Comedy fans get excited! Catherine O'Hara the queen of quirky and hilarious is back in a brand new show called " The Studio " on Apple TV+. And guess what? There's already some juicy behind-the-scenes buzz about her character and who it might be based on. Plus we are taking a look at why Catherine O'Hara is a true comedic icon.
Did Seth Rogen Just Spill the Beans? 'The Studio's Patty Leigh and the Amy Pascal Connection
So "The Studio" is a Hollywood satire created by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. Rogen himself even stars in it. He recently dropped a hint that Catherine O'Hara's character Patty Leigh might be inspired by a real Hollywood exec: Amy Pascal. Pascal used to be the head honcho at Sony Pictures. Rogen mentioned that Patty Leigh is like Pascal because she "took huge risks." Intriguing right?
Patty Leigh in "The Studio" is the former head of Continental Studios. She gets the boot after a string of box office flops – ten in a row to be exact! O'Hara plays Patty with her signature comedic brilliance. In her very first scene we see Patty reacting to getting fired by bursting into tears. She even yells at Rogen’s character Matt Remick "You stole my job!" It's classic Catherine O'Hara comedy.
But Catherine O'Hara herself is staying mum on the Amy Pascal comparisons. While she has worked with the studio system for like fifty years she says she didn't base Patty on anyone specific. She said she was "afraid to" study anyone in particular. Whether it's Amy Pascal inspired or not Patty Leigh is shaping up to be another unforgettable Catherine O'Hara character.
From SCTV to Schitt's Creek: Why Catherine O'Hara is a Comedy Legend
Catherine O'Hara is no stranger to playing wonderfully flawed and hilarious characters. Think about her iconic roles over the years: From her improv days at Second City and the sketch show SCTV to Christopher Guest's mockumentaries like "Best in Show" and "Waiting for Guffman" and movie hits like "Beetlejuice" and "Home Alone". And of course who could forget her Emmy-winning role as Moira Rose in "Schitt's Creek"?
O'Hara has a knack for playing characters who are totally out there but completely believe they are perfect. She nails those roles where the humor comes from the character's obliviousness to their own ridiculousness. She credits her comedic success to her amazing collaborators her funny parents and her ability to find humor in everyday life. She sees humor as a "survival instinct" and a "gift".
Moira Rose's Wigs and Wardrobe: Catherine O'Hara on Keeping 'Schitt's Creek' Treasures
Speaking of unforgettable characters we have to talk about Moira Rose. Moira's wardrobe wigs and that accent are legendary. Catherine O'Hara really went all out creating this over-the-top former soap opera star. She says she wanted Moira's "crazy black and white" look to be inspired by Daphne Guinness wanting to look "avant-garde" and like an "artist".
Fans will be happy to know that O'Hara did take some Moira mementos home with her after "Schitt's Creek" wrapped. She kept a pink wig her soap opera wig a Celine coat a Philosophy leather dress giant platform boots and that amazing long black Pilgrim-style dress she wore in the final season – the one she won an Emmy for. Can you blame her for wanting to keep those iconic pieces?
'The Studio': What to Expect from Catherine O'Hara's New Hollywood Satire
"The Studio" is described as a "love-hate letter to Hollywood" created by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. It's a satire that dives into the crazy world of movie making. Catherine O'Hara plays Patty Leigh the former studio head who is now out of a job but not out of the game. As the season goes on Patty turns her firing into a new opportunity becoming a producer. But there might be some unexpected twists in her new role. The show also features some impressive cameos including Martin Scorsese who Seth Rogen said was "very funny" and "impressive" as a performer.
Comedy Then and Now: Catherine O'Hara on Second City Days and the Impact of the Internet
Catherine O'Hara started her comedy career at Second City back in the day a time before the internet really took over. She reflects on how different comedy feels now. Back then at Second City it was just about performing for the live audience each night. There were no phones recording everything no instant online judgments. She feels they had more freedom to experiment and fail and just try things out. Now she thinks comedians and performers are more limited feeling judged by "a bunch of strangers" online all the time.
She does see a good side to the internet though. She notes that now someone can be discovered for their talent right from their own home which is "wonderful". But overall she seems to miss those pre-internet days of comedy when things were a bit more free and less instantly scrutinized.
Listing of Catherine O'Hara's Notable Comedy Roles:
- SCTV: Various characters in the iconic sketch comedy show.
- Christopher Guest Mockumentaries: "Waiting for Guffman" "Best in Show" "A Mighty Wind" "For Your Consideration".
- Beetlejuice: Delia Deetz in Tim Burton's classic film.
- Home Alone & Home Alone 2: Kate McAllister the frazzled mom.
- Schitt's Creek: Moira Rose the unforgettable soap opera star turned town councilor.
- The Studio: Patty Leigh the studio executive in Apple TV+'s new satire.
Catherine O'Hara: Always Funny Always Brilliant
Whether she is playing a delusional studio exec a wig-loving soap star or any of her other amazing characters Catherine O'Hara always delivers. She is a true comedy icon and "The Studio" looks like it will be another fantastic showcase for her talents. Get ready to laugh and maybe even ponder the crazy world of Hollywood with Catherine O'Hara leading the way.