Hollywood’s favorite funny lady Jane Lynch who wears many hats is the new host of ‘Hollywood Game Night’ on NBC.
Yes, her good friend from L.A Sean Hayes – an NBC fave since his days from network money maker ‘Will & Grace’ decided to have art imitate life and brought his home game activities to the small screen.
Via telephone, said Lynch on Hayes, “We’ve been friends for a while and I am kind of a steady presence at his game nights.”
So far, stars include Amy Poehler, Fred Armisen, Rose Byrnes, Martin Short, Matthew Perry and Lisa Kudrow on the same show.
Dream guest? “I just did an episode of Katie Couric’s talk show and she is dying to be on it so I would love to have her.”
What is the relationship between celebrity and regular people that this show intermingles with?
“Well the thing that happened again game nights and this happens at every game I go, to including Sean Hayes’ at his house, is that it’s such a great equalizer. You forget who’s the celebrity and you forget who’s the civilian because you just want to win that point and it’s everybody playing together.”
Why host this?
“Well, you know, I – it’s funny I don’t know what inspired me to do it other than the fact that I actually asked to do it. I’ve known Sean a long time. I have a great time at his game nights and he was having dinner over at my house and he mentioned that his show got picked by NBC and I said, well can I host it and he said, well, let me see. So before I knew it I was on board to do it.
And I love Game Night, you know, I’m a pretty competitive person at it. You want me on your team. You do not want to play against me and I think that, you know, Sean knew that I was very familiar with, you know, all the games and although we did create all of our own games for this but we used Sean’s night as the template.”
Can you please offer your opinion on the Supreme Court’s historical ruling on gay marriage?
“Well I think it’s – I mean I’m thrilled about. I think it’s a great step forward. I think it’s a huge step forward. I’m in New York now and the Gay Pride Weekend was this past weekend and it was just full of people of all stripes celebrating this decision and, of course, the overturn of Prop 8 as well so, yes, it’s a great week to be gay.”
How’s ‘Annie’ going and what is up with ‘Glee’?
Well, you know, I’m from Chicago and I started out in the theatre there and I haven’t been on stage probably in 20 years doing a play so it felt like, you know, getting back on a bike and it was joyful and continues to be joyful. I look forward to going to work every night.
I love the immediacy of being in a play and, you know, with the audience connection and I love all the people I’m working with and it’s just a real joy and kind of – it brought me back to, you know, the reason I got into this crazy business to begin with.
And Glee, let’s see, you know, I don’t know anything that’s going on and I’ll bet you even the writers don’t know either. We kind of do things – we really, you know, it’s kind of new to all of us so we’ll see what happens. I know I’m going back. I’m going to be in the next season which is good. I just found that out. And so there will be more Sue Sylvester, but I can’t tell you what that will be. I have no idea.
There have been changes in your personal life lately. What is keeping you so positive?
“Well I just – I love my work. I’m doing, you know, many different jobs including Annie and Hollywood Game Night, and Glee coming up and I have a lot going on and that always makes me happy.”
Most memorable moment from filming Hollywood Game Night?
“Oh man, there are so many. I mean, well I’ll just start rattling them off. Martin Short falling off the couch every time the band starts to play as if it was a shock to him. Amy Poehler and Jason Sudeikis getting a little bit drunk. They were great.
Do you cook at all?
“A simple recipe is I pick up the phone and order food. I don’t cook at all, at all.”
‘Hollywood Game Night’ airs Thursday’s at 10p ET on NBC.