Jane Curtin

Actress


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In her one-hour-fifteen-minute Archive interview, Jane Curtin talks about her early years and her time with an improv troop in New York City. She describes being cast as one of the original "Not Ready for Prime Time Players" on Saturday Night Live in 1975. She recounts her relationships with the producers, writers, and cast, including Gilda Radner, Laraine Newman, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Garrett Morris, and John Belushi - with whom she clashed over his assertion that women weren't funny. She discusses what it was like to be on Saturday Night Live in the '70s, and talks about sketches she appeared in, including "The Coneheads" and "The Nerds." Curtin speaks of leaving Saturday Night Live, returning for the 15th anniversary and the 40th anniversary specials, and working with Tina Fey behind the "Weekend Update" desk. She chronicles her time on Kate & Allie with co-star Susan Saint James and director Bill Persky, as well as winning two Emmys for that show. She details her time on 3rd Rock From the Sun as "Dr. Mary Albright" as well as her time as "Joanne Webster" on the series Unforgettable. She concludes by discussing the current state of television and giving advice to aspiring actors. Jenni Matz conducted the interview in New York City, New York on May 28, 2015.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"On the 'SNL 40th Anniversary,' working with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler was so comfortable. We were just three girls sitting at a desk. We really liked and appreciated each other. I respected what they did and they respected what I did. It was very comfortable and fun." 

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Jane Curtin on being cast on Saturday Night Live
02:18
Jane Curtin on the "boys club" atmosphere at the original Saturday Night Live
01:08
Jane Curtin on the character of "Allie Lowell" on Kate & Allie and working with director Bill Persky
01:01
Jane Curtin on playing "Dr. Mary Albright" on 3rd Rock From the Sun
07:05
Jane Curtin on advice to aspiring actors
01:30
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On her early life and influences; on deciding she wanted to act and do comedy and moving to New York with her improv troop
On being cast on Saturday Night Live; on her first impression of Lorne Michaels; on the first episode of Saturday Night Live and the writers of the show
On working with Chevy Chase and John Belushi on Saturday Night Live; on the "boys club" atmosphere on the set of Saturday Night Live; on working with Gilda Radner, Laraine Newman, Garrett Morris, Dan Aykroyd, and Bill Murray on the show
On participating in Saturday Night Live's  "Coneheads" and "The Nerds" sketches; on the politics of Saturday Night Live and favorite guest hosts; on the culture of the show in the '70s, and leaving the show
On the legacy of the first five years of Saturday Night Live; on dealing with celebrity and fame; on returning to Saturday Night Live for the reunion specials and working with Tina Fey
On how Kate & Allie came about; on the character of "Allie Lowell" on Kate & Allie and working with director Bill Persky; on the way Kate & Allie reflected the culture at the time
On winning Emmy awards for Kate & Allie; on the end of Kate & Allie, her favorite episodes, and working with the children on the show; on the legacy of Kate & Allie
On playing "Dr. Mary Albright" on 3rd Rock From the Sun; on playing "Joanne Webster" in the series Unforgettable; on what she enjoys about acting and her acting mentors

Chapter 2

On advice to aspiring actors; on career highlights; on how the medium of television has changed since she started; on her then-future hopes and how she'd like to be remembered 
Shows

3rd Rock From the Sun

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Jane Curtin on playing "Dr. Mary Albright" on 3rd Rock From the Sun
07:05

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

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Jane Curtin on winning Emmys for Kate & Allie
01:11

Kate & Allie

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Jane Curtin on how Kate & Allie came about
02:40
Jane Curtin on the character of "Allie Lowell" on Kate & Allie and working with director Bill Persky
01:01
Jane Curtin on the way Kate & Allie reflected the culture at the time
02:01
Jane Curtin on working with Susan Saint James as "Kate McArdle" on Kate & Allie
01:06
Jane Curtin on winning Emmy Awards for Kate & Allie
01:11
Jane Curtin on the end of Kate & Allie, her favorite episodes, and working with the children on the show
02:08
Jane Curtin on the legacy of Kate & Allie
00:47

Saturday Night Live

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Jane Curtin on being cast on Saturday Night Live
02:18
Jane Curtin on her first impression of Lorne Michaels when she was cast on Saturday Night Live
01:02
Jane Curtin on the first episode of Saturday Night Live
01:53
Jane Curtin on the early Saturday Night Live writers
01:01
Jane Curtin on working with Chevy Chase on Saturday Night Live
01:25
Jane Curtin on working with John Belushi on Saturday Night Live
02:59
Jane Curtin on the "boys club" atmosphere at the original Saturday Night Live
01:08
Jane Curtin on working with Gilda Radner and Laraine Newman on Saturday Night Live
01:54
Jane Curtin on working with Garrett Morris on Saturday Night Live
02:23
Jane Curtin on working with Dan Aykroyd on Saturday Night Live and doing "Weekend Update"
03:01
Jane Curtin on working with Bill Murray on Saturday Night Live
00:46
Jane Curtin on participating in Saturday Night Live's "Coneheads" sketches 
01:52
Jane Curtin on playing the mother in "The Nerds" sketches on Saturday Night Live
01:27
Jane Curtin on the politics of Saturday Night Live and favorite guest hosts
01:38
Jane Curtin on the culture of Saturday Night Live in the '70s
02:22
Jane Curtin on leaving Saturday Night Live in 1980
01:04
Jane Curtin on the legacy of the first five years of Saturday Night Live
01:10
Jane Curtin on returning to Saturday Night Live for the reunion specials and working with Tina Fey
02:07
Topics

Advice

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Jane Curtin on advice to aspiring actors
01:30

Characters & Catchphrases

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Jane Curtin on participating in Saturday Night Live's  "Coneheads" sketches 
01:52
Jane Curtin on playing the mother in "The Nerds" sketches on Saturday Night Live
01:27

Creative Influences and Inspiration

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Jane Curtin on her mentors
01:57

Emmy Awards

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Jane Curtin on winning Emmy awards for Kate & Allie
01:11

Fame and Celebrity

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Jane Curtin on dealing with celebrity and fame
03:07

First Big Break

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Jane Curtin on being cast on Saturday Night Live
02:18

Pivotal Career Moments

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Jane Curtin on being cast on Saturday Night Live
02:18

Pop Culture

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Jane Curtin on participating in Saturday Night Live's  "Coneheads" sketches 
01:52
Jane Curtin on playing the mother in "The Nerds" sketches on Saturday Night Live
01:27

Television Industry

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Jane Curtin on dealing with celebrity and fame
03:07
Jane Curtin on advice to aspiring actors
01:30
Jane Curtin on how the medium of television has changed since she started
02:14
Professions

Actress

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Jane Curtin on what she enjoys about acting 
01:18
Jane Curtin on advice to aspiring actors
01:30

Performers

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Jane Curtin on what she enjoys about acting 
01:18
Jane Curtin on advice to aspiring actors
01:30
Genres

Comedy Series

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Jane Curtin on being a cast member on Saturday Night Live
34:38
Jane Curtin on playing "Allie Lowell" on Kate & Allie
10:54
Jane Curtin on playing "Dr. Mary Albright" on 3rd Rock From the Sun
07:11

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

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Jane Curtin on playing "Joanne Webster" in the series Unforgettable  
04:02
People

Dan Aykroyd

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Jane Curtin on working with Dan Aykroyd on Saturday Night Live  and doing "Weekend Update"
03:01

John Belushi

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Jane Curtin on working with John Belushi on Saturday Night Live
02:59

Chevy Chase

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Jane Curtin on working with Chevy Chase on Saturday Night Live
01:25

Tina Fey

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Jane Curtin on returning to Saturday Night Live  for the reunion specials and working with Tina Fey
02:07

Susan Saint James

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Jane Curtin on working with Susan Saint James as "Kate McArdle" on Kate & Allie
01:06

Lorne Michaels

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Jane Curtin on her first impression of Lorne Michaels
01:02

Garrett Morris

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Jane Curtin on working with Garrett Morris on Saturday Night Live
02:23

Bill Murray

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Jane Curtin on working with Bill Murray on Saturday Night Live
00:46

Laraine Newman

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Jane Curtin on working with Gilda Radner and Laraine Newman on Saturday Night Live
01:54

Bill Persky

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Jane Curtin on the character of "Allie Lowell" on Kate & Allie and working with director Bill Persky
03:02

Gilda Radner

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Jane Curtin on working with Gilda Radner and Laraine Newman on Saturday Night Live
01:54

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