GROSS: We're listening to my interview with Cinco Paul. KEY: (As Josh Skinner) Would you leave us alone for just a minute? "The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life . STRONG: (As Jeanine Pirro) That's right. That's just so funny. STRONG: (As Melissa Gimble, singing) Never had corn puddin'. I guess I knew it as a job. It was like as soon as I started singing, I knew what to say. So it was really important for the show to have that perspective. 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. KEY: (As Josh Skinner) I didn't say that. And in many ways, it's my wife. PAUL: (Singing) So now that there's COVID-19 PAUL AND DAURIO: (Singing) Here's what we're going to do. GROSS: Had you been vaccinated when you shot the series? UNIDENTIFIED CHORUS: (As characters, singing) We want corn puddin'. Unless she's a superwoman, you won't be seeing Cecily Strong on "Saturday Night Live" tonight. So if he wants my puddin', he'll have to marry me. PAUL: Yeah, it's called "Make Him Watch It," and we make each other watch a movie we've never seen before. He's a queer one, that man o' mine. . STRONG: (As Melissa Gimble) Then what are you saying? total viewers were 4.1 million after three weeks lingering around 3.7 million. STRONG: (As Jeanine Pirro) Can't do it, pal. I'm Terry Gross, and this is FRESH AIR. And I would be driving home. Thank you so much. And you can't have love without having a lover's spat. You know, and then it took a while to really understand - here's all of the things we're going to put in place. So we just were relying on testing. Cecily Strong is an American actress, comedian, writer, and producer who has a net worth of $4 million. KEY: (As Josh Skinner) Oh, no - no, no, no, no, no, no. And I wound up never stopping. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. She's nominated for an Emmy for her work on "Saturday Night Live." She stars in the new series "Schmigadoon!" GROSS: And so the reason why they're singing about corn pudding is it's their first morning in town. So that wasn't even - I didn't even know we'd get to be vaccinated. GROSS: And Hal Willner, who you mentioned - he died of COVID. So - but talk about writing this and what you wanted to do with it. Which - a lot of your memoir is about living through the pandemic, like, the first almost year of the pandemic. We can't wait to make him watch it - with Cinco and Ken. And then it was just such a gift. OK, so here's "He's A Queer One," and this is Ann Harada singing. But I want to play the theme song from this because I think it's you and Ken actually singing the song. I met Daisy Eagen. STRONG: Right. GROSS: And he's not just a Broadway producer. STRONG: You know, we definitely loved the exclamations, you know, saving those for the - what. And then in making fun of myself, we sort of just kept playing with that, and that led into the Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party. I'll do anything. And so we'll hear Cecily Strong doing a little solo in part of this as Keegan-Michael Key objects (laughter) to her participation. You know, we were getting ready for one of those - I think they were two "Update" specials because it was an election year. They smoke and drink and yell, leave you flat, or, even worse, they stay and make life hell. overall No. And it's just, oh, a song just about food. I mean, it's real to most people, but, I mean, you saw the worst that could happen. STRONG: (As Jeanine Pirro) And Colin, I just want to take this opportunity to say hi to my super fans out there. And it was hard - you know, I had theater, thank God, and really was comfortable in that world. How does it feel? You put the bowl in your belly 'cause it's good for the soul. And so I think they thought that might be a good outlet for me. STRONG: (As Melissa Gimble) Seriously, please? GROSS: And he's not just a Broadway producer. You know, it's hard. We'll talk more after a break. But I certainly - I remember getting to go backstage after "Secret Garden." STRONG: (As Melissa Gimble) So what? 'Schmigadoon!' STRONG: That's usually just Colin and I. GROSS: We're listening to my interview with Cecily Strong, who stars in "Schmigadoon!," the Apple TV+ series which is a loving satire of classic musicals from the '40s and '50s. Was it your idea to do her, or did someone say, oh, you should do her? GROSS: Reports are that you're not sure whether you're going back to "SNL" in the fall. I never wanted the songs to be too jokey, if that makes sense. I think with the school, this new superintendent came in, and she made it her thing to have zero tolerance. And she used the playbill and a lot of those pictures. and "The Lorax." This is FRESH AIR. It's such a contrast for me seeing the joy in "Schmigadoon!" He co-created, co-wrote and wrote all the songs for the series "Schmigadoon!" And she used the playbill and a lot of those pictures. JOST: That's great. The Illinois native stars alongside Keegan-Michael Key, Dove Cameron . GROSS: This is FRESH AIR. 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. I'm not going to do the show. It's a journal of her first year of the pandemic, dealing with anxiety and depression. GROSS: So your character in "Schmigadoon!" GROSS: All right. GROSS: To shoot and be in these, like, exuberant, like, joyful production scenes? STRONG: Well, first of all, just thank you for saying that. GROSS: And who did you think of as being the girl? I've never caught him looking at other gals more young, petite or fine. GROSS: There's times on "Update" when Colin Jost has been laughing, like, so hard because you're so funny. And it is - it still feels a bit like controlled chaos, on "Update" especially, where it feels kind of fresh, and we're not exactly sure what's going to happen. 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. It was Gardner's first time, and her eyes widened as a pile of men in short shorts burst into a number . STRONG: (As The Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation with at a Party) Please do not man-terrupt (ph) me when I'm wo-making (ph) a point, Michael. It was produced on . And anything I can do to help (laughter) would make me feel very good. But she kept going, what? We're not going to spend another minute in this town. And my mom made a little poster for me for my room growing up that said Cecily on Broadway. And that really led to my love of movies and reading about movies and then starting to make my own with our family's Super 8 camera, which we've gotten for home movies, you know, on vacation. Let's start with "Schmigadoon!," which is filled with references to classic musicals, like "Oklahoma!," "Carousel," "The Music Man," "The Sound Of Music" and, of course, "Brigadoon." My mom is in Mexico. You bought some weed with a friend, put it in your backpack, then school security discovered the backpack, and you were actually handcuffed and arrested? It's a nice melody. STRONG: Yes. This is FRESH AIR. But if you've got some extry (ph) STRONG: (As Melissa Gimble, singing) I sure would like a taste. Pick a womanany woman!and she can probably make the character really sing. 'Cause "Kevin Can Wait," but Syrian referees can't, OK? So how much do you love musicals? I've always loved musicals. And then my uncle is also a Broadway producer. - where she sort of wishes he could be who he really is. - about a couple who find themselves trapped in a small town from the early 1900s where life is a musical. The show was filmed in Vancouver, Canada. Other men have eyes that spark at every passing skirt. But also, really, in many ways, the mayor's story is at the heart of the show 'cause he is one of these characters that, back in the day, could only be queer coded, you know, and - but because we have modern characters in "Schmigadoon!" If you're looking for things to listen to over the holiday weekend, check out our podcast. It just felt like, I've fallen through the cracks. during the pandemic. I - you know, it's hard. The first two episodes will premiere globally on Friday, July 16, 2021 exclusively on Apple TV+, followed by one new episode . Like, clearly it was a thing for Rodgers and Hammerstein. I should really just drink olive juice; it'd be safer. In her second season, she co-anchored Weekend Update with Seth Meyers and then Colin Jost. Later, we'll hear from Cinco Paul, who co-created the series and wrote all the songs. I saw "Guys And Dolls." Accuracy and availability may vary. (SOUNDBITE OF MARVIN HAMLISCH'S "MULTI-TASKING"). And like, hi, I haven't seen you. GROSS: Kind of brought it home. GROSS: Let's hear you as the Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party. And I think you're probably not wrong. Yeah, I got handcuffed and brought to a cop car and taken to the station. Apple TV+ is close to putting in a series order for the project. STRONG: (As Melissa Gimble) Come on, could be fun. STRONG: (As Melissa Gimble) Come on. (Singing) Some men like to fight and curse. She's making her New York stage debut in the one-woman show "The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe," opening at the Shed. STRONG: (As Melissa Gimble, singing) And it may be a waste. UNIDENTIFIED CHORUS: (As characters, singing) You put the corn in the puddin' and the puddin' in the bowl. Six episodes at approximately 30 minutes each.) You don't land a job with SNL without being funny. After we take a short break, Ken Tucker will review a new album of songs Prince recorded in 2010. GROSS: (Laughter) I like that idea, the square dancing lobby. And it was like, I really was thinking about those two things as nice options and had to tell my mom. She has over 500k followers on her Instagram. Did you see music theatre? When I went to - they called me down to security to say they'd found my bag. ., directed by Leigh Silverman (Lifespan of a Fact, Violet), explores American society, art, power, and the feminist movement through a series of characters. I think my favorite character that you've been doing lately is Judge Jeanine Pirro, the Fox News host. Copyright 2021 NPR. In October of 2021, it was announced that Cecily will make her New York stage debut in an off-Broadway production, The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in . . The couple, Josh and Melissa, are played by Keegan-Michael Key and Cecily Strong. GROSS: (Laughter) The music is kind of like a hoedown. I'm so proud of the work he's done and who he is and how far he's come - and just a thing that he deals with and why I'm - you know, people have a lot of thoughts and opinions on psych meds and everything. KEY: (As Josh Skinner) Are you serious? And it's like, you don't know what corn puddin' is? Saturday Night Live cast member Cecily Strong will provide an exclusive preview of her new memoir, "This Will All Be Over . KEY: (As Josh Skinner) I'm not saying anything, but apparently some cosmic verdict has been reached, and we failed. I got the recipe. Do you remember it? And you know, everybody that was there was supposed to be there. Cecily Legler Strong (born February 8, 1984) is an American actress, comedian, producer, author, and singer. They also wrote the animated films "Despicable Me," "The Secret Life Of Pets" and the Dr. Seuss adaptations "Horton Hears A Who!" "You know how much I hate musicals. Let's get back to my interview with Cinco Paul. And I think she's doing well. ", "Carousel," "The Music Man," "The Sound Of Music," "South Pacific" and "Brigadoon." This is FRESH AIR. UNIDENTIFIED CHORUS: (As characters, chanting) Corn puddin', corn puddin', corn puddin', corn puddin'. I mean, it's certainly stuck with me. STRONG: (As Melissa Gimble) Guys, we're actually in the middle of something. But then, I mean, I did go back, and it was important to me, and it felt good to laugh. See if you can recognize what inspired this song. STRONG: I almost enjoy it more to see when someone's laughing. And it's been great to talk with you. STRONG: Oh, totally. (As characters, singing) Then she complains that he don't understand her. Thanks for finally letting a woman on late night TV. Barry Sonnenfeld directs and executive produces. STRONG: (As Melissa) This was literally me in high school. It's - so I just don't know for sure yet. Saturday Night Live's Cecily Strong stars in the new production of Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner's "The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe." . Cecily Strong is a 38-year-old American actress and comedian who has been a cast member of Saturday Night Live since 2012. Lorne Michaels, SNL's creator, is one of the play's producers. She's been in the entertainment business since 2012, officially making her a ten-year veteran of the arts. But the fun thing is that, ironically, in our show, it does move the story forward because this stupid song gets Keegan to say, OK, we're leaving (laughter). HARADA: (As Florence, singing) Some men stumble home at dark, want dinner and dessert. Cecily Strong On 'SNL,' 'Schmigadoon!' . The series is streaming on Apple TV+. We're going to make him watch it for a podcast. What did it feel like to be honest and say, I'm not ready, I can't do it yet? KEY: (As Josh Skinner) Oh, no - no, no, no, no, no, no. UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #3: (As character, singing) You can't eat a fish without getting some bones. We'll start with Cecily Strong. And even on the tape - like, they do your expulsion hearings, and they're taping it. GROSS: Well, I wish you well. And then I remembered, like, hearing my straight male friends talk about interactions that they'd had, like, with some girl that seems normal, and then it's like, oh, she just said something crazy, and how do I get out of this conversation? It turns out that her own uncle is a producer on Broadway, and that meant she had a lot of access to the stage when she was a child. Here to explain is Jeanine Pirro. We'll be right back after a short break. My Uncle Ed is a theater producer in New York, my dad and I went to his shows and saw "Guys and Dolls," "The Secret Garden." I was into the soundtracks. You know, that PAUL: I'll tell you. So I don't know what you do with that. KEY: (As Josh Skinner) No. 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. And "Corn Puddin'" suddenly came to me as just a - it's kind of the perfect representation of these sort of songs like the - it's "A Real Nice Clambake." My brother actually did try to kill himself in eighth grade. UNIDENTIFIED CHORUS: (As characters, singing) My guy loves corn puddin'. Strong said, admitting she immediately said yes to starring in the show, even though she thought the idea was "insane." Leigh Silverman is the director of the off-Broadway revival of The Search . So it's like something my family had already been dealing with. Let's take another break here. So we did her on "Update.". And that really changed everything because then suddenly that became my tribe, you know, the theater kids. And I was enjoying watching it so much. Talk about the process of writing that. You know, there were a lot of tears on set, happy tears, just so much love and so much joy and such - we were all just so honored to be there, and it felt like we got to share this magical thing. STRONG: (As The Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party) And newsflash, Michael - 40% of children are just their legs. Stop. She's also . Oh, that's really - it's a funny song, but it's also - it's a lovely song. The co-production with Off-Broadway's The Shed . But that's really where it deepened into something different. And she stars in the new series "Schmigadoon! It's streaming on Apple TV+. And - yeah. that's streaming on Apple TV+, and she has a new memoir. I'm really glad we came. You know, I was much more protected. Let's start with "Schmigadoon!," which is filled with references to classic musicals, like "Oklahoma!," "Carousel," "The Music Man," "The Sound of Music" and, of course, "Brigadoon." Cecily Strong's new book, This Will All Be Over Soon, isn't what you expect from a Saturday Night Live cast member's . It was at the 2019 Christmas party, that Cecily's agent made her meet him. Here's all the safety measures - until I finally felt safe. KEY: (As Josh Skinner) Are you serious? In "Schmigadoon!," a musical comedy about musical theater starting a six-episode run Friday on Apple TV+, Cecily Strong and Keegan Michael-Key play Melissa and Josh . Strong stars in the new Apple TV+ satire about a couple who get lost in the woods and end up trapped in a town where life is a musical and the townspeople frequently burst into song. The off . Why couldn't we cross? GROSS: And this was pretty early in the pandemic, right? STRONG: (As Jeanine Pirro) And Colin, I just want to take this opportunity to say hi to my super fans out there. I was a new cast member. She has no clue that he's gay, but she knows that, you know, he's different from the other men. But apparently, according to the leprechaun, this isn't true love. And the contrast between that and the depression and anxiety you describe in your memoir, which - a lot of your memoir is about living through the pandemic, like, the first almost year of the pandemic. PAUL: Yeah, I mean, that was the intention. JOST: (As himself) That's great. What is your critique of how the school and the police handled you? And it seems like - you know, my other thought is, like, COVID is something we have to learn to coexist with. It played it on Broadway in the . Like, I'm so proud of the work I've done. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld. Rapper Jack Harlow was the . - because, you know, every kid wants to go to California. She suspects that he's not being his true self. (SOUNDBITE OF RICHARD RODGERS' "'OKLAHOMA!' Thanks for finally letting a woman on late-night TV. Thea Chaloner directed today's show. . GROSS: So your character in "Schmigadoon!" STRONG: (As The Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation with at a Party) And I'm sorry. Seven of the comedy sketch show's cast members left the . Like, what word - what is, like, a word that's in the social lexicon of the moment that this girl would hear and say wrong? And we both enjoy malapropisms, I think, as much as each other, so it's a lot of that. No - 'cause I - I mean, we shot in - last fall. There must be a lobby somewhere that is making sure that that's still taught in schools. I saw "Guys And Dolls." And is it hard for you to keep a straight face when he's having trouble keeping a straight face? Here with her final thoughts on this election is the Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party. And actually, my dad took a bunch of pictures. With a Broadway producer uncle in her own family, Strong was heavily exposed to the musical scene, making it an early love in her life. So how much do you love musicals? JOST: (As himself) You don't have to shout, you know. In case you are wondering about his identity, Jack is an international traveler. I'm Terry Gross, and this is FRESH AIR. GROSS: Cecily Strong, welcome to FRESH AIR. We were in his office, and he was like, have you seen this lady? GROSS: That's Cecily Strong as Judge Jeanine Pirro. UNIDENTIFIED CHORUS: (As characters, singing) Oh, she sure would like a taste. July 16, 2021 1:58 PM PT. The Apple TV+ satire series Schmigadoon! GROSS: So let's talk a little bit about your work on "Saturday Night Live." Cecily Strong, who was a child actress and then an improviser in Chicago before finding fame on "Saturday Night Live," is set to make her New York stage debut this winter. You know, already it's - I didn't feel like I fit in. MICHAEL CHE: (As himself) With the election only two weeks away, both candidates are trying to get a final message out there to their supporters. And then my uncle is also a Broadway producer. I don't have enough gym credits to graduate on time. COLIN JOST: (As himself) Fox News personality Judge Jeanine Pirro returned to television tonight after being suspended two weeks for controversial comments about a Muslim congresswoman. GROSS: You're nominated for an Emmy, second year in a row. Terry, I have to say it is so meaningful to me that you like the show and that you responded to it like this. From now through February 6th she's performing a one woman, many dozens of characters play at The . ", which is a loving satire of classic musicals from the '40s and '50s. Strong said that because her uncle is a Broadway producer, as a child she often was able to attend Broadway shows and sometimes go back stage to meet their casts. Mean, horny men lying on in-home hospital beds and white prison gangs who control the remote on Saturdays, thank you for watching. These Cecily Strong "SNL" performances were more than strong. It was only really one episode that I missed and I really wanted to be there. - 'cause everyone in it seems to be enjoying being in it so much and I was enjoying watching it so much - and the contrast between that and the depression and anxiety you describe in your memoir. It's like, why are we learning this? And I'm - that's according to doctors, Michael Che. So here you are on "Weekend Update" as Judge Jeanine Pirro. And that's according to doctors, Michael Che. This Mueller report completely exonerated the president, and therefore everybody on the Trump train, woo, woo (ph). I think I took my first drama class when I was 3. And it is - it still feels a bit like controlled chaos, on "Update" especially, where it feels kind of fresh, and we're not exactly sure what's going to happen. STRONG: Well, thank you so much. STRONG: (As Melissa Gimble) So what? He co-created, co-wrote and wrote all the songs for the series "Schmigadoon! Could be fun. I'm sorry. I feel like when my kids were little, they were still teaching square dancing. What did you do to try to capture her voice? Cecily Strong at Chicago's UP Comedy Club as a part of TBS's Just For Laughs Festival in 2013. GROSS: Because she has gaydar and no one in the town does (laughter). (As characters, singing) And then he gives her a snack. And that's what I'd always rent whenever we'd go to the movie store. Thank you so much for creating this series. STRONG: Yeah. GROSS: One of the things in some musicals is - the love affairs in some musicals, I think, would be considered pretty age-inappropriate now, like, for example, "The Sound Of Music," where, like, she's a young nun who's just left the convent. You put the bowl in your belly 'cause it's good for the soul. Cinco Paul has loved musicals from his early childhood, and the opportunity to make a . Schmigadoon! And so that's what "Corn Puddin'" is. Let's get back to my interview with Cecily Strong. He's so different from other men. And she's vaccinated. She has a new memoir called "This Will All Be Over Soon." It's streaming on Apple TV+. GROSS: Oh, yeah. GROSS: He was dealing with a lot of mental health issues? Was this all through movies? That's outrighteous (ph). Oh, he'll have to marry me. Cecily Strong's character loves musicals and is initially charmed. He also co-wrote the animated films "Despicable Me," "The Secret Life Of Pets," "Horton Hears A Who!" Cecily Legler Strong (born February 8, 1984) is an American actress and comedienne who is currently a cast member of Saturday Night Live, starting in September 2012, for the start of season 38. MICHAEL CHE: (As himself) With the election only two weeks away, both candidates are trying to get a final message out there to their supporters. UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #1: (As character, singing) You can't plow a field without hitting some stone. It's on or near the Hudson River. STRONG: (As Melissa Gimble) So you're ready to give up on us because of what a leprechaun said? Now Emmy-nominated actress Cecily Strong slides through the tour-de-force roles created by the Peabody and Emmy Award-winning writer Jane Wagner who is reimagining the legendary one-person play . And I guess there's also "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man Of Mine" (ph) - you know, these women who sing songs where, you know, he has maybe these flaws, but I still love him, you know? Cecily Legler Strong (born February 8, 1984)[2][3] is an American actress and comedian who has been a cast member of Saturday Night Live . Are you reverting to that level of fear again? And she told me I was looking at the world with S - I can't swear - with crap-colored glasses. It's brought me such pleasure at a time when I think we all need some pleasure. If I think that he's laughing at something, I'll want to hit that harder. And I think my uncle probably didn't want me to be an actor as much as I did, just knowing that it was a tough life. Please continue playing piano for us. And, like, we're ending someone's, like, educational career right now in this moment, and you're playing a game with it. Like, what word - what is, like, a word that's in the social lexicon of the moment that this girl would hear and say wrong? GROSS: Well, let's take a short break here, and then we'll talk some more. And then kind of like, well, I don't know that we'll ever get to do that again. PAUL: Well, I thought it was really important. But she left the desk, preferring to do sketch comedy, which she's great at. GROSS: Were you thrilled to be doing a commercial? And we just thought it was so funny, and it was a fun way to play her. Cecily Strong has 29 acting credits on her IMDb profile, along with her first producer credit for Schmigadoon!, a musical comedy television show that premiered on Apple TV+ in 2021. . And my roommates - my COVID roommates, Matt (ph) and Kevin - were helping me shoot everything. Comedian's romantic life explored. Because at "Update," you only get to rehearse on Saturday, really. And I was just part of a wave of kids who were expelled. Why couldn't we cross? STRONG: (As The Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation with at a Party) Please do not man-terrupt (ph) me when I'm wo-making (ph) a point, Michael. But they both soon realize they're trapped in Schmigadoon, where life is a musical. And, you know, I desperately wanted to be on stage, but probably because I didn't really belong there, they kept saying, no, but, Cinco, we need you on the piano. Let's get back to my interview with Cecily Strong. Cecily Strong is a total theater geek.. GROSS: Like, among the shows he did was terrific revivals of "Music Man," which is, of course, referenced (laughter) in "Schmigadoon!" What - my parents put me in one, I should say. They get lost in the woods, cross over a bridge and suddenly find themselves on what looks like a backlot movie set of a small town in the early 20th century, a town called Schmigadoon. STRONG: (As Jeanine Pirro) That's right. STRONG: I said no, actually, at first to going to Vancouver and shooting because I was - I really was afraid. It's a kind of - there's references to other songs in it, including "You're A Queer One, Julie Jordan" from - that's from "Carousel," right? - which is now streaming on Apple TV+. And it was like, now let's read our sketches and see - and then, like, have to film them all by Saturday. Corn, corn, corn, corn, corn puddin'. She's been a cast member of "Saturday Night Live" since 2012. So, you know, I'm - I would love to do it. You put the bowl in your belly 'cause it's good for the soul. If you're like me, you've never watched the show, and you didn't know her name until now. Farmer McDonough craved a son. The series is streaming on Apple TV+. is initially really charmed by the idea that they're, like, living in a world of a musical. Cecily Strong "Still Thinking" About Return to 'SNL' as Lorne Michaels Shares Hopes "She'll Come Back" The 'Saturday Night Live' veteran, who has a new memoir out on Aug. 10, says .
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