 it was improv It was watching people be on stage 0:07:46.800 --> 0:07:49.800 acting without a script. There was something in me that 0:07:49.920 --> 0:07:51.960 was like, I want to do that. I know that 0:07:52.000 --> 0:07:54.040 I can do that. For some reason, it was less 0:07:54.680 --> 0:07:58.440 scary to me than having words in front of me. 0:07:58.720 --> 0:08:01.080 Because I think when you're handed a scrip up, you 0:08:01.080 --> 0:08:02.840 know that you're supposed to do it in a certain way, 0:08:02.880 --> 0:08:05.040 and people will think like, how is she reading this? 0:08:05.960 --> 0:08:08.800 But when you're improvising, there's nothing to compare it to 0:08:08.840 --> 0:08:13.560 and you can do whatever. Yeah. But when I started 0:08:13.560 --> 0:08:15.840 taking classes at the Groundlings and taking improv it was 0:08:15.880 --> 0:08:20.160 like something just like clicked and I felt like, all, 0:08:20.200 --> 0:08:22.080 this is what I want to do. And but at 0:08:22.080 --> 0:08:23.720 the same time, did you get a sense of what 0:08:23.720 --> 0:08:26.320 you're doing? It was working. You were pretty good at it. 0:08:28.480 --> 0:08:33.720 I mean, yeah, I think so, but you were good No, 0:08:33.840 --> 0:08:36.840 I mean it was something. It was nice to have 0:08:36.880 --> 0:08:39.559 that thing that I knew that I was good at finally, 0:08:39.840 --> 0:08:45.040 besides art, which is very personal and quiet, and you know, 0:08:45.080 --> 0:08:47.480 that was just sort of something I did by myself. 0:08:47.760 --> 0:08:50.200 You don't talk to anybody when you're drawing or painting. 0:08:50.240 --> 0:08:57.200 It's very um isolating. And for me, doing the Groundlings 0:08:57.280 --> 0:08:59.640 was the exact opposite of that, because it's such a 0:08:59.640 --> 0:09:02.480 commune any and you're you improvise with other people and 0:09:02.520 --> 0:09:06.640 you have to connect with other people to make it work. 0:09:07.120 --> 0:09:11.160 Your audition to get in it's like a school. I mean, 0:09:11.200 --> 0:09:13.920 you have to go and take the first class, and 0:09:13.960 --> 0:09:16.040 then after the first class, your teacher tells you if 0:09:16.080 --> 0:09:17.960 you can move on, or if you should repeat it, 0:09:18.040 --> 0:09:20.600 or if this isn't for you, and then you just 0:09:20.720 --> 0:09:23.840 keep going. And then that's like where I learned how 0:09:23.880 --> 0:09:27.040 to write, was at the ground Links. And then ground 0:09:27.080 --> 0:09:32.280 Links was how long? Probably like four or five years, 0:09:32.480 --> 0:09:35.199 I guess a few years. Yeah, I mean there's time 0:09:35.200 --> 0:09:37.240 in between some of the levels because there's such a 0:09:37.240 --> 0:09:39.920 long waiting list. And then once I got into the 0:09:39.920 --> 0:09:42.800 main company, I was only in it for a handful 0:09:42.840 --> 0:09:46.760 of months before I got Now, when SNL comes knocking, 0:09:47.800 --> 0:09:51.680 for those we knocked, I don't know if they not. Well, 0:09:51.720 --> 0:09:54.240 we sent it. I'm my manager sent a tape in. 0:09:54.679 --> 0:09:56.640 So you had an agent and a manager. I had 0:09:56.760 --> 0:09:59.160 playing the whole thing out there. I had a manager, 0:09:59.400 --> 0:10:03.079 were working. I'd done a few pilots, I guess, and 0:10:03.200 --> 0:10:06.400 a few commercials. She went cloistered over there on the 0:10:06.480 --> 0:10:09.800 groundlings were you were working. I was, Yeah, I mean 0:10:09.840 --> 0:10:12.600 I still was had odd jobs. And when you connected 0:10:12.600 --> 0:10:16.400 with the SML people, you sent material to them. Naomi 0:10:16.520 --> 0:10:21.600 sent a tape in and then yes, sorry, my manager, 0:10:21.679 --> 0:10:24.600 Naomi Odenkirk, whose I wouldn't have any of my career 0:10:24.600 --> 0:10:26.920 if it wasn't for her. I used to babysit for her, 0:10:27.600 --> 0:10:29.080 and then I asked her to come see my Groundling 0:10:29.160 --> 0:10:32.400 show and she was like okay, um, but she just 0:10:32.480 --> 0:10:34.200 kind of sent my tape in and then you know, 0:10:34.320 --> 0:10:36.560 you don't hear anything, and then you just get a call. 0:10:38.040 --> 0:10:43.559 We'd liked her to audition this summer. Five characters, three impressions, 0:10:43.600 --> 0:10:47.600 five minutes, and I was like, Okay, I don't really 0:10:47.600 --> 0:10:49.880 have any impressions, so I'm gonna have to. Like I'd 0:10:49.920 --> 0:10:52.240 never done impressions on stage at the Groundlings. It was 0:10:52.280 --> 0:10:55.280 just kind of like joking around with my friends. Flew 0:10:55.320 --> 0:11:01.120 out there. It was the most terrifying experience. Who are 0:11:01.120 --> 0:11:04.080 you doing it for? I don't even remember like eceived darkness. 0:11:04.160 --> 0:11:06.640 I don't even I just remember Lauren was there and 0:11:06.640 --> 0:11:13.520 and Seth and Marcy Tina. You know, I hadn't met it. No. 0:11:13.800 --> 0:11:15.400 I went to New York once when I was in 0:11:15.640 --> 0:11:19.839 eighth grade and like went to go to court to 0:11:20.000 --> 0:11:22.520 like hard rock cafe or something. When I was in 0:11:22.520 --> 0:11:24.559 the eighth grade. You No, I came to New York 0:11:24.559 --> 0:11:27.760 and I was like, what, I bought a Stopwatch because 0:11:27.800 --> 0:11:29.240 I really thought they were going to just turn the 0:11:29.360 --> 0:11:32.079 lights off at five minutes, because they said, like, it's 0:11:32.120 --> 0:11:35.600 five minutes, please don't go over. So I was like electric, Yeah. 0:11:35.640 --> 0:11:39.000 So I practiced in the with like a stop watch, 0:11:39.000 --> 0:11:41.400 trying to get it under five minutes, exactly five minutes. 0:11:41.960 --> 0:11:45.400 And I don't do stand up. So the idea of 0:11:45.440 --> 0:11:52.640 performing by myself, I felt okay. I felt pretty good. 0:11:53.640 --> 0:11:55.800 They laughed a little bit. I was warned, you know, 0:11:55.880 --> 0:11:57.959 like it's going to be quiet, just do it. It's 0:11:57.960 --> 0:12:00.640 a tough crowd, just do it and go. If anything, 0:12:00.720 --> 0:12:03.120 I just felt happy that I did it because I 0:12:03.160 --> 0:12:07.360 was so terrified and shaking. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't eat, 0:12:07.960 --> 0:12:12.360 and it was over. I didn't hear anything. Then I 0:12:12.440 --> 0:12:17.080 was like, okay, well that was an experience. And then 0:12:17.120 --> 0:12:18.840 like a month and a half later, we got a 0:12:18.840 --> 0:12:22.120 call saying can she come back, you know, if she 0:12:22.160 --> 0:12:24.839 has new stuff or other stuff that would be great too, 0:12:24.880 --> 0:12:27.600 And I was like, I've crammed everything I've ever done 0:12:27.640 --> 0:12:29.959 in that five minutes. But then I just I came 0:12:30.000 --> 0:12:32.000 up with some new stuff, went back and did it again. 0:12:33.120 --> 0:12:35.319 Then they asked me to stay and meet with Lauren. 0:12:36.160 --> 0:12:39.120 I don't remember what I said. I do you have 0:12:39.160 --> 0:12:41.480 kind of an Alzheimer's problem. Now you don't remember a lot. 0:12:42.040 --> 0:12:44.000 I don't remember because I was I was. I do 0:12:44.120 --> 0:12:47.280 have a horrible memory. But also I was so nervous 0:12:47.320 --> 0:12:51.520 and probably didn't say much anyway, and then he was like, 0:12:51.640 --> 0:12:53.160 you know, well we don't really have room for you 0:12:53.320 --> 0:12:55.480 right now, but you know, your audition was great. I mean, 0:12:55.480 --> 0:12:58.120 he was so sweet, and I was like okay, and 0:12:58.160 --> 0:13:00.559 then I left and I said they didn't every I 0:13:00.600 --> 0:13:04.679 was so confused, and then I went home. And then 0:13:04.720 --> 0:13:07.920 the season started, and I remember watching the first show 0:13:07.920 --> 0:13:10.800 and being like, well, I didn't get it. And then 0:13:10.840 --> 0:13:13.880 after the fourth show, we got a call saying can 0:13:13.880 --> 0:13:16.400 she come? So then I started, like fifth show in 0:13:16.600 --> 0:13:21.280 I started, which was even more nerve wracking because you 0:13:24.000 --> 0:13:26.720 get out here. Yeah, had you watched the show prior 0:13:26.760 --> 0:13:28.880 to yeah? Oh yeah, especially high school. I remember it 0:13:28.920 --> 0:13:31.280 was like people would watch it and then remember of 0:13:31.320 --> 0:13:35.320 high school. Yeah, I don't really remember. So you you 0:13:35.320 --> 0:13:36.840 you had an awareness of the show when you were 0:13:36.840 --> 0:13:38.200 a fan of the show, so when they called you 0:13:38.240 --> 0:13:43.640 and asked you to come, you felt nervous. Other than nervous, 0:13:43.679 --> 0:13:47.760 I I don't know if there was even much more 0:13:47.920 --> 0:13:51.160 than nervous. I was happy. I was so happy. I 0:13:51.240 --> 0:13:53.640 was like, this is too good to be true. And 0:13:53.679 --> 0:13:57.840 in my mind, I'm thinking, I'm moving to New York City? 0:13:58.200 --> 0:14:01.240 Where do I live? What if I get there and 0:14:01.480 --> 0:14:04.520 none of my stuff works? You know, it's kind of 0:14:04.600 --> 0:14:07.199 getting SNL is a huge It's a huge deal. I 0:14:07.240 --> 0:14:09.680 mean I jumped up and down. I was I couldn't 0:14:10.080 --> 0:14:12.199 believe it. And I think the difference with SNLS. If 0:14:12.280 --> 0:14:14.640 I had gotten my big break whatever you want to 0:14:14.679 --> 0:14:17.080 call it, if it was a pilot or a TV 0:14:17.200 --> 0:14:20.160 show got picked up or a movie, you kind of 0:14:20.200 --> 0:14:28.200 know what to expect, and with SNL, you have no 0:14:29.400 --> 0:14:33.280 idea written yet hasn't been written, Like what am I 0:14:33.360 --> 0:14:37.120 going to do on the show? How? How does it's live? 0:14:37.480 --> 0:14:41.520 It's an hour and a half. Discovering what to do 0:14:41.640 --> 0:14:45.040 on SNL wouldn't be a problem for Kristen Wig. She 0:14:45.120 --> 0:14:47.880 went on to create some of the most memorable characters 0:14:47.880 --> 0:14:50.960 the show has ever seen. My next film is Tim 0:14:50.960 --> 0:14:55.760 Burton's adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, or what I like 0:14:55.880 --> 0:14:57.840 to call it, Alice and a wonder If someone put 0:14:58.000 --> 0:15:04.040 LSD in my crystal like she inhabited her SNL creations 0:15:04.040 --> 0:15:07.280 with the fierce commitment of a veteran film actor. It's 0:15:07.280 --> 0:15:13.800 no wonder her transition into movies was so smooth. And 0:15:14.560 --> 0:15:17.720 you'll be my man of honor. God, of course I 0:15:17.840 --> 0:15:20.920 will be super fun. It's get really fine. How wouldn't 0:15:20.960 --> 0:15:24.680 Linda review Bridesmaids? But wouldn't Linda side? She'd probably like 0:15:24.720 --> 0:15:30.760 there's too many women in it. Coming up, we'll talk 0:15:30.800 --> 0:15:34.960 with Kristen about SNL and Bridesmaids, which she started and 0:15:35.200 --> 0:15:40.040 co wrote, earning her an Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay. Later, 0:15:40.080 --> 0:15:42.600 I'll be visiting Dick Cavitt at his home for a 0:15:42.680 --> 0:15:47.000 conversation about, among other things, what makes a good conversation. 0:15:47.520 --> 0:15:50.480 My advice to you would be continue in what you're 0:15:50.480 --> 0:15:55.680 doing and change anything. This is Alec Baldwin and you're 0:15:55.680 --> 0:16:05.920 listening to Here's the thing. This is Alec Baldwin, and 0:16:05.920 --> 0:16:12.120 you're listening to Here's the Thing. For the past seven years, 0:16:12.200 --> 0:16:16.240 Kristen Wigg has consistently made me laugh until tears streamed 0:16:16.240 --> 0:16:19.880 down my face. Before SNL, she did a lot of things. 0:16:20.120 --> 0:16:22.760 She was a cad to her, a waiter lady who 0:16:22.800 --> 0:16:26.000 gave out peach samples at a farmer's market, She painted 0:16:26.080 --> 0:16:29.640 retail window displays, and she answered phones at a law 0:16:29.720 --> 0:16:36.560 firm that lasted a day. But Kristen and Saturday Night Live, 0:16:37.000 --> 0:16:40.640 that was a match made to last until this past May, 0:16:40.680 --> 0:16:45.520 when Wigg left the show. Her characters often exercises in juxtaposition. 0:16:45.800 --> 0:16:52.360 Will be sorely missed. The repulsively friendly target cashier, sound screen, 0:16:53.040 --> 0:16:55.760 nose plugs. I wear nose plugs around the house when 0:16:55.760 --> 0:17:00.120 my neighbor cooks Bractoli, the queen of one upsmanship, What 0:17:00.240 --> 0:17:05.320 was your name? The pathologically nervous travel experts. I'm not nervous. 0:17:05.320 --> 0:17:06.920 I just changed my mind about doing this, just kidding, 0:17:06.960 --> 0:17:08.200 didn't change my mind. I changed my clothes. Was just 0:17:08.200 --> 0:17:09.960 getting my clothes and change my addressed and I live it. 0:17:09.960 --> 0:17:11.560 Twenty one jump streight, just kidding at the Jumber one 0:17:11.560 --> 0:17:12.840 two streight, just getting it. Didn't move, but I can 0:17:12.880 --> 0:17:17.560 move my body. Look just kidding. One of the greatest 0:17:17.600 --> 0:17:20.359 gifts from SNL is getting out of my comfort zone. 0:17:21.440 --> 0:17:24.639 I realized, I think Lauren realized probably the first handful 0:17:24.680 --> 0:17:27.520 of years that I was there. Most of my characters 0:17:27.640 --> 0:17:32.600 were ladies in their forties with like short hair and 0:17:33.040 --> 0:17:37.600 weird sweaters that nobody Barbara Bush, no one wanted at 0:17:37.600 --> 0:17:41.320 the dinner party. And the good thing about SNL for 0:17:41.400 --> 0:17:44.760 me creative least to think, Okay, I'm comfortable enough, I 0:17:44.800 --> 0:17:47.720 really want to try something that's not, you know, something 0:17:47.720 --> 0:17:50.840 that I normally do. And that's when I actually first 0:17:50.840 --> 0:17:55.639 came up with the character um Shanna. One time, I 0:17:55.680 --> 0:17:57.800 need a bunch of peanuts and I had a pain 0:17:57.960 --> 0:18:01.119 you're made Billy button. So the actor to me needed 0:18:01.160 --> 0:18:03.840 to still simple and I need to put in the 0:18:04.000 --> 0:18:07.800 Daney's cutest little void cup, the one that's like sexy 0:18:07.880 --> 0:18:10.080 but then does like gross things. Because I was like, 0:18:10.119 --> 0:18:12.680 I really want to write a character that looks kind 0:18:12.720 --> 0:18:16.679 of good but blank. And that's kind of where the 0:18:16.680 --> 0:18:19.080 Flirting Lady came from too. I was like, I just 0:18:19.119 --> 0:18:21.680 want to try, you know, I didn't really know what 0:18:21.800 --> 0:18:23.119 that was going to be. I mean, none of it 0:18:23.160 --> 0:18:25.240 was really on the page when we wrote it. But 0:18:25.320 --> 0:18:27.960 for you, do you feel like, when there's a quotient 0:18:28.040 --> 0:18:33.960 of a character which is a sensuous quotient and you're 0:18:34.040 --> 0:18:36.640 sending it up, do you realize that you could walk 0:18:36.640 --> 0:18:39.199 out the door tomorrow and probably play that character for 0:18:39.280 --> 0:18:41.880 real in a straight film. I mean, have you ever 0:18:41.920 --> 0:18:45.800 wanted to do play a leading lady in a dramatic 0:18:45.840 --> 0:18:48.960 film a love story? Oh? Yeah, period film. I would 0:18:49.000 --> 0:18:52.600 love to do that straight film. Yes, I hope, I 0:18:52.640 --> 0:18:56.040 hope I get the opportunity to do that. I was 0:18:56.119 --> 0:18:59.480 just actually talking to someone about this the other day 0:18:59.520 --> 0:19:06.240 that the audience very quickly puts you in uh folder, 0:19:06.320 --> 0:19:09.160 like they know you how they first knew you. I'm 0:19:09.240 --> 0:19:13.240 Kristen from SNL or comedic actress, and people are always 0:19:13.240 --> 0:19:16.080 so surprised when I want to do dramatic stuff. Really 0:19:16.720 --> 0:19:17.880 you really want to do that? Have you had any 0:19:17.920 --> 0:19:21.680 offers for that? Um? I mean there's a couple of 0:19:21.680 --> 0:19:25.440 things that I'm looking at doing next that aren't comedies 0:19:25.520 --> 0:19:27.960 at all. One of them is really not at all, 0:19:28.040 --> 0:19:32.000 and I'm horrible movie. I just want to be in 0:19:32.040 --> 0:19:33.919 like a ton Do you ever want to do a 0:19:33.920 --> 0:19:36.440 harm movie with me? Are you kick a paranormal Blair? 0:19:36.480 --> 0:19:39.199 Which thing? We're just completely Lucy goosey and just cameras 0:19:39.200 --> 0:19:43.120 and we improv we could shoot it in here. We're 0:19:43.119 --> 0:19:44.720 on the radio and then we just hear voice a 0:19:44.800 --> 0:19:47.560 dead announcer who's in here, in locks in here, you know, 0:19:47.760 --> 0:19:49.639 let's talk about that later on. Okay, I love that. 0:19:49.720 --> 0:19:51.560 Let's get ut out. Someone's got to be listening to 0:19:51.720 --> 0:19:58.560 somebody really good with a typewriter, not a computer. So 0:19:58.640 --> 0:20:04.080 you wrote Bridesmaids as if nobody now, okay, Annie, Mama. 0:20:04.200 --> 0:20:06.040 I don't know Annie, but I know you. And there 0:20:06.040 --> 0:20:08.080 really is something in this business when you see somebody 0:20:08.119 --> 0:20:11.119 who is as lovely as you are, and as pleasant 0:20:11.200 --> 0:20:13.000 as you are, and as talented as you are, and 0:20:13.119 --> 0:20:15.560 kind of unassuming. I mean, you're not a very self 0:20:15.640 --> 0:20:18.359 important artist in this business, and then all of a 0:20:18.359 --> 0:20:21.000 sudden you go, wow, you know, you make a movie 0:20:21.080 --> 0:20:25.240 that's just this huge success. We look back on it, now, 0:20:25.280 --> 0:20:29.520 what do you think? When we were making the movie, 0:20:29.800 --> 0:20:35.240 it was like, we wrote this thing, we hope it works. 0:20:35.680 --> 0:20:38.359 Whose idea was it? Everyone's having fun? What's going to happen? 0:20:38.640 --> 0:20:41.800 The original just the idea of the story was Annie's. 0:20:42.040 --> 0:20:45.159 Jedd asked me to write something for myself after I 0:20:45.200 --> 0:20:47.960 did Knocked Up, and he's like, you can write by yourself, 0:20:48.000 --> 0:20:50.920 you can have a writing partner. Most of the sketches 0:20:50.920 --> 0:20:53.160 that I wrote at Groundlings with someone else where with Annie. 0:20:53.240 --> 0:20:56.280 So I just called her and we'd kind of talk 0:20:56.359 --> 0:21:00.480 loosely like someday we should maybe write a movie. But 0:21:00.560 --> 0:21:04.320 that's so daunting. I don't know how to write. He said, 0:21:04.359 --> 0:21:07.119 let's write twenty sketches. Sketches we can do. Yeah, and 0:21:07.119 --> 0:21:09.119 then just I kind of put them together. So she 0:21:09.320 --> 0:21:11.280 had this idea and I was in New York, and 0:21:11.359 --> 0:21:14.399 so she actually went to Jed's office and you know, 0:21:15.280 --> 0:21:19.720 I was like, hi, a Manny's our idea, and He's like, okay, yeah, 0:21:19.800 --> 0:21:23.720 start writing it. So every hiatus I would come to 0:21:23.880 --> 0:21:27.879 l A. We discovered Skype later, but we like to 0:21:27.960 --> 0:21:30.480 do everything together. We're not one of those teams that 0:21:30.560 --> 0:21:32.320 just says like, hey, write this and send it to me. 0:21:32.359 --> 0:21:34.240 We like to do everything together. So you wrote this 0:21:34.280 --> 0:21:38.280 for Judd? Yeah, and then what happened? And then how 0:21:38.359 --> 0:21:40.199 much note did you get from somebody else? Was it 0:21:40.200 --> 0:21:44.080 all like? It was there? We were writing every day 0:21:44.080 --> 0:21:51.119 on set, writing all lines, writing new jokes. Yeah. We 0:21:51.160 --> 0:21:54.239 would have scenes written. He'd be like, okay, write this 0:21:54.280 --> 0:21:57.240 scene again, but maybe this happens, or how about instead 0:21:57.240 --> 0:21:59.200 of these two characters, maybe it's the other two girls 0:21:59.240 --> 0:22:04.080 that are there. So it was constant writing, rewriting every day. 0:22:04.119 --> 0:22:08.320 We would get a packet of scenes from old drafts, 0:22:08.359 --> 0:22:11.280 scenes that we loved, scenes that you know, other people's 0:22:11.280 --> 0:22:14.080 ideas refused to do. Yeah. Yeah, I mean it was 0:22:14.240 --> 0:22:17.399 a lot of writing, a lot of writing, and in 0:22:17.520 --> 0:22:19.800 terms of the casting, it looks to me like you 0:22:19.920 --> 0:22:23.240 got everybody you wanted. True. Yeah. One of the reasons 0:22:23.320 --> 0:22:27.560 why Annie and I wanted to write this movie was 0:22:27.560 --> 0:22:30.919