Transcript of Kristen Wiig

Hello, everyone. Welcome to another episode of Good Hang. Oh, this is a good one. We have Comedy legend, Kristen Wig. You may know Kristen from SNL, from Bridesmaids, from Barbin's Star, from Pam Royale. We're going to talk about a lot of stuff today. We're going to talk about working together on a show at the same time. We're going to talk about Carol Burnet and how much we love Carol and everything she does. We're going to talk about the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and why I should start watching it immediately. We're going to talk about her new movie, Gabby's Doll House. That's out, and we're going to get into all of that good stuff. But we always like to start our shows with someone that knows our guest and can speak well of our guests behind their back and can give me a question to ask our guests. And we have another celeb, I mean, another. Comedy Great, another former SNL cast member who I had the privilege to share the stage with, and that Bill Hater. You all know Bill Hater. Barry. What I need to say. You know Bill. Bill? Bill? Can you hear me?

I'm going to get my cans on. This episode is brought to you by With Visible, Visible is the ultimate wireless hack. And now with the new Visible Inner Circle, you can forget about family phone plans with no flexibility. With Inner Circle, you can connect accounts with whoever you want, friends, family, neighbors, you name it. Unlock saving meetings together with the freedom to leave, switch, or change your circle anytime. Join for just $25 a month, and with personalized payments, paying together or keeping it separate is up to you. Plus, it's all powered by Verizon with unlimited 5G data, so you get reliable coverage and a connection you can count on. Join now at visible. Com and save on wireless month after month, $25 per month rate on the Visible plan. Hi.

How's it going?

It's going good. I'm zooming you from the studio and Wig is coming in today. Thank you for doing this.

Oh, no problem. Thanks for having me. Of course.

I hope I can get you in the stewed.

Oh, man, I'd love to.

How's life?

Life is good. We're just like, yeah, just writing. Hannah's I know. 16. Harper's 13, Haley's 11.

Yeah, they're great kids.

Yeah, just very sweet kids. So very lucky. I mean, they play a lot of jokes. My 13-year-old yesterday scared the shit out of me. I was in bed reading and she sent me a text and I looked at it and it was a picture from underneath my bed. And I go, and I hear her in my bed. I was like, Fuck, she was underneath my bed. I was like, What the fuck is wrong with you? And she just was dying laughing. She was like, Oh, my God. All right. Good night. It just scared me. It was so creepy. I was like, Why did you do that? She was like, I don't know. Just hid under my bed.

Because she's your child.

Yeah, my child. Yeah, exactly.

Okay, so we're going to talk about Wig. I'm getting ready for this interview today with her, and it's like, I don't even know where to start with Kristen. She's so good, so talented. She's done so many things during SNL, after SNL. She's had this incredible career on her own terms always. I mean, you two have done so much incredible work together on the show and in Skeleton Twins, which is just beautiful work from the both of you. And I guess, how would you describe Kristen as a friend and a performer?

Andy and I had started the show. Jason was already, but we were all in the same. We were freshmen all at the same time. And then Kristin came in three shows later. So I remember going into our office and we were writing a Vincent Price sketch, and I was like, I've been here for three weeks, so hey, newbie.

I know where the bathrooms are.

I know where the bathrooms are. I know you have to change elevators at this floor. And I said, Hey, we're writing this, Vincent The Price thing. If you have any old character or something. It was like, Amy's playing a cigarette girl. Do you remember that where you used Chesterfield cigarettes and you tap dance? And Fred's doing something. And she went, Oh, I'm a... I could maybe do Judy Garland. And I'm like, Oh, what would that sound like? And she went, Maybe like, Oh, you ever get the feeling that your hands are made out of sand? And I went, Okay, you're really good. Then I was like, Never mind. Okay. I didn't realize who I was talking to. That's a really good line, and the impression was spot on.

She's just so good at knowing what would work on the show, too.

That's a perfect... Yes. I always say, I don't know if you've... I felt like, Here's what the show likes, here's what I like. I was trying to find this Venn diagram. And for her, it was the same diagram. It's like what she naturally found funny. It worked on the show. I watched her for seven years, and every table read, I feel like she did something different.

Yeah, she's just such a crazy range.

Yeah, the range, that's the word I'm looking for is I was like, How did she do that?

I know.

She played this Italian guy once. I've never done a show, but she played this Italian man once, and he would just go, Oh, yeah. And someone would be like, I do it. And he's like, Oh, yeah. Oh, baby, yeah. And I was like, Where did you fucking get this? And you were just like, Where did that come from? And she's like, I don't know. But she just felt very effortless to her in a way that I always really admired. I really admired. Again, you, Maya, you guys are this way. It was like before the shows, it was like, focus, but cool as cucumber, go out, do the come back, and just had this confidence. And she had that as well.

Yeah, she really did. It felt like she entered the show a fully formed cast member ready to go.

Completely. Yeah. And she also made it look fun.

Yeah.

There wasn't a science to it. I don't know if this makes sense. There was no like, équational thing. She was just being goofy. Yes. And it didn't seem disposable at the time, though. And that's really hard. It was like, wow, that's the thing I'm going to remember. And that was fun. But she's still just loose and having fun with it.

Yes, totally hear you. That makes sense? I don't know. It's 100% the best way to sum her up. I feel like when I was watching her do her sketches, I could sense her laughing about them the night before.

I remember she did a Penelope sketch and Liza Maneli was in it at the end. The Liza Maneli? The Liza Manelli. Yes, the Liza. The thing was Penelope was always making things up, and it was like, Oh, I can't do that because I'm going out with Liza Manelli in a tomato tonight. Liza Manelli showed up at the end, and when Liza Manelli came out on stage and goes, Hey, Penelope. I just thought, Kristen, just tried so hard not to laugh. It was just hearing her go, Hey, hey. And she had a tomato with her. She was like, Hey, Penelope, me and tomato are excited to go out of town. Kristen, biting her lips. Like, found it so funny. Yes. Another one I'll say, the other one I remember was I was a game show host in a thing when Maya hosted, and it came, it was a game show. She had written it with James, and she was... Before the sketch even started on air, Kristen was looking at me and laughing really hard. I didn't know why. She was just laughing and shaking her head like, your head. Your first line is so stupid.

I was like, I think I... Yeah. And then they had changed it between dress and air. And my first line was to Vanessa Bayer, who was a contest, and I go, before we went to the break, you said the answer to the question was beef. I'm sorry, the correct answer was nine. As I was saying, Kristen was shaking her head and laughing like, I'm sorry, dude. We couldn't think of anything. That's what I think of her. It's just like she's just having fun.

Yes. So well said. So well said. Okay, so do you have a question? Do you think I should ask her about anything. It doesn't have to be about SNL or comedy, but anything that I could ask her on your behalf?

I'm just always curious if she was always that confident and that ability. Was that a thing when she started at Groundings? Did she in going like, did she have... Because as you said very well, she came in fully formed, and I was like, was it always that way? Because she had such a confidence in her ideas. Yes. I remember asking her, I was like, How do you write this? How did you do that? And she goes, I don't know. I just think it and I do it. She just always had such a massive confidence in her ideas.

That's a really good way to put it.

That's a really good way to Forte was that way, too. Totally. Forte would do a thing and you would go, What? Where did that come from? You know that look in their eyes where they're like, It never occurred to them. That might be a crazy idea. I'm like, My character has... Remember, I was in a sketch of hers, and I feel like a character, either I did or a character had pepperoni nipples, like nipples of pepperoni. I was like, Where did you come up with that? It was looking at you like, Well, we're on a sketch show, dude. I would take it too literally. I don't know. But yeah, that would be a question. I was like, Yeah, where did that... Was there ever a moment, early days, was that learned and honed, or did that Did you just come out that way?

That's a great question. Thanks, Bill. I know Chris is going to be so psych. We talked today. Thank you so much for doing it. All right. Thank you, guys. All right. Thanks, buddy. Talk to you soon. Bye. This episode is brought to you by Wayfair, who are all about making your home into a happy place. And trust me, I know. Look, we used Wayfair to outfit our green room here. We have a little extra room next to us where people wait to get ready to come on good hang. They get psyched up, they get pepped up, they do their vocal exercises, whatever they need to do. Wayfair has outfitted it. I mean, we have chairs and tables and couches, and everything makes it comfortable and nice. And the overall experience has just been wonderful. So why not find something that makes your your happy place? Head over to wayfair. Com and find something that's just your style today. That's W-A-Y-F-A-I-R. Com. Wayfair. Every style, every home.

Hi, bud.

Thank you for doing this. I know you don't do a lot of interviews. I feel honored. You do what you need to do for work. Exactly. And you follow through with your obligations with that.

Oh, yes. I do my job. Yes. Yes.

But you don't love to... You want to keep your life private.

Yeah. And if I'm promoting something, I'm happy to talk about that. Sure. But there's the The line is so blurred now. I'm happy to discuss anything with you because you're my friend. But you know.

I know.

When it's someone that you don't know and they're asking you certain personal things, you're a little bit like, I don't know.

I know. And also, I learned something from you many years ago that I think about all the time, which is also, I mean, what I love about how you interact with your work is you put it out there, but you don't necessarily... You just put it out there and it's out there. And then I run away. I didn't run away. Was it okay to say it? I need to get out of the blanket.

That's basically what it is. But you were too... I don't want to know. I know.

And it's such a great... It's very healthy.

Because it doesn't matter.

I know. It doesn't.

Actually, I remember I remember telling me a long time ago, during SNL, you can read a million reviews, and you can quote the bad ones word for word. I can remember things people said about me. Oh, yeah. I just happened to have this movie come out, this kid's movie, and I texted my publicist, and I was like, Don't send me anything. Yeah, don't send me anything. I will probably call her at some point and say, Did they hate it? Do they like it? But I don't want to be sent because it just gets in your brain and it's not what your experience is. I'm like, I don't know. I'm sensitive, too.

That's part of it. Same. You said something to me that I think about all the time, which is I had an evening where I was, whatever, wore an outfit, felt good in it, had a good time, and then went home and saw the picture of it and just was like... I just felt really sad. You were like, Oh, I don't do that. I don't look at pictures after an event or something. I trust that I just remember the feeling of it. I'm working with great people, and when I head out the door, I feel good, and I leave it at that. I think about it all the time because bigger than how we look, it's just the idea of the world weighing in on your on your own mental.

And believe me, I got there because I would go and look, and then I would just feel horrible. I'm like, But wait, why do I feel bad? I know. I thought I liked it. And then in my mind, I'm like, Well, now did I?

I just... Yeah. I know. I think about you all the time when I When I try not to look at pictures of myself. But we are going to change our faces into cats for this. Oh, great. We're going to put a cat filter.

I want filters.

Yeah, we're going to put... I'm going to have flames coming out. It's going to be babies. This is good-hung babies, and we're going I want to look 30 years younger.

But naturally, guys.

You look incredible. You look incredible. And I do feel like you are... I wouldn't consider you an introvert, but I do think you're probably more introverted than people would assume, I would agree with that.

Do you think that happened? And I find people are often disappointed. No, but it's true. I think also because our people know us, our origins into the public life is comedy. So people think if you're at a dinner table and someone says, Kristen, tell that story, and 14 people look at you. That's my nightmare. I'm so bad at it. I'm really bad. And I was talking to my husband about it. I was like, I'm really bad at telling stories. And he's like, Yeah.

He's like, I've noticed.

You are. And I was a little shocked, but then it made me realize that it's true. I don't like that. I'm not good at it. Halfway through, I realized everyone's looking at me. And then I'm like, How does this end? I'm like, I'm not. Some people are so good at it.

Oh, yeah. And some people, when they go in to tell a story, they settle in like, Here we go. Like a warm sweater. And I'm in.

I'm all in. I'm like, Don't stop because I don't want people to ask me to tell a story.

I know because it is like, I mean, there's so much to talk to you about today. And I don't even know where to start because there's so much good stuff to talk about. I want to talk about Groundlings, and I want to talk about the beginnings of things because I feel like, I don't think a lot of people know your beginnings of things. What were you like as a kid? You said that you didn't know. You said you had no big plans be an actor or a performer at all.

No. No. I mean, I would watch movies and be like, Oh, yeah, I want to do that. But I think that's everybody wanted to.

Were you ever in a school play?

No. No. I mean, I- An attention seeker in any way back then? I think maybe a little bit just from my parents getting divorced and being like, I'm going to cause trouble.

Oh, you became a little bit of a troublemaker.

Yes, I did. I did. I don't know if that turned into- But you caused a little problem. I did, and I'm not bragging about it. I feel terrible, especially now that I'm a parent.

Well, but can you share any of that?

I mean, I got to a lot. I was suspended a handful of times. Exciting.

I've had police come to my house for a prank phone calling stuff.

Okay. But still, they came, and that was scary. But I was, I think because, and I'm bringing it back to parents' divorce, which, don't turn this off. It's going to be funny. It really affected my life. Yeah. And I think I went into my friend group, which I think happens a lot, where if things are uncertain at home, your friends become your family. And I was just always with my friends and always sleeping over at other people's houses. And some of the people was hanging out with were troublemakers, I guess. I just got in with a little bit of the wrong crowd, I think, young. And then I moved when my mom moved to Rochester, and I moved with her. And at the time, I was like, I don't want to move. These are my friends. But thank God, that saved my life. It really saved my life.

It is true, especially now that you have kids, we know that whoever you're around, the proximity of who around can really dictate what choices you make.

Yeah. I know. It's hard as a parent.

I know.

I mean, my kids are five, so I can't totally...

But even when my kids were five, you'd see other five-year-olds, you'd be like, You got to stay away from them. I know. You're like, Do you really want to have a playdate with them? Really? No. I'm like, Are you sure?

I don't know. They seem nice, but what about?

Then you just pick up, you just hold the phone upside down and you're like, I just called their mom, and they're not home.

They've moved.

They'll be at school on Monday, but they've moved. Their mom said, No more playdates. Okay, but where do you grow up? Where's your hometown?

I was in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Right. And then, Rochester. It's like Amish town.

Which also probably added to a little bit of the mischief.

Yeah, because there wasn't a lot to do. I was like, playing down at the creek. I'm running through the cornfields. I really was. But yeah, I don't know. I don't know if it's the place or just who I was hanging out with. I don't know. Yeah.

Then Is it really true that a psychic told you that you were being an actress?

Let me just clarify this story. Okay.

Is that a fake story? Because it's not-Fake news.

It's not totally fake. I'll give you the short version. But I was living in Arizona. I was going to school there. I was at the University of Arizona in Tucson, and I did not really want to be there. And I just felt like I was supposed to be somewhere else. I was an art major, and I just... I wasn't connecting with something. I did take an acting class. It was like acting 101. I think that's what it was called. I was terrified to do it because I hated speaking in front of a class, would skip school, which is always the worst thing because then you have to come back on a different day and do the book report when everyone else is like, We did this last week. It's just even more awkward. But I hated speaking in front of the class. I would just get anxiety. So I didn't want to take this class. I took it. I loved it. And I was like, I don't want to be here. I'm not supposed to be here. And I do have this theory that if you ask yourself questions in the mirror, you cannot lie to yourself.

And it's very... Yes. That's deep. Looking in the mirror and just being like, What do you want to do? It was like, I want to move to LA and try to be an actor. That had never come out of my mouth before. It just seemed like something so far. I just didn't seem like anything that would ever happen. And at this time in Arizona, I was like, going to spiritual bookstores as we do in our 20s.

Getting crystals.

Oh, my God.

Pendulum.

Yes, of course. Like, I was in a nice healthy way. And I wasn't doing voodoo or anything. And I went into this bookstore, and there was a sign that was like, I swear it said Psychic Mike. It was a dollar a minute. And I was like, I'm going to go see that guy. And I went in and I sat down and he was like, Oh, give me your ring. And he was holding my ring. And he was like, What are you doing here? He's like, Why are you here? He's like, You should have been in LA a year ago.

No, No way. Just out of the blue?

Swear on my life.

Love it.

He could have said that to every person that walked in there.

He's like, What are you doing here? That's what he says to every person.

And they're just like, Because no one knows. You don't go into a psychic because you know what you're doing here.

Exactly.

But I went home and packed up my car because my roommate at the time lived in LA, and I was like, Can I come stay with you? Didn't tell my parents, packed up my car. Bad girl. Drugged my cat. Drove to LA and just...

And quit. Quit school?

Quit school.

Damn, you are a rebel, Wig. You are?

Yes, you're a rebel. It was very... I think because I knew someone.

Sure.

It was less scary. But yeah, to get an apartment and got a job.

I mean, back then, you only needed to know one person to make a humongous career and life change. It was like, I'll just go. Same thing with me. I knew someone who had graduated from college, who was my old roommate who was living in Chicago. So I was like, All right, I'll just move to Chicago. She's there. That's all you needed was one person. And we didn't have phones or anything like that.

We just drove. We just drove with a big map.

And a cat and a map. And we were just like... And then we just looked at... And then the signs were just arrows. I just said, Hollywood. Yes. I It just said success, Hollywood, acting town, and you pulled up. So you go to Groundings. What year are you get in Groundings? What year do you start Groundings?

I waited a couple of years because once I got to LA, I was like, I've never acted before.

Oh, so you didn't start right away? No way. I was like, What?

This town is full of every person here is trying to do that. I got freaked out, and I worked at a hot dog restaurant, and then I worked at Anthropology, and I was doing all these odd jobs. And then a friend of mine that I was working for when I was doing painting, I had a million jobs. He was like, Have you ever been to the Groundings? And I was like, No, What is it? And he's like, You should go. He's like, I just think you like it. And yeah, that first show, I'd never seen improv. I'd never seen a live sketch, but it was like, Jen Coolidge, Michael Hitchcock. And I was just like, This is what I want to do.

Wow. Yeah.

This is it. Oh, my God. They're just making stuff up. I don't have to read and say a line a certain way that's right or wrong. I could just do that.

And it was the '90s, so you're doing sketch and improv and everybody hoping to get on SNL.

Yeah.

Just like that was the goal. It was like, and you're watching people go and get on SNL.

Yeah. And then Mad TV came out, and that was the thing, and a lot of people were auditioning for that. Because that was happening out here.

I remember there was that time when it was like, You can't audition for Mad TV and SNL. It was very one or the other. Choose now. And it was like, babe, no one's offering me either job. You're having imaginary conversations in your head about, if Mad TV asks, I'm going to say no. It's like, they're not asking. Wait, did you do sketch in college? Yeah, I did improv, and I had an improv group in college, and we did sketches at the end of the show. I loved my improv group. It was called My Mother's Fleabag, which is like, Sure. I love an improv group name. My Mother's Fleabag had been around forever. It was like a little frat for a little nerdy frat or swarty. We had all these rituals and customs. At the end of our show, we would go, It's my mother's fleabag, as if it was like, live from... We were doing some version of SNL, and we would do sketches and improv. Oh, that's so cute. But you didn't do any sketch or improv in University of Arizona? No, no, no, no, no. Amazing. No, that was much later. Then you go, Can you...

I mean, your audition for SNL is... It is weird to have auditions out in the world. I don't know. Did you watch any of the 50th stuff when they were showing?

I haven't watched that yet. See, you don't watch it. It's good. No. I've never seen my audition. I never want to ever see it because I did two.

Okay, you auditioned. Then what happened? Well, okay, you auditioned once and then you got it and you turned it down.

I turned it down because MTV was coming back. No, I auditioned, and then I didn't hear anything. And then the season started.

And then you were like, I'm not on. I'm not there.

Then I Oh, wait. No. How did it go? No, no. Maybe that's wrong. I auditioned. No, that's not right. I auditioned, didn't hear anything. Then they asked me to audition again, and I was like, I did everything. That's a nightmare. Okay. I don't even know what was in that second audition. Then I didn't hear anything. Then the season started, and that's when I was like, I didn't get it. No, but then they called me and they were like, Can you We'd love to have a spot for you. Whatever. I forget the wording. Can you come in two weeks?

I'm finding that out that they hired you after the season had started?

Yeah, you guys had done three shows, and then they were like, Come watch. I literally got there on Friday. I came and I watched Lance Armstrong's show. And then-Comedian.

Comedy's Lance Armstrong.

But I remember me like, What? Because to watch a show from the floor, no matter what, is intense. But knowing that I was starting on Monday and nobody knew because nobody told anyone that I was on the floor. It's so good to tell.

No. I was notoriously not good at onboarding. No, no. They're not good at onboarding.

And then I just showed up on Monday. But I do remember going to the party and going outside and calling my friend and sobbing because I was like, What? I was so overwhelmed. I didn't know anybody. I was in New York. You know what I mean? I didn't know the city, and I was so scared because I knew no matter what, I was going to be on, and I just didn't know how do you get there from never even being on the floor to eight days later or whatever being on the show.

I mean, the only thing I compare it to, and I know it sounds cheesy, but it feels like it is an emergency room where someone's like, You're going to have to save people's lives. Just watch what we're doing now. That was how it felt. You were like, And again, it's not saving people's lives, what we did. But it's this really well-run emergency room where everyone knows what they're doing, and they have a part, and you're just in everyone's way. They're like, Do you need a scalpel?

No. Totally.

They're like, You have to know how to do this. No one's going to teach you.

Yeah. Or like, You know we have a meeting in 10 minutes. It's like, No. No. No one told me. No one told Did that happen when you were there?

Oh, my God. I mean, I started at 9/11, so they were- That was your first show? That's right. When the- Cut to commercial. Cut When Rudy Giuliani... I can cut you high on the commercial. Yeah, you can cut. Go to this cam and just cut the commercial. When Rudy Giuliani- I did cut to commercial. Yeah, you can go to this cam and just cut to commercial. Yeah, when Rudy Giuliani said, Why be funny? Lauren said, Can we be funny? And Rudy Giuliani said, Why start now? And the first responders were on stage. That It was my first show, and everyone was like, I think comedy's over. But here. I remember thinking, well, maybe hang in there for six more months so I can just tell my parents that I did this show. Yeah, that was. Maybe I don't think I knew that. Talk about no No one told you where the meeting was, but people were like, fleeing the building because there was anthrax in it. What? There was anthrax sent to 30 Rock. Oh, right. Yes. Two or three weeks in, people People were running out of the building, and I was like, Where's everyone going?

They're like, We're leaving because there's anthrax in the building. I was like, So we should go? We should leave then? I don't want to get in trouble. That was so wild. You and I both had... It's so... There was no... There was obviously Schumacher being one of them. Yes. Great producers who took us aside and said, make sure you do this, whatever. But you were really thrown to the wolves, which I guess is how the show is.

I think that's why it's great.

Yeah, I know. But Wig, from the minute you started, and I did watch your audition, and it's so good. And it's every single character. I think every single character in your audition ends up being a fully realized character on the show, which is amazing.

I don't.

That can't be true. I think it's true. And You're so... You arrive at that show, in my opinion, ready and confident to try what is the job, which is to try your dumb ideas. Do you think it was Groundlings that got you ready for that?

Do you think that's what- I think Groundlings helped me realize what I do and my voice as a writer and as a performer. So I was like, I'm going to do that. And if that doesn't work, then I know I'm not going to work here. So I remember that first Tuesday, no, Wednesday read through. Oh, my God. I was like, If they don't get it, this is where I know if It doesn't translate beyond that theater on Melrose and that I'm in a different place. Do you know what I mean? Yes.

But that's... Okay, so we do this thing on the show where we talk well behind people's backs. We talk to Bill Hater today. And your brother. And Hater and I were talking about you and how great you are. And we were saying that there's this feeling that we always got from you, which is exactly that, which is like, you were putting up stuff that made you laugh, and you were like, well, this is what I enjoy. There wasn't that feeling of, let me try to get something that might get on, or let me try to get something that might please the host, or whatever. It was always your confidence in your idea. And his question for you is the one that I feel like I'm asking right now, which is, how did you get the confidence in your own ideas? Where did it come from?

It's weird because I don't see it as confidence. I think I just... I don't know. I'm just talking. I've never really answered this. But I think I wanted to know where I was in the world as far as my point of view. And the more I would put up that I thought was funny, the more I could hone what works and what doesn't. Does that make sense? Yeah. But I do remember Forte telling me once in his office, me saying something like, I don't know if Lauren would like this, and he was like, Don't do that. He's like, Never write for if you think someone else is going to think this is funny. He's like, Write if you think it's funny. And I always carried that with me.

I mean, you and Will, Forte, share that. You guys both share that feeling of when it comes from either one of you, there's no doubt that the two of you have been laughing about it You find it the funnyest.

Even though it might just die a slow death. I love those times, too.

Yes, same.

I remember you and I wrote something that to this day, James and I, quote, when we were performers in a cafe.

Oh, and it died a terrible day. It died.

I remember we were describing the way someone looked as a pencil because they had a yellow yellow outfit in a pink hat or something? We just said they look like a pencil. I don't know. Well, it didn't work here either. Maybe the way James... But there was something about it that when you're doing it and you know that little moment where this is the little hook where the audience laughs, and when they don't, and you have four more minutes.

Oh, I know. It's exquisite, though. It's like a sweat that if you get through the fever of it, then you feel like your immune system is stronger.

Also, you were seeing your heroes. I'm sorry for me, you included. Everyone's doing their best, and everyone has stuff. Sometimes it doesn't work. And you're like, Oh, okay. This happens to everybody. But the cool thing about it is when you show up and there's 50 sketches to read, people think that they're going to work, and you just never know.

I know. It's so weird. But so much of your stuff worked. Like, crushed. I don't know about that. I mean, it's like... Okay, well, you've talked about this, and I've heard you talk about it and it really made me laugh. For the first sketch you were in at SNL was when you were pregnant in the butt. My character was pregnant.

Your character. But it's funny because back it up even to my first pitch, because that was J. B. Smooth. Right.

The great writer, the performer, J. B. Smooth.

The great everything with the best pitcher.

Incredible.

And he pitched this thing where you were pregnant in the butt and everyone was laughing. I didn't know that he just does funny pitches. Right. He wrote it?

I think. And it got on. He often, J. B, I think you often pitch stuff that maybe you weren't going to write. Yes. You know what I mean?

I always pitch stuff I wasn't going to write.

Saying that was the thing. On Monday night, you would be like, and you just bullshit your way to get a laugh. Then you'd be like, Okay, now I really have to buckle down. But I think because the response was so funny, J. B. Was like, I got to write that.

That's the other thing. And you're like, I wasn't really going to write that thing. It was my very first sketch. Jason Lee. Jason Lee was the host. Foo fighters. Yes.

Foo fighters. Foo fighters. I did say that I'm like, Who fight us?

I'm so happy. That was my first sketch.

That was your first sketch. And do you remember the first... I mean, the first character you have so many, but do you remember the first one that was a recurring that you thought... Was it Target Lady? Where you felt like, Oh, I'm going to get to do this again. Like, I have some... I don't know. I know. Was it A-Holes with Sudeckis?

It was either A-Holes or Target Lady. Yeah.

I mean, for people who don't remember, Kristen has done so many characters. I mean, we could talk about them all day. But there was target lady who was, of course, very, very excited about things getting improved. Yes. And had an incredible haircut. Great wig. Thank you. Incredible wig. And then another Another great wig and another character was A-Holes, which is Sudeckis, Jason Sudeckis. You guys were just the worst people to show up anywhere. Yeah. You did a great move where you would play with your hair and chew gum. Real simple. So there you are. You're at SNL crushing it. Bridesmaids comes out. Bridesmaids comes out while you're on the show. Yes. I don't think people understand that. I don't think I did either. The timeline of that, you were still on the show when the gigantic, incredible explosion that as bridesmaids happens, and you're still... And a lot of people have to launch and then figure out their way after they leave the show. You're having this moment while you're still having a full-time job on the show. What was that like? Was it hard to balance, like going back and forth or shooting or press or any of that stuff, or do you remember it being smooth?

I don't really think I knew how well it was doing until later, until I was off the show.

Yeah. You had some more perspective on it?

I think so.

And you and Annie Mamelow, who wrote it together, did you guys get to have a moment where you looked at each other and said, Holy shit.

Later? Because I remember After opening weekend, they were like, Well, we tried. And we were like, Sorry.

Really? Why? Because it was a...

Because opening weekend was always the thing. It was a comedy, and it didn't make a certain thing. And we were like, Oh, well, okay. We just thought that was it. Wow. And then I think just more people kept seeing it. And then it happened later. It was a grower.

Wow. That's so cool. We're talking about stuff from 20 years ago, but it still remains a lot of people's favorite comedy. It's still a speck for what it looks like to have a bunch of women in a film together, writing their own material. What a hard Well done, mostly female. It's still such a superior piece of work. Thanks, Amy. Wig.

Thank you, Amy.

You're welcome. No question. Got to commercial. Got to commercial. There's so many funny characters that I want to talk about, but I won't embarrass you by going through them. But I've said this to you before, my favorite character is the surprise lady.

That's one of my favorites.

I love her. I love her for a million reasons. I love her because the way you play her is so funny. I love her wig, fantastic wig. Always in a turtle neck.

Always. Well, she had died in it. She had died in it.

That's right. That's right. Did you write it?

I think that was in the script that we pulled it over. Yes. She did. When I say that was one of my favorites, that comes from doing it. I like being in a sketch where there's a lot of people and there are moments where everyone is looking around What is going on. I love that moment. I love a cut to Keenan.

We got to get out of here. This lady is nuts. We got to get out of here. That's my favorite thing. That actually would be a really good way to sum up a lot of your characters. Oh, yeah.

Most of my sketches, if you go back and look, you got to cut to people being weirded out by me to remind the audience that.

But why I love the surprise lady so much is because there's a lot of wig in it, I think, because she is nervous but excited, and she loves a party, and she cannot wait to deliver that good news. She can't wait. And the physicality of her, and the It's so funny. God, I just watch clips of it all the time. I love it. Yes. I love it so much. It's so funny and stupid. Funny and stupid. Yes.

Which is the best. Which we know is the highest praise in comedy. Agree.

The more people go, Oh.

Oh, that's so dumb.

That's so dumb. And you're like, Hey, I did it. Okay, speaking of hilarious, funny, and physical, can you just Can you talk for a minute about what it's like to work with Carol Burnet? I can talk. Your season is coming out. I can talk. I can talk. Season 2 is coming out in November. Okay.

Yes.

Pam Royale.

So many things I could say about Carol. When I met her, I just fully cried. And I was not expecting it. And that is never... Except for when my kids were born and I saw them and I cried. I can't remember a time when I didn't think I was going to cry, and then it just burst out of my eyes. I wasn't expecting it. I watched her as a kid. She's, as you know, she's just the greatest person.

She was very important to us. Yes.

So important to us.

And the fact that she just did it as a woman during that time.

And so many people said no.

It makes perfect sense that you guys were working together because you definitely have... I mean, you have that thing that she has, which is you're able to enter a scene and just dominate in that way in a hilarious, joyful, and confident way. But you also like tiny, small, and grounded things, too. I think you have a lot of other interests. Yes, I do. I actually think... For people who don't know, you're an artist, you love to, and you're a musician. What's your relationship to music and singing? And making music?

Well, music is Definitely the thing that I need to create anything else. If I'm going to draw, I have to have music on. Or if I'm writing something, it's always to music that I am picturing will be in this part of the thing. I think it opens up that part of my brain that allows me to go in and be like, What do you really think? Because if I just sit there, I think like, Oh, what will they think? Does that make sense? Yeah, for sure. I've always I just sang. I sang in the choir when I was a kid.

Have you ever thought about wanting to sing Sing, Sing? Yeah. I mean, you do sing sing, but like- But I would love to do a help.

I know. Help? I know.

Do a record.

Do a record. I would love to do that. You should. You should. But I don't even know how to get started.

Just this. You just...

Can you weigh in on the comments on this, guys?

You sing? How does Kristin get started?

How do you get into the music business?

It also feels like you could dip your toe into some version of it where it didn't have to feel so like...

Yeah, like a thing.

Yeah. Like you could join someone's band. Who's band How did you join?

Again, weigh in. If you've got a band... Talica? Talica. Just take them in a new direction. Just quieter.

It's just a little bit quieter.

Just calling them up and be like, Guys, I know you have your thing.

And your thing works great.

You've been doing them a long time.

And we think, what if you just- And your fans would love to sit down, and I've got the music for it.

Your fans would love to put their arms down.

Do you still go to rock shows anymore? Because when we were young and out and about, we did it up. We did it up.

That's why those were honestly the best years of my life, like being in New York and- And being young and we did it up.

And now I thought- And now I do not do it.

No. Don't do it. The thought of going to a concert.

The thought of getting ready to go out at 11: 00, which is what I used to do. Oh, my God.

Never. Can you imagine? I go out to dinner with my friends at 6: 00.

Okay, let's talk about sleep.

6: 00 PM. Because I want to be home.

I love to eat dinner at 6: 00 PM. Me too. What's your ideal bedtime?

Well, you mean sleep or get in the bed?

Great question.

Because those are different from ours.

I would say, what is your ideal What time to be in bed? When do you try to get in bed?

8: 30, 9: 00. Love it. Asleep by 10: 00? Yeah. Because I do like waking up early when everyone else is asleep, so I can have my little quiet time.

Yeah, because you have little ones and you have to get ready for that because morning is intense. Morning's tough. Yeah. Now that I have teenagers, it's really funny. Now, my mornings are... I have five hours before people wake up. I'm It's 10: 30. You have to get up. Yeah.

But don't they say it's like a brain thing?

Yeah, you're supposed to let them sleep.

A teenager wrote that.

Mom, here. I heard it was a brain thing.

I read this article.

You're supposed to sleep. The scientist said. Okay, we're going to get to Gabby's Doll house, which just came out. Okay. So cute. Is it fun to play a villain? You've played it? I know. That character looks so funny and fun.

More Well, my kids love Gabby's Doll house. Okay. And so I knew that this was going to go a long way for me at home. Yeah. And then the script happened to be really cute. And Ryan, Crago, the director's dream. Awesome. Yeah. And it was just really fun. And we had the premiere on Saturday, and I got a little emotional watching it because it's so positive. It is so It's got such a great message. And you know when you're in a theater just with other people having the same experience and you're just completely blocked out from what's going on in the world, there was just something so like, Oh, this is going to go out in the world. And it's really nice. Yeah.

I feel you, man. The world is rough right now, and it's like anything that's some funny or peaceful. It's just like anything that just can take you away.

I can't do anything dark No, I can't.

Everything is already so dark. I mean, that's why I ask my guests, and I'll ask you this, is like, what's making you laugh? I'm asking people all the time, what do you watch on a We got a fly. We got a fly.

It's all right.

We got a fly. That's all right. Let's get it.

I was told there'd be no flies in here.

You did a sweep before I got here. I have a fake. What is that? I have fake bread that has a quarter in it. Let's see if we can catch the fly with that. Why is there a quarter? I don't know.

I think- Because you need to have something in there, right?

Yeah, it's a fake roll. You don't want to feel bad for the roll. And then it's ceramic. Yeah, there's change in it.

Do you have that thing sometimes where you feel bad for inanimate objects? Yes, so do I.

Have you seen Julio Torres' stuff? He does a bunch of stuff with inanimate objects. He's a stand-up. He's hilarious.

But I think that's a thing.

And it is a very... Where I look at things and I feel like, Oh, he's lonely. Yes. Yeah, I do. That happens to me. Yeah. How does it manifest for you? How do you see it?

I remember so specifically, I was in the bathroom, and you know how you have... It's like a pill thing. Maybe it's like, I don't know if it was like allergy pills, and you pop them through, and there's two, right? And I needed two, but there was one leftover. And so I grabbed that one and then one from the other one. And my dad was like, Why didn't you just get two from this one? I was like, Well, that one's been by itself for so long. And I feel like he thought that was cute, but I wonder if he was like, Oh, no. Yes. But I remember thinking, Well, clearly, I wouldn't just... These two have been together the whole time. This one's been by itself. Now I sound crazy.

No, I completely relate.

But I do... When you're a kid, stuffed animals, you have to make sure that they can breathe.

Why are you laughing? Yes. Okay. And I often rotate because I think, Well, you've had a good view for a while, and this one has been back. I feel bad when I'm like, Oh, this one has been the other one or in a drawer. I'm like, That one has been in the dark for too long. I totally do that. Okay, me too. Same with just a random object. I wonder if there is some like, we're anthropomorphizing things. We're making them feel like they're human. But there must be some connection to our- Or maybe we don't want to be left alone.

Cut to commercial.

Cut to commercial. Cut to a slow commercial.

Is that lip gloss?

Cut to a sad lip gloss commercial.

Do you know how much money a makeup... That would be so smart.

That would be smart.

Just having people put their makeup on, but everyone's sad.

And they're crying. Because people be like, Did you see that commercial? You're right. That's a great idea.

Because everyone's so happy putting on their makeup. What if people are just bummed out?

You're so right. If they're bummed and tears were coming down and they were- I'd be like, I remember that.

I'm buying that.

Or they come They come home after a long night and they're like, they throw up, and then they put their makeup back on.

Yes, and then they put it back on.

You're so right.

Yeah. Clinique.

What are you listening to, watching. Do you watch comedy? No. I know. It's hard, right? I can't do it.

I have a hard time watching. It's not hard, but as a kid, I think what made me fall in love with TV and film is that I would get completely lost in it. Now I'm like, Oh, they shot this at night. Did they eat before? Is this the beginning of the night shoot?

You know what I mean? His hair is different. Oh, his hair is different. They shot this out of order.

I notice that stuff, and it drives me insane. Me too.

My kids, sometimes I'll be like, This isn't in Canada. They'll be like, Mom, I'm like, It's not Canada. I totally notice that, too. The trees, and they're just like, Mom, stop.

I totally do that, too.

Okay, so I do watch Reality.

What reality? I am not ashamed. You shouldn't be. I'm a Bravo gal for sure.

Okay, who are you? Every all. Have you done Andy Cohen and talked about... Have you done that? And talked about the house with... Who are your faves? Who do you love? So many.

I mean, it depends. Different cities have different... I'm about to... Salt Lake just started.

A A new season? Yes.

A new season of Salt Lake, which is one of my favorite cities. We're hearing about Salt Lake. We got a Mm-hmm back there.

Jenna just said Mm-hmm. What makes Salt Lake so good for people like myself that don't know?

It's just bonkers.

Great.

Everything that makes the fashion, the ladies there, just I love it so much. I have noticed at night, it probably isn't the best thing to watch before I go to sleep because it gives you nightmares? Just because of the yelling and the brightness. All the things you're not supposed to have before you go to sleep.

The yelling and the brightness.

But I love watching non-acting. Yes. It helps my brain not... It helps me turn it off a little bit.

Now, I get a little embarrassed for people and stressed for them.

Watching what? Reality. Oh, reality, yes. Oh, yes.

But But what is it about watching non-acting that relaxes you? Because I've heard that quite a bit from people who watch it. It's like it's weirdly relaxing, even though there's conflict, all that stuff. Do you know why?

Well, I think with acting, you're watching someone who has looked at a scene, studied a scene. They're doing the scene. They've edited it. It's the best version. There's effort there. There's so many people working on it. And then with reality, it's just like, this just happened. These two people are talking, and this lady said that thing, and oh, my God. I don't know. I like just being out in the world and seeing these people walk around and just their parties and their outfit.

There's so many parties.

I love these women so much. They are my family.

Can we watch a clip from Salt Lake that you would... I've never watched Salt Lake.

Oh, my God.

I know this is hard, but what would be one?

I I guess maybe- Jenna is also waiting. What about when the van, when Jen Shah gets- I would say Jen Shah. Jen Shah van. Yes. Sprinter van.

Sprinter van.

You can't just write Sprinter van because you will get every franchise. They're always in a Sprinter van going somewhere.

I genuinely don't know what I'm going to see here.

Okay, should I give you some context? Please. So Jen Shah is currently, right? Or did she get out incarcerated?

She's incarcerated.

Okay. With Elizabeth Holmes. They're in the same...

And they're buddies. One can help. I believe.

They were going on a trip, and the FBI...

There's so much exciting laughter. Are you laughing because this is what I'm taking my time up to talk about. No, I love it.

The FBI was raiding her. I'm just looking at you, Jenna. Raiding her house. So she didn't show up. And it's all the girls on the van realizing what is happening. I'm not selling it as well. You have to.

Okay, when the FBI shows up, it's this?

Yeah, maybe that's it.

There's a couple here. But the police are looking for But it's when she's on...

Oh, this is what it is. She's on the van. She's in- And she's like, Oh, okay.

She finds out.

And she leaves saying that her husband's in the hospital?

Oh, is that the clip where she goes She's on a long rant about my husband's in the hospital? No, that's not Jen show. No. Okay. Okay, here we go. Let's see what this is. This is incredible. Guys, what if she's on the run? What if she's on the run? Like, get a red start. Yeah, that's true. I don't want her to call me. I don't like that they put a slide. What if not they start looking for their job? They're all on the phone.

I don't think she is in the hospital.

But thank God. Wait, you think... Call Shering. You think she got to I'm not going to call because we're popping her off? All right. Yeah. Okay. They're all on the phone in the sprinter van. All with sunglasses on. I'm just going to message her. No one's taking their sunglasses off.

Amy, that was one minute of- Okay.

Of an entire episode, almost?

I can't recommend it enough.

I got to tell you, when you explain it, it does sound fun. I mean, there is something about Real Housewives, which is like, if you didn't get on board, it's like, I don't even know where to start.

I can tell you what season to with any city because there are seasons to miss.

Okay, that's good to know. I wouldn't mind that because I have heard, I mean, Las Culturistas, Bowen, they're obsessed, and they talk a lot about Salt Lake. I do feel like now might be the time to start if there's a new season starting.

If you have 3,000 hours to kill.

Now is the time. Now is the time.

You know the holidays are coming. You're going to be all smuggled. But I get it.

It's like with the world being like, there's so much like that these stakes are relative. She did go to jail.

She did.

She went to jail. And not one person took their sunglasses off the whole time.

No, Amy, they can't. Amazing.

Amazing. Oh, my God. I love you. I love you, Wig. I'm so grateful you came and did this. I hope you had a good time. Are you kidding?

I had the best time. Is it over?

Is there anything I asked you about Hater. Is there anything else we need to ask.

And thank you to Bill for doing this. That was really sweet. I know. Sweet, Bill. I know. Love that guy.

I know. And you guys are so good in Skeleton Twins, by the way. What a great... I mean, you've done so many great things. But the way in which you naturally... It's just very brothers, sister stuff there. Totally. It's so natural there. Do you believe in past lives before we go? Yes.

You do? Oh, my God. Yes.

And do you feel like there are people in your life that you've known before?

Oh, yeah. Oh, fully. I think especially people in your inner circle have been there before. Yes.

For sure. Yes. I do, too. You meet someone and there is something about you and Bill in that film that feels very familial.

I love that. Maybe.

Yeah, I wonder.

I believe in all that stuff.

You do? What's the most woohoo thing you believe in? Do you believe in... Yes.

I mean, I probably do.

Do you believe in ghosts? Yes. Have you seen a ghost?

No, I haven't seen one, but I've felt them. There have been times when I've gone into... When I go into a place, sometimes I can... You can feel the energy. Really? Especially if maybe someone died there.

Do you believe in astral projection? People visiting each other in dreams?

Yes. You do? Yes. My great aunt visited me in a dream after she died. Wow. Yes, totally.

What was that like?

I woke I sobbed. I was 14, but I knew she was there.

Wow.

Yeah. Wow. I believe in all that stuff.

I know. What do we know? What do we know? I'm trying to be less- So much of it is science-based At least. I'm trying to be more open. And that's actually a goal of mine is to try to be less of a detective when it comes to that stuff and just open it up into my life. I don't want any ghosts.

I don't want to see any. I don't want to have anything I have nothing to do with- I love ghosts.

I respect them. I just don't want to see them. No.

I have had my house ghost busted, though. Yes.

A professional ghostbuster?

Online, yes.

Okay. I'm lying. I didn't even explain.

No, my friend had her house Ghostbusted.

Ghostbusted.

And she was telling the story. She's like, I don't know. I call her. She lives in New Mexico. I was like, That's crazy. What's her number? Because she told me things that had happened after post-bust. And I was like, Oh, this is interesting.

And we've learned from Psychic Mike that you will pack up if somebody tells you to pack up.

I will get out of there. And I did it. And I swear to God, my house felt different.

She did it online. I love her, though. That's great. I love you, wait. Thanks for doing this. It meant so much. You did it. Thank you. Thank you so much, Kristin. You are awesome. It was so fun to have you here. I really do count myself lucky that I got to be on the same timeline as you, let alone the same show as you. For this Polar Plunge, I didn't even know where to start to talk about the hilarious comedy that Kristin has given us over the years. I want to take this time to just remind everybody of all of the ridiculous, hilarious characters that Kristin has given to us over the years. Do Denise from the Lawrence Welk Show, and Gilly, and Penelope, and who else? God, so many. We target lady, and we talked about the lady who couldn't wait to ruin a surprise. And Judy Grimes. And oh, my God. And Shanna, Shanna, the sexy lady at the office. And the Hollywood Dish lady who spits her water out. And Mindy Grayson, the woman who can't get password. I mean, I can't stop and won't stop. But anyway, just do yourself a favor and look those all up.

I mean, honestly, if you're looking for something to make you laugh, any clip from Wig, any time is going to do that. So thank you so much for coming and doing the show, Wig. Appreciate it. And thanks so much for listening, and check us out again soon. Bye. You've been listening to Good Hang. The executive producers for this show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weis-Burman, and me, Amy Pollard. The show is produced by The Ringer and Paperkite. For The Ringer, production by Jack Wilson, Katz-Vilaine, Kaya MacMullen, and Elea Zanaris. For Paperkite, production by Sam Green, Joel Lovelle, and Jenna Weis-Burman. Original music by Amy Miles. All I ever wanted was a really good hang.