Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your accountsSaved for Latersection.
I really dont like memoirs that sugarcoat things, Newman told Vulture in a recent phone interview.
The raison detre for the memoir changed many times, she said.
I had impressions about myself I wanted to justify, which is no way to write a book.
It was not an easy process.
She wrote, by her count, about ten drafts over the course of two decades.
Do not go into show business, Newmans mother tried to impress upon her daughter.
She co-founded the Groundlings, the Los Angelesbased improv and sketch-comedy troupe.
Hers is a memoir chock-full of boldface names.
I feel like Zelig, she says.
She also laughs at writing such sentences as Upon Linda Ronstadts recommendation, I switched my accounting firm.
Sting told me I name drop all the time, she jokes.
I just hope (the memoir) doesnt come off that way.
Below is an edited and condensed version of Newmans recent chat with Vulture.
You are an artist of many voices and characters.
Im completely unaware of any personality that I might have.
Im so much more comfortable wearing a character.
That is the craft of stand-up, where comedians really do develop their persona.
Who were your comedy influences growing up?Comedy was really big in our house.
My dad was a very funny guy.
He made a lot of puns; excellent ones.
My mother was inadvertently funny.
We had all the comedy albums: Alan Sherman,The First Familywith Vaughan Meader.
As I got older, it was Richard Pryor all the way.
But seeing comedians onThe Merv Griffin Showwas really my education.
I liked Totie Fields a lot.
I never got to see Joan Rivers until later, and I appreciated her.
Her style was, from my perspective, more mainstream.
Theres such a huge list, including my kids.
I liked having all eyes on me.
ContemporarySNLcast members often say that their dream was to be on the show.
That couldnt have been your dream, as the show did not exist.
What was the dream for you?I had no big-picture perspective on things.
I was just putting one foot in front of the other, which I dont recommend.
I didnt know I was auditioning forThe Lily Tomlin SpecialorSNLwhen I was at the Groundlings.
I didnt know Lorne was in the audience.
I was just doing this thing that was, for me, a way to not feel so alone.
Sharing perspectives with people was the most gratifying thing.
I had an identity.
I didnt know anybody atSNL.
Meeting Chevy Chase for the first time was scary.
He said, Years from now … of course, you wont be there, Tom.
I was so young and so inexperienced.
I was making my way.
I just really felt I was always at a loss and trying to prove myself each time.
It landed, and that gave me some cred.
Did you see Chevys breakout success and departure from the show coming?It was a surprise.
I could see how good Chevy was, but I could see how good everyone was.
It never occurred to me there would be a breakout star.
I was certainly happy for him, but I was stunned when he wanted to leave the show.
I have a lot of affection for Chevy.
Even after he left the show, he was a very good friend to me.
John Belushi reportedly resented Chevys success.
Was it different for the women?
Did you have each others backs?I envied Gildas success, and I envied Janes place on Update.
Its embarrassing to admit, but I think its important to talk about envy, jealousy, and insecurity.
People dont talk about that enough, and its a true thing.
WhatSNLhosts impressed you or surprised you that they got the show?There were a lot.
I didnt know about Monty Python.
I didnt know Michael Palin.
They were a revelation (to me).
I only learned who Buck Henry was when he started doing the show.
And boy, could he.
I think Kirk Douglas was really a pleasant surprise.
To this day, I still watch the show.
I just love it so much.The guy fromBridgerton terrific.
People like Christopher Walken are always playing heavies and yet are so goddamned funny.
I felt everybody else was, but I didnt feel that I was.
I know that sounds kind of pathetic, but I didnt see myself that way.
Do you enjoy watching episodes from your time on the show?It depends.
BecauseSNLis such an amazing opportunity and its so fun.
I had so much fun doing the 40th anniversary.
I was so thrilled I got to be in The Californians.
But having it out there is a risk because youre more exposed than youve ever been.
I am still kind of wounded by peoples attitudes that addiction is not a disease.
The attitude ofYou dont have any willpowerreally stayed with me.
You dont choose to be an addict.
Your mother advised you not to go into show business.
Did you have flashbacks when your children Hannah EinbinderandSpike Einbinder told you they wanted to?Hell yeah.
My mom did not have it easy.
She had two kids by the time she was 19 and then twins a decade later.
She didnt get any kind of mothering herself, so what would she know [about parenting]?
So I, of course, became a helicopter parent in reaction to what I got.
I was up my kids butts like you wouldnt believe.
You start where people have left off so that you are original.
