Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist - IN MEMORIAM: Catherine O’Hara Remembered for Iconic Roles and Timeless Comedy

Episode Date: January 31, 2026

Catherine O’Hara was a beloved, award-winning actress whose career spanned more than five decades, with unforgettable performances in films like Best in Show, Home Alone, and Beetlejuice, along with her standout role as Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek, which earned her Emmy recognition and a lasting place in comedy history. In this conversation from February 2024, O’Hara sat down with Willie Geist to discuss her role in Argylle, reflect on the legacy of her most iconic characters, and share stories from her early days in comedy that shaped her remarkable journey.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hey guys, Willie Geist here with a special edition of the Sunday Sit Down podcast. I'm coming to you on the sad occasion of the death of the great Catherine O'Hara at the age of 71. We got the news that has shaken so many people because she is so beloved and she's been in our lives for so long and made us laugh so much and been in so many great movies in TV shows. Most recently, the studio, the hysterically funny, critically, acclaimed Seth Rogen show. She was nominated for a Golden Globe and for an Emmy for that as well. Of course, Schitt's Creek, maybe most famously, where she played Moira Rose, just one of the best characters in the history of television. She won all the awards for that one, Emmy Golden Globe Saga Award. She was incredible in that show. I suspect a lot of people are re-watching Shits Creek

tonight in her honor. And of course, all the movies that you know about. She was the mom in Home Malone in the sequel as well. Of course, Beetlejuice. And then the great, great Christopher guest mockumentaries, like Best in Show for your consideration, a mighty wind. She was so great in all those. Man, this one really hits. She was a special person.

And she could step onto a screen and always make you laugh, always make you happy that she was there. And she will be missed. So we thought we would repost my conversation with her. from early 2024, about two years ago, on the occasion of the release of a movie she was in called Argyle. We talk a little bit about that, but really about her incredible journey from an 18-year-old,

aspiring Canadian comedian to become really one of the great icons of comedy. So it is with love and respect and sadness that we sit down now and spend some time once again with the late great, Catherine O'Hara on the Sunday Sit Down podcast. Catherine, thank you for doing this. Thank you very much. I'm so happy to be talking to you. And we're in a spy museum.

Were you aware of that? This is the New York Spy Museum, SkyScape. Right. And you come here and learn about spies and pretend to be one? Exactly. And we might try that later. They did want us to do one of those rooms where you sort of roll under and over lasers and things

to get to a target. I thought maybe we should. I didn't do that. I don't know. I don't think I'm nimble enough to pull that off. No. But the reason we're at the skyscape at the spy museum is because of the film Argyle. Oh, I see that. There's a spy theme. Starting to get it. See, now we make the connection. Right, there are spies in this movie.

It's a little heavy-handed, but here we are. Oh, that's lovely. So I was just telling you, I just got finished watching Argyll, which is so much fun. It really is. And just wild. Isn't it? funny and full of action and romantic. It's got a little bit of everything.

And a sense of humor. And a sense of humor. It's like not taking itself seriously, which is great. And we should say right at the outset, there's a lot about this movie I cannot say and will not say. Yeah, I know. Because a lot happens. It's a journey.

There's great twists and turns. And I read the script and I still forgot things. When I was watching the movie, oh, my God. Oh, wow. Yeah. But I don't even want it. We've been saying a lot about this, not. been saying a lot about how we can't say anything. And I don't want to push it so hard that people

start, that people spend any time doing that watching the movie. Right. Like, who cares that there's surprises? I want to kind of go the other way now. Right. Because if it were me and I'd been told that, I'm doing this anyway when I watch anything. I'm like, oh, I bet this is, I drive my husband nuts. He would attest to this. Like, shut up. I don't care that you guess this. You know, I was like, no, you know what he's going to do. So if you're like me, it's really going to spoil the movie for you. Right. To even think there are surprises. You don't want to be too... So there are no surprises in this movie. Let me just tell you that. I take back everything I said. So how do you describe, without getting at the details of it,

what this is? I mean, a spy movie is just the tip of the iceberg, sort of? Bryce Dalsh Howard plays a spy novelist, very successful one. So now she's on her fifth or sixth novel. I can't, I forget. I've seen the clip a lot, but I forget. But she's on her next book and everybody's waiting to read it. You know, it's like bigger than Bond books. And very successful, but leads a very quiet private life, just her and her cat. And then at one point, she's like she gets kidnapped by somebody who turns out to be a real spy and says she knows way more than she should know about that world. And she's like, I do a lot of research. Thank you. I work really hard.

It goes from there. And your character, we can say at least, Ruth is. No, I can't. Is in the movie. That's all we're saying. Wow. This is going to be a brief interview. Well, I'll say it's done. It's stunt casting. I'll say this because I've had about 70 children on film.

So I guess I think Matthew Vaughn hired because I've known as a mother. Well, my own kids would argue with that. He also said he had to have people in this movie who could do comedy and drama. That's good. In equal parts. Yeah, nice. You certainly qualify for that. So when you did sit down and read this script and hear about this character,

what was your first reaction to it? Why me? But sure, thanks. Yeah, I think the mother thing is why. Now, I get it. But, no, it just reads great. Yeah, Jason Fuchs wrote this. Great. I think he wrote a spec script. And this is what it is. Really, really good, Jason Fuchs, because I didn't say his name clearly.

It really, it is a, you know, page turner. Cheesy phrase you use, but I can't think of anything better. Yeah, really is almost as exciting as the movie to read. everybody said, you turn a page, what? Oh, yeah, okay. It was a real fun read. And a fun, different thing for me. I thought, I knew, I really love the Kingsman movie,

especially the first one. I loved them all, but the first one. And I thought, wow, I've never really been up close with stunt works, with stunt work and stunt artists. And he, Matthew Vaughn has the most amazing team of stunt artists. They're artists. They're geniuses. They're beautiful, beautiful people.

Watching them up close. required no editing. It really looked like they were killing each other. Really beautiful. Men and women, that was fun. I've never been on a set with action like that. Just a bunch of kids. There are tons of action, but also sort of beautifully

choreographed. Oh, it's dance. It's music and visual. It is. Yeah, yeah, it is dance. It's literally dance. Oh, it is. Yeah.

And then Matthew, you know, they'd be, they'd choreographed this. I think actually the stunt coordinator also did second unit, Starve. He died. like a couple of months before they started shooting. Oh, God. Yeah, so the movie's dedicated to him. Sorry, I don't know his name.

That's terrible. But so he designed the original choreography. But even they'd get there on the day. And, you know, it's great the way Matthew directed it, according to characters and what the character would be going through at that point. And being on the set then and working with the actors, I guess made him see things a little differently. And he would, like, on the spot, say,

oh, no, do something different. No, why don't we have this? I mean, a giant move that involved, again, amazing choreography and dance and hurting somebody or not killing somebody. You know, just, and they would do it. They would pull it together like that. It was really, that was exciting to watch. And then a great cast to work with me. Well, I was going to ask you about that.

I imagine when you sit back and get offers and decide what you want to do. I sit back. Yes, yes. No, you just cast them aside. No. But it's a big part of that decision. Who do I get to work with? Who's in it?

Yeah. And will it be cold? I go. Did you watch Society of Snow? Yes. Oh my God. I watched that and I think, okay, when they read that, did they think about what would be happening to them when they were shooting? How long was the shoot? Is it going to be on stage or is it really going to be real? Yeah. No, yeah, the people. Definitely the people and, you know, the script. It starts with the script. They think, oh, wow, could I actually be part of this? And then who you're going to work under and who you're going to work with. And yeah, they'd already had, I think they already, well, they already had, well, they already had, Bryce and Sam Rockwell, love him. Love him. And Brian Cranston, I think, was already on. They're the people I worked with. I didn't really get to work with the other.

Did I know? Henry Cavill, I just met yesterday. Oh, is that right? Yeah, he's lovely. We're just talking about Brian. You two are so great together, Brian Cranston. Isn't he great? Do people remember how funny he is?

Because he's, you know, breaking bad in your honor. Not the most hilarious roles. But great dramatic actors always have humor. I think you can see it, you know, in their performances. But off-camera, too. just nuts funny. But not like somebody, like stop. It's like, yes, more, please. Right, right. Yeah, really, really funny. And just a good guy too. Yeah, isn't he? Decent guy. Yeah. And got very good on talk shows. This is amazing. Sorry to mention another show, but he was on

Colbert the other day. He just kept lying about what he was doing. Yeah, this bear and playing custard. Really? No. Yeah, and this happened that. Really? No. Keeps you off balance a little bit. Yeah. Love it. You mentioned it, and we're not giving way too much, but there's some action for you and your character in particular, right? Yes. I stir muffin mix and I do many wonderful things. Yeah, I know. A little more than that.

I can't, I know. I witnessed a lot of action. Well, you know, I guess I play the author's in trouble, and I play the author's mother so the author's mother could get in trouble. I say, I play the author's mother. Yes. Yes, you do. I like the cryptic.

I know. See, I don't want to push it. No, it's perfect, though. Yeah, I don't want to push it. Now, people have to go see what we're talking about. They should go see it. They should. It really is a big, fat, beautiful piece of entertainment, isn't it? It is. Yeah. Really? And I'm not a good liar. So I'm telling the truth, I swear. It really is a fun movie. Now, it's fun, and it's full of people you like yourself.

At the top of the list. There's some sexy people in it. Sure, sure. Right out of the gate there, for sure. Some love. Some romance. Yeah. When you sat down and watched it for the first time, and you saw these different pieces come together, your thought was, is this what I thought it was going to be when I read it?

Oh, no, it was way more. And then the, I hope I can say this, the newest Beatles song. Am I allowed to say that? I think so. And it was before we all knew about it, because we just heard it a couple of months ago, right? Right, right.

Well, this is a year ago. He's been, Matthew Post, he's having to keep the secret for a year. Yeah, the song that John Lennon wrote Paul McCartney. produced, yeah. Yeah, really, really. It's a beautiful use of it, don't you think? Then they orchestrate it later in the movie. It is. Yeah. So that was new to me, of course, that I'd never, you know, even though I saw the stunt artist, dancers, do their work in front of me, then seeing with some of the effects added. It was amazing. And I forgot a lot of the twists and turns. But I only saw it with my husband and some security guy sitting over there. So it's not, you know, I want to see this movie with the crowd. I think it would be a fun crowd. Did you, you saw privately, too, I'm sure. I watched it privately, but yes.

But I actually have already been telling people about it. It's a good, go to the theater. Oh, yeah. No, I definitely want to see it. I would say in Times Square where people would yell at the screen. They will, too. I don't know. I remember seeing a head that rocks the cradle in Times Square.

Is that right? Yeah, you remember that? Sure. Yeah, and the girl kidnaps the baby. Then she's trying to nurse her. Nurse the baby. It's like, you know, and they had a shot of the baby looking up, and somebody always went, who are you?

From the baby's point of view, it's made everyone really laugh. Yeah, movie fans in New York view it, I think, is a dialogue. They're going to talk to the screen. They're a part of the show. Right. Like the original Shakespeare theater was like that, wasn't it? Yes. It was interactive between the audience.

The globe. Yeah, they're part of the show. Well, it's a really fun movie. People are going to love it. Yeah. And we'll just leave it at that. Yeah. Leave it there.

It's worth seeing, I think. For sure. I was just talking to you before we sat down to about Schitt's Creek. which my gosh is just one of the best shows ever made for my money. And timing. The timing was pretty amazing. Well, that's what I was going to ask you about because the show came out in 2015, but it really blew up right around pandemic time.

Is that fair to say? Oh, yeah. No, it did. Of course. Yeah, we, yeah, did we start? I guess we started in 2014. That may if it came out in 15? Yeah.

Okay. And CBC in Canada produced it and just gave you G. and Daniel, all the freedom they wanted and deserved really, and let them do the show they dreamed of doing and had the right tone and beautiful writing, you know, and great cast. But they let them do the show on it, and they promoted it as, you know, really well in Canada, but outside of Canada, it was on Pop Network here in the U.S., but I don't think most of, even I didn't know when it was on, which is terrible to say, but thank you, Pop. And then we ended the show, self-inflicted ending,

after six seasons, had no intention of doing it the next year. The next year COVID happened. We couldn't have done the show. So many shows couldn't happen because of it. No, we'd end it. And so it still played on CBC and pop, and then Netflix picked it up. At the same time that we happened to play a family in which the parents lived with their adult children,

hold up under one roof, altogether, forced to live together. suddenly we're in this world where millions and millions of people living that, if they're lucky and have a roof up with them. They live that way, and then Netflix puts it out to the world that's living that way. And so, I hate to say COVID was good for anything, but no, it wasn't.

Sorry. It was terrible. But it was hilarious, but also that love. That's what made, I think, said it. It was written with love, wasn't it? Yeah, it's a world that Daniel wishes we lived in. And the world I wish we'd live in, too, yeah. So what was it like when that second bump

That almost slow burn when it really blew up. Were you surprised by that? It was the next day. When Netflix put it out to the world, then, yeah, the next day, people talking to us about it. And then there's still people, I still meet people to, and why not? I'm not expecting anyone to watch it, but I still meet people who say, you know, I just started watching it last week. And I watched three seasons in one night.

It's so great. Yeah, it's really lovely. And so many people telling us that we got them through COVID. And, you know, but that was, too, that was them being with their families. That's what got them through. It's the whole, you know, we were there, and I think we presented a nice fun show, but they were also together, and that's what was lovely. When we would do these, I don't do them anymore, I miss them, we did some live shows for a while,

and I swear the crowd, they had been hold up in their homes watching the show, but they had this internet, online community. Right. And then they got to see each other. We were just kind of maybe a boy. that we were also there because they were so happy to see each other. It was really fun to witness this love between all of them. It was really fun to get out there and meet our lovely people who watch the show. Had you sort of professionally moved on from it by the time this explosion

happened? Professionally, no. I wouldn't say professionally because I think every job I've gotten since Schitt's Creek is because of Schitt's Creek. But I mean, you'd stop shooting the show, right? It was behind you, and then all of a sudden it just becomes this phenomenon. Isn't that freaky? Yeah, we got all these awards when the show was already gone. I mean, we've done it. I guess we'd ended it two years before, right? And then we're getting awards.

But again, COVID. So it's like, you think things are going well? We'll show you. You'll get awards, but you'll get them from your couch. You're not going to any parties, and you're not going to meet anyone. And no one's going to remember this happened. That's fine. You won the Emmy, the Globe, SAG.

I mean, every award that's available. Ridiculous. What was that run like of award season? That makes me think the most fun and it didn't go the way I dreamed. I'm always like, you know, Jennifer Coolidge did a great thing with the dancing, getting, dancing off instead of getting playing. But my idea was to get to sing. I always thought somebody should just start singing along with the music, right?

So I did it on my own for a bit for a Canadian award. I just did it online. It was gang COVID, so you present everything online. And then for the Golden Globes, we're on our couches, and I'm wearing this lovely Vera Wing, in my living room. And Bo, my husband, I got him to work with me on this. And I made it. I found stock music online that sound orchestral, the kind of music that would play you off. I found the, but the whole sound, I didn't work out the sound with it. And the globe people were just really

nervous about it. Like, how's this going to work? And I go, don't you worry. It's going to be funny. So the idea was that he would start the music when I started thanking people. And the music, with my phone, it was set up between us. He's supposed to start the music. But privately? I mean, keep the phone down here. We didn't really rehearse it well. I'm sorry, I'm going on too long about this. No. Okay, so he's supposed to start the music when I'm talking, and that I try to sing along with it, right, to get played off. But instead, I sort of tap him, like, do it now.

He takes the phone up here. He's just kind of doing this. Okay, the comments afterwards. So we had, we're laughing about it. We thought it went okay. So then my friend came over with her daughter afterwards, and the daughter said, Bo, my husband, have you been online tonight? You've gone viral.

Okay, all these comments about the most selfish, jealous husband who couldn't stand that his wife was winning an award. He got on his phone to talk to friends. I was like, nobody understood what we were doing, maybe two people. Meanwhile, it was your bit. Oh, it was the best. But we didn't even look online when she said that. We went to bed that night, but I'm still up like I'm looking online.

What did people say about us? And there was the best, though. I woke up like, Bo, you've got to hear what people. People hate you. You wore it as a badge of honor. It was a good bit. It's a good idea. It was a execution wasn't perfect.

Yeah, the sound did not. You could hardly hear the music. All it was was a husband getting on the phone while his wife was. Maybe one rehearsal next time, if you ever do that again from ours. That was kind of last minute. Moira has become sort of an icon in her own right. Going to her outfits and her wigs. Totally.

That accent. All of it. Can I start with the accent? Inconsistent. Where did that go? Well, there are Madonna's one who has reinvented herself. And good for her 100 times. And at one point she was very English.

And now the way I excuse it is I say, you know, Moira and Johnny, our characters, were very wealthy and very well-traveled. And because Moira is an artist and observes people and picks up quality. that others have, that she could use, that she's taking all this in, and sharing it with those who are less traveled and less educated. So she's sharing all the accents of her travels with the world. And then she has an amazing vocabulary of arcane words. Yes. But I also, you know, I thought of Madonna. I have met other lovely women who have maybe had their own career or still do, but they're kind of living in their husband's shadow, but they're,

want to, you know, at parties or whatever, they want to show that they have their own thing going. It's not about him. So they're, they express themselves very differently than most humans. You know, so it's just this need to be seen and be heard and be respected and appreciate that I have my art. And, you know, because Maura hasn't worked for a while, but she's still hanging on to the soap opera thing. And, you know, and Johnny's a successful one. It sounds to me that you brought. all of that. So in other words, here's this character. You know loosely who she is and what's happened to her and the family, but you brought the, with the help of great wendy masters and

all. But like, you created this woman, this character. But it's one thing to say, well, the accent was kind of up to me, or the not, the accents, I should say. Because when people try to imitate that character, the mistake most people make is being consistent. I was like, no, don't. Don't try to be one thing. I kept changing. Eugene would have to remind me. I would lose it and he'd say, what's your favorite movie? I'd go, thank you. Avert. No.

What's the other movie? The aviator. Thank you, Eugene. That would get me back into Moira's voice. So I would lose it. Because sometimes it was hard to relate to the other characters if I was thinking too much about that. So anyway. Sorry, I was trying to make a point.

Oh, it's one thing to say, oh, I'd like to wear a different wig in every scene. It's another for a hairdresser to actually come up with those wings. And we had one great hairdresser at the beginning, and then Anasaurus that took over after, I think, was the second season, and she would just have boxes of weeks. And we would figure it out on the day. But you also really have to work with someone like Eugene and Daniel, and that's rare, with whom you share mutual trust and respect,

and you can collaborate. You know, Eugene would have to say no to me sometimes. And he's such a gentleman. I don't know, Catherine. Can we just see what that? that looks like. You know, he was like Johnny. I was like, boy, we're like, Eugene, you have to come on.

Let me try this. All right. I'll talk to Daniel. It's so collaborative and lovely. And, you know, in the wardrobe, you know, when I've, we agreed to, you know, do the show, or do the pilot, actually, kind of, that was after they'd sold the pilot idea. We agreed to do the show and they were talking about what I'd look like,

so I'd lunch with Eugene and Daniel. And I brought all these pictures of Daphne Guinness as kind of inspiration, mood board thing. iPad mood board. And they just went, yes. But it's one thing to say, I want to have this kind of look. It's another to find those clothes and put them together so beautifully. And that was Deborah Hansen, our costumer.

And Daniel, the two of them would shop all year online, like real, real, and, oh, shoot, there's so many of them. Yukes and all these sites that sell designer clothes at discount prices. Because the reality is we're supposed to have bought these clothes when we had the money. We got to keep them, but they're not this year's clothes. But just the best wardrobe in the world. Do you remember the reaction you got the first time you stepped out as Moyer onto the set? Laughs. Yeah.

Yeah. Loved it. Laps and, oh, my. Or is my stylist, Andrew Galowitz would say, I mean. Although the best was my wedding official look. That, that is. actually got a hush when I came out. That was great.

I remember that moment. I think we screamed. You either were silent or you screamed when those curtains parted and you stepped out with, I mean, that was an unforgettable moment. And what a way to just put the cap on the whole thing. Yeah, wasn't that? But that relationship that, you know, Daniel and Noah had, as David and Patrick, was so beautiful.

It was so about that even this that I was wearing didn't distract from that. That's how well designed this show was and how good those characters were. Really, you think that's going to marry me? That's going to be standing next to us or between us. But still, like no distraction. Right. It was about them. It was still so touching, wasn't it?

Yeah. Somehow it all made sense by that point in the show. Yeah. Of course she came to that way. Of course. Hey, guys, thanks for listening to the Sunday Sit Down podcast. Stick around to hear more from Catherine O'Hara right after the break. Welcome back.

Now more of my conversation with Catherine O'Hara. You mentioned Eugene and your long history with the two of them. I'm going to ask you about that in a second, but I want to go back even a little bit further to your childhood in Toronto. I've never talked about this. Let's do talk about that. Let's have a second. No, as the six of seven kids.

And it seems to me that comedy from a very young age is a part of your life. You're watching laughing and your siblings were funny. My mom and dad were funny. Yeah, really funny. So comedy was there. as early as you can remember. I think it's a very Irish thing. I'm third generation Irish, but on both sides,

but it is an Irish thing to find the humor in the darkest of days, I think. And my mom and dad, you know, right to the end of their lives, God bless it when they went through the indignities of the end of life, just found a way, you know, I talked to them on the phone, see what, how was the day today, and where I swear other people would say, well, then this happened, then your father. They were just, okay, and then your dad, you know, just found a way to laugh at it. You know, it's such a gift to be able to laugh out of sadness or trouble.

It really is an amazing gift we all have if it's not beaten out of you by life. And I'm very lucky because in my upbringing, it was encouraged, and we were fortunate enough to be able to laugh. You know, sorry, I'm going on too long, but it was demanded more than encouraged in our home. You know, when you have that many people at the table. Right. You better have something at least funny to say if not interesting. Yeah. It's a little competitive.

No, in a good way. You know, you're just like, it's still that way. We get together in the summers and, you know, live together in the summers at a cottage. And we're still like, I feel like, hey, because I'm second youngest. Hey, I get something to say. Try to get a joke in. You're not the funniest, okay? Right.

It's like, where do I hop in on the double dutch that's going on in front of us? That's so funny. It is like, but yeah, everyone, my mom would, well, I would say this, but my mom, it's true. She would impersonate people she met that day. Like after she'd raised us all, God bless her. I can't imagine how she did it with seven kids. After that, then she went into real estate. She loved getting into people's homes and getting into their stories and helping them.

She was very good at it. But she would come home at the table impersonate everybody that she worked with that day. And my dad was more into set up punchline kind of jokes that he heard at the office. So, yeah. It was only not funny when my dad's team would lose, which was pretty much every time because my dad only rooted for the underdog. So there was a good chance the team was cool. And then you showed the team like,

and those kind of laughs. I remember when I was like 15 and say, boy, if this is a sitcom, this would be funny. But not right now. But even then, you know, and I have that with my husband, even if we fight, like we get each other with, we'll make fun of each other. Get each other with a joke,

which can sometimes hit harder. They can, right. But do it with humor. Yeah. You can go personal. Yeah. Cut right to the core of them. Yeah.

So then at what point, though, Catherine, do you decide to pursue comedy, not just in the house, but out in the world? Theater arts and high school, that's it. At some sort of a, not professional pursuit yet, but something that you were interested in enough to chase a little bit. Yeah, I think I wanted to be an actor, but I didn't really have any connection to that world. And then my brother, who spent a lot of time downtown, Toronto, we were around the suburbs, he met a girl named Gilda Radner. God bless her. And they were in this theater together called Global Village. And then he would bring Gilda home.

Then Gilda got into Godspell, which also, that cast included. James. He loved David Thomas, who was in SCTV, and Andrea Martin. All these people I ended up working with him, Marty Short, of course, yeah. Kissed his picture in the program. Cutest guy. Yeah, sorry. Then he brought her home.

And then we were, so we got to know her through her, you know, explosion of her career, basically, from Global Village to Godspell to National Lampoon. And when she, right before she left Second City, sorry, Second City being important, missed that detail. Before she left for there, I auditioned for Second City. First I got the touring company, which John Candy, God bless and put together. And then Joe Flaherty made me understudy to Gilda and Rosemary Radcliffe, the other girl in the cast.

Then Gilda, a couple of months later, it seems, went to National Mavoon and I got to attempt to take her place. So sorry, my long answer. No, you're not. This is fascinating, but I think with the underline that. Good luck editing. Good luck. Like a bad extra.

Stop moving. That Gilda Radner was at your family dinner table. Oh, yeah. When you were young. Yeah, she would come on her dark nights. She would come home to our house. She had my parents improvising and doing bits to her. playing improv games and there's some home movies of that.

But yeah, she was just, not only did she that, you know, all of us see that, oh, like, regular people that you know could actually be in show business or have a job doing this and get paid for doing this. But she was also such a good example of how to do that. She was so lovely and fun and the way you want to think she is from her, you know, from watching her. She was really that. She was just sweet and giving. and, you know, just light. God bless her, yeah. Too early.

And you were young. I mean, when you got into Second City, I mean, are you still a teenager? Yeah, late teens, right? I think it was 18 as a waitress. I think I was 19 when I got in the cast. But that was a good old day is where you could basically get in off the street. Now you have to go through years of classes.

Right, right. They learned that from the groundlings. Yeah. So that's that. It's good. It's good training. But you do well, and again, you are with, as you say, this ensemble of people who aren't yet,

who they were going to be. Yeah, it was Dan Aykroyd, Eugene Levy, um, Rosemary, Gilda. Was John Candy there? John Candy? Yeah, of course. Yeah. I mean, come on.

I know. So, training on the job, that's, that's good on the job training to, you know, people to be with. Yeah. And then a lot of you moved to SCTV, which people look back on. At the time they did, too, but look back on it, it was this sort of iconic, cradle of comedy greatness, you know? So that had to be.

such a blast to take what you were doing at Second City and put it on the TV. Yeah, and I think we just happened to be the cast at that time. I think they had tried at other times to move into television and hadn't quite worked. Then they tried it again with Harold Ramos, another, God bless them, as our head writer. And we just happened to be the cast at the theater at that time. So that's, okay, sure, I'll join you. Thank you. Yeah.

And then I love what I talk to people, though, the certain age who discovered us in high school or in college. And I love that they felt like they were the only ones in the world watching, which is a good chance they were, of watching the show because it was all like one and two in the morning. Yeah, but that's the way I felt about Monty Python. I think. Okay, if they look at us, like I look at Monty Python, thank you. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, when you get together, do you look back?

Because most of those you'd say, if one of us got into the movies or had a comedy career, boy, that'd be a great story. But all of you. It's pretty crazy. Have had such success. Second City is really beautiful training, though. You learn to think on your feet to, you wouldn't know it from now, but you learn to listen to others. I'm loving this, by the way. No apologies necessary.

Well, you do learn is having something to offer when you're asked a question. Yeah, of course. You don't just come back with yes. There's all yes that you've heard the yes end. Sure. But no but is just as important, you know. Right. Are you my ex-husband?

No, but I. No, but I dated your brother. There you go. No, nothing. Sorry, what were you going to say? I shouldn't let you do it. No, I don't know. No, you're the professional. Sorry, no.

Oh, no, no, I won't put you in the test. Now, there's a story out there. I can never do it on this score. You can tell me true or false that for a minute, now you were on SCTV, a lot of success. You're going to hop over to SNL. But then SCTV happened again. Happened again.

Yeah, it was kind of between. So you're like, thank you for the offer, but I got to go back to my people. But it was the same network. Right. It was NBC that was, so I felt slightly less bad about it. And I was never on a show. Right. I was only there for a couple of weeks, you know, trying to create some

material with all the others for that upcoming season. So it was, you know, in the summertime or something. Yeah, and then our producer, SCTV producer, Andrew Alexander, who I guess he'd finished the deal that he'd had before that. So we were all gone. And then NBC offered him another 90 minutes, you know, after Saturday Night Live. So I didn't move that far away. Right, right.

I had to go back to my family. I know, but it's embarrassing, yeah. It's not cool. It's not cool to do that. to say I'll work with you and then I won't. Sorry, I got my other friends over here. Those are your people. Luckily, you've been back a couple times as hosts.

Yes, that's a better way to go. Right? That's how you want to do it. I think I burned that bridge, though. I went on Bob Costas the next day and badmouthed the way something was shot because they killed my idea. That was a really bad thing to do. So your last time hosting? You think that was bad?

I did. That lovely director, Davy, I didn't mean to be. I was just so defensive about the idea not working. Yeah. That's really stupid. Sorry. Live and learn. I'm sure Lauren's forgotten by now. I've never been on again. Never been out's back. That's, oh, well, I deserve it. Yeah. Yeah, it's a bad thing to get defensive.

You can't blame others. Yeah, agree. You recovered nicely, though. Stick around for more of my conversation with Catherine O'Hara right after a quick break. Welcome back now to the rest of my conversation with Catherine O'Hara, movie-wise, is it fair to say that Beetlejuice was a huge breakthrough for you in terms of being on the big screen? But before that, I got to work with Martin Scorsese and After Hours, and then Mike Nichols and Hartburn.

So I don't know how that happened. It was because they watched, well, Mike Nichols is Second City, a Second City. He started it. And Scorsese, Martin Scorsese, was a fan of SCTV. Oh, is that how that came out? That's crazy. Oh, wow.

Wow. You never know who's watching, right? No, you don't. We never thought of who was watching, besides each other, trying to make each other laugh. Yeah, so that was nice, nice little entry into the world of movies. No, I did, didn't I do? Oh, that's right, yeah, and then Beetlejuice.

No, sorry, I'm mixing up when I did things. Right up. Beetlejuice was 88, but it was such a big movie and a great part for you, it feels like. And I met my husband. Yes. Yeah, production designer. Yes. Wilch. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, it was fun. It was a lovely set. Now I've just done Beetle Juice 2.

I was going to ask you about that. Which had the same kind of vibe on set. Tim was in great spirits. It was really fun and loose. Michael Keaton. You know, Beater Juice aged much better than Delia D's. Because he always looked like he looked like that. I wish I'd had that been made up originally. I keep asking, oh, I have only one saying. I asked him, I asked him in person, but now I've texted him to her like, could you please youth at Y-O-U? Could you euthanize Gilea, please a bit digitally? I beg you? They can do that, you know. Please, 35 years later.

Help me out here, man. But it was fun. Yeah, it had the same kind of loose, fun vibe. Yeah, people are very excited about that coming back. Yeah, I hope they like it. I'm sure the one you hear about a lot, if not the most. Well, now that Schitt's Creek is home alone, obviously. Oh, yeah.

I was just telling you I was watching you on Johnny Carson in 1990. And it was just coming out, wasn't it? Yeah, it was just coming out. coming out. Oh, I didn't, I knew nothing of the phenomenon that would become. Oh, my gosh. Still, right? Yeah. I mean, you still hear about it? Oh, at Christmas time. Oh, at Christmas time, right? And I don't know, McCauley Culkin received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and he asked me to present. I saw that. He also had Natasha Leon. They've worked together and have a very good friendship. And out of the blue, he asked me, and my first reaction was, aw, I told my husband, aw. It just was the sweetest idea, but I didn't know what it was going to be like. And it was just

lovely and I'm so happy I got to be there and see him receive that he seems so happy he's got a lovely fiancee two sweet kids and it was really it was funny when you know after you do the presentation then they have the um honoree come and stand before the you know the unveil the star and then they have you we all pose we pose pose pose pose his mother was not able to make it at that time um but we're all posing posing posing posing posing posing And then now Natasha, now sounds like, okay, now just you and the mother. And I walk away and he said, just with the mother. Yeah.

No, with the mother. I'm not as your mother. No, just you. Okay. Oh, that's so funny. He puts his armory and goes, oh, no, my mom wasn't able to make it. Well, then I'm honored to be here. Forever linked.

Yeah. Yeah, forever linked. But it's got to be cool to be a part of something with that kind of enduring legacy. Yes. Oh, he is the enduring legacy. legacy of that movie. No, no, he really is. That child, that face, that natural acting, just like, what are you all doing in my home? Just, he really, he deserves that. It was so, yeah, really sweet. But what a great child actor. And now he's like, totally into comedy. He's so

funny. He sees he's got a, what is it? Oh, shoot, rabbit. Oh, God, sorry. Oh, his, yeah. Yeah. We can plug that in. Yeah, he's got a, yeah, website. And he's just always funny. It's great. He's really embracing everything that they probably wanted to hold it. But John Hughes recognized in him. Yeah, clearly. Did you ever think by the second movie at some point it's just bad parenting? You keep losing your child and you go, all right. You know what?

You know this, don't you? A child came up to me, like a little eight-year-old. And that's the way kids would always look at me like, not just because of what I did, but like, why are you here now in front of me? You're not. Sorry. Yeah. And he said, the kid came in a ball.

Are you Kevin's mom? I said, well, yeah, I played Kevin's mom in a movie. Yes. Why did you leave him? Sorry, it was in the script. You left him twice. I know. I'm sorry.

Yeah, it's called a sequel. And it was good. Come on. Isn't that called abandonment? I swear he was eight or nine years old at the moment. Isn't that called abandon? Yes, I'm sorry. Once, maybe, twice as unforgivable.

Do you know how much better the money is on a sequel? No, that's not true. Well, it is true, but no, it was well written. And then they did some more. I thought, actually, during the first and the second, I thought they could do this story forever with different class, different gender, different nationalities, different. It's just such a perfect nightmare.

And, well, if written by John Hughes, God bless them, a beautiful idea. It's so, what parent doesn't have that fear? I know. You have any near, Mrs. Did you? Not to that extent, certainly. But, yeah, I mean, we've had where you turn around the outdoor space or the mall. Oh, you know that.

And they're usually close by. Especially when they hide, when they think they're funny and hide behind some clothes in the store. Do you have that immediate panic, fight or flight? We had it in New York when they're about nine and six, I guess, our sons. And we're all together, because we weren't holding hands at the subway station, New York City, and the subway doors open. We get on, I guess we're talking, yeah, assuming they're right now. And I turn around the doors, they're closing, and they're outside. They're just looking at each other, too, not paying attention.

Oh, no. And I just went, ah! And then other people screamed, too, because they thought they were going to be hurt. It was like, scream fire. Don't ever scream anything else because it's got to affect them too. So I screamed, everyone screamed, and I'm going, open the doors. And then other people yelled, joined in. They're all going, open the doors, the doors did open.

They get back on, they go, what? Nothing. And then I was just like, I wanted to hurl. Just thinking of, you'd go to the next stop. Oh. What would have? Would they stay there? Would someone take them?

Would they get on the next bus or subway thinking they're, oh, it's just too sickening. See, that sounds like Home Alone, 3. You've done it again. You've done it again. Oh, Bryce yesterday told the story of her parents. They were on a road trip. They stopped at someplace, and they drove another four hours without their son. No.

Yeah, without her brother. And no one noticed? Not for four hours. That's a quiet child. As I say, be loud. Be very loud. Make yourself note. Okay, last thing, I won't walk you through your entire career,

but the Christopher Guest documentaries. Oh, my gosh, all of them, from Guffman to Best in Show, and Mighty Wind. And what a fun, collaborative experience with your friends, that must have been. Oh, to watch everybody. Because all the dialogue is improvised. People always say, was there some ad-libbing? All the dialogue.

I mean, there's great ideas, beautiful inspiration in the script. You know, stuff like in Best & Show that I would keep running into men that had the best sex of their lives with me. And that Eugene would have to put up. That bit was so good. But that was in the outline. We call it an outlet. But it's, you know. But the.

outline, the movie, the finished movie was exactly from the outline, just the dialogue was missing. But to watch all those people like John Michael Higgins, the stuff, I would accuse him all the time of writing ahead of time. He goes, how would I write ahead? I don't know what they're going to say. You know, just, it was beautiful to watch all those people in person. Jennifer Coolidge, of course, we all love her. And I'm so happy for her right now. Yeah. Yeah. The world is seeing what she is.

So amazing. But she would come up with stuff like, wow, where is your head? Just so great and spacey and funny. Yeah. But not everybody. In fact, I would say most people couldn't pull that off. I mean, you have to have that comedic talent and maybe a little bit of the Second City came back and all that.

I think they're all writers too. Most of them, everybody that's, you know, the Groundlings people, like Jennifer and my Kitchcock and all those people from Groundlings. They're also writers. Same with the Second City people. You know, that really helps because then you're not just, oh, I'll do some bits. You know, I'll just write. railroad, this person I'll do, I got some bits in mind. You can't, you know, you have to have

sense of the scene. Right. Because it was always about surveying the beats in the scene, you know, so I think you have to have that sense. I don't know, but yeah, it was really, yeah, everybody was so good. You know, guy after guy would come up to you. I know. And they were scary. You're a waitress. They were improvising. And they would come out with stuff like, that's what you're remembering in your mind about what happened with us? Okay. You have to go along with this. All right. And, you know, because we didn't know what they were going to say. They were just working that day. They'd bring him this guy.

Especially one guy that really scared me. He was talking about my nipples or something. Okay. Thank you. Too much. Chris? Chris. They were good.

Okay, I lied. Last thing in this time. I mean. I'm sorry. If I didn't give such long answers, we could talk about other things in life. This has been fabulous. Dan Levy has been whispering, making some noise about a potential movie.

That would be nice. Have you heard anything about this? He's awfully busy. He's got his beautiful movie out now. Yes. It's really wonderful. Yeah. You'd be into it, though?

Oh, yes. Yeah. This movie is good grief. Go see it. Really really good. Of course, dream it. Yeah, of course I would. Yeah.

But he says, and he's right, I agree, that, you know, the people who watched our show were so kind and so supportive and so with us that you want to honor that by doing something good as opposed to just take advantage of the fact. that people are asking us, when's a movie. Right. You know, so I hope, I hope it comes up with a great idea. When it's your way? Yeah, I really would. I miss everybody.

I really do. We sure hope so. Thank you for, like I said, those early days of COVID were spent with you. So thank you. Thank you. And so many other movies. Thank you. Thank you.

I mentioned every one of them. Oh, no, I have some more. Thank you. I've done, did you not see? Okay. Thank you. This is delightful. I appreciate it.