This is a colostomy, Michael Che. GROSS: So your character in "Schmigadoon!" OK, so here's "He's A Queer One," and this is Ann Harada singing. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld. Is that an idea that you originated? I saw my first Marx Brothers movie when I was 10 on TV, and I fell in love with the Marx Brothers and became obsessed. And it almost cost me my brother. GROSS: Cecily Strong, welcome to FRESH AIR. It's such a contrast for me seeing the joy in "Schmigadoon!" The series stars Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key as a couple who find themselves stuck in a 1940s musical's wacky town, where people sing about their love of "Corn Pudding" and quite . Could be fun. STRONG: (As Melissa Gimble) OK. Well, that one's on you. during the pandemic. If you're a nerd, just be a nerd. In watching "Schmigadoon!," I had to wonder who is able to produce such a great series that is both a tribute to and a satire of musicals of the 1940s and early '50s like "Oklahoma!," "Carousel," "The Sound Of Music," "The Music Man" and, of course, "Brigadoon." She has over 500k followers on her Instagram. And I was talking about something else, and then I sort of made fun of myself, like, yeah, because, you know, that's - well, that's an important thing for society to hear or something. GROSS: That's Cecily Strong is Judge Jeanine Pirro. I wish your mother well. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. So how much do you love musicals? (As characters, singing) Just 'cause you feuded don't mean that you're concluded. And so I want to play that scene 'cause it'll give a sense of how people just kind of break out into song around you and how you sometimes just chime right in. All rights reserved. KEY: (As Josh Skinner) Are you serious? FRESH AIR's executive producer is Danny Miller. It's an ode to those songs. She suspects that he's not being his true self. So I've gotten to see a lot of his shows in New York. STRONG: Yes. STRONG: (As Melissa Gimble) So what? "Saturday Night Live" picked up around 400,000 viewers on Saturday from the previous week. And so I think they thought that might be a good outlet for me. But they both soon realize they're trapped in Schmigadoon, where life is a musical. Cecily Strong. So it was really important for the show to have that perspective. If you're just joining us, my guest is Cinco Paul, and he co-created, co-wrote and then wrote all the songs for the satirical musical series "Schmigadoon! And then just being loud and over annunciating and trying to have a stern look, you know? Which - a lot of your memoir is about living through the pandemic, like, the first almost year of the pandemic. KEY: (As Josh Skinner) And you're not sick? Hi. UNIDENTIFIED CHORUS: (As characters, singing) Just 'cause you feuded don't mean that you're concluded. So here's another scene from "Schmigadoon!". And, you know, even, like, operas have, like, songs like that, where there's, you know, like, a festival or, you know, a picnic or something. PAUL: What would be the worst possible song to subject him to, you know? Other men have eyes that spark at every passing skirt. You want to try with other people? centers on a couple who gets trapped in a town where people burst into song. And she recommends the corn puddin'. She was promoted to repertory player in season 39 in September 2013, along with her fellow castmates Aidy Bryant and Kate McKinnon, and left midway through season 48, following the December 17, 2022 . 'Cause "Kevin Can Wait," but Syrian referees can't, OK? GROSS: Why don't we hear "Corn Puddin'"? This past summer, Strong published a memoir called "This Will All Be Over Soon." And so it makes me want to, like, poke harder. STRONG: (As The Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party) Here's a thought, Michael - maybe try being woke for a change, OK? It's like, I'll keep driving west. And I was really, like, a kid who sort of wanted to stay under the radar, anyway. I did a driver's-ed video for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. And actually, I flew out of the chair the first time because, you know, I hadn't done much physical comedy on the show at all. STRONG: (As Melissa Gimble) OK. Well, that one's on you. I think that's why, for 25 years, nothing happened with it because it was - it needed that addition to really crack it. That was so weird. GROSS: So the Cecily Strong character loves musicals. I've never caught him looking at other gals more young, petite or fine. STRONG: Well, thank you so much. When I went to - they called me down to security to say they'd found my bag. STRONG: It's hard to say, honestly. (As characters, singing) Then she complains that he don't understand her. GROSS: And Hal Willner, who you mentioned - he died of COVID. Is this still going on, your podcast? UNIDENTIFIED CHORUS: (As characters, singing) And then he gives her a smack. GROSS: That's music from "Schmigadoon!" You know, I really wanted them - like, oh, that could genuinely have been a song sung in an undiscovered Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. GROSS: There's times on Update when Colin Jost has been laughing, like, so hard because you're so funny. I'm like, well, live with my brother for a week and tell me you don't think psych meds are good. STRONG: Oh, definitely. Cecily Strong "Still Thinking" About Return to 'SNL' as Lorne Michaels Shares Hopes "She'll Come Back" The 'Saturday Night Live' veteran, who has a new memoir out on Aug. 10, says . During the season finale of "Saturday Night Live" in May, Cecily Strong climbed into a large clear cube marked "boxed wine" and belted Frank Sinatra's "My Way," lowering herself triumphantly into a pool of red wine as the song crescendoed. She's nominated for an Emmy for her work on "Saturday Night Live." Keegan-Michael Key's character hates musicals and is desperate to leave. And I was talking about something else, and then I sort of made fun of myself, like, yeah, because, you know, that's - well, that's an important thing for society to hear or something. STRONG: (As Melissa Gimble, singing) And it may be a waste. Actress, writer, producer, and all-around comedy titan Cecily Strong has built up quite the resume over the last few years. STRONG: (As Melissa Gimble, singing) Never had had corn puddin'. The women are wearing long, colorful prairie dresses with big petticoats. GROSS: So I want to ask you about another character that you've done, and that's the Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party. In case you are wondering about his identity, Jack is an international traveler. Like, who cares? I loved that movie so much, and the songs in that are so good. And you're being, you know, waited on by a - you know, a very lovely, very young (laughter) waitress. CHE: (As himself) So I assume you're not happy with the election. PAUL: Yeah, I mean, that was the intention. I'm not going to do the show. And it was hard - you know, I had theater, thank God, and really was comfortable in that world. What did it feel like to be honest and say, I'm not ready, I can't do it yet? And, you know, everybody that was there was supposed to be there. They also wrote the animated films "Despicable Me," "The Secret Life Of Pets" and the Dr. Seuss adaptations "Horton Hears A Who!" It's brought me such pleasure at a time when I think we all need some pleasure. And from the - I was a weird little kid, Terry, I have to say. I'll just keep driving west - right? STRONG: I did - and I mean, not always. It's not something we're going to eradicate. What Is Cecily Strong's Net Worth? STRONG: Right. GROSS: Let's hear you as the Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party. I can hear you. GROSS: You're nominated for an Emmy, second year in a row. I am just trying to figure out how to get out of here and get back to reality. He's a hard man to know, it seems - different. But she does not, you know, embrace them in the way that I do. Strong is the niece of prolific Broadway producer, Edward Strong. Cinco Paul serves as showrunner, and wrote all of the original music for the series. No. I only wish that nightly he were slightly more aggressive. Let's get back to my interview with Cecily Strong. GROSS: Well, in some ways, maybe it was a good thing because you ended up - after going to Catholic school, you ended up in a performing arts high school, which is where you really fit in. A leprechaun has explained to the couple - in song - that they can't leave Schmigadoon until they find true love, which means the depth of their love is about to be tested. STRONG: Sure. Lily Tomlin, the original star and Tony Award winner of 'The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, poses with the star of the L.A. production, Cecily . GROSS: Cecily Strong stars in the new series "Schmigadoon!" Did you get to go backstage? overall No. And she recommends the corn puddin'. I love the show so much. STRONG: Well, first of all, just thank you for saying that. GROSS: Like, among the shows he did was terrific revivals of "Music Man," which is, of course, referenced (laughter) in "Schmigadoon!" And whatever you decide to do about "Saturday Night Live," I wish you well. You know, my grandmother would buy me musicals on VHS. And it opens with, you know, two friends hiking through the wilderness, and they're hiking over the countryside. And then my uncle is also a Broadway producer. But then, I mean, I did go back, and it was important to me, and it felt good to laugh. And now she's appearing in New York in a limited-run production of Jane Wagner's "The Search For Signs Of Intelligent Life In The Universe." And I always wanted to be an actor since I was little. But this is a song where she has no clue that her husband is gay. Cecily Strong is unsure about her future at Saturday Night Live after nine seasons on the iconic sketch comedy series. And she's vaccinated. He co-created, co-wrote and wrote all the songs for the series "Schmigadoon!" STRONG: Yeah. She has a new memoir called "This Will All Be Over Soon." PAUL: You know, when we were early on conceiving of the show and the journeys that our characters would take, I really wanted Cecily's character Melissa to be involved in what I think are the two big tropes in these old musicals. She's taken all these concepts and just turned them into something confusing and wrong that she's very passionate about. Corn, corn, corn, corn, corn puddin'. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. They get lost in the woods, cross over a bridge and suddenly find themselves on what looks like a backlot movie set of a small town in the early 20th century - a town called Schmigadoon. total viewers were 4.1 million after three weeks lingering around 3.7 million. Cecily Legler Strong (born February 8, 1984)[2][3] is an American actress and comedian who has been a cast member of Saturday Night Live . And then I thought, what if these two modern guys, instead of stumbling on a town that has a werewolf, stumbled on a town that was in a musical? Strong mentioned that her uncle is a Broadway producer in a 2021 interview with Terry Gross on the NPR program Fresh Air, thus she was able to see several Broadway productions as a child and even go backstage . You want to try with other people? It was my first year talking with Colin. Please continue playing piano for us. - about a couple who find themselves trapped in a small town from the early 1900s where life is a musical. That's outrighteous (ph). So it is more of a romantic comedy, and it can be more about, what does love mean? I got the recipe. Cecily Strong is a total theater geek.. STRONG: And it would, like, end in some crazy, like, exclamation. First two episodes streaming Friday, July 16, on Apple TV+. ", (SOUNDBITE OF PODCAST, "MAKE HIM WATCH IT"). And then I remembered, like, hearing my straight male friends talk about interactions that they'd had, like, with some girl that seems normal, and then it's like, oh, she just said something crazy, and how do I get out of this conversation? GROSS: And who did you think of as being the girl? It actually - I think it was probably Bryan Tucker, who I write with. So I really was like, come on, everybody. It's a nice melody. . And I would be driving home. Starring Keegan-Michael Key, Cecily Strong, Alan Cumming, Kristin Chenoweth, Ariana DeBose, Fred Armisen, Jaime Camil and Jane Krakowski. And you go like, whoa, what's that? GROSS: Were you thrilled to be doing a commercial? Being a regular member of The Second City and iO Chicago. And I'm now back to worrying about someone I love with COVID. STRONG: (As Jeanine Pirro) And Colin, I just want to take this opportunity to say hi to my super fans out there. But my man loves cooking. And then they went, oh, wait a minute; there's one more pocket. It was like as soon as I started singing, I knew what to say. And he was trying to help me find things. I saw "Once Upon A Mattress," which I absolutely loved and really wanted to do. We're going to make him watch it for a podcast. We'll hear two interviews related to the series. COLIN JOST: Fox News personality Judge Jeanine Pirro returned to television tonight after being suspended two weeks for controversial comments about a Muslim congresswoman. GROSS: And who did you think of as being the girl? And so in the spirit of turning your life into a musical, I just want to play the opening theme from your podcast, "Make Him Watch It. Schmigadoon! And this is from the February 20, 2017, edition of "Saturday Night Live." I think my favorite character that you've been doing lately is Judge Jeanine Pirro, the Fox News host. Strong also has a new book that will be published tomorrow called "This Will All Be Over Soon." I was so, like, mad that no one was letting me have my rehearsal. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. You know, she's always got a very gravely serious affectation. and also a terrific revival of "How To Succeed In Business," a Sondheim tribute. But I certainly - I remember getting to go backstage after "Secret Garden." In October of 2021, it was announced that Cecily will make her New York stage debut in an off-Broadway production, The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in . But I was just always performing around the house. And then I think a real key moment was - I think I was 14 and was asked to play piano for my high school's musical. GROSS: This is FRESH AIR. So you're not in the middle of New York City right now. STRONG: (As Melissa Gimble) Come on, could be fun. GROSS: And he's not just a Broadway producer. And that's according to doctors, Michael Che. Like, where did you grow up? Strong has been a cast member of "Saturday Night Live" since 2012. I rented every musical on VHS they . ANN HARADA: (As Florence Menlove) That's a good question. And then I have to say the Marx Brothers have played a huge role in my life. The townspeople are singing and dancing as if they're in an old musical. GROSS: My interview with Cecily Strong was recorded in August. . So I've gotten to see a lot of his . The men are dressed like they're in old-fashioned barbershop quartets. It's about her life during the first year of the pandemic, when she felt overcome by anxiety and depression. It wasn't like I'm pulling out. GROSS: Yeah, yeah. And she told me I was looking at the world with S - I can't swear - with crap-colored glasses. And my mom made a little poster for me for my room growing up that said Cecily on Broadway. Production Photos See Emmy Nominee Cecily Strong Take the Stage in Los Angeles Run of The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe. GROSS: Because she has gaydar and no one in the town does (laughter). GROSS: Cinco Paul, welcome to FRESH AIR. Cinco Paul, who also wrote all the songs, after we take a short break. What's YOUR favorite Ceci. PAUL: Yeah, that was part of the curriculum somehow. We have to show our IUD. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. It's a journal of her first year of the pandemic, dealing with anxiety and depression. GROSS: That was another scene from "Schmigadoon!," which stars my guest, Cecily Strong, and Keegan-Michael Key. And then in making fun of myself, we sort of just kept playing with that, and that led into the Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party. STRONG: (As The Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party) And newsflash, Michael - 40% of children are just their legs. GROSS: I really love that. HARADA: (As Florence, singing) Show me any other man more tender or expressive. You put the corn in the puddin' and the puddin' in the bowl. But in this one, it's kind of like, hmm, he's so different than other men. (SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE"). STRONG: I mean, I think I just felt smaller and smaller and smaller. In a 2021 interview with Terry Gross on the National Public Radio program Fresh Air, Strong said that because her uncle is a Broadway producer, as a child she often got to attend Broadway shows and sometimes go back stage to meet their casts.She then attended a private Catholic school until transferring for her senior year to the Chicago Academy for the Arts, where she graduated in 2002. You know, the first show we did, we did the table read on Wednesday. And so we played with that in two ways. STRONG: No because it wasn't like they were not emotional thoughts, you know? Cecily Strong, who was a child actress and then an improviser in Chicago before finding fame on "Saturday Night Live," is set to make her New York stage debut this winter. (SOUNDBITE OF THELONIOUS MONK'S "LITTLE ROOTIE TOOTIE"), GROSS: This is FRESH AIR. - which is now streaming on Apple TV+. The reason there's a nomination is because it was a really strong year during a really tough time. Lorne Michaels, SNL's creator, is one of the play's producers. Be doing a commercial the new series `` Schmigadoon! to help find...: cinco paul, welcome to FRESH AIR she felt overcome by anxiety and depression video for show!! `` thought that might be a nerd, just thank you for saying that - they me... N'T mean that you 're not in the middle of new York all-around comedy titan Cecily strong ``, SOUNDBITE... Only wish that nightly he were slightly more aggressive, is one of the second City and iO.... Niece of prolific Broadway producer old musical `` MAKE him WATCH it '' ), gross Let. 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