When my phone rang yesterday afternoon Carol Burnett was on the other end. "Hi, is this Megan?" she asked, like we were already best pals. For about 20 minutes we talked about so much — the surprising longevity of The Carol Burnett Show, her recent Grammy win (she's now has 75 percent of an EGOT!) and her new television show, which is being produced by Amy Poehler. You'll be able to read all about it in next week's paper, ahead of her three-night stand at the Ryman (tickets are available here).
Another thing we chatted about was how she's never once hosted Saturday Night Live. And why not? The Carol Burnett Show was a precursor to Lorne Michaels' baby, and both Tina Fey and Amy Poehler have credited Burnett for being one of the people who inspired them to go into comedy and television. Wouldn't it be amazing?Â
Turns out she'd not only happily host, but she's ready to help them take on the Trump administration.
A few years ago, I don't know if you were aware of this or not, but there was a movement on the internet to get you to host Saturday Night Live. I can't believe you had never done that before!Nope. Hasn't happened yet.
Is that something you would want to do? Are you aware of that movement?
No, I wasn't.
There's a Facebook page that has almost 100,000 likes from people.Â
Wow. Yeah. Well, right now I think what they're doing is perfect. All the openings and the crazy stuff with the administration and what's going on in the world.
Is there anybody from Trump's Cabinet that you think you could impersonate? Like Melissa McCarthy does with Sean Spicer?Â
Oh, yes. Kellyanne Conway. [Laughs]
Yeah?Â
Oh yeah.
You hear that, SNL? "OH YEAH," she said. She'd make an amazing Conway. Make it happen, Lorne.Â
