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On full display was something her fans from improv and podcasts like Scott AukermansComedy Bang!
Bang!had long admired her for: unfettered joyful stupidity.
Here, Nwodim breaks down her journey through six of her biggest, silliest, best-loved characters.
On Pastor Pasta & Entree PeeE Neur
If you listen back to some episodes ofComedy Bang!
I admittedly was in Italy, on a cliff, eating pasta when I came up with Pastor Pasta.
They like sauce, too, probably.
Entree PeeE Neur just assumes theyve got all these brilliant ideas, but all those things exist already.
In attempting to describe many things, you realize a lot of things are built from rectangles.
Entree doesnt know what things are, so what else doesnt Entree know?
But also, Entree thinks shes brilliant.
She, he, they I cant remember which it was last time.
They feel so remarkably heightened in a way that I imagine he hasnt told me this Lorne would hate.
He doesnt comment on any particular sketch, but sometimes hell say, Youre too smart.
You dont have to think that hard about some things.
And yet I can be as insane and silly as I am onBang!
Bang!feels like a blank canvas where Scott really allows you to do anything.
While the podcast has existed for 15 years happy birthday!
SNLhas existed for 50 years.
You have to find a way to marry your voice to the voice of the show.
Something would have to happen on, like,Shark Tank, or the Vatican announces a new pasta.
On Lisa From Temecula
I just remember Gary Richardson andAlex Englishsaying shes an auntie.
I have played all kinds of aunties, and Lisa is her own version of an auntie.
I love playing characters who are strong and wrong, who are disruptive and indignant about it.
Lisa was a perfect dream for me.
The thing is Lisa thinks that steak is amazing, and shes so oblivious to any alternative options.
All shes concerned about is what she likes.
Shes not concerned about what anyone thinks of it.
And to Lisa, she couldnt possibly care about shaking the table.
She sees no problem with enjoying her meal.
Imagine that person defending you in the court of law.
You want that person whos like, I will not be silenced.
Shes also out of touch with reality, but maybe theres something to that.
Similarly, she always thinks people are flirting because shes like,Im so well liked.
Everybody wants something from me.
Im an It girl.
I like what I like, and everyone picks up on my unapologetic vibes and they like it.
Tom Broecker, our costume designer, is remarkable at helping build these characters and realities.
He presented me with a few options, and I saw that sweater Lisa wears.
I was like, That is the sweater hands down.
Its got a point of view.
And I bet you the woman who wears that thinks shes fucking killing it.
Friday evening, Lorne calls us into his office.
I was like,Hes going to just say, Hey, guys.
Im having so much fun doing it.
No way does it go.But he called us in to tell us to give the character a name.
It was just My baby sister Lisa is joining us.
And Lorne said to venture to give her a more memorable name so people can cling to that.
We came up with a bunch of names mashed together.
On Rich Auntie With No Kids
God freaking bless.
I love playing these confident people who are a hot mess.
I read the draft and said, Can we write it in the room?
So Asha and I ended up writing a whole new draft together.
The I could do your job part came from there being jokes that were clever but not really funny.
I wanted to include these jokes, but I didnt think they would get us that much.
I was like, Some of these jokes are mid, but what if she thinks theyre fucking hilarious?
When I watched it back, I heard people actually laughing at some of those jokes.
I guess I can be hard on myself, and my standard can be too high at times.
He doesnt work at the show, but were very close and have collaborated a bunch at UCB.
He was like, What about Charlotte the Stingray?
And I came up with an angle for it where she comes out like shes on an episode ofMaury.
I wrote that one with Asha Ward, Alex English, and Gary Richardson.
Right now its just cute.
Youre going to be a daddy!
After dress, Michael was like, Why dont you guys just follow that funny?
I still smile just thinking about Ive been near males, but none of them beenmen.
None of them beenMr.
If you watch, Im desperately trying not to break.
Thank God for the camera cuts because I was laughing after I said it.
Im proud of myself because the way shes saying that was not on the page.
I fucking love this.
I live for this.
We just know my new intro that I pitched absolutely works.
Youre going to say that line when Michael says this.I love getting the fuck with him up there.
On Father Lawrence
I have these voices I speak in with my friends all the time.
I dont think about them as a thing I can bring to work.
I was just like,I want to go to that church.
I told c’mon Dont Destroy Id love to play this guy, and they were onboard immediately.
Its the play everyone responds to.
I was raised Christian.
Id like to still think that I am.
It is a huge part of who I am and who I strive to be as a person.
Father Gregory Boyle wrote in one of his books that nothing is beyond the sanctity of God.
I think thats really beautiful.
God made all of us and all of this even the profane work I do.
You gifted me this skill.
