The Underground Queen of Comedy: Kristen Wiig
Posted by Craig Kessler on August 6, 2009 at 2:30 am
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Many of the kings of comedy nowadays owe their success to one late night sketch comedy television series. Saturday Night Live Rocky II has been around for thirty-three years (thirty-four, come this October), and has sculpted the careers of such big names as Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell and Al Franken (he’s a senator now; boo!). Recently, Amy Poehler, Tina Fey and Maya Rudolph have all left the SNL crew to pursue movie careers. Next to leave will probably be Andy Samberg, Will Forte and Kenan Thompson. These are the main attraction of NBC’s Saturday night gig; however one star is up-and-coming, and fast. Kristen Wiig.
Wiig entered the movie/TV scene after being a member of the underground comedy troupe The Groundlings in 2003, as ‘The Quack’ on The Joe Schmo Show, a parody of the modern reality-TV program. It was only in 2005 that she got her big break on SNL. Since, she’s nailed cameos in Knocked Up, Forgetting Sarah Marshall and even supporting roles in Adventureland and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. In the near future, she’ll also star in Extract, Whip It and How to Train Your Dragon. If she’s not as über-famous as Fey or Poehler by then, there’s something wrong with the American audience. Wiig is like the sleeper hit movie: underappreciated and the best film of the year. Last week, Emmy nominees were announced (which you’ve probably heard about). And guess what, Wiig has been nominated for her first Emmy in the “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series” category! Although Poehler is also up for the award, to be mentioned by the Academy is an extreme honor. Her characters on SNL are unmistakable; you know the Suze Orman impersonations? Wiig. Drew Barrymore? Wiig. Barack Obama? Wiig. Well, not really, although I bet she could land that role. Watch for her. She’s not a cougar, but she’s certainly on the prowl.
Check out more articles of Nick’s at his excellent blog Nick’s Movie Blog
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Love her! she’s hysterical. hope she wins.
@Candice Agree, think she’s great in his little side roles in all these movies. Would like to see more of her.
This lady is an extraordinary talent. Genius, as we all know, is a much-abused, much-overused term… but to my mind this lady has got comedic genius in surpassing abundance. She is a volcano of creativity.
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