Melissa McCarthy: "Mike and Molly" true to life
Few actors are hotter in Hollywood right now than Melissa McCarthy. She's about to begin her second season in the breakout comedy hit "Mike and Molly" on CBS, and over the summer, she stole the show in the blockbuster movie "Bridesmaids." And, most recently, she walked away with an Emmy for best actress in a comedy.
The actress said she was completely stunned by the Emmy announcement and thought she was going to fall over when they called her name. She told the "Early Show" anchors Monday she had to watch her speech after the fact, because she couldn't remember anything she said.
"Afterwards, people were like, 'I'm from Illinoi,s too.' I'm like, 'How did you know?' I had no memory at all of what I said. They were like, 'You said you're from Plainfield.' I said, 'When did I say that?' They said, 'In your speech.' I thought, 'What else did I say?!' I was so overwhelmed, but I didn't know what was coming out of my mouth."
On that night, "Early Show" co-anchor Erica Hill pointed out, McCarthy showed she's multi-talented. She actually designed her own gown for the awards show ceremony. When asked about the dress, McCarthy said, "It was a dark, dark purple. I went to school for clothing and textiles and thought this is what I was going to do. Then I started working in costumes and literally said, 'I don't know if I can take the actors.' And then I became the person I made fun of."
In acting, McCarthy has struck gold with her roles, especially in playing a wedding party member in the hit flick, "Bridesmaids." She even had the chance to work with her husband, Ben Falcone, known in the film as "Air Marshall Jon," in one of the movie's airplane scenes in which she tries to uncover his secret identity.
McCarthy joked, "That was just home footage that we had. Oh, that's just some of us on a plane. ... It was ridiculous to be able to get to shoot that with him."
As for her on-camera romance on "Mike and Molly," McCarthy's and Billy Gardell's characters are recently engaged and begin planning their wedding in tonight's season premiere.
One scene McCarthy shared on "The Early Show" shows the couple's discussion about where their wedding will be. McCarthy's character says, "If we're going to have a shot at booking a nice place, we have to start looking now. ... Otherwise, we are going to end up getting married in your brother's backyard and having a reception at the Sizzler."
Gardell's character, an overweight police officer, replies, "Sizzler? Is that a real option?"
Hill remarked, "A lot of women are sitting at home, going, 'Uh huh, I remember that conversation.'"
The show has received ample criticism and celebration over the weight of its stars. Some critics say the show celebrates obesity, while others champion the presentation of a "real"-looking couple.
McCarthy says it's about showing a "different palette" of players on TV.
She said, "I get a lot of comments that they love, that, you know, that 'I'm a teacher' or 'I have a sister that is a teacher. You look like a teacher. You dress like a teacher.' I've always had a thing where I hate where somebody is talking about, 'I can't pay the rent.' I'm like, 'You have a $3,000 handbag.' We try to just stay real to the characters. They do such a great job...writ(ing) this kind of great little story and luckily we get to stay true to it."
McCarthy will also soon host "Saturday Night Live" for the first time.
McCarthy said, "To do "SNL," is - I can't quite even process it still. ... I'm totally nervous and wildly excited."
Co-anchor Hill said, "I can't stay up that late, but I'm going to set my DVR."
McCarthy replied, "Neither can I. The real challenge will be, will I be awake?"