Original subtitles

Hi everyone, welcome to another episode

of Good Hang. We have a great, hilarious

guest today, the amazing Kate McKinnon.

Kate, who you know from SNL and films

and the world. And Kate and I go on an

adventure and we're going to talk about

woodworking. We're going to talk about

sketch. We're going to talk about what

do you do next when you have fulfilled

your dream. And in Kate's case, it's

homesteading and being in the movie The

Roses and writing the second book in her

Millisent Quib series. So, um, I'm so

excited to talk to Kate today. And

before we do, always we check in with

someone who knows our guest, who has a

question for our guest. And we have a

great one today. Kate's fellow cast

member, her chosen sister, uh, you know

her from SNL, from Shrill. She's an

incredible comedian and actress and

writer and person. Adie Bryant. 80. Hi.

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[music]

>> We're talking to you from Los Angeles.

>> Yeah, that's where I am. That's where

you live now.

>> I know. I know. It's weird.

>> 80.

I had a moment today where I was like I

was just excited about talking to you

and just thinking about

I know this is sound very basic, but

just like the women of SNL like just

like you know there's there's not there

hasn't been as many as you think.

>> No, totally.

It's It's like a major crew of cool

stars and girls.

>> It's true. Like I think you and I were

at a photo shoot and somebody I feel

like we were at the same photo shoot

when someone said the number of cast

members of SNL and it wasn't a lot.

[laughter]

>> Totally. Also, I I don't I felt this at

the 50s where like then when you have

kind of everyone in the room not

counting the hosts you're kind of like

this is little like this is a little

group you know.

>> Yeah. Like I I got a I got a laptop here

so I'm going to see how many cast

members

have been on SNL but yeah.

>> Do you have a guess first? I jelly bean

jar guess.

>> Okay. Yeah. Let's guess before Okay. I

won't look.

Three

>> say like

>> 140. Is that wrong?

>> Yes. 167.

>> Come on.

>> That's the blackbox theater, honey.

That's just a full blackbox theater.

[laughter]

>> You always see everything in theater

sizes. That's the stadium. [laughter]

>> But yeah, but I was thinking about like

it's it is it's a it's a it's a great

group. It's like like of which I'm very

proud to be a part of and I know you are

too.

>> Same. Oh my god. Yeah. It's like very

overwhelming to me if I think about it

at all.

>> I know. Me too. And uh and you and Kate

McKinnon, our guest today,

>> were there at the same time and the the

people especially the women that you are

there with at the same time means means

a lot. So tell everybody when did you

guys start? When did you start? And were

you starting at the same year or when

did what year?

>> Yeah. Well, she had kind of a weird

thing where she started like five shows

at the end of the previous season.

>> Maya Rudolph did that too. Maya started

at like the end of a season,

>> which that seems like so stressful to

me. I don't I kind of don't know how she

did it cuz she also like came in alone

in that moment. But I think Kate and I,

we shared an office and also just we

both are like scared and I think we both

were also like um we like are both

extroverts for our jobs, but I think

we're both kind of secretly like

introverts who like to be quiet and

hidden. And so we were we bonded over

that. I think you know

>> it's funny you say that. That was one of

the questions I had for her today is how

she managed

being in such an extroverted job as an

obvious introvert cuz I really find her

to be a genuine introvert.

>> Yeah. I mean, I think in some ways like

it's part of her genius is like she's

almost like a recluse who has to go

[laughter] and have like time, but then

it's so fruitful. Like I I mean once

like one of the first times I went to

her apartment I was like oh my god what

are all these cool paintings and she was

like a I did this you know and I was

like what you know and same like or we

would be writing a sketch and then she

would be like well get a keyboard and

then like be playing a full and you're

like wait you play the piano and then

[laughter] like she was like well I do

play the cello too like it just she is

like a she is like a sneaky freak.

who has a million skills and talents.

Kind of like a savant kind of thing. And

>> that's why she she's like mysterious in

that way. I think

>> she is she definitely is like an onion.

Like she and and

it also not to make it about me, but I'm

feeling such shame about the fact that

if I knew how to play the cello, you

would know it, babe. [laughter]

You'd know it. You'd know it. Day one.

[laughter]

No, I same. Everywhere I go, I'd be

like, well, I do cello, but I do piano,

too, you know, [laughter]

and I paint a little on the side. But

anyway, let's get back to you. Like I

would it would be on my

>> Well, I guess I'm sorry. I'm one of the

greatest sketch comedians of all time,

too, on that's just like the other thing

I do. And I can build tables and garden

and like, you know, [snorts]

>> and I'll take a I'll take a grande

latte, please. [laughter]

I know there's she is and I have to say

80y I find this with you too both of you

guys have a very calm

um energy that's like draws you in you

neither one of you you're very like come

hither [laughter]

come hither

that is what everyone always says about

me that I'm sexy kind of come hither

vibe

>> you are babe because you both are like

there's not a lot of push.

>> There's not a lot of push.

>> You know, I think we really helped each

other in that way because like

>> I you know, especially when you get to

SNL, it's so overwhelming. It's like so

cool.

>> And I think sometimes we both would have

the instinct of like, is it okay for me

to leave this party and go home? And we

often for each other were like, I would

like to.

>> Let's go. [laughter] you know, we gave

each other permission to like be the

ones to go first basically.

>> That's actually good.

>> That was really helpful at times, you

know. Yeah.

>> Yeah.

>> But I'm so honored to be thought of as

come hither. That is like that might be

my new like cello like come

[laughter and clears throat] hither.

>> Miss Paula thinks I'm come hither.

[laughter]

Cut to your cosmetic brand. Come hither.

Come hither baby. And you're like, and

then you're like, where is where is it

being sold? I'll never tell. [laughter]

Before I get to your question for Kate,

what's the first stuff you did together

and wrote together? You know, one of the

first things I think we really started

like putting our heads together on stuff

were those like girl music videos that

we would do kind of like

>> uh Twin Bed, I think, was one of the

first ones. And then we did like Backcom

Ballers and a couple after that. But

that was like one of our first like we

both were like we like music and let's

try this, you know.

>> Did you shoot them in the at the Douglas

house?

>> Yes. So some I felt like I like our

generation was some of the last to still

go to the Douglas House cuz they don't

go there anymore. For people listening,

the Douglas House was just like a big

house about 45 minutes outside of the

city where if you watch in the '9s and

2000s, every commercial was shot at,

every fake commercial was shot at. Mitz

gay like all the uh oops I crapped my

pants all those were there

>> and like for our generation it was like

lower lower back tattoo remover and like

the Roomba that went up your pants and

and it was and and just so many mornings

like super tired at the Douglas house

>> completely also like I've I would lay in

their rooms as if they were my own

[laughter] just so rudely like I would

never do that if I was shooting in

someone's house now, but at that time I

was like, I got to lay on the floor in

here on someone's couch or bed. I

[laughter] don't know. You got to know

how anything works. So, I was like,

our space.

>> And also, I just like what I love about

watching you on the show and all the

women of SNL and Kate too is

just like never worried when you

perform. like never always feeling super

relaxed that you're in control of what

you're doing that you have like a deep

sense of play and like

something natural does happen I think is

the long the longer you're there which

is just like you get a good case of like

the [ __ ] it's like who cares like let's

just try [ __ ]

>> 100%

>> and you and Kate as seniors were really

fun together

>> well we were like doing bad behavior

[clears throat]

basically

um

>> like what what was your bad Well, just I

feel like she I mean she's the number

one culprit of this in my time at SNL,

which was she would basically perform so

funny during the week, so funny during

rehearsal. And then at dress or I mean

at air, it was just something you had

never seen before. And I would be, you

know, like eye to eye with her or

whatever. And I'd be like, "This [ __ ]

is letting it rip." [laughter]

And I'm just like at her mercy,

>> you know? So fun.

>> It's a thrill, you know.

>> Well, I'm excited to talk to her today

and also like a little um I'm I'm I'm

intrigued by Kate always because Kate is

like has a million hobbies and interests

and she is, you know, she's not on as a

person. She's not like a she's not like

you can actually go pretty deep and go

into these crevices of her mind. So, I'm

excited to get there. But what do you

think? Do you have any question for her

today that you think she might want to

be asked or,

you know, um, a story she might want to

tell or anything you think you'd want to

know?

>> Well, it's funny cuz I feel like knowing

her, I'm like, there's no question she

wants to be asked.

>> I I I've already heard that she's like

she told someone I know she was like,

"Amy's going to look into my soul,

[laughter] and I don't want that."

She doesn't want to do this interview.

She's [laughter]

She's going to be

>> He wants to do no interviews, by the

way. I know. Okay, I'm I'm stalling. I

guess my question is like what's her

perfect

>> day of solitude, which might include

like an indoor activity, probably an

outdoor activity, knowing her, and also

like a meal she would make just for

herself. I feel like that's like where

she's in her flow state.

And I'm like, what's she doing? What's

her dream version of that? Or even, you

know, how she spends her time like that.

>> That is such a good question because

asking somebody about what their, you

know, quote unquote kind of perfect day

tells you so much about them. And

and I definitely feel like Kate's

perfect day is a solo day.

>> I which I like respect massively. You

know, that's a fantastic question. Wait,

I feel like there's one last question

you should ask Kate. This is just a

loose one, but ask her what she used to

carry her hair extensions in.

[clears throat]

[laughter]

>> Don't know what the answer might be, but

I think she might remember [laughter]

what she used to cart those around in.

>> Perfect. Can't wait. All right, Adid,

thank you so much for getting on. It's

so great to see you. Yeah,

[clears throat]

>> your come hither attitude is it just

drew me in from minute one, babe. Hello.

Come hither anytime you wish. [laughter]

Say hi to Connor. Lots of love. Okay.

Bye

>> bye.

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>> Oh my god. Wait, McKinnon.

>> Wait, what's going on with this water?

[laughter]

What is this water?

>> Um, this is

>> Talk to me about this jug.

>> Do you try to get through this a day

once a day?

>> I try. I put it away for months at a

time and then I say, "Where's where's my

jug?"

>> Oh my god. How many gallons is in here?

>> This is one gallon. Actually, this is

not full, but you can see how that

feels.

>> This is nice.

>> Yeah.

>> And um Do you try to get a gallon a day?

No,

>> I do. I mean, when I'm doing when I'm

when I'm being

>> good and cool. Yeah.

>> That's why your skin is so good. It's

this gallon jug.

>> Uh [laughter] it's Thank you.

>> Um Yeah. No, it's good. Uh because it

weighs 25 lbs one full. So, you're

getting bit whatever this is. And um

it's really good in a zoom because if

your zoom is flagging [laughter]

>> and then you bring this into frame

>> without introing it. Um you're that's

another five minutes

>> material for your zoom.

>> I love this jug.

>> Thank you so much. Here you can

>> may I put it I'm just going to put it

over here for continuity.

>> Yeah. So we can make sure that it

doesn't as Lauren say co-star.

>> Okay. I know. Thank you. Yes. Let the

audience come to you. When in doubt,

seduce and keep your jug on the floor.

[laughter]

>> Try to get your jugs all the way to the

floor if you get. [gasps]

>> Hi, friend.

>> Hey.

>> Hi.

>> You're beautiful. Congratulations on on

this.

>> Thank you. I'm so happy that you're

here.

>> I'm very happy to be here.

>> I know that you do not like to do

interviews. Well, and my first question

is just something very very simple,

which is

>> what is God's plan for us?

>> Um, God has gone [laughter]

jumped ship.

>> God is taking

>> and gone to a different universe.

[laughter] God was like

God was like, "Yikes, this that was a

miss. And I [laughter] shall I'll let

them do it."

Um, yeah, we are doomed. [laughter]

Capital Doomed.

Um, no, I know that you don't like love

interviews, but I think what is so

special about you, Kate, is I feel like

you just deepend it pretty fast. Like

you like

deep end complex conversations.

>> Bless you for saying so. I I would I'd

like to What is your sign? Virgo.

>> Got it. Capricorn.

>> Oh, of course. Good. Finally. Finally. A

reasonable person.

>> And your MyersBriggs.

>> Um, ENTJ.

>> Got it. Good.

>> What's yours?

>> Good. INFP.

>> Yes. You're a definite I

>> Good.

>> And also, uh, your enog

>> four wing five.

>> Of course, you're a four.

>> What are you?

>> I'm an eight.

>> And that's the

>> eight wing nine. I'm the challenger.

>> The challenger.

>> And you are the um romantic,

>> the [ __ ] sensitivo. I was going to

say I'm the [ __ ]

>> No, no, I'm the [ __ ]

>> Oh my god, that's so funny. I thought I

[laughter] was the [ __ ]

>> Wait, but what is eight again? Which

>> eight is the challenger? So eight is the

um

>> likes to lead.

>> Uh has has problem with vulnerabil

problems with vulnerability. So like

doesn't go with feelings first, action

first.

>> Four is lots of feelings.

>> Yeah.

>> Right. So, if you're at Thanksgiving,

the eight is maybe at the table arguing

about vaccines or something. The four is

in the basement looking through photo

albums of old Thanksgivings.

>> Yes.

>> Would that would that make sense?

>> Yes. And saying stuff like

it's all over.

>> Yes. [laughter]

>> Okay.

>> Awesome. Like we are doomed. Like God is

gone. And I need you also to know that I

my face is covered in poison ivy.

>> Can't see. Okay. Can't see one one piece

of evidence for it.

>> See little the little dots on my neck.

>> Can't see at all. Your incredible makeup

artist who we love.

>> Yes. Who we love. Cassie Garcia

>> who also I work with.

>> Yes.

>> Incredible.

>> She's always she she relays messages

between the two of us. Same.

>> Yeah.

>> She's like, I saw Kate. Kate said hi.

It's really nice. And you could not tell

for one minute that you have poison ivy

on your face, but I know that you are

like an outdoor cat.

>> Outdoor cat, indoor cat. But you are you

live you're basically you've gone you've

gone to the farm.

>> I've gone rogue.

>> You've gone rogue.

>> Yes. They it

>> I remember so clearly. I believe we were

in maybe we were at the Kennedy Center

Honors in DC or something and I was

telling you about my desire to go to the

woods and you were like in New York the

nature that we have is our pets

>> and we need more nature than that.

>> Yes.

>> And so that I that I always had that in

my head.

>> Mhm.

>> And I um I did it.

>> You did it. How does it feel?

[gasps]

>> [sighs]

>> It's the best.

>> I'm I belong on the homestead.

>> Yeah, I believe it.

>> I belong

on the homestead.

>> I believe it.

>> Did you feel that way when you were

younger? Did you feel an affinity to

nature? Were you that kind of person,

like young kid who liked to be in the

woods?

>> I loved bugs and science and making

nature crafts. Mhm.

>> I remember making little um bits of mud

and putting them places. And I remember

every time we went to a seafood

restaurant, I would say, "Mom, can I

take the empty clam muscle and lobster

shells home with me and [laughter] put

them in the bathtub? [gasps] And after

rinsing them of marinara sauce, she

would let me um put them in the bathtub.

and and I would get in with them and

[clears throat]

just [laughter]

>> um enjoy that. And so, yes, I I did

always like Did you

>> Well, I kind of liked adventure. I liked

the idea of being alone in like I liked

getting on my bike and riding through

the neighborhood like feeling alone. But

talk to me about without, you know,

obviously revealing anything too

personal, what is your homestead? What

do you do on your homestead? Talk to me

about what happens there. Are you

farming?

>> I think the reason I've I've done it is

that I believe very [laughter] much that

we are doomed and I want my goal is is

surviving the apocalypse 4 days. Okay,

that's it. If I can make it to four,

mama, I will have uh achieved something.

A long weekend, like a holiday weekend.

[laughter]

That's such a good That's such a funny

thing to think about is what it would

take for four days. It's It's more It's

more food than you think, obviously.

>> It is.

>> Yeah.

>> Yeah. And I would I know I wouldn't make

it past 2 hours, but I'd like to think

that I could go 48.

>> Mhm.

>> And I would be crying the whole time as

a four-wing five. [laughter]

Um, but I would like uh the the the lack

of invitations to social gatherings

[laughter] in the apocalypse. That would

be fun. Okay. You are a true introvert.

>> Which I I am ashamed of because

>> why

>> I love people. I am fascinated by and

love to talk to and listen to people.

>> But the word fascinated is the part you

are fascinated by people. People are

that's what I think I feel from you is a

fascination and a curiosity about the

world and people.

>> That is what is so compelling about

being around you is you are very curious

about many things.

>> But I sense that people in general like

a lot of people it's just it's not

really your gig. It's just like

one-on-one people feels like

>> or two on oneonone however you like it.

one-on-one, two on one. But you know,

>> but when we were talking about you going

like getting back into nature and kind

of checking out, I think it was in in

the context of New York City being

>> overwhelming. And you being there for a

long time because you lived in the city

for how many years?

>> 20.

>> And you were on a on SNL for how many

years?

>> 10.

>> And every day you saw hundreds of

people. This is the voice that I was

just acting up a hair. Excuse [laughter]

me. Uhhuh.

>> If at any point you need a cold compress

or

>> um and so you were like [laughter]

fascinating that you were in a bustling

city on a bustling show

>> and it makes total sense that you want

to go somewhere and just get a little

bit quieter and more peaceful after that

experience, right?

>> How does an introverted person like you,

how did you manage the huggeeness that

was that show? It's such chaos.

Do you want me to do an impression of

myself at the afterparty?

>> Yeah.

>> Okay. So, you are, let's say, you're an

agent that I know.

>> Great.

>> Okay.

>> Okay. And I'll and I'll just be talking

to you. Okay.

>> Really close, really quiet.

>> Tell me about your parents that, you

know, that kind of thing.

>> Yeah. You wanted But that's what I'm

talking about. You like a one-on-one

connection.

You like people. You want connection.

>> I really do.

>> Yeah. When I watch you on SNL, you're so

connected to what you're doing. You're

very

relaxing to watch because you don't seem

nervous.

>> But was that all am I getting it totally

wrong? Like was inside uh whirly whirly

swirly or was the inside kind of

peaceful when you were you in the zone

when you would perform?

>> Oh gosh. Um,

always terribly nervous,

>> horrifically nervous,

>> less so at dress, I always felt I did I

did my best at dress and then air was

just less good

>> cuz I was thinking about

>> um the cameras. But when it was just

dress and just

I could really sometimes if I was really

in it feel like

I was in dialogue with the people in the

audience and like we were sharing

something, you know? I I feel like

sketch is like you see something that

you love that delights you and you're

like just showing it to people and then

you're like, "Do you guys like it too?

Cuz I think this is funny." And if they

do, then then you're like you have a

connection. And I I felt sometimes like

I was just with friends. I mean, Lauren

said that I'm sure

>> it should feel like you're in your

living room playing.

>> Ooh, that's good.

>> And I I did got get to that point.

>> You definitely did. I mean, first of

all, we got to see I mean, this might

make you uncomfortable this kind of

praise, but I feel like there's Here she

goes. [laughter]

Okay, hold on. Hang on. Praise is

coming. Okay, praise is coming.

There are people on that show that I

felt were naturals on that show. Now

whether or not they felt natural is is

their own personal story. But you, Maya

Rudolph, this is my opinion. you, Maya,

Rudolph,

Dana Carvey, Will Ferrell, people who

just kind of came onto the show, fit

right in and just became

just like instant captains, just instant

um

crushers, just so good at that show

because that show needs a specific kind

of something. I don't know. I don't even

know, you know. And

I always felt that from you, just this

calm confidence when you were

performing. And it's interesting to know

that inside you were not feeling that

way. What what did you do when you were

not feeling like you did well? What like

like how do you how did you manage that

feeling? I mean, I can't think of any

time you didn't do [laughter] well, but

it's so funny. I'm sure you felt that.

There were plenty of um

desperate failures [laughter]

that haunt me even now. I um no I uh no

a lot of failures and they they still

sometimes I'll think of something that

didn't work or that I didn't I just

couldn't get there in time with the

writing or the performing and it it

still stings

>> and I still feel shame and that you know

and that's on me. Um, but I um I also

have made the terrible mistake of

reading

>> oh

>> stuff on the internet which

>> I truly wish I could go back and have

never looked at the internet because it

has

>> y

>> um that haunts me as well

>> and also you just cannot remember the

good things.

>> You can't remember no

>> for the hundred good things. It's just

like can't can't conjure them up but the

one bad one you'll never forget. Yeah,

there are phrases that I have read that

[laughter]

>> not even that mean not unfounded like

things [laughter] with a kernel of truth

like thoughtful critiques [laughter]

that I agreed with.

>> Mhm.

>> That uh have ruined my life. [laughter]

That will be that will be on your head.

[laughter]

>> Okay. But but so but when you were per

like did you have any okay talk like

were you did you like to rehearse all

the time? Were you in your room rehears

were you the kind of performer go you're

in your room before you're doing your

sketch quiet and in intensely working on

it? Did you like to play around and stay

loose before a scene? Cuz I didn't

really ever get a chance to work with

you very much. We only did a few small

things together. Did you like to be

alone and get ready for stuff or did you

like to stay loose and you know what I

mean?

>> Yeah. No, I I I I think I I mostly like

to wing it.

>> Um I there were like a I don't know if

you uh can relate if it was like a just

a twoperson scene that was like really a

scene that required like your eyes are

so beautiful. I'm

>> mine.

>> Yes. Oh my god, Kate.

>> You know what? [laughter]

You shine like a sun and I'm having

trouble concentrating on what I was

saying. [laughter]

>> I um

love you.

>> You [laughter] too, my queen. My queen.

Um I if it was like a two person scene

with a lot of lines, I would try to not

memorize but become very intimately

familiar with the lines. I could feel

that that you liked to know your lines,

which some people don't really try to do

cuz people don't know, but it changes a

lot at SNL, so sometimes you're a little

screwed if you know your lines too well.

>> Right. Right. Um, so if it was like not

changing that much and it was like a

like more acting

>> Yeah.

>> scene, I would sort of like to like run

through it a few times, but otherwise I

I liked to uh wing it. Um,

that's what I mean is you have you had a

very

groovy flow in a lot of the stuff that

you did. And so who knew babe that

inside was you know a bunch of mice

carrying ladders and stuff like like who

knew? [laughter]

And so when we talked about you like

hitting the road and getting

homesteading basically what I feel like

was underneath that was like here's the

new next chapter of chapter of the

version of my life like you know if if

my life is a book I'm interested in what

the next chapter is.

>> Yes.

>> What is the what would you like what

would you title this chapter of your

life postsl

>> growing growing your own food prepping

for the apocalypse? My goodness. Um,

>> what would it what would you say? What

era are you in?

>> Getting real.

>> Getting real or um 41 [laughter]

or um

>> getting getting with an apostrophe

getting real. [laughter]

[snorts]

>> Um, well,

let's be honest. I feel like [laughter]

I had one dream. One dream. It was SNL.

Did it [laughter] done loved it.

Awesome. Um, not quite sure.

>> Not quite sure what to really be like

single-minded

about. I I love filming movies and uh

the the small amount of episodic

television.

>> What do you love about making movies?

I love

being able to

I love going somewhere

>> for a month or two

>> and walking around.

>> Yeah.

>> And falling in love with 80 new people

and um

>> the the the circus the camp of it.

>> Yeah.

>> The summer camp. You went to you went to

camp?

>> I never did.

>> Oh my gosh.

>> I know. I went to a day camp, but I

never went away. I would have loved to

have gone like away from home, but yeah,

just this idea that you had this stolen

time almost in another place.

>> You can be anything.

>> And um I love that. And I also love um I

love I just love movies. I think they're

wonderful as a as a medium.

>> And I love um doing a scene uh as

scripted and then trying it 80 different

ways. and they pick the best one and as

opposed to like you've got one shot, one

opportunity to seize everything you ever

wanted. Are you will you capture it or

will you let it slip? [snorts]

>> Um do not miss your chance cuz

opportunity comes

>> once in a lifetime.

>> Um

but that was what SNL was.

>> Yes.

>> So you did it so well. So you feel like

you

Yeah, I hear what you're saying. It's

like, okay, I did that. I did that as to

the best of my ability and now I want

to, you know, practice my backhand

basically or or or or not even my

backhand, just try try a new shot.

>> Yeah. Yeah. Totally. Like I loved doing

pre-taped pieces because for that very

reason. And I I have loved truly loved

every experience I've had working on a

film.

>> So I'd love to do more of that. And I

>> um but I I but there's only so many um

hours in a year that

>> Yeah.

>> Uh you know, SNL took up so much

>> Yeah.

>> of all of our

lives and and when it's over, it just

leaves a a time hole.

>> And so I had to fill my time hole.

>> And

>> that's the name of your workshop.

[laughter]

fill your time home with Kate McKinnon.

>> Um, and so I've done that. I've I've

tried to be uh useful in growing food

and I've also taken up carpentry as

well.

>> Okay. I've heard about this. Talk can

you talk to me about the materials

you're using because I know a little bit

about woodworking from Nick

>> Offer from Nick.

>> Have you spoken to Nick?

>> I've never No, I like I mean I've meant

to. He has an amazing work workshop and

he's he's such a good teacher and and um

share of knowledge

>> and tell me what you like about

woodworking and carpentry. What do you

what's your favorite part?

It is well I think it's in my jeans

because my grandfather was a woodworker

>> my father was an architect and um I just

I love the practicality of being you can

you know manipulate this material and

then you can spend time in it.

>> Yeah.

>> How crazy is that?

>> You can sit on it.

>> I love to sit [laughter] on things I do.

Um it's just so much it's you know a

sketch a a a book of something it's so

ephemerrable [snorts] ephemerrable and

and to say I will sleep on what I did

today.

>> Yes.

>> Is like

that's like life you know

>> that's cool.

>> What materials do you like to work with?

What kind of wood? I've been doing

mostly uh trim carpentry which which is

uh moldings and paneling and I've been

uh using reclaimed hemlock for that

mostly.

>> You've been making your own moldings.

>> Yes. And I thought I thought I was the

only one.

Then I'm backstage at uh that SNL50

concert. I'm talking to Brandy Carile.

She's doing trim carpet. [laughter]

I'm like, Bran, of course you are. She's

like, John Stewart's doing his tr I'm

like, [laughter]

>> turned out it's trit what I'm doing.

Everyone's doing trim carpet. You're

doing trim carpentry. I know.

>> I mean, people think I'm doing trim

carpentry, but I'm not.

>> So, when you when you're making stuff

like something like when you're when

you're wood when you're working with

wood

>> Mhm.

>> what happens when you make a mistake? I

feel because I I'm asking I'm very

intimidated by working with wood. I feel

like I if you make a if you measure

wrong you're [ __ ] like you can't

>> what do you just kind of

>> I put it up inside the home anyway and I

have absolutely decreased the property

value [laughter] of the house with my

shoddy work. Yes, I know that I have.

>> It is not Brandy Carlile level.

>> No, [laughter] nothing is true. That's

true. What do you want to make? What's

the dream thing you want to eventually

make? Do you want to move on from

molding and moldings and and do you want

to make furniture?

>> I do. You make furniture?

>> I I have I made a table.

>> Dang,

>> that was cool.

>> But honestly, I would like to move into

plumbing and electrical. I would like to

be

>> um have all the skills of a general

contractor.

>> I love that. I love that. I don't know.

>> Well, because the end is near and you

know, we have to Well, someone's got to

wire the shelter.

>> Yeah, exactly. If we're going to get one

more day in that shelter, we're going to

need how the We're going to need to fix

the toilet.

>> Yeah. [laughter]

>> Yeah.

I I so relate though, Kate. I I mean, I

have no doubt you will. I have no doubt

you'll learn about plumbing. And And

>> I mean, that's a ways away.

>> You think so?

>> Well, it's someone's job for a reason.

[laughter]

Yeah,

>> that's a two-year certificate at at

minimum.

>> Yeah.

>> Um, so but yes, I would like to acquire

all of those the skills that can make a

home function.

>> Mhm.

>> For 4 days.

What I like about this conversation is

that I feel like we're going out in the

woods and then we're coming back into

the city.

>> Yeah.

>> Back and forth. So coming back into the

city if I can.

>> Yes.

Can you speak about the last show of of

you of yours at SNL

>> because I remember that being feeling

very powerful and very moving and I

think we spoke about it and it was for

you. It was a very beautiful sendoff

where you walk up into the stairs as

Miss Rafferty

>> meeting the aliens finally maybe we

don't know [laughter]

>> or finally meeting you know or them

taking you away or you

>> willingly going. We don't know. Yeah.

>> What do you think [laughter] happens to

her and you? But that walk up the stairs

and like the wave goodbye was really

beautiful and really cool. What was the

last what was your last show like?

>> I thought it was really beautiful too.

It was not my pitch. That was streeter

and Mikey Day

>> um came up with that. My pitch was that

I did this character Sheila Sovage. Yes.

>> Uh the barfly. Um, and my pitch was that

I would tongue every single person in

the [laughter] cast

um, in a line and you know, I thought

ultimately that the alien thing was a

little more meaningful [laughter] and

had a better tone. So, we went with

that. Um,

>> so everyone narrowly missed uh, sucking

my face.

>> That goodbye that goodbyes that goodbye

tonging. But that was very emotional

because

uh it was every I mean

>> you did over 200 shows or something.

>> Everything to me and those people are

everything to me.

>> Jenna.

>> Yeah.

>> You know, um Chris Kelly, everybody. And

and and Lauren, who has been, you know,

a a surrogate father uh to me. And I I

could cry now thinking about what he has

been to me in my life as I'm sure we all

could. And

>> what what can you speak a little bit

more? What has he been what has he done

to like what was your relationship with

him like?

>> My well very my my father passed when I

was 18. I loved my father

beyond and he um Lauren just was nothing

but paternal. And when you uh have

somehow by by the grace of whatever

earned the esteem of a man like that, a

man who's that like

larger than life, it just it means

everything. And so um I was like

just sad.

>> Yeah.

>> To go. I had I had to I I I had reached

a point where I was like yawning during

the show and that just did not that was

not working for me physically anymore.

>> Yeah.

>> And

there there you have it.

>> So,

>> but it didn't mean I wanted to get away

from those folks.

>> You love those folks. You love those

folks. Boy, Kate, they love you.

>> You know who loves you so much? And

there's a million people who do. Seth

Meyers.

>> He loves you.

He you are he just is like and again

praise coming in prepare. But you were

just such a natural captain when you

were in there on that show. You just you

led that show through a lot of years and

you were in a lot of sketches and you

were doing a lot. You were you were

carrying a lot on your shoulders in that

show whether or not you felt it or not.

And you were you were being asked to do

really big

playing like really for quoteunquote

like important people at important times

whether it's Hillary Clinton or Rudy

Giuliani or like you were playing all

the it was the the world you the world

is nuts and it's weird and I know from

experience because we both played

political figures to play people in real

time that are also existing in real time

in the world and there's real world

consequence And it's very strange.

[laughter]

>> Yes. Yes, it is.

Yeah, it certainly did.

>> What was it? What would how did it feel?

Was there Did you feel any

responsibility when you were playing

anybody? Uh or did you have to kind of

let that go and not worry about it?

[sighs]

>> No, mama. I felt a lot of I felt a lot.

>> Yeah.

>> I'm sorry. Just to talk about Seth for

one second. Let's go back to Seth. When

Seth left,

>> it was in a February. That was another

that I felt like I only overlapped with

him for

two or 3 years or so, but he and he is

not very much older than me, but I felt

like he was like had a paternal, you

know, thing. And like when he left, oh

my god, I was so crushed.

And I forget that life goes on and you

like you form, you know, other

connections and stuff, but that was

like, oh, I love that guy.

>> Yeah,

>> I love that guy. [laughter]

>> Yo, any horse. Um, what were we saying

about

>> politics? Who cares? You know what?

>> Politics. Well, it's a double-edged

sword, I felt, and you let me know how

this lands for you.

>> Yeah. But I felt it was a double-edged

sword in that

I felt like I was really doing something

with my life, something meaningful,

>> being engaged in the most peripheral

possible way in

in culture in

in history.

>> Yeah.

>> In the mo like Yeah. just on the

sidelines putting on a wig, you know,

doing little songs about whatever was

actually going on, but like

>> um being in the smallest way a part of

that felt like I was

doing something meaningful. And with

that came,

[sighs and gasps]

you know, like I remember there was one

article

>> that was like, "Will she hurt Hillary

Clinton?"

>> Oh god.

>> And I was like, [laughter] "God, y'all,

y'all shouldn't read, should not have

read, should never have looked, but that

like that notion

uh just broke my brain." And like I

obviously no one I think doing an a

satire has the power to actually

influence but um I did not want to hurt

anybody even people I uh vehemently

disagreed with politically like I still

didn't want to ever hurt anyone's

feelings.

>> Um and so yeah there was some balancing

to do there.

>> Did you ever meet anybody while you were

dressed as them? Yes. I met um

>> Secretary Clinton,

>> uh Senator Warren. That was

>> Oh, awesome. [laughter]

>> Oh my gosh.

>> Oh, you guys did a really fun You guys

did like a switch a Tik Tok switcheroo.

>> Yeah.

>> Yeah. She was like the after there was

some vote on the floor of Congress.

I believe it was on January 6th about I

forget what it was and all the Democrats

were saying no and all the Republicans

were saying yes. I forget what about but

they were going down the list calling

the names of all the Democratic senators

and everyone was saying no, no, no. And

then it got to her and she was like no.

[laughter]

And then I know it's a question you get

asked all the time, but I do love this

question which is well two.

Did you watch did you ever go on the

server and watch sketches that bombed?

We used to we used to watch our sketch.

Do you like do you kind of like it when

sketches bomb a little bit? Like did you

ever enjoy that?

>> And did you ever rewatch a sketch that

like didn't make it? We used to go and

watch our sketches from dress that

bombed and just like

>> it was and just watch it together like

you know kind of like process it

together [laughter]

and it was just like such a nice feeling

basically just a reminder that everybody

bombs basically.

>> Um did you ever do that?

>> Um yes there were a few

a few hits that we would watch over and

over again. [laughter]

Um there was one there was one rehearsal

where um a person I won't say who

[laughter] simply stopped doing the

sketch and sat down on the stage.

>> Sure. Um that was a fun watch and yeah

just stuff like that.

>> We we had a we had a host again I won't

say who who like halfway through just um

>> kind of fell asleep a little bit.

[laughter]

>> Yeah. And it was like this was dressed.

I was like, "Okay, well, I guess we're I

guess this character is asleep now."

[laughter]

>> Don't blame him.

>> Agree.

>> Time to sit down.

>> And it's it's a tough gig. [laughter]

>> Did you find that hosting was so much

harder than you could have ever

imagined?

>> I wanted to be back with the like I

didn't want to be in I Yeah, I know. I

wanted to be like

>> I kept being like, "What are you guys

doing over there?" Like I kept wanting

to be over there.

>> Yeah. Um, [snorts]

>> yeah. Yeah. And and

who did you love? Host who what host did

you love? Like

>> that you just think about you're just

like, "Oh my god, that's so like

>> I remember really loving uh Amy Adams."

>> Yes.

>> Emily Blunt.

>> Yes.

>> Um

I a lot those are the two that pop into

my mind. But just I loved I loved

actresses

who were

wonderful comedic actresses and also

actresses.

>> Oh, that's so interesting. What type was

your

>> I enjoyed weirdly often athletes

[laughter]

>> because they wanted to be coached and

they would be like, "How do you want me

to say it? How do you want me to do it?"

And I'd be like, "Oh, thank God.

[laughter]

>> This is exactly how I want you to do

it." you know, and they felt really good

about that. Like there was no and they

would if they scored, they were like,

"Yay!" And if they did, they were like,

"This isn't my gig." Like they just they

didn't they didn't [laughter] feel and

it relaxed me. It relaxed me when

athletes would host.

>> Um

>> or or people like that. People who were

just like, "This is a this is so weird

that I'm here."

>> Did Charles Barkley ever host when you

>> No. Did you love him?

>> Oh my god.

>> You loved him.

>> Now there's a funny athlete. Jesus

Christ. He may be the funniest man

alive.

>> [laughter]

>> And I did do one of my bar fly sketches

with him. So I have his tongue has been

in my mouth and I [laughter]

>> It was nice.

>> Fantastic. Um, okay. So we do this thing

on the show where we talk to people

before our interview. I don't know if

you know this.

>> We talk well behind their back. We talk

to somebody who knows them and they give

me they give me a question to ask them.

So, we talked to Adie Bryant today, the

great 80. Oh. Oh, here we go. Tears.

Waterworks. 80 and you like tell me a

little bit about what 80

what it meant to have 80 there when you

were there and like working with her.

What was what was your relationship

like?

>> I mean, she taught me about like so much

about comedy, but she also taught me

about just like being a person. comedy

aside. I mean, she's a genius, but like

just one of the most solid people I've

ever

known. And I

she just she like when I moved into my

apartment, she was like, "Invest in your

base."

which she was basically telling me to

like get kind of okay furniture which

like I wasn't planning [laughter] on

doing

but she just she um

>> I think in many ways she taught me how

to live

>> and uh how to be okay even in silence I

was like okay this is my sister everyone

here is my friend this is my sister

>> I uh we were re-watching the sketch

today [laughter]

um of you and AD as the as uh I think it

was Henrietta and Nan the PowerPoint

ladies who couldn't get the PowerPoint

to work.

>> It was I was reminded 15 more of those

right now.

>> I was reminded of that the other day

[laughter] and

I was asking the gal who wrote it, did

you come up with the phrase digifiles

[laughter] and she said no that was 80

dig files? I like when 80 says when 80

says I don't think I can learn anything

anymore. [laughter]

>> I don't think I can learn anything new

anymore.

>> Oh my god,

>> that and there's and okay, so 80 had a

question for you which is

she had two great questions for you. One

is ask Kate what she used to carry her

hair extensions around in. [laughter]

>> Do you remember? Uh, it was a it was a

tiny linen drawstring polka dot bag

[laughter]

that I think she gave me.

>> Okay,

>> great. It seemed like an item that 80

would have cuz it was polka-dotted and

it was like sweet and drawstring.

>> Okay, so um I'm going to take your word

for it. Well, there's no way we can

check.

>> And then the but the second question was

what would be your ideal day? because we

were kind of talking about what we were

talking about earlier that there's this

part of you that like loves that feeling

of performing and being, you know,

meeting 80 new people and being on the

road and being part of the circus. And

then there's a part of you that wants to

kind of be in the woods and in nature

and be in kind of a peaceful version of

your life. What is Kate McKinnon's

perfect day? How would it go?

>> I would wake with the sun. I would

garden [snorts] for a couple hours, do

carpentry for a couple hours, and then

gather

my mother and sister,

the loves of my life

or some other folks that I love, and

make pasta together

>> and eat it.

>> Yum.

>> From scratch.

>> Damn.

>> That was my 40th birthday party. It was

a pasta making party with my family and

my best friend and her family.

>> That sounds

>> my 40th. Yeah, my 40th I was still

filming Parks and Reg. So, it was like a

bar somewhere in the middle of filming.

My 50th I had a dance party

>> and that was so fun because I love

dancing

>> and I prefer dancing over talking.

>> Yes.

>> Do you like to dance? I love to dance

and I I also prefer dancing over like I

will I will leave a party after 10

minutes if it's just talking because I

can't.

>> Ad said the same thing that you two gave

each other a lot of permission to leave

parties which is what friendship is all

about. [laughter]

>> Okay, we're going to talk about your

incredible book because and I want to

talk to you about books. Um but I want

to just do a very quick rapid fire.

Okay, number one gardening tip.

Um

or any gardening tip.

>> Compost.

>> It's all about compost.

>> Oh god.

>> It's No, it's a pain in the ass.

>> Yeah, I got to do it.

>> Yeah. Okay.

>> No, it's terrible.

>> Favorite ice cream flavor?

>> Chocolate fudge brownie.

>> You said that really casually. Do you

not like ice cream?

>> No, I love it.

>> Okay. Favorite childhood movie?

>> The Producers.

>> We watch The Producers every week in our

house. [laughter]

Favorite books growing up?

[sighs and gasps]

>> Rald Doll.

>> Um, and I loved a good atlas. I loved a

book about geography.

>> Do you are you good at ge

>> cultures of the world?

>> I do love geography.

>> Do you have a good geographical sense?

You

>> I would say yes.

>> When you know like when you're standing

somewhere, you want to know where north

is and you talk that way like it's west

of the highway.

>> Yes. And you know where countries are?

>> I do. That I do.

>> That's great.

>> I love the countries and I love to know

their capitals and I love knowing

[snorts] countries and capitals. It's a

hobby.

>> I'm going to give you one. Uh Argentina,

>> buenosis,

>> Canada,

>> Ottawa, [snorts]

>> China,

>> Beijing,

>> Costa Rica.

>> Um well, no. Is it Sanan?

>> Close.

>> No, it's San Jose. [laughter] Okay.

>> Is it?

>> Yep. Please God. Okay. Thank you.

>> Um

uh let's see. Ethiopia.

>> Uh Adis Sababa.

>> Dang. [snorts]

>> Hungary.

>> Budapest.

Uh Iran.

>> Thrron. Libya.

>> Tripoli.

>> And the last one is the capital of

Sagal.

>> Um

is it? No. Acra is the capital of Ghana

and the capital of Sagal is [ __ ] me.

I knew this.

I really It's with an R.

>> Yeah, there's an R at the end.

>> It's Dar.

>> Yes.

>> [ __ ] [applause]

[ __ ]

>> Kate, that's impressive.

>> Hobby. In fact, during a read through at

SNL when I wasn't in any sketches, I

just was practicing my capitals

[laughter] for fun. So, let's talk about

the Millisent Quib School of Etiquette

for Young Ladies of Mad Science.

>> Your second book.

>> Incredible. Congratulations.

>> Thank you.

>> You have written a you you have a series

now, the Millison Quibb series, and you

have one and two

>> and two is out.

>> Yes.

>> And is a New York Times bestseller.

>> Tell us about this book, why you wrote

it, what's it about?

>> Yeah. Um, well, I got I got I started

writing it 12 years ago before SNL.

>> Amazing.

>> And then I just kind of kept at it uh

intermittently throughout that time. And

I love middle-grade literature

>> um because I think it has uh things in

common with sketch comedy, i.e.

funny hair and funny names and

[laughter] um and a sense of hope.

>> Yeah.

>> And and questions of identity and

questions of belonging. You know, a a

sketch is often about uh a fly in the

ointment, an odd man out. I wanted to

write about uh being a 12-year-old

girl in a in a repressive turn of the

century town. I didn't grow up in a

repressive turn of the century town, but

I grew up in a town um with, you know,

normal folks and I I felt like a freak.

I think every 12-year-old feels like a

freak. Um

>> and I loved science and I loved bugs and

I loved like icky stuff and um I uh I

had I was fortunate enough to have

adults in my orbit who were um funny and

weird. my parents among them and a lot

of my teachers and I I think having that

kind of a mentor who

>> uh celebrates what is unique about you

instead of stepping on it is absolutely

instrumental and so I wanted to write

about uh a mad scientist who's a pariah

in this town who um takes these little

weirdos under her wing and um

>> teaches them mad science and they fight

the bad guys and uh have adventures. And

I I wanted to write something that

hopefully would inspire young people to

go outside

>> uh for the first time in days [laughter]

>> and touch a grass touch grass. And I

mean the the times of my childhood that

which was before cell phones which are

just the best time. I mean one day me

and Alexis North found like a fox skull

in like someone's hedges and like there

was an earwig in it and it was the great

talk about the best day of my life. Oh

my god the earwigs in that fox skull. We

were just like

the world is magic. It's made of magic.

And um I wish children had some more

access to that kind of stuff today.

>> Yes. And uh I wanted to inspire them to

go outside and touch a bug.

>> Um Okay. Well, I feel like

you know this interview started with you

worrying that you weren't going to be

funny or something like remember that.

>> I feel I wasn't. [laughter]

>> I'd like to start again, please.

You're nuts.

[laughter]

>> You're so nuts. You

But I want to finish the this thing last

thing which is I think people in comedy

are all as we know they're all different

kinds of people. Do people come up and

expect you to be a certain way and are

they surprised when you are quieter and

more reserved or more introverted than

you than they expect you to be?

>> I think they are. And sometimes they're

disappointed and vocal about that.

>> [laughter]

>> Um, I've gotten a lot of Wow, you're not

funny in real life or speak up. What?

Um, I've gotten I've gotten you're so

serious for a comedian. Yeah,

>> you're being very serious.

>> Oh,

>> you're being very serious.

>> Well, or a that's not funny. I've had

that. [laughter]

>> Like, well, I'm sorry. It isn't.

It wasn't very funny. Anyway, nice to

meet you. Oh, [ __ ] I gotta ask you one

question. Oh, [ __ ] I forgot one

question.

>> And it's the best question and it's the

best one to ask you.

>> Go for it.

>> What is making you laugh these days?

What are you What are you What What are

you watching, reading, listening to,

watching a video of when you need to

lighten up, I'll tell you. Oo, there's a

man on YouTube, can't wait, from

Australia. He cleans drains. He clears

hopeful hopelessly disgusting clogged

restaurant drains filled with grease.

>> I love uh unclogging videos. [laughter]

>> This man,

>> this is the earth in us.

>> You never see his face. He is enthusiasm

on two feet. He says, he'll say, "Oh,

you guys, this is what dreams are made

of. Can you believe we get to be here

clearing this drain? This one's choa

block. Let's fire up the jet. Oh, you

little ripper. Come on, you good thing.

Like he has like free and and it's about

and then he'll [laughter] be like, "Oh,

there's a cockroach. Oh, there's some

corn there. Toilet paper. Oh, this is

what dreams are made of, you guys." And

I just I love enthusiasm

>> and I would recommend it's called Drain

Cleaning Australia. Okay, I'm just gonna

watch one little thing before. He

[laughter] sounds amazing.

Drain cleaning Australia. Also, I love

his um his commentary about what he

finds.

>> Yeah.

>> Okay, stand by. This one says sewage

spraying into the sky. Is that good?

[laughter]

>> Okay, here we go.

>> We're back for another block drain,

mate. And I'm just going to let the

lovely customer know that we're here.

>> Good day, mate. Bruce from Drain

Cleaning Australia. You're home. So he

he goes to he goes to meet the people

first. Let's see. Let's

>> And he's sorry. We got we got a

commercial.

>> You pay for you. You don't pay for

YouTube. You come here. We don't pay

[laughter] for YouTube.

>> Are you kidding me? The price.

>> They want me to pay to cut out the

commercials. No, I'll wait until the

skip button. Okay, here we go.

>> You little ripper.

AND WOW, YOU CAN SEE ALL THE TREE ROOTS

still down there. So, we punched a hole

through the blockage.

>> I get it.

>> Tree roots are the least of his

problems. Usually, it's like um a a a

dachshund sized piece [laughter] of hair

or or grease or human [ __ ] It is. And

he's like, "Woohoo! Woohoo! [laughter]

You little rier."

Kate, thank you for being here.

>> Thank you.

>> Thank you.

>> I can't tell if your eyes are green or

blue. I think they're both and it

doesn't matter. They're just

>> All that matters is today. [laughter]

>> All that matters is your name.

>> Thank you, Kate McKinnon. You are so

interesting to talk to and I love being

around you and your beautiful skin. Um,

check out Kate's book. And, you know, in

this Polar Plunge, I I just wanted to

talk about the books that I loved when I

was in middle school. There were many,

many series of books that I loved, but

we talked a lot about homesteading today

and growing your own vegetables and

pulling potatoes out of the earth. And

it made me think about Little House on

the Prairie and Laura Ingles Wilder. And

um, God, I just I loved those books. And

and here's a tip in my Polar Plunge. If

you need to take a wonderful nap, put on

an old episode of Little House on the

Prairie and the sound of the clipclop of

the horses and the music and like

and then Paw just coming in from the

cold and somebody putting like a a hot

cake on the fire. It's going to knock

you out. You're going to go right to

sleep. So read the books. incredible

books from Laura Engles Wilder. Watch

the TV show and try to stay up as long

as you can while you do. Okay, thanks so

much for listening. Thanks Kate for

being here. I love talking to you and

see you soon. Bye.

You've been listening to [music] Good

Hang. The executive producers for this

show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weiss

Berman, and me, Amy Polar. [music] The

show is produced by The Ringer and

Paperkite. For The Ringer, production by

Jack Wilson, Cat Spalain, Kaia McMullen,

and Aia Xenerys. for [music] Paperkite

production by Sam Green, Joel Levelvel,

and Jenna Weiss Berman. Original music

by Amy Miles.

>> Was a really good Hey