Linda Cardellini on Playing the ‘Hot’ Boss: “I like it. I have to say. It’s been pretty fun. It’s kind of a change for me from wearing a sweater and glasses or an army jacket. It’s kind of fun to play the boss, the chick.”
Linda Cardellini on Her Attraction to “Grandma’s Boy:” “I think when I first read the script, I thought it was hilarious. I laughed out loud more than I have reading anything else. And I just love the movie. I think it’s hilarious. Nick Swardson is so hilarious in the movie and Doris Roberts and the ladies, the Shirleys, I think were so great.”
The Three Veteran Actresses on the Humor of “Grandma’s Boy:” Asked if this movie reflects her sense of humor, Shirley Knight said some of what’s in “Grandma’s Boy” does. “I think it does. If you look at today’s humor, a lot of it is, not all of it obviously, but part of it is.”
On the other hand, Doris Roberts thought it was aimed more at the opposite sex. “I think it’s a little male,” laughed Roberts. Shirley Jones admitted she had a great time on the set and believes the humor works for all ages. “Working with all these young, beautiful guys was fantastic and they were so funny. We laughed at everything they said and did and vice versa, so obviously the humor does connect.”
Shirley Jones and Shirley Knight Disclose Who Makes Them Laugh: Knight says her taste in comedy is pretty eclectic. “I think honestly, if I’m being absolutely honest, I find Chris Rock very, very funny. I find David Letterman funny. Going back, I used to find Lenny Bruce funny. George Burns. There’s a lot of funny people. Jonathan Winters used to make me laugh. Billy Crystal,” explained Knight, adding “It’s interesting because it’s not like you say, ‘Well, I like this kind of humor.’ I think it’s different comedians. Ellen DeGeneres makes me laugh no matter what she says. I don't know what it is about her, and it’s not that she’s actually saying anything that funny.”
Jones says, “And I don't think it has to do with the era that we’re in either because I never laughed at anything The Three Stooges did, yet I laugh at a lot of things the young comedians do.”
Linda Cardellini on the Funniest Moment on the Set: “I have to tell you, one of my favorite behind the scenes moments was when the director, Nick Goossen, was practicing high kicks and trying to impress us all and he split his pants. It actually should’ve made the movie.” Unfortunately audiences won’t be able to share Cardellini’s favorite moment. Goossen’s high kicks won’t make the DVD. “I wish we had it on film,” laughed Cardellini.
Linda Cardellini on Staying in Character: There were several scenes in which it was tough for Cardellini to keep a straight face. “Most things with Nick Swardson because he changes what he says every time. We’d laugh so hard and often get scolded because we would laugh so hard sometimes we’d ruin the take.”
Was she able to adapt and improvise along with her co-stars? “It’s different for my character too because she was sort of the businesswoman, the boss, and until she gets to Grandma’s house for the party, doesn’t really cut loose. But yes, definitely.”
Linda Cardellini on Being the Straight Girl in a Room Full of Goofy Guys: “I love it. I think it’s excellent. I love working with people who are great at being funny. To be the straight person is a certain honor because all the stuff sort of happens around you. You’re helping but you’re not necessarily the punchline. I like it.” Cardellini confessed she also enjoyed being one of the only women around all these men. “I also like that, I have to say. There’s a fair amount of attention you get being the only girl. I really was sort of one of the guys from the get go and I really loved it.”
Linda Cardellini on Her “ER” Experience: “It’s different, I have to say, from doing something like ‘Freaks and Geeks’ where we were hanging on to every last hope that we would get picked up and then we got cancelled, to being on something like ‘ER’ that’s been on for 12 years and it’s still running strong. It’s quite a different experience, and they both have their merit I’d have to say.”
Cardellini said there's an added benefit to spending time on the set of "ER." "I think I’m a little better at the Heimlich maneuver and I know a lot more about CPR, which are two things that I can actually use.”
