The same year, she starred in, and was a producer for, Schmigadoon!, a musical parody series on Apple TV+. Because, I mean, we shot last fall, so that wasn't even - I didn't even know we'd get to be vaccinated. To be a 10 or 11-year-old kid obsessed with that sort of music was very odd, but I just - I loved it from an early age. KEY: (As Josh Skinner) I'm not saying anything, but apparently some cosmic verdict has been reached, and we failed. GROSS: To shoot and be in these, like, exuberant, like, joyful production scenes? And you shot "Schmigadoon!" UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #4: (As character, singing) Who wants corn puddin'? Can we please go now? I don't have enough gym credits to graduate on time. STRONG: No. If you're just joining us, my guest is Cinco Paul, and he co-created, co-wrote and then wrote all the songs for the satirical musical series "Schmigadoon! So it is more of a romantic comedy, and it can be more about, what does love mean? (SOUNDBITE OF GEORGE SHEARING'S "THINKING OF YOU"). Grown adults burst into song, one of which extolling the virtues of "corn pudding." Comedy stars like Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key mingle with Broadway . It's not like I drove myself. She's nominated for an Emmy for her work on "Saturday Night Live." KEY: (As Josh Skinner) No. STRONG: No. I am just trying to figure out how to get out of here and get back to reality. You know, I really wanted them - like, oh, that could genuinely have been a song sung in an undiscovered Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. Cecily Strong first joined SNL as a featured player in 2012. GROSS: I really love that. She's been in the entertainment business since 2012, officially making her a ten-year veteran of the arts. Oh, he'll have to marry me. Can we please go now? FRESH AIR's executive producer is Danny Miller. which he also co-created and co-wrote. It was like, in order to do the show next week, I just need to step away this week. The Illinois native stars alongside Keegan-Michael Key, Dove Cameron . - in late September usually. KEY: (As Josh Skinner) I didn't say that. STRONG: And it would, like, end in some crazy, like, exclamation. GROSS: And this was pretty early in the pandemic, right? GROSS: One of the things in some musicals is - the love affairs in some musicals, I think, would be considered pretty age-inappropriate now, like, for example, "The Sound Of Music," where, like, she's a young nun who's just left the convent. STRONG: (As Melissa Gimble) Guys, we're actually in the middle of something. Please continue playing piano for us. So I don't know what you do with that. And she stars in the new series "Schmigadoon! And new flash, Michael - 40% of children are just their legs. This one-woman show was a Broadway hit in 1985 and starred Lily Tomlin as 12 characters, something Cecily Strong seems very well-suited for. Yeah, I got handcuffed and brought to a cop car and taken to the station. And it was like, now we're seeing all of each other on Zoom at our first Zoom table read, and it was just so overwhelming. I can hear you. It was like as soon as I started singing, I knew what to say. Cecily attended Oak Park and River Forest High . I mean, first of all, it's really funny to have someone who hates musicals be stuck in a musical but also for him to be the eyes and ears of the people unlike me, who don't love musicals. So if he wants my puddin', he'll have to marry me. Being a regular member of The Second City and iO Chicago. Frank DiLella talks to "Saturday Night Live" star Cecily Strong about making her New York City theater debut in the revival of the one-woman Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner play "The Search For Signs of . Barry Sonnenfeld directs and executive produces. When I went to - they called me down to security to say they'd found my bag. I think my favorite character that you've been doing lately is Judge Jeanine Pirro, the Fox News host. He co-created, co-wrote and wrote all the songs for the series "Schmigadoon!" This election is a misgrace (ph), OK? - where she sort of wishes he could be who he really is. STRONG: Yeah, exactly. And it's - more than anything, it's like, watching my brother deal with his own depression, and it's like how I feel about mine. She's nominated for an Emmy for her work on "Saturday Night Live." Viewers noticed that longtime cast member Cecily Strong was missing from the show and its opening credits sparking rumors of her exit. Like, he's just - when he's managing it, he is the most delightful, wonderful - my brother is, like, one of my favorite people in the world. Cinco Paul has loved musicals from his early childhood, and the opportunity to make a . And I had that above my bed until we - I moved out - I think, till I went to college. GROSS: And who did you think of as being the girl? And so it feels like breakthrough infections are going to be a part of all of our lives soon, too. STRONG: Sure. Six episodes at approximately 30 minutes each.) The off . GROSS: Oh, you wrote the song? You know, really, we talk about escapism, and I had real-life escapism where I flew into this beautiful, magical land of Vancouver, where there's, like, water and mountains and big trees. It actually - I think it was probably Bryan Tucker, who I write with. I mean, to me, there is a trope in these musicals often. We live in Brooklyn. ", which is a loving satire of classic musicals from the '40s and '50s. Starring Keegan-Michael Key, Cecily Strong, Alan Cumming, Kristin Chenoweth, Ariana DeBose, Fred Armisen, Jaime Camil and Jane Krakowski. because everyone in it seems to be enjoying being in it so much. STRONG: That's usually just Colin and I. But I certainly - I remember getting to go backstage after "Secret Garden." Congratulations on "Schmigadoon!" Terry, I have to say it is so meaningful to me that you like the show and that you responded to it like this. She's nominated for an Emmy for her work on "Saturday Night Live." So I really was like, come on, everybody. CHE: (As himself) So I assume you're not happy with the election. Could be fun. He also co-wrote the animated films "Despicable Me," "The Secret Life Of Pets," and "Horton Hears A Who.". So here you are on "Weekend Update" as Judge Jeanine Pirro. Good. And anything I can do to help (laughter) would make me feel very good. GROSS: Why don't we hear "Corn Puddin'"? And the trees are tall, and we call it Schmigadoon. I can hear you. (As characters, singing) Then he says something mean to get her back. PAUL: He was not a fan. JOST: (As himself) That's great. GROSS: Another little clue. She's nominated for an Emmy for her work on "Saturday Night Live." I'm Terry Gross. Thank you so much for creating this series. Cecily Strong is a total theater geek.. GROSS: Kind of brought it home. And you go like, whoa, what's that? I love the show so much. In addition to starring, Cecily Strong serves as producer, and Ken Daurio serves as consulting producer and writer. Keegan-Michael Key's character hates musicals and is desperate to leave. KEY: (As Josh Skinner) We already tried together. I'm Terry Gross. STRONG: (As Jeanine Pirro) Can't do it, pal. Schmigadoon! You know, "The Coconauts," "Animal Crackers," "Horse Feathers" has a lot of songs in it. STRONG: I almost enjoy it more to see when someone's laughing. I did, like, a video for kids - for schools to show about kids with parents with drug and alcohol problems. Like, I'm so proud of the work I've done. Did you get to go backstage? So you must have had this idea early on that being in shows was something real people did. - because, you know, every kid wants to go to California. HARADA: (As Florence, singing) Some men stumble home at dark, want dinner and dessert. How are you doing? And actually, my dad took a bunch of pictures. We'll be right back. And I guess there's also "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man Of Mine" (ph) - you know, these women who sing songs where, you know, he has maybe these flaws, but I still love him, you know? STRONG: (As Jeanine Pirro) I'm Judge Jeanine Pirro, and it's up to you to decide just what my whole deal is. STRONG: I did - and I mean, not always. And my roommates - my COVID roommates, Matt (ph) and Kevin - were helping me shoot everything. We started with the opening song from "Schmigadoon!" I only wish that nightly he were slightly more aggressive. STRONG: (As Melissa Gimble) OK. Well, that one's on you. STRONG: Yes. And actually, I flew out of the chair the first time because, you know, I hadn't done much physical comedy on the show at all. I saw "Guys And Dolls." You know, that PAUL: I'll tell you. And my mom made a little poster for me for my room growing up that said Cecily on Broadway. STRONG: Well, it was sort of a mix of, like, I'm making fun of myself, and then I'm thinking about people I'd seen on Facebook. Luckily for us, but maybe - who knows? During this final week of the year, we're featuring a few of the many interviews from 2021 that we enjoyed. And then kind of like, well, I don't know that we'll ever get to do that again. PAUL: Well, I thought it was really important. She's nominated for an Emmy for her work on "Saturday Night Live." GROSS: Then you have a couple episodes where you share your opinions of films of the '80s and films of the '90s. UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #4: (As character, singing) Who wants corn puddin'? So I've gotten to see a lot of his . Just like the idea, you know, that it's like, you can have so much passion and feelings about these things that you don't really understand and haven't given much thought to and using them to sort of put down other people. And so we'll hear Cecily Strong doing a little solo in part of this as Keegan-Michael Key objects (laughter) to her participation. You were 15. SNL cast member Cecily Strong's recent The View interview has got fans wondering about her dating life. And I'm really - I'm so proud of everybody. UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #2: (As character, singing) Every steak's bound to have some fat. And I can't - she's so far away. You know, there were a lot of tears on-set - happy tears - just so much love and so much joy and such - we were all just so honored to be there, and it felt like we got to share this magical thing. It was gorgeous. Strong said, admitting she immediately said yes to starring in the show, even though she thought the idea was "insane." Leigh Silverman is the director of the off-Broadway revival of The Search . UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #7: (As character, singing) Who wants corn puddin'? Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. He's so different from other men. PAUL: Yeah. Cecily Strong attends the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards at L.A. LIVE on September 19, 2021 in Los . And so in the spirit of turning your life into a musical, I just want to play the opening theme from your podcast, "Make Him Watch It. Will Get Your Toes Tapping, So Sing Along If You Know The Words. But I was just always performing around the house. And I think a lot of that, you can feel it when you watch the show. And then my uncle is also a Broadway producer. I think there's nothing more thrilling than hearing Terry Gross likes (laughter) your show and (laughter) enjoys it and has joy from it. I saw "Once Upon A Mattress," which I absolutely loved and really wanted to do. Do you remember it? And then I have to say the Marx Brothers have played a huge role in my life. So I'd like you to talk a little bit about what you think of those moments in musicals where you have to sing about food or a picnic or a clambake. GROSS: Let's hear you as the Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party. PAUL: I mean, it probably came from my love of the Marx Brothers, you know. The entire town and you just spent the last five minutes singing about corn pudding. STRONG: (As Melissa Gimble) Come on, could be fun. is initially really charmed by the idea that they're, like, living in a world of a musical. You not only - because you were expelled, you not only weren't allowed to attend the ceremony; you weren't allowed within a three-block radius of where the ceremony was, and you were threatened with arrest if you overstepped that boundary. I guess I knew it as a job. The series is streaming on Apple TV+. You know, I was much more protected. Mama's got one volume, and it's three chardonnays deep at a crowded party. So I've gotten to see a lot of his shows in New York. . GROSS: Yeah, yeah. (SOUNDBITE OF RICHARD RODGERS' "'OKLAHOMA!' Sure, she's popped up in small cameos for shows like Angie Tribeca , Superstore, and Scream . You put the bowl in your belly 'cause it's good for the soul. GROSS: That's really funny. You know, already it's - I didn't feel like I fit in. Cecily Strong is an American actress and comedian. PAUL: (Singing) There's lots of movies Ken hasn't seen. and "The Lorax." It's so, like, vaudeville era. And I would be driving home. I mean, he did a couple attempts here and there. In this scene, the couple keeps trying to cross the bridge and escape Schmigadoon while bickering about their relationship. STRONG: (As Melissa Gimble) Yum. I don't know exactly where you live. STRONG: (As Melissa Gimble, singing) And it may be a waste. "Saturday Night Live" picked up around 400,000 viewers on Saturday from the previous week. So it wasn't, like, a big shock or anything I thought would - you know, that it was something she couldn't deal with. What Is Cecily Strong's Net Worth? And I think you're probably not wrong. That's outrighteous (ph). GROSS: Like, among the shows he did was terrific revivals of "Music Man," which is, of course, referenced (laughter) in "Schmigadoon!" and also a terrific revival of "How To Succeed In Business," a Sondheim tribute. GROSS: Yeah. I'm not going to do the show. We'll talk more after a break. And I was enjoying watching it so much. during the pandemic. PAUL: Yeah, that was part of the curriculum somehow. GROSS: And it just reminded me, too, that when I was in school, we had to learn some of that kind of dancing - you know, like, square dancing. It's brought me such pleasure at a time when I think we all need some pleasure. GROSS: To make your point about being a good student, you were a National Merit-commended scholar based on your PSATs. It just felt like, I've fallen through the cracks. From now through February 6th she's performing a one woman, many dozens of characters play at The . So you have a few really funny references to, like, closeted gay people in musicals. Her characters have included Fox News host Judge Jeanine Pirro, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Melania Trump and the Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party. Courtesy: Apple TV+. I'm sorry. After we take a short break, Ken Tucker will review a new album of songs Prince recorded in 2010. And then they went, oh, wait a minute; there's one more pocket. Cecily Strong's new show (lovingly) pokes fun at 'problematic' Golden Age musicals. GROSS: (Laughter) I like that idea, the square dancing lobby. GROSS: We're listening to my interview with Cinco Paul. Like, he doesn't look at other women. Here's all the safety measures - until I finally felt safe. It's not like I drove myself. And then I thought, what if these two modern guys, instead of stumbling on a town that has a werewolf, stumbled on a town that was in a musical? UNIDENTIFIED CHORUS: (As characters, singing) Corn puddin'. HARADA: (As Florence, singing) Sometimes it may seem like he is too good to be true, like there's a man that I can't see just aching to break through. GROSS: So when does a decision have to be made? So here's another scene from "Schmigadoon!". It was Gardner's first time, and her eyes widened as a pile of men in short shorts burst into a number . But also, really, in many ways, the mayor's story is at the heart of the show 'cause he is one of these characters that, back in the day, could only be queer coded, you know, and - but because we have modern characters in "Schmigadoon!" But I certainly - I remember getting to go backstage after "Secret Garden." He's a hard man to know, it seems - different. I feel like my bubble just burst recently. If you're like me, you've never watched the show, and you didn't know her name until now. GROSS: This is FRESH AIR. And I think, you know, getting that job is how I got into the union. How were you first exposed to musicals? GROSS: Yeah, yeah. So I want to ask you about another character that you've done, and that's the Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party. They get lost in the woods, cross over a bridge and suddenly find themselves on what looks like a backlot movie set of a small town in the early 20th century, a town called Schmigadoon. that's streaming on Apple TV+, and she has a new memoir. You don't land a job with SNL without being funny. SNL's Cecily Strong stars in it as Melissa and is also a producer. I'm still trying to wrap my head around all of it. PAUL: From your mouth to God's ears. You know, and then it took a while to really understand - here's all of the things we're going to put in place. It's very beautiful there. I loved that movie so much, and the songs in that are so good. GROSS: My interview with Cecily Strong was recorded in August. This is FRESH AIR. And so we play with that trope as well. (Singing) Some men like to fight and curse. And I started, you know - I would - I had to tell my mom because there was a couple of nights - I shared a car with my brother at this time. Cecily Strong as seen in May 2015 (The Peabody Awards / Flickr / CC BY-2.0) Best Known For. And then he turns off the tape to say, like, oh, and off the record, you're a great student, and we're sorry to lose you. 'Cause Kevin can wait, but Syrian refugees can't, OK? GROSS: And who did you think of as being the girl? She suspects that he's not being his true self. Please, no song. Which - a lot of your memoir is about living through the pandemic, like, the first almost year of the pandemic. And then it was just such a gift. (As characters, singing) And then he gives her a snack. And he was showing me clips of her, like, doing man on the street interviews. You put the corn in the puddin' and the puddin' in the bowl. JOST: That's great. STRONG: I haven't. JOST: (As himself) You don't have to shout, you know. STRONG: No because it wasn't like they were not emotional thoughts, you know? It was my first year talking with Colin. ., directed by Leigh Silverman (Lifespan of a Fact, Violet), explores American society, art, power, and the feminist movement through a series of characters. She was playing Fox News' Judge Jeanine Pirro, a frequent highlight of "Weekend Update," sloshing her booze onto co-anchor Colin Jost .