Molly Shannon is a superstar. She’s also been a Catholic school girl, a Joyologist and 50! She gets the chance to do that all over again when she hosts “Saturday Night Live” on May 12. Shannon will become the second female cast member to come back and host (the first being Julia Louis-Dreyfus). Shannon’s new film is a chance to enter into more a more dramatic arena, while still getting some laughs. It’s also Mike White’s directorial debut. “Year of the Dog” stars Shannon with John C. Reilly, Peter Sarsgaard and Laura Dern in a film about a woman who identifies with her dog, Pencil, more than any person.
I sat down with Shannon to talk about the film, her allergies (to dogs) and of course, “Saturday Night Live.”
Bayer: How important is it to show your range as an actress? Shannon: No, I think there is a myth that people think there is so much more out there. It’s hard, I’m pretty picky about TV, and I do get a lot of offers in that, and I do turn some things down. In the movie world, it’s not so much like that. There’s a lot of supporting parts, comedy movies, but in terms of a role like this, that happens very rarely. I take it as it comes. It’s not like I have so much freedom to express myself. I just think if it looks good or I like the director or writer, than I will do it.
Bayer: Pick one, is “Year of the Dog” a comedy or a drama? Shannon: God, comedy ... I guess. Oh, pick one. OK, a drama, but I shouldn’t say that, I think it’s taken as a comedy. Maybe let’s say drama. I actually went to see it in New York for opening weekend. And I was like, it’s SO serious, there are heavy parts and people are crying. I felt like I was in a drama.
Bayer: Being allergic to dogs, do you think your next movie will be about the ocean and we’ll find out you don’t know how to swim? Shannon: I know. I didn’t want Mike to worry, because he had enough to worry about because it was his first time directing. And it wasn’t that bad of an allergy, like I wasn’t trying to be sneaky. But then we had a photo shoot in pre-production, three days before we started shooting. We had Pencil, and the dog licked my face and I got a really big rash. I was like yikes, I better tell them. So I told (them) I had a little reaction. And they took a photo of it, the producers heard and it’s a big insurance issue. But it really never got that bad, and I never had to take any allergy medication.
Bayer: Is “Year of the Dog” for dog-lovers? Shannon: The people that I have known who has seen it, love it. So I am going to say yes. Definitely.
Bayer: “Saturday Night Live” is very quotable; you’ve had many characters like that. Have you ever quoted yourself or someone else’s catch-phrase with your friends? Shannon: I say, “I love it,” a lot in my real life. I really do. I LOVE IT. The character didn’t come out of that quote, there was a writer there who approached me, and there are real people who study Joyology, real people study joy. So she approached me with that and then, “I love it, I love it,” came from me. Sometimes I just love how things roll off your tongue and just ring. But it’s not like I was trying to think of a catchphrase.
Bayer: For one weekend with friends we quoted your character Jeannine Darcy (a very dry stand-up comedian) probably a million times — “Don’t get me started, don’t even get me started.” Shannon: That is probably one of my favorite characters. Thank you. That is a huge compliment. It was kind of a reaction against comedy, because I did it at the very end ’cause I was sick of trying to get laughs and kick up my legs. So I wanted to do a really dull comic, who’s probably a lesbian who hasn’t come out of the closet, she’s very emotionally cut off, but doing straight comedy and she SUCKS. But she has a lot of hope and is driven, but she really doesn’t have the talent. When I first did it, I was trying to do something where you weren’t getting laughs. It was more subtle.
Bayer: Who was your favorite host? Shannon: I really liked Gwyneth Paltrow, she was really good because she was very laid back and handles it well. She’s really talented and could be a cast member. Some people come in with an agenda, like they want to show people they are really funny. She was naturally funny, and I wish I could be like her when I go back and host. John C. Reilly knew her and said she was really cool.
Bayer: Favorite cast member off-stage? Shannon: Will, yeah, yeah. Will, still Will.
Bayer: You are married to Fritz Chesnut. Shannon: Yup. Bayer: Did you make up that name? Shannon: No, no. I know it sounds made up. No, that’s his real name. Bayer: Do you ever roll the 'r'? Shannon: Ha. Frrrrritz, no I don’t. Not until now. I know, it sounds like he is German or something but he’s from Santa Barbara.
Bayer: And finally, from the on-going question chain, Adam Brody was my previous interview so he asks ... Adam Brody: Would you ever do nudity if it was tasteful and steamy? Shannon: I would, I would. I like Adam. I would work out a lot before and get in great shape. But why not? When the bod is young and smoking hot … no, just kidding.
Quick Questions
# Breakfast this morning? Nothing; Cobb salad for lunch # Favorite piece of fruit? Banana # Late-night food craving? I never eat late # Worst job? Telemarketing, selling office supplies # Favorite recent movie? “Little Miss Sunshine” # Your weakness? Taking care of people # Book you wish you’d written? Anything by Augusten Burroughs # Favorite sports team? I know nothing about sports # Who would you be for 24 hours? Meryl Streep # Something you can’t wait to do? Take a tropical vacation # Superpower? Invisibility # Last time you cried? Thinking of my dad while watching “Year of the Dog” # Age of first kiss? 6 # Favorite charity? Operation Smile or environmental charities