Movieline caught up with Megan Mullally today on the set of Children’s Hospital, the gleefully subversive web series from Rob Corddry that graduates to Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim this summer. We asked the Will & Grace star and two-time Emmy winner, who seems to have no qualms with moving freely between network, cable and online, if there’s perhaps a looser attitude now among TV actors when it comes to choosing projects. We also asked her how she felt about Conan O’Brien’s recent treatment by her sometime-employer, NBC. In a word? Pissed.
“I think there’s something really cool that’s happening right now in Los Angeles with comedy,” Mullally told Movieline. “Because there’s this really, really big network of super funny, smart people. And they all support each other, because they all want each other to succeed. They all give each other jobs. It’s unheard of. I’m really happy to be a part of it.”
“There’s a little comedy mafia, almost,” her costar Rob Huebel, a Daily Show vet and star of MTV sketch show Human Giant, added. “Everybody’s writing their own stuff and doing their own stuff.”
“But it’s not in a competitive way,” Mullally was quick to point out. “It’s so supportive. And to get in the group, guess what — just be really nice, and be really good at your job.”
The absence of Conan O’Brien from the late night landscape, meanwhile, is deeply felt around the Hospital set. Huebel says O’Brien gave him his first shot, and calls him “one of the spokespeople for this comedy movement.”
“I was driving home last night and thinking I miss Conan’s face and his whole sensibility,” said Mullally, who starred in an early promo for O’Brien’s ill-fated Tonight Show. “This whole group was super pro-Coco. It was pristine, his handling of [his cancellation]. Could not have been any better. But he’ll be back, and he’s going to have the last laugh.”
“I will say I do love Jaywalking man,” Huebel said, sarcastically referring to Jay Leno’s recurring man-on-the-street intelligence tests, prompting Mullally to respond with mock enthusiasm, “That is so funny. People are so stupid!”
As for the comedy stylings of Sarah Palin, who tried out a stand-up set on Leno’s first night back, Mullally observed, “Could it be any more bald-faced that he’s going after the red states? It’s insane. It’s just right out there, full on…Amazing. And she was wearing jeans. ‘I’m gonna wear denim! I’m gonna dress it down!’”
“Sarah Palin gives me diarrhea,” Huebel added.
Here’s the full audio of our exchange, which is well worth a listen:
Gee, I can probably quote every line Karen Walker ever said on Will & Grace and, unlike most of America, I actually watched Megan's failed talk show. But I'm done with her now. She made it clear that Jay Leno and others should only appeal to the coasts. I live in Texas. So bye, Megan. I guess I'll have to find other ways to spend my time now instead of catching your walk-ons in bad films like the Fame remake.
Does everybody in the "really big network of super funny, smart people" shoot their careers to irrelevance with stupid political statements that alienate 50% of their potential audience?
Isn't Mullally doing commercials for margarine now? Seems like she's not exactly a business genius. Or maybe she's bitter that if she had been on the show the same day, she would have been upstaged. Sucks to be a has been.
ahhh that's a bummer. she thinks the 'red states' are insane, which means we have no say. i really really enjoyed her on will & grace, and even though i do have a different opinion was still tolerant. but now... well it was fun while it lasted, goodbye.
You know, I'm not even a fan of Leno and I thought the whole way that the Tonight Show situation with Conan was handled was terrible. However ignorant hateful attitudes like Megan Mullally's just makes me want to support Leno's show. Folks like Mullally (who was my favorite actress on W&G) basically say they will not be happy until they never see or hear anyone from "the red states". Their attitude is clear: Give us your money in terms of buying movie tickets and give us ratings by watching our shows, but don't you DARE shows your face or speak your mind. But as the consumers of your product, as your CUSTOMERS perse, I think it's time to remind them who it is that allows them to live those luxury home from which they look they look down their noses at us.
Here are the rules: Having Rachel Maddow on your show is no problem. Cuz she's great. One of us. A "blue state gal." But booking Sarah Palin is "insane."
Who the hell does this non talented hack think she is? Sick and tired of these celebs and there belief they are so more intelligent then everyone else. When the fact is the majority of these nitwit dolts havent even graduated high school. She and the rest are idiots and to hell with all of them.
a Bald-faced attempt? Wait up, wasn't it Leno himself who hosted recently sworn-in President Obama? (you may recall it for his foot-in-mouth "Special Olympics" comment). So then was he going after Blue States?
And if this is true, then why am I the first to point it out? 12 comments and a month later. You all call yourselves television viewers? C'mon People!
I am really thankful to the author of this post for making this lovely and informative article live here for us. We really appreciate ur effort. Keep up the good work. . . .
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Posted 05 Mar 2010, 4:34 AM
I love her. And her lovely boobies.
Posted 06 Mar 2010, 12:00 PM
Huebel has never at any point been on The Daily Show. That would be his old comedy partner Rob Riggle.
Posted 06 Mar 2010, 1:45 PM
He was a writer on the show.
Posted 15 Mar 2010, 8:13 AM
Gee, I can probably quote every line Karen Walker ever said on Will & Grace and, unlike most of America, I actually watched Megan's failed talk show. But I'm done with her now. She made it clear that Jay Leno and others should only appeal to the coasts. I live in Texas. So bye, Megan. I guess I'll have to find other ways to spend my time now instead of catching your walk-ons in bad films like the Fame remake.
Posted 15 Mar 2010, 8:43 AM
Does everybody in the "really big network of super funny, smart people" shoot their careers to irrelevance with stupid political statements that alienate 50% of their potential audience?
Posted 15 Mar 2010, 8:46 AM
Isn't Mullally doing commercials for margarine now? Seems like she's not exactly a business genius. Or maybe she's bitter that if she had been on the show the same day, she would have been upstaged. Sucks to be a has been.
Posted 15 Mar 2010, 9:15 AM
another political diatribe from a neverwasbeen. who cares you washed up trash receptacle!
Posted 15 Mar 2010, 9:32 AM
ahhh that's a bummer. she thinks the 'red states' are insane, which means we have no say. i really really enjoyed her on will & grace, and even though i do have a different opinion was still tolerant. but now... well it was fun while it lasted, goodbye.
Posted 15 Mar 2010, 9:46 AM
You know, I'm not even a fan of Leno and I thought the whole way that the Tonight Show situation with Conan was handled was terrible. However ignorant hateful attitudes like Megan Mullally's just makes me want to support Leno's show. Folks like Mullally (who was my favorite actress on W&G) basically say they will not be happy until they never see or hear anyone from "the red states". Their attitude is clear: Give us your money in terms of buying movie tickets and give us ratings by watching our shows, but don't you DARE shows your face or speak your mind. But as the consumers of your product, as your CUSTOMERS perse, I think it's time to remind them who it is that allows them to live those luxury home from which they look they look down their noses at us.
Posted 15 Mar 2010, 12:30 PM
Here are the rules: Having Rachel Maddow on your show is no problem. Cuz she's great. One of us. A "blue state gal." But booking Sarah Palin is "insane."
No hypocrisy there.
Posted 15 Mar 2010, 5:52 PM
Who the hell does this non talented hack think she is? Sick and tired of these celebs and there belief they are so more intelligent then everyone else. When the fact is the majority of these nitwit dolts havent even graduated high school. She and the rest are idiots and to hell with all of them.
Posted 01 Apr 2010, 2:12 AM
a Bald-faced attempt? Wait up, wasn't it Leno himself who hosted recently sworn-in President Obama? (you may recall it for his foot-in-mouth "Special Olympics" comment). So then was he going after Blue States?
And if this is true, then why am I the first to point it out? 12 comments and a month later. You all call yourselves television viewers? C'mon People!
Posted 23 May 2010, 3:25 PM
I am really thankful to the author of this post for making this lovely and informative article live here for us. We really appreciate ur effort. Keep up the good work. . . .
Posted 29 Jun 2010, 2:16 AM
Ha. That's just about the most jacked up note I've seen today. But, I'm not sure, myself.