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Big Gay Following: Molly Shannon

SNL starlet Molly Shannon returns to the small screen in the American adaptation of the hit Australian show Kath & Kim.
From The Advocate  October 7, 2008
Big Gay Following: Molly Shannon

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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Voss is editor-in-chief of HX

Reader Comments

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  • Name: Michael Harwood
    Date posted: 2008-09-11 3:02 PM
    Hometown: New York, NY

    Comment:

    Molly Shannon - I love her, I love her, I LOVE HER! (And I was one of those men who sent her a picture dressed up as one of her characters - Mary Katherine Gallagher - and she was so sweet to send a reply!)... Molly Shannon rocks and I hope KATH & KIM is a huge hit!


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