In 11 Questions, The A.V. Club asks interesting people 11 interesting questions—and then asks them to suggest one for our next interviewee.
Casey Wilson is probably most beloved around these parts for her role as the a-mah-zing Penny on ABC’s gone-too-soon hangout sitcom Happy Endings. But she’s also known for a stint on Saturday Night Live, as the screenwriter of Bride Wars, and for starring in two Hotwives series on Hulu, which spoofs Bravo’s Real Housewives series. This past year, she appeared as Tig Notaro’s girlfriend in the series One Mississippi, and her Housewives-themed podcast with co-star and creator Danielle Schneider was listed in our Best Podcasts Of 2016. Wilson is also developing a new comedy for Hulu with her friend June Diane Raphael.
At the A.V. Club’s recent comedy festival in Chicago, Wilson and Schneider hosted a Bitch Sesh night, with two shows devoted to talking with their many fans about the Housewives. Before this fun evening kicked off, Wilson squeezed us in for a few minutes to talk in the green room. We didn’t have a ton of time, but she was gamely determined to finish all of our questions. Let’s see how she did.
1. If you could spend the rest of your life inside one movie or TV show, which would it be and why?
Casey Wilson: That is a good one. I would say maybe inside 30 Rock, because I just love the fun ride, like everything’s a joke, but maybe that would mean Saturday Night Live, which I’ve been on, and I don’t want to spend my life in there. So that one’s a quandary. So I would say inside 30 Rock but not inside the world that is me being on SNL.
2. Do you have a favorite swear word or phrase? How often do you use it, and in what circumstances?
CW: Oh, gosh, I don’t think I swear that much, as you can tell by the fact that I just said, “Oh, gosh.” It’s probably just the tried-and-true “fuck.” Which is so boring and yet so perfect when you need it.
The A.V. Club: It’s a noun, verb, adjective—it really comes in handy.
CW: Yeah, I’m going to go with the boring vanilla “fuck.”
3. How did you spend your last birthday?
CW: I think I just went out for some Mexican food with a few close friends. It was nothing fancy. It was 36, and I feel like 36 is kind of “wah-wah.” You’re not getting too much flavor. I love Mexican food and I love margaritas, so it was great.
4. What is the worst professional advice you’ve ever received?
CW: Oh, my god, so much. Someone, a director, told me, “If you’re overweight, it reflects on me.”
AVC: [Gasps.]
CW: So his advice was that I lose weight. And he tried to couch it by saying that it was for the character, and I’m like, “I think the character looks how I do, because I was cast in this role.” Trying to think of some other advice… probably that one was the worst.
5. If you were a medical doctor, what kind of doctor would you be and why?
CW: I’ve always had dreams of being some kind of therapist, but I’m not a good listener, so I don’t know how that would go, for a vocation.
AVC: But you’d learn so much.
CW: I’d learn so much about myself!
6. What’s your perfect Sunday?
CW: The perfect Sunday is probably sleeping in, lots of coffee, reading the paper, being with my son, up to a point…
AVC: How old is he?
CW: He’s 2.
AVC: Gotta get him a big nap time in there.
CW: My son’s like, “Do I live in this crib, or what?” Then going to the movies with my husband, and drinks with friends at night. Going to bed at about 6 p.m.
7. What do you get snobby about?
CW: My face mask. I like only a Brookstone sleep mask, which makes other skanky ones just look totally inferior. I don’t like those little thin ones. They may say funny things, but they let so much light in. I can’t have it. I won’t have it.
I’m definitely not snobby about comedy. I think everything’s funny. I wish I was snobbier. Maybe about hotels, but nobody wants to hear that—trying to appear down to earth. [Laughs.]
8. What book have you read the most?
CW: This is so sad to say for a comedy article. There’s a little book called Healing After Loss: Daily Meditations For Working Through Grief that has a meditation every day that I got when my mom passed away. But it also has something meaningful everyday. So I like that. It’s a beautiful book.
9. What are you afraid of?
CW: Most anything and everything having to do with my son, from his emotional health to his physical health, his well-being, my succeeding at being a mom overall, and basically just the health in general of everyone I know and love. Just the usual few things. And I’m also scared, terrified, if I’ve run out of Justin’s Peanut Butter Cups or Hot Tamales.
10. Who are you a big fan of that we wouldn’t necessarily guess that you’re a big fan of?
CW: I wouldn’t necessary call her a comedian, which are most of my favorite actresses, but Debra Winger is my favorite actress, and I think she’s really hilarious and funny.
AVC: What movie is she funny in?
CW: Well, that’s a great question: Terms Of Endearment. Go back and rewatch! It’s not a laugh riot, that’s for sure, but I think she’s so funny in it. Just has a great sense of humor. Shirley MacLaine’s hilarious in it, too. My favorite book was Healing After Loss, so I’m obviously into darker fare, but yeah, I wish Debra Winger would do more comedy. That would be great—although she’s in a new one now that’s about to come out.
11. What advice would you give to your younger self?
CW: Don’t listen to that director, the aforementioned director. And don’t take those pee pills. I was prescribed a purple pill from my OB-GYN because I told her I had to pee too often, and I took these weird pills that made my urine florescent and purple.
AVC: Did it help the problem, though?
CW: Not really, it just made life really weird. Apparently, she said they’re for senior citizens and receptionists who work at Hollywood agencies who aren’t allowed to leave their desks.
12. Bonus 12th question from Hasan Minhaj: You have 24 hours to live. What do you do that last day?
AVC: Sorry, not a great question to ask a person who’s into…
CW: Grief! I’m like, oh, god. I think I’d probably do some hallucinogenics to slow down time.
AVC: Smart.
CW: And then cuddle my son into my oblivion.
AVC: Now you get to ask a question for the next person.
CW: What about: What memory always makes you smile?
AVC: Nice. Ending on an upswing.