I always thought that Molly Shannon was a strong cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1995 to 2001. I enjoyed her characters of Mary Katherine Gallagher ("Superstar"), Sally O'Malley ("I'm 50 years old"), Terry Rialto the NPR host, her characters in the skits Dog Show and Goth Talk, and joyologist Helen Madden ("I love it, I love it, I love it"). She always had a lot of charisma as a performer. I thought she was like a female Martin Short. So, it was interesting to learn about her background through her book. She was one of the strongest female SNL performers, along with Jan Hooks, Cheri Oteri, Ana Gasteyer, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Kristin Wiig and others. I have read probably 10 or 12 books written by SNL cast members.
She was raised outside of Cleveland, Ohio and had a tragedy early in life that would always affect her. She was just 4 years old when she was in a car accident where her mother, sister and cousin were all killed. Molly sustained mild injuries. She was raised by her dad, who always encouraged Molly to be a fearless performer and a risk taker. This explains her style on camera, where she is unleashed, brave and daring. She is not self-conscious in the least, which makes for an amazing sketch comedy performer. Her relationship with her dad was hot and cold, and he had a drinking problem. Nevertheless, her dad was a unique guy and he was the basis for some of Molly's charismatic characters. As a kid, Molly was a troublemaker who found it exciting to shoplift. She graduated from NYU in 1987, where she attended with fellow SNL star Adam Sandler and took various odd jobs in Los Angeles. In L.A. she was part of the Up Front Comedy Theater, where she developed characters.
Molly mentioned how producer Lorne Michaels hired many Irish Catholic writers and performers over the years. Her book had lots of behind-the-scenes anecdotes about working on the legendary show. Mary Katherine Gallagher was not a hit right away. SNL always has a dress rehearsal Saturday nights before the live show. Different skits are tried out, to see how audiences react. Molly debuted Mary Katherine Gallagher in a show with Gabriel Byrne as a priest. It was a big hit in dress rehearsal. Her skit moved from the bottom of the show to the top of the show. She received fan mail from people dressed up as the hit character, which warmed her heart. She mentioned how it was such a physical role and SNL even hired a stunt coordinator to assist her. Anyone who has read the autobiography of SNL cast member Chris Kattan knows that accidents can happen on the show. Some called Molly a female Chris Farley. Writer Steve Koren worked with her on the skits. A Gallagher skit with guest host Gwyneth Paltrow had Molly knocking over several bathroom stall walls. There was an unforgettable sketch with Rosie O'Donnell and Whitney Houston. Molly bonded with Rosie since they both lost their mothers at a young age. Molly did not see SNL as a stepping stone to bigger things, she saw it as an ultimate destination. She discussed the genesis of her crazy joy-ologist character, Helen Madden. Molly had a great relationship with Will Ferrell and they wrote crazy stories together, like their Dog Show sketches. She discussed portraying Monica Lewinsky talking about the president as an infatuated teenager. She enjoyed the adulation from SNL fans but had a melancholy longing for the approval of her mother.
In 1999, the movie Superstar was released, based on her SNL character of Mary Katherine Gallagher, the nervous and awkward Catholic school girl. Like many other SNL-based films, it was not a big hit at the box office. She also appeared with SNL alum Will Ferrell in the film Talladega Nights. Other film appearances included Scary Movie 5, Hotel Transylvania, Bad Teacher, Analyze This, and Never Been Kissed. TV appearances included Divorce, Enlightened, Wet Hot American Summer, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Glee, The Middle, Will and Grace and Bob's Burgers.
She released a book for children in 2011 called Tilly the Trickster. She made her Broadway debut in 2010 with the musical Promises Promises. She starred with Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth. I enjoyed learning about this enrgetic, talented performer and her road to showbiz success.
Courtesy of imdb, here are a few quotes from Molly Shannon....
I used to get painful crushes on really unavailable guys.
I feel great about it. I did six full years, and I loved it. I just felt like it was time. Not everything is going to be a perfect decision. Sometimes you hit, sometimes you miss, and that's the way it goes - about leaving Saturday Night Live (1975) to pursue a film career.
My dad was a real fun guy and, despite his personal problems, he was a great father. It wasn't easy, but he did a good job of raising my sister Mary and I all by himself.
When comedy really sings and moves and clicks and rings, it makes my heart pound.
