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Rachel Dratch Looks Back On ‘Debbie Downer’ For Its 10th Anniversary

May 6, 2014 by  
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You’re having a great time at dinner, and she reminds you of rampant mad cow disease. You’re celebrating your birthday, and she brings up hurricane victims. She’s Debbie Downer, and she ruins everything — wah wah waaah.

The bob-wearing, side-smirking, gloomy Debbie was one of the funniest characters on “Saturday Night Live,” always bringing everyone down while simultaneously making the entire cast crack up with laughter. She’s destroyed lingerie parties, been worse than the Grinch on Christmas, and, in the best sketch of them all, she made Disney World the unhappiest place on earth.

The Debbie Downer sketch turned 10 this month, on Thursday, May 1, and Dratch was just as shocked as we were to realize how much time has passed. Since her “SNL” days, Dratch has made various cameos on TV shows (let us never forget her “30 Rock” Cat Lady) and most recently she hosted the Clorox Ick Awards last month, which Dratch called “a live improv Internet event” with The Second City comedy group.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary, HuffPost TV caught up with Dratch to look back on the Debbie days, hear about her upcoming pilot and find out if she’s returning to “Broad City” next season.

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We’re coming up on the 10th anniversary of Debbie Downer.
Oh my gosh, we are?! That’s horrifying! Has it been that long?!

Yeah! It first aired on May 1, 2004.
Oh my gosh! I did not know it’s been that long. Let’s celebrate. Time is ever marching on, wah waah!

I read that for the Debbie skit with Ben Affleck, NBC later aired the dress rehearsal instead of the live version since it was funnier.
You know what’s weird? I didn’t know that, but it’s funny because that was our second time out — whenever you’re bringing out a new character that did really well once — and that’s true because the dress rehearsal went so much better. I think I was told to not laugh, keep it together and I was really in my head for air, “I cannot laugh.” That one felt a lot less fun, but I never knew that they aired the one where we actually laughed.

Do you have a favorite Debbie Downer sketch?
My favorite was the first one [with Lindsay Lohan] where we call cracked up because, you know you try not to laugh when you’re on “SNL.” It’s such a cheat because the audience loves when you crack up and I would really try not to, but that one was just out of control. It was so fun. People often ask, “Is the show really live?” I like it when things go off a little to remind you, yes, the show is truly live and anything can happen. That seems to be the one people remember the most of the Debbie Downers.

Do you think you’ll make an appearance on “SNL” again any time soon?
You never know when you might get the call to go back. I guess what I would pray for is that some politician comes along who I look exactly like and I can play her all the time. Maybe something big will happen with Ruth Bader Ginsburg and I could play her or something, but so far that’s my front runner.

I’m really excited about your new pilot, “Dead Boss,” with Jane Krakowski! What can you say about it?
Well it’s just a pilot, so we hope it gets picked up. It’s called “Dead Boss” and it’s based in the British series created by Sharon Horgan, who’s done a bunch of shows over there. Basically, Jane Krakowski’s Helen is wrongly convicted of killing her boss, who’s played by David Cross. I’m her prison cellmate and I’m very excited to have a new roommate, a little too excited. That’s the premise of the show. I’m one of the characters in her world, but a lot of characters have different reasons for wanting her to stay in prison.

You play Christine in the pilot and she’s described as an “emotional but needy arsonist.” That sounds hilarious.
Yes, I’m a funny arsonist! I am an emotional, needy arsonist and super excited to have a roommate and, like I said, very over eager to show Jane’s Helen all the ins and outs of prison.

I also loved your appearance on “Broad City.”
I loved that show so much! When I did that I didn’t even know really — like I knew Amy Poehler was producing it, so I was like, “Of course I’ll do this.” But I didn’t really understand the whole world of these two characters. I just showed up to do this part. Now I watch it and I love the show so much. The unique friendship and weird take on New York, it’s just a really cool show.

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Do you think you’ll return next season? They may need more temps …
I’ve heard rumors that I might. So knock on wood that it happens because I’d love to now that I fully understand the show.

If you had to pick one of your many characters to live as for an entire day, who would you be?
Oh my god! That’s a good one! I thought you were going to say “Who’s your favorite,” which is what they usually ask. But to live as, wow. I think I kind of already live as Debbie Downer. [Laughs] That came from my own — let’s see. Maybe I would pick The Love-ahs because they’re so into their own wackass sensuality. It’d be kind of interesting to live like that for one day in a hot tub.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

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Michael Portillo photographed leaving flat of young female researcher

May 6, 2014 by  
Filed under Lingerie Events

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  • Michael Portillo photographed leaving flat of researcher on his BBC show
  • Erica Gornall, 26, is 34 years younger than the married ex-Tory minister
  • The pair were seen twice in affluent Primrose Hill, London, this week
  • Both Ms Gornall and Mr Portillo say they are just colleagues and friends

By
Tania Steere
and Sam Marsden


Published:

13:20 EST, 4 May 2014


|
Updated:

08:46 EST, 5 May 2014

Michael Portillo steps out in the spring sunshine with a female researcher from one of his TV shows who is 34 years his junior.

The married former Tory Cabinet Minister was photographed leaving Erica Gornall’s flat in affluent Primrose Hill in north-west London.

Looking relaxed, the pair walked away side by side with their hands in their pockets, mirroring each other’s body language.

Stepping out: Married BBC presenter Michael Portillo, 60, is seen leaving the London flat of Great British Railway Journeys researcher Erica Gornall, aged 26

Stepping out: Married BBC presenter Michael Portillo, 60, is seen leaving the London flat of Great British Railway Journeys researcher Erica Gornall, aged 26

Mr Portillo, 60, and Miss Gornall, 26,
who insist they are just good friends, got to know each other when she
worked on his popular BBC2 series Great British Railway Journeys in
2011.

The ex-Conservative MP
was dressed casually in dark blue trousers with an open-necked bright
blue shirt and a grey tweed jacket when he met Miss Gornall at her home
in the heart of the fashionable London district, which has been home to
Kate Moss, Jude Law and the Miliband brothers.

The
accomplished young journalist, who has also worked on the BBC’s
Panorama, Watchdog and Newsnight programmes, opted for a pale outfit of
white jeans, a cream trenchcoat and a light pink pashmina.

They were seen together again two nights later walking to Primrose Hill’s acclaimed Michael Nadra restaurant for dinner.

Mr
Portillo, this time wearing a more formal combination of a white shirt
and dark tie with a black overcoat, walked Miss Gornall home and bade
her goodnight with a kiss on the cheek, the Sunday Mirror reported.

Twice in a week: Mr Portillo and Ms Gornall were seen together again two days later when they visited a local restaurant in Primrose Hill

Twice in a week: Mr Portillo and Ms Gornall were seen together again two days later when they visited a local restaurant in Primrose Hill

Michael Portillo has been married to Carolyn Eadie since 1982, but has allegedly had several affairs during their 32 years together (pictured: the couple in 2003)

Michael Portillo has been married to Carolyn Eadie since 1982, but has allegedly had several affairs during their 32 years together (pictured: the couple in 2003)

The
Cambridge-educated former defence secretary has been married to his
wife Carolyn since 1982, although in 1999 he spoke of how he had
‘homosexual experiences’ as a young man.

Over
the years there have been several reports alleging that he had affairs,
including claims that he was romantically involved with the unnamed
wife of a millionaire banker, a former lingerie model and a Hungarian
blonde.

Mr Portillo has
forged a successful career in the media since he famously lost his seat
at the 1997 general election and stood down as an MP for good in 2005.

As
well as his long-running series celebrating the romance of classic
train journeys in the UK and beyond, he has regularly appeared on BBC
politics discussion show This Week and BBC Radio 4 ethical debate
programme The Moral Maze.

He could not be reached for comment today, but he told the Sunday Mirror that he and Miss Gornall were just friends.

Miss
Gornall studied at the London School of Economics, where she wrote for
the university paper The Beaver and broadcast for its station Pulse
Radio, according to a profile on her website.

After
graduating, she ‘swapped student politics for Westminster’ by becoming a
researcher for veteran BBC political documentary-maker Michael
Cockerell.

She dismissed any suggestions that she was romantically involved with Mr Portillo yesterday (Sun).

Speaking
from her parents’ semi-detached house in a quiet cul-de-sac in Eynsham,
Oxfordshire, she said: ‘We are just friends. We have known each other
for quite a while and we are very good friends, but just friends and
that is all it is.’


Comments (88)

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The comments below have been moderated in advance.

Smujsmith,

Pig-atop-the-hill, United Kingdom,

23 hours ago

Oh dear DM, has Portillo fallen foul of Tory Central Office ? Has he said something that Lord Snooty has taken exception to, or worse, Schapps ? Looks like a bloke can’t do anything these days without someone, in this case the DM, insinuating something that might be quite innocent, and frankly, Portillo’s private life should remain exactly that.

Simon,

Chester, United Kingdom,

23 hours ago

Barking up the wrong tree here

pete the painter,

leicester,

23 hours ago

this man is not only a great orator on his railway journeys he also has implacable manners and a gentleman

sruoypU,

Mars, United Kingdom,

1 day ago

just showing her his old train tickets !!!!! what wrong with that ?

ticketyboo,

Evesham, United Kingdom,

1 day ago

Can’t he have a private life kept private.

john doe,

nowhere particularly good, United Kingdom,

1 day ago

Why are you reporting this?

mundane,

Poole, United Kingdom,

1 day ago

Hello! They work in the same programme, what’s wrong with them meeting as many times as they think it’s necessary?

Marie84,

Fife,

1 day ago

I’m married but often meet up with my male friends. Am I having an affair? No.

Holly Mead,

London, United Kingdom,

1 day ago

So what.

fizgog,

exeter, United Kingdom,

1 day ago

Great British Railway Journeys is a very good programme among so much dross. So! he has a young friend and she a ‘grand-dad figure’ to talk things over with. Why should it be anything else? Both very lucky people.

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