Kristen Wiig Based An "SNL" Character Off A Stranger On A Plane | Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend

Kristen Wiig shares the inspiration for one of her favorite “SNL” characters, Aunt Linda.
Listen to “Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend” @ listen.teamcoco.com/amf-gbCa
Subscribe to watch more Team Coco videos / @teamcoco
Listen to the Full Podcast link.chtbl.com/conan
FOLLOW TEAM COCO PODCASTS ON SOCIAL
Conan O’Brien on Twitter / conanobrien
Team Coco Podcasts on Instagram / teamcocopodcasts
FOLLOW TEAM COCO ON SOCIAL
Team Coco on Facebook / teamcoco
Team Coco on Twitter / teamcoco
Team Coco on Instagram / teamcoco
ABOUT CONAN O’BRIEN NEEDS A FRIEND
Deeper, unboundedly playful, and free from FCC regulations, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend is a weekly opportunity for Conan to hang out with the people he enjoys most and perhaps find some real friendship along the way. Watch highlights of Conan, Sona Movsesian and Matt Gourley chatting with celebrities and meeting fans, along with special segments like “Review the Reviewers” and “Big Dick History.”
ABOUT TEAM COCO
Team Coco is the KZbin home for all things Conan O’Brien and the Team Coco Podcast Network. Team Coco features over 25 years of comedy sketches, celebrity interviews and stand-up comedy sets from CONAN on TBS and Late Night with Conan O’Brien, as well as exclusive videos from podcasts like Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend,
Literally! with Rob Lowe, Why Won’t You Date Me? with Nicole Byer, The Three Questions with Andy Richter, May I Elaborate? with JB Smoove and Scam Goddess with Laci Mosley.
Team Coco
/ teamcoco

[@justinfincher2385]

She is one of the ONLY people on snl in the past 20 years who really got the spirit of the show down. Where she did her bits without obnoxiously breaking the fourth wall to force all the viewers to know it was a joke. She was just consistently hilarious and such a great actress. You could rarely ever tell she was reading from cue cards. She set the bar that I wish others had tried to raise.

[@robbiedubbelman3024]

I woud add Fred Armisen, Bill Hader and Maya Rudolph to that...

[@shanustheanus]

​@robbiedubbelman3024 they did say one of the only, so the elipses at the end feels a little weird...

[@mrjoshd]

​@shanustheanus you are weird...

[@Ueydhftdr]

The “spirit of the show”?.....Leftist propaganda coupled with pretentious ridicule?

[@chillfluencer]

Enough with the pandering already.

[@bakerboycat]

During the pandemic, I would watch a playlist of Kristen's sketches on SNL on over and over and it really helped me go through what I was going through that time. She's such a joy to watch. She's having fun but boy, is she serious about having fun.

[@offbeat65]

Except not anymore, having done facial surgery in way of conforming to Hollywood standards.

[@bakerboycat]

@@offbeat65 What are you talking about? It's her face, let her be. It's 2024. Don't be a hater for no reason.

[@GaiaCarney]

Kristen’s character in ‘Bridesmaids’ juggling the pink lemonade while driving “mm, that is _fresh_ “ 😅

[@yg-dn5ms]

😢 I luv that part

[@Xanadudancer]

Just the delivery is ❤😆

[@dork401]

And therefore is what must be said after drinking something 😂

[@jaimi33]

Her stabbing the cake while in a rage. Pure comedy gold.

[@mr.esquite8]

I think of that scene repeatedly for some reason! 😂

[@NHT2]

Conan is always respectful to guests, but I absolutely love when he interviews someone he considers a true colleague. He drops a lot of the absolutely silly behaviors, he listens, he is present. Thank you everyone for this amazing pod cast!

[@amityamityamityamity9086]

*cod past

[@user-mn8ul9bf2g]

What are you talking about? He can't stop talking and let the guest speak. Look at all his interviews, he takes up 80% of the time bc he loves to hear himself talk.

[@amityamityamityamity9086]

@@user-mn8ul9bf2g I find most late night hosts/talking heads do this, Jon Stewart may be one of the only exceptions

[@Teamrat]

@@amityamityamityamity9086 I feel like Jon does it too. Take a shot every time Jon says "Can I say this" while someone else is talking.

[@fdrstan]

@@user-mn8ul9bf2g It's his show and he's been doing it with great success for 3 decades. Boohoo someplace else.

[@rk1356]

What I love most about Kristen Wiig is her sense of humor matches her incredible high level of intelligence. It’s so rare to find a brilliantly funny person. But she’s so funny and so good at what she does because she’s so damn smart. It’s like she could easily have a phd in comedy.

[@lazaromurad322]

¨I love how quiet-small your comedy can be¨ I think he means her subtlety with her work and he's right!

[@dalyand5944]

I think it's subtlety but also a degree of vulnerability as well.

[@Teelirious]

I have watched Liza try to turn that lamp off 10,000 times.

[@GeorgeGiann]

THAT’S talent!

[@ifandwhen-kl2cr]

Crazy how overlooked the “ just kidding” lady is in discussions of Wiig characters!

[@Babalax54]

Penelope. Def a fave of mine

[@john2510]

For me, that character got old after about 30 seconds.

[@miicrawford]

Aunt Linda is so freaking HILARIOUS and the fact that she’s based off of a real person makes it even more funny🤣

[@carag2567]

"Here's my alley and this film went STRAIGHTTUPPITT!!" 😂 Aunt Linda is hilarious!

[@miicrawford]

@@carag2567 🤣🤣🤣

[@stanperl2003]

Her character Karina on the Californians always got me. "Stew-ahht. Wha are you home so awrly?"

[@krisfinley6706]

She was brilliant! They all paired together perfectly for that one, and Mick Jagger totally surprised me playing Stewart's Dad, he was hilarious 😂

[@stanperl2003]

@@krisfinley6706 Agreed. That whole series was fantastic.

[@karinasankarsingh5707]

Those sketches has me in tears 😂. Whatrudoinghere? Lol

[@stanperl2003]

@@karinasankarsingh5707 😄ehhhh Devon??

[@francescaa8331]

😊

[@BibiTheLinkBuilder]

Kristen eating an almond in Bridesmaids was soooo funnyyyy

[@lance134679]

The Kristen Wiig era of SNL was really good. 👍

[@CaliforniaColeman]

Damn right, legendary

[@carag2567]

It really was a great era with some amazingly talented cast members. Wiig, Fred Armisen, Will Arnett, Maya Rudolph, Bill Hader, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, the incomparable Kenan Thompson. They must have had a BLAST making those episodes!

[@jasonmurdoc9533]

⁠​⁠I’ve seen a lot of Conan interviews I truly believe he’s super excited here (even has a little crush on her) and Kristin is a little quiet in person, so it seems like he’s dominating the conversation when he’s just super excited. . He really is a great interviewer. Felt this needed to be said.

[@SpookySiiri]

Yes, I absolutely agree with you! He is a fantastic interviewer. Also, isn’t this podcast longer than the 11ish minutes that this clip is? So we’re not even seeing the whole thing. People are so quick to criticize where it truly isn’t warranted. If anything, there’s a certain current late night host who consistently, every night, always dominates conversations and is not a great interviewer. And I don’t even think he’s a bad guy or anything (idk?) because he’s clearly *excited* and having a good time. But he’s not interview host material. Conan is and always will be ❤

[@SmokeyChipOatley]

When I first read your comment my immediate reaction was to disagree with the crush comment but I get what you mean. Not like a romantic crush. The type of crush of a person who highly respects someone and admires their talent so much that it's palpable. Which is really endearing to see honestly. Love watching Conan in this environment.

[@jasonmurdoc9533]

@@SmokeyChipOatley yeah exactly in an endearing way like school boy crush. As you get older you still have little crushes you just dont act on it cause your mature enough to know what’s all it is. But it can still make you act a little more awkward. There’s innocence in it

[@queenies805]

Kristen Wiig as Ann Margaret was so spot on, one of the funniest things I've seen her do, she is fantastic!

[@gheller2261]

Unfortunately few people understood it unless they had a thing for old movies.

[@queenies805]

@@gheller2261 Just watch Viva Las Vegas with Elvis Presley and Ann Margaret

[@gregb8565]

@@gheller2261 yeah but those of us from the era especially like 60s and variety shows know how spot on that impression is

[@TheLaura912]

Her Liza Minnelli was also fantastic!

[@gregb8565]

@@TheLaura912absolutely - such a nice long sketch - very improv like

[@imightbebiased9311]

Conan's got a Podcast on the internet? Well, there's a flapjack *I'd* buy!

[@jopo7996]

At SNL Kristen was like a kid in a candy store.

[@samijust8689]

Love this!

[@timlatour]

It only happened once, but her character “Christie Berkie” with Cecily on “QVC” is one of my all time favorites. It was when she came back to host. It kills me every time

[@petecartwright5211]

Her and Cecily Strong. I thought it was one of the best skits they've ever put out. Soooo dead on.

[@taybyers]

Yes! Thanks for mentioning this, what a great character.

[@petecartwright5211]

I rate this one right up there with "Pageant Talk" with Zack Galifianakis or Jingleheimer Junction. Just hysterical...

[@stackels97]

Yessss, that skit was hilarious

[@yg-dn5ms]

OMG JOYCE! You’re such a JOKE!

[@TejanoMusicLover79]

Kristen & Fred Armison As Garth & Kat Will Always Be My Favorite Sketches!

[@JasonGlisson]

I really had hoped they were going to do that when she hosted. Probably one of my favorite things she did on SNL. So insanely hilarious.

[@sarahrandall-laurentsch2347]

Me too🙋🎉

[@TheMattsterling]

Kristen Wiig is a stunning and hilarious national treasure. It makes me so happy to know how much she loves Aunt Linda (my favorite character). Coney is a success case study for children with ADD:)

[@Stitchlii]

I have a major crush on Kristen and always have.

[@Tonyhouse1168]

You’re not the only one

[@clintjensen7814]

She is such a doll! What a gem of a person, I could watch her talk for hours😍

[@seaninness334]

Glad to see she got Aunt Linda back on the Weekend Update desk recently. She and Gosling had back to back great episodes as hosts.

[@calledout4437]

Kristen Wiig is so funny, it's even funnier to see how calm and serious she actually is in real life.

[@ThomasMiller-tp2uv]

Calm and serious Kristin Wiig has always confused me. It tells me how much she loves a live audience.

[@catherinewards3345]

Hmm, it might be calm. It might be Botox.

[@shenanigans3710]

@@catherinewards3345 Yeah, why did she get work!! She was so beautiful!

[@JAW242]

Her skit with Jason Sudeikis - ‚Two a-holes being a Christmas tree’ was when I sąw them both for the first time. It was hilarious.

[@emilypadden6406]

I love that skit!

[@jayr3053]

Yes love those skits 😂

[@Sam-lt1ur]

Her Ann Margret and Liza Minelli impressions were unreal. Think she only did them once on the show.

[@BiddyBiddyBiddy]

One of my absolute favorite lines was in GhostTown; "Everybody dies..." expressed so gently.

[@bigh7972]

If Kristen was in a scene with Bill Hader you knew this is going to be great. I will always love the Target Lady but the two of them were a comedic Batman and Robin. POW RIGHT AT THE FUNNY BONE…

[@AdvantageousAngie]

Same. So imagine my disappointment when I watched skeleton twins. Good movie, but man I was hoping for a comedy 😂

[@Izzyonofry]

Aunt Linda is one of my favorites, I always quote her! 🤣🤣🤣

[@WorkFromYourLaptop]

From 3:14-3:24 is the purest of energy from Conan, Kristen.. they’re no longer in a studio, they’re are just sharing an amazing, sincere story and experience. I can watch those 10 seconds over and over again.

[@beardown6574]

love her! Target lady was my fav SNL character she did.

[@craycrayirl9492]

I just got an ad for Target with her saying she’s on the clock & ready to rock. I didn’t realize they were using her.

[@Mizvanechat]

Her in Ghostbusters being asked by Kate MacKinnon "Where did you buy the world's smallest bow tie?" "It came with the shirt" 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@HealthyandLovingLife]

All her characters are amazing. It's so hard to choose one, but I LOVE Target Lady!

[@BootsWalken]

A couple of times a year I rewatch the coffee shop scene from MacGruber. Gets me every time

[@bradpirochta9293]

The first "The Californians" gets quoted a lot in my circle.

[@cliffordmontero42]

I love that he points out how she can make the small quiet response work so well. It's like when Billie Eillish was talking about the song calling for a soft quiet voice. Sometimes that small moment is the most beautiful

[@davidvondoom2853]

Conan is clearly such a huge fan of Kristen. And who can blame him? She's great!

[@musicmaven3149]

It would have been nice if he had given her space to actually talk. It was like a Conan monologue with her as his audience.

[@davidvondoom2853]

@@musicmaven3149 Agreed. He wasn't letting his guest talk enough.

[@lorahsteiner2445]

Love her - so incredibly gifted. I couldn't tell though, whether it was all about Conan or an interview with Kristen Wiig. Conan could not stop talking.

[@14LP2]

Kristen Wiig’s SNL flight attendant skit is also a CLASSIC!!! 🤣🤣🤣

[@Sveccha93]

That was such a beautiful and true compliment. Great human beings here.

[@kimmeedawnify]

He describes her talent so perfectly. A true fan.

[@kristengoldsmith1074]

She was my FAVORITE on SNL!! I just adore her!!

[@bfgivmfith]

Kristen Wiig has made me smile and laugh every time I see her! What a talented woman! Amazing! Thank You Kristen!

[@FerdinandCesarano]

Kristen Wiig is on the short list of the very best Saturday Night Live cast members, alongside Dan Aykroyd, Phil Hartman, Will Ferrell, Bill Hader, and Kate McKinnon.

[@sammybam77]

Never saw Dan's season but love the others and also Dana Carver is my fav!

[@FerdinandCesarano]

@@sammybam77 - Dana Carvey is a brilliant performer. (And his SNL-themed podcast with David Spade is excellent.) I put him on the next tier down, with greats such as John Belushi, Eddie Murphy, Will Forte, Mike Myers, and Maya Rudolph. And Dan Aykroyd had four seasons. He is the original king, who set the bar for everyone else.

[@sammybam77]

@@FerdinandCesarano By season I meant whatever years he was on. You know alot is them are there for Few years. I will have to check out a best of Dan Akroyd video.

[@serenity__now]

I met her on a movie set once, she was so lovely and down to earth. Love her

[@owleye303]

A lot of respect between these two.

[@maxvain]

Wiig is one the best of all time on SNL

[@michaeltootikian4402]

She is talented and seems like a good person

[@ItsJessieKate]

LOL I love seeing Conan so sweetly nervous next to Kristin! Clearly a comedy crush. To be fair, I would also be a wreck next to Kristin Wiig!

[@KrizmKazm]

I love all 4 of you. good snippet.

[@anthonypayne2526]

The idea of "when I feel comfortable here, it's time to go" is what Bill Hader said , also.

[@Tonyhouse1168]

Loved Kristen in the Red Flag sketch

[@Kristbjorg-Nymann]

I was flying from Zürich to the U.S. and I was sat next to a rather rotund LOUD American woman in a fur coat (probably made from 983 electrified minks) who told me her entire life story. The movie being played was the older film, Seabiscuit, and every single time the horse ran the lady would yell, *RUN SEABISCUIT, RUN!!* I just hoped we would crash by that point. 🏇✈

[@missoctober8859]

Her Bjork impression was so good too,

[@minderbean]

The image of Kristen’s target Lady pops up this week when the Target app is opened. It’s a great pic

[@bdp8102]

What Conan said about "Lamborghini Guy" and "Sam Rolex" made me think of Vanessa Bayer and Cecily Strong, they had these recurring characters of former porn stars that tried to create ads for luxury brands in order to get free luxury stuff, but could never say the name of the brand correctly, they were great

[@monacaravetta]

Yes!!! I loved their work!

[@RTSOB1]

Conan is a Master Class in turning a comedic phrase: "...a porcelain piece of comedy...' "...like a Tourette's convention..." I don't think anyone is more adept at instinctively choosing the perfect descriptor.

[@mattvalin1958]

He's so incredibly eloquent!

[@connycontainer9459]

The Messiah !!!!!!!

[@mollaymarie92]

I don’t remember the character name, but “oh my gawwwwd” girl like the overly excited lady is so me 😂 my absolute favorite character 🙌🏻💖

[@PhilippeCarphin]

Aunt Sue, my favorite too.

[@ieatkittinz]

Top 5 cast members of all time. Nuff' Said

[@adhammp6885]

Ojalá conan needs a friend siga por este camino jaja

[@actasifitisimpossibletofail]

The episode 'Beauty and the Beast' with Kristen and Gerard is my absolut favorite. Keep rewatching it now and then :)

[@markcorcoran482]

Aunt Susan was, l believe, the name of her hilarious character who could not contain herself when someone was in for a surprise. WOOP, right up the chimney. Love her.

[@penguin44ca]

Linda

[@markcorcoran482]

I’m referring to another character. She may not be an aunt.

[@glenneric1]

Ann Margret. Liza Minnelli. Katherine Helpburn. Drew Berrymore. All those impressions killed me.

[@christlerose8316]

Her skin is absolutely GLOWING! I love her so much and she only gets more beautiful every year!

[@johnfarmakis8518]

I’m in a play now. I got the part because of my improv abilities. Every line in the play gives away the next line. Well written. I told the director that I didn’t think my skills would translate. These lines aren’t open for interpretation. Show starts next week. I just got off book yesterday. Memorizing sucks

[@rhyswilloughby6364]

Fit Check on Conan and Kristen, 10 & 10 🔥

[@user-zy3id7ji9j]

Love her, and would so have loved it if Conan actually let her speak for more than 30 seconds! He talked almost the entire time.

[@margaretschaffner9133]

She's fantastic!

[@carlanderson6205]

I really loved her impersonations of Judy Garland and Gloria Swanson. Really funny.

[@SuperSuperballZ]

That was so good. Bill Ozempic has a lot of potential.

[@mikeyd946]

Her Kathy Lee impression 😂

[@krisjames584]

"I'M SAM ROLEX" PLSSSSSS Conan went off the rails at the end lmfao

[@kelconway5792]

No matter how much more beautiful she becomes, she never loses her comedic talent.

[@johnbolton2149]

Thx for the hw assignment. Now I’m scouring KZbin for “Aunt Linda” sketches.

[@nimflower]

Man said bill ozempic 😭😂🤣

[@user-rs1xd4xx2k]

Freba and Fran is one of my favourite skits ever because Neil Patrick Harris slipped so easily into the character and riffed with her where she could take it all the way

[@user-fb4sb1zi8g]

Kristen is amazing! She’s going to be a legend like Carol Burnett.

[@jmfernelius]

Aunt Linda might be one if the best characters in SNL history.

[@ghostmantagshome-er6pb]

I never realized how pretty she is!

[@brettrossi89]

She’s a true beauty

[@adamhawn2523]

The Skeleton Twins is such an amazing movie!!

[@oliviamcnama8839]

A legend

[@j.b.abraham4175]

Kristin is truly genius! She's hilarious, and I think probably a force to be reckoned with. (In a good way).

[@MrNategriffin]

conans so funny when he starts riffing off the top of his head.

[@AnthonySherritt]

I LOVE Aunt Linda! I knew a woman named Linda, who was exactly like that.

[@DrDooms13]

SNL, needs to do a month long anniversary of 25 or 50 years of the BEST characters and sketches and redo them for that month!!!

[@TJD63]

Too many great characters and skita to pick a favorite. Target Lady, Doooneese, californians. Target lady is one that we all relate to simply because of the target reference. Bridesmaids was one of my fav movies. The scene on the plane after she got the intense buzz from the pills is classic wiig!

[@emilybusybeee]

I'm 80% sure you met my mom Linda on that plane. Because your aunt Linda character is literally her.

[@oxymoronman]

I'd love to see Conan interview shayne topp or Amanda leehan Canto and share improv experiences between two generations

[@dontcallmegus]

Love how off-the-rails this went at the end with the commercial characters bit. Gold.

[@user-wv9pw9tq1g]

Conan Bellyache Laugh O’Brien 🎉

[@stephanleo]

This is the first time I witness Kristen Wiig doing that Kristen Wiig character!

[@stingrey1571]

@6:00 is exactly what happened on sportscenter. There was a period of time when every anchor was trying real hard to get a catchphrase over. “It’s not Bart Simpson. It a Homer.”

[@Tonyhouse1168]

After my nan Stuart Scott changed the game. I miss those times

[@NeonKC]

Goat female cast member

[@scottstewart5784]

Goat cast member

[@NeonKC]

@@scottstewart5784 she has a good case

[@genemaurillo4162]

Loved her character in the Californians sketch - SNL

[@PRADtapes]

I liked it when Kristen was allowed to talk

[@Niberspace]

i thin kthe greatest interviewer of all times knows what he's doing

[@imageguy01]

What I admired about Johnny Carson was his unselfishness in letting his guests take the center stage in conversations.

[@user-ud7ko4cq1n]

Every dude on earth wishes their wife/girlfriend had Kristen's vibe. She's got such a chill, smart, effortless vibe about her. Plus she's gorgeous which helps things along lol.

[@marlabrown8022]

I completely agree with you!

[@noodleMoodle253]

Kristen Wiig is my all time favorite 🧡 she is so damn funny. I’m really enjoying her new show on Apple TV ! She’s so funny even though her character is not aware of it. Absolute treat to watch!

[@adamadamadam321]

"You're not trying to blow me... off the roof."

[@gheller2261]

By contrast, everything Chris Farley did was big and over the top and it's why I never found him to be funny in the least. Engaging, but not all that funny.

[@MrNategriffin]

i'm so glad she said that was her favorite character. it's mine too.