Jane Curtin

In her one-hour-and-fifteen-minute interview, Jane Curtin talks about her early years and her time with an improv troop in New York City. She describes being cast as one of the original "Not Ready for Prime Time Players" on Saturday Night Live in 1975. She recounts her relationships with the producers, writers, and cast, including Gilda Radner, Laraine Newman, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Garrett Morris, and John Belushi - with whom she clashed over his assertion that women weren't funny. She discusses what it was like to be on Saturday Night Live in the '70s, and talks about sketches she appeared in, including "The Coneheads" and "The Nerds." Curtin speaks of leaving Saturday Night Live, returning for the 15th and 40th anniversary specials, and working with Tina Fey behind the "Weekend Update" desk. She chronicles her time on Kate & Allie with co-star Susan Saint James and director Bill Persky, as well as winning two Emmys for that show. She details her time on 3rd Rock From the Sun as "Dr. Mary Albright" as well as her time as "Joanne Webster" on the series Unforgettable. She concludes by discussing the then-current state of television and giving advice to aspiring actors. Jenni Matz conducted the interview on May 28, 2015 in New York, NY.