I had seen some shows at the Groundlings [legendary L.A. improvisational and sketch comedy troupe] and thought, "If I could ever do that, that would really mean something, that I have arrived." So I went through the program and said to myself, "I'm going to stay here until they kick me out." Seriously, they can ask you to leave at any point. Luckily, they never did that to me.

Wendi McLendon-Covey

Categorized in : Mean Comedy Legendary

Improv is more than just spitting out a bunch of funny stuff that's unrelated to the material. You have to stay in character, you have to react and respond as the character you're trying to play. You have to service the story, and I think improv training has helped with my listening, responding, and my audition technique. It's sounds so silly, but it's true. Because not only do you improvise during the audition, but once you get the part, they'll say, "Throw away everything. Just improv this scene. Do whatever you want." Someone could panic if they're not used to doing something like that.

Wendi McLendon-Covey

silly character thinking

I learned how to let other performers have their moment. A lot of people can't do that. They just chew the scenery and steamroll over their scene partners. It doesn't make you look better in the long run to do that. You have to have balance in your scene. If it's somebody else's moment, let them have it. Learn how to be generous. Plus, it makes the audience hate you.

Wendi McLendon-Covey

hate running long

I used humor to avoid being picked on as a kid. Or I would try and make my parents laugh, so I wouldn't get in trouble. But as a kid, I would watch Flip Wilson and I would memorize his whole routine, listen to Bill Cosby's records constantly, Steve Martin, Carol Burnett, Lucille Ball. I just drank that stuff up and loved it.

Wendi McLendon-Covey

parent laughing kids

Weddings are really good for making you feel terrible about yourself if you're not where you want to be in life.

Wendi McLendon-Covey

about-yourself terrible want

Growing up, I was the weird, theatrical kid who always tried to make people be in my plays. I've always loved comedy, but when it came time to figure out what I was going to go to school for, my parents were like, "Acting?! I don't think so. No." It took me a while to get the courage to pursue it. I had to do it in secret for a little bit, and then when I got married and was out on my own, I went for it.

Wendi McLendon-Covey

growing-up kids school

I grew up fascinated with comedy and with people who could capture someone's attention.

Wendi McLendon-Covey

comedy attention people

You think your friends have good taste in fashion, until they ask you to wear an ugly bridesmaid dress!

Wendi McLendon-Covey

fashion dresses thinking

Now, I love playing moms who can't hide their paranoia.

Wendi McLendon-Covey

paranoia mom

What's the most humiliating thing? When you take someone to dinner or you cook somebody dinner and they get food poisoning. I mean, how bad do you feel?

Wendi McLendon-Covey

dinner cooks mean

As a performer, you can't just sit around waiting for the phone to ring. You have to write and develop projects for yourself, because casting people aren't always going to see you the way you want to be seen. Write a one-person show, shoot a short film, do plays, whatever - activity breeds activity. No one's interested in a stay-at-home actress.

Wendi McLendon-Covey

phones home writing

There's nothing wrong with a little self-possession, there's beauty in taking time for yourself just because you feel like it, and there's nothing wrong with not divulging every secret!

Wendi McLendon-Covey

yourself you time beauty

You always end up saying and doing such horrible things to your family, 'cause you know they're never going anywhere, and at some point, they're going to forgive you.

Wendi McLendon-Covey

end never you family

Different people's houses smell like different weird things. God forbid someone should come and nail down what my house smells like. It'd probably be a litter box... sweaty socks... and burnt bacon. That probably is what it smells like.

Wendi McLendon-Covey

weird down god people

I love the healing power of crystals.

Wendi McLendon-Covey

i-love power healing love

On my keychain, I have a citrine crystal in a tiny cage. It's for protection and good vibes.

Wendi McLendon-Covey

crystal good vibes protection

Most people think of the humidifier as something for arid climates, which I guess most of L.A. is, but it's just generally good for hydrating the skin, no matter what.

Wendi McLendon-Covey

skin good think people

If you want to play the good roles, spend more time in in college and in acting class than you do in the gym, and you'll have the career you want.

Wendi McLendon-Covey

good you gym time

You have to ask yourself if you want to be the kind of actress who's interesting, or the kind of actress who's meant to play the pretty-but-uninteresting wife of a chubby guy on a network sitcom.

Wendi McLendon-Covey

yourself you wife want

Back when I was growing up, it was like, 'You're too young to know what you want. We're telling you what you want. It doesn't matter if you like it. And you are stupid. Just so you know.'

Wendi McLendon-Covey

you growing-up stupid matter

Pulling away from your parents, that's the natural thing to do; that's how life progresses.

Wendi McLendon-Covey

your parents how life