SNL starlet Molly Shannon returns to the small
screen in the American adaptation of the hit Australian show
Kath & Kim.
Best known for
her quirky characters like joyologist Helen Madden,
Superstar spaz Mary Katherine Gallagher, and camel-toed
quinquagenarian Sally O’Malley, Emmy-nominated
Saturday Night Live veteran Molly Shannon
mouths off on her latest role as foxy mama Kath
opposite Selma Blair’s Kim in Kath &
Kim (premiering October 9 on NBC), an American version
of Australia’s hit series about a deliciously
dysfunctional mother-daughter relationship. As for the
43-year-old’s love for closeted comics, bisexual
writers, and trashy hookers? Don’t even get her
started.
When did you first know that the gays loved you?
Once I started doing Saturday Night Live,
I would see people imitating me and men started
sending me pictures of themselves dressed up as my
characters, I was like, Oh, my God, this is so funny!
What was your first exposure to gay people?
I went to NYU drama school, and I loved it. It
was filled with wonderful gay people. Alec Mapa was in
my [class], and one of my best friends was a dancer.
Who’s your best gay friend now?
I can’t say! I’d feel bad if I
just selected one -- and I’d get in trouble.
Do you think the U.S. version of Kath & Kim
will appeal to a large gay audience?
Oh, yeah. For starters, it’s a
female-driven comedy, and our characters are really
into celebrity and the world of pop culture. There may be a
future episode where they have a party and all dress up like
celebrities that they don’t look like at all --
like, “I’m Nicole Kidman!” It’s
ridiculous.
Kath’s boyfriend is suspiciously effeminate in
the original series. Has that carried over?
Yes, that has carried over, and there will
probably be an episode where someone tells her they
suspect that he’s gay, and she becomes panicked --
”Oh, my God, is he gay? He’s gay! Gay! Gay!
Gay!”
Were any of your SNL characters lesbians?
Yes, the stand-up comic character, Jeanie Darcy
-- “Don’t even get me started.”
That’s a favorite of mine. When I created that
character, I considered her to be a closeted lesbian
who talks about dating men because she’s
obviously very out of touch with her sexuality. So
she’s doing straight comedy, but she’s a
big dyke.
I also assumed that your Delicious Dish NPR cohost
character wasn’t that into Alec Baldwin’s
Schweddy Balls, if you know what I mean.
Ooh, that’s interesting! That was never a
character choice, but I like that. She’s
another one who’s bit repressed.
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