About
"On the SNL 40th Anniversary, working with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler was so comfortable. We were just three girls sitting at a desk. We really liked and appreciated each other. I respected what they did and they respected what I did. It was very comfortable and fun."
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.
Highlights
Jane Curtin on being cast on Saturday Night Live
Jane Curtin on the "boys club" atmosphere at the original Saturday Night Live
Jane Curtin on the character of "Allie Lowell" on Kate & Allie and working with director Bill Persky
Jane Curtin on playing "Dr. Mary Albright" on 3rd Rock From the Sun
Jane Curtin on advice to aspiring actors
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her early life and influences; on deciding she wanted to act and do comedy and moving to New York with her improv troop
On being cast on Saturday Night Live; on her first impression of Lorne Michaels; on the first episode of Saturday Night Live and the writers of the show
On working with Chevy Chase and John Belushi on Saturday Night Live; on the "boys club" atmosphere on the set of Saturday Night Live; on working with Gilda Radner, Laraine Newman, Garrett Morris, Dan Aykroyd, and Bill Murray on the show
On participating in Saturday Night Live's "Coneheads" and "The Nerds" sketches; on the politics of Saturday Night Live and favorite guest hosts; on the culture of the show in the '70s, and leaving the show
On the legacy of the first five years of Saturday Night Live; on dealing with celebrity and fame; on returning to Saturday Night Live for the reunion specials and working with Tina Fey
On how Kate & Allie came about; on the character of "Allie Lowell" on Kate & Allie and working with director Bill Persky; on the way Kate & Allie reflected the culture at the time
On winning Emmy awards for Kate & Allie; on the end of Kate & Allie, her favorite episodes, and working with the children on the show; on the legacy of Kate & Allie
On playing "Dr. Mary Albright" on 3rd Rock From the Sun; on playing "Joanne Webster" in the series Unforgettable; on what she enjoys about acting and her acting mentors
Chapter 2
On advice to aspiring actors; on career highlights; on how the medium of television has changed since she started; on her then-future hopes and how she'd like to be remembered
Shows
3rd Rock From the Sun
Jane Curtin on playing "Dr. Mary Albright" on 3rd Rock From the Sun
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Jane Curtin on winning Emmys for Kate & Allie
Kate & Allie
Jane Curtin on how Kate & Allie came about
Jane Curtin on the character of "Allie Lowell" on Kate & Allie and working with director Bill Persky
Jane Curtin on the way Kate & Allie reflected the culture at the time
Jane Curtin on working with Susan Saint James as "Kate McArdle" on Kate & Allie
Jane Curtin on winning Emmy Awards for Kate & Allie
Jane Curtin on the end of Kate & Allie, her favorite episodes, and working with the children on the show
Jane Curtin on the legacy of Kate & Allie
Saturday Night Live
Jane Curtin on being cast on Saturday Night Live
Jane Curtin on her first impression of Lorne Michaels when she was cast on Saturday Night Live
Jane Curtin on the first episode of Saturday Night Live
Jane Curtin on the early Saturday Night Live writers
Jane Curtin on working with Chevy Chase on Saturday Night Live
Jane Curtin on working with John Belushi on Saturday Night Live
Jane Curtin on the "boys club" atmosphere at the original Saturday Night Live
Jane Curtin on working with Gilda Radner and Laraine Newman on Saturday Night Live
Jane Curtin on working with Garrett Morris on Saturday Night Live
Jane Curtin on working with Dan Aykroyd on Saturday Night Live and doing "Weekend Update"
Jane Curtin on working with Bill Murray on Saturday Night Live
Jane Curtin on participating in Saturday Night Live's "Coneheads" sketches
Jane Curtin on playing the mother in "The Nerds" sketches on Saturday Night Live
Jane Curtin on the politics of Saturday Night Live and favorite guest hosts
Jane Curtin on the culture of Saturday Night Live in the '70s
Jane Curtin on leaving Saturday Night Live in 1980
Jane Curtin on the legacy of the first five years of Saturday Night Live
Jane Curtin on returning to Saturday Night Live for the reunion specials and working with Tina Fey
Topics
Advice
Jane Curtin on advice to aspiring actors
Characters & Catchphrases
Jane Curtin on participating in Saturday Night Live's "Coneheads" sketches
Jane Curtin on playing the mother in "The Nerds" sketches on Saturday Night Live
Classic TV Series Episodes
Jane Curtin on the first episode of Saturday Night Live
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Jane Curtin on her mentors
Emmy Awards
Jane Curtin on winning Emmy awards for Kate & Allie
Fame and Celebrity
Jane Curtin on dealing with celebrity and fame
First Big Break
Jane Curtin on being cast on Saturday Night Live
Pivotal Career Moments
Jane Curtin on being cast on Saturday Night Live
Pop Culture
Jane Curtin on participating in Saturday Night Live's "Coneheads" sketches
Jane Curtin on playing the mother in "The Nerds" sketches on Saturday Night Live
Jane Curtin on the first episode of Saturday Night Live
Television Industry
Jane Curtin on dealing with celebrity and fame
Jane Curtin on advice to aspiring actors
Jane Curtin on how the medium of television has changed since she started
Professions
Actress
Jane Curtin on what she enjoys about acting
Jane Curtin on advice to aspiring actors
Performers
Jane Curtin on what she enjoys about acting
Jane Curtin on advice to aspiring actors
Genres
Comedy Series
Jane Curtin on being a cast member on Saturday Night Live
Jane Curtin on playing "Allie Lowell" on Kate & Allie
Jane Curtin on playing "Dr. Mary Albright" on 3rd Rock From the Sun
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
Jane Curtin on playing "Joanne Webster" in the series Unforgettable
People
Dan Aykroyd
Jane Curtin on working with Dan Aykroyd on Saturday Night Live and doing "Weekend Update"
John Belushi
Jane Curtin on working with John Belushi on Saturday Night Live
Chevy Chase
Jane Curtin on working with Chevy Chase on Saturday Night Live
Tina Fey
Jane Curtin on returning to Saturday Night Live for the reunion specials and working with Tina Fey
Susan Saint James
Jane Curtin on working with Susan Saint James as "Kate McArdle" on Kate & Allie
Lorne Michaels
Jane Curtin on her first impression of Lorne Michaels
Garrett Morris
Jane Curtin on working with Garrett Morris on Saturday Night Live
Bill Murray
Jane Curtin on working with Bill Murray on Saturday Night Live
Laraine Newman
Jane Curtin on working with Gilda Radner and Laraine Newman on Saturday Night Live
Bill Persky
Jane Curtin on the character of "Allie Lowell" on Kate & Allie and working with director Bill Persky
Gilda Radner
Jane Curtin on working with Gilda Radner and Laraine Newman on Saturday Night Live