The Sixtieth One... and Laraine Newman

Episode 60 and Wendi and Dfernando's guest interview is actress, writer, comedian and voice artist Laraine Newman.  

An original SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE cast member, Laraine Newman grew up in Los Angeles with movie star neighbors, was witness to the 1960’s music scene, saw the rise of comedy in the early 1970s, and studied mime in Paris under the tutelage of Marcel Marceau.

Already having older sister Tracy pursuing a career in entertainment, "do not go into show business,” was Newman's mother's advice to her.  But, when she appeared on the TV show KIDS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS at the age of 4 and got big laughs lying to host Art Linkletter, she knew something was up.

While studying improvisation in the early 1970s with Gary Austin, she co-founded The Groundlings, the now-legendary Los Angeles–based improv and sketch-comedy troupe. Lorne Michaels, then a young producer, took along his friend Lily Tomlin one night and caught Newman's act and cast her for a spot on the 1975 Emmy Award winning THE LILY TOMLIN SPECIAL (Newman's television debut).

Lorne would return months later to The Groundlings to recruit her for his new variety series for NBC, then titled NBC’S SATURDAY NIGHT, where (at 23 years of age) she became one of the original cast members - known as The Not Ready for Prime Time Players - appearing on the show from its inception in 1975 through 1980.

On, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, Newman is best known for her roles as Connie Conehead, Valley girl Sherry, and Christie Christina, the ditzy co-host of E. Buzz Miller’s (Dan Aykroyd) public-access television cable TV show.  Newman also played a TV news reporter for WEEKEND UPDATE with anchor Chevy Chase (Season 1) and later Jane Curtin (Seasons 2 thru 5).

As a member of the original cast of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, Laraine Newman was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2017.

On film she appeared in AMERICAN HOT WAX, WHOLLY MOSES!, PERFECT, Woody Allen’s STARDUST MEMORIES, FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS and as Lawanda Dumore in PROBLEM CHILD 2. 

On television she was seen as Phoebe’s step-mother on FRIENDS, CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, 3RD ROCK FROM THE SUN, AMAZING STORIES, LOS ESPOOKYS, among other hit sitcoms. 

As a voice artist she can be heard on MONSTERS, INC., THE OBLONGS, DOC McSTUFFINS, AMERICAN DAD!, THE GRINCH, SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS, the DESPICABLE ME trilogy, MINIONS, INSIDE OUT, WALL-E, CARS, as well as countless others.

Her acclaimed new Audible book MAY YOU LIVE IN INTERESTING TIMES is not only a fascinating memoir of her growing up in Los Angeles along with her years at SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, but is also filled with incredible backstories and is a detailed snapshot of 1960s Los Angeles and 1970s New York City. 

Newman is also the mother of comedian, actress and writer Hannah Einbinder (of HBO Max’s HACKS) and actress and writer Spike Einbinder (of HBO’s LOS ESPOOKYS). Newman is also part of the Advisory Board of SF Sketchfest.  

THE RIPE REPORT returns on Episode 61.  

Watch Wendi and Dfernando and their Team GENERATION RIPE: Greg Covey, Shelley McLendon and Ponciana Badia on Season 7 Episode 2 of CELEBRITY FAMILY FEUD - now on ABC OnDemand and Hulu and on the GENERATION RIPE website. 

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