Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus Listen Again: Julia Gets Wise with Catherine O’Hara
28 snips
Jan 31, 2026 
Catherine O’Hara, veteran actress and comedian known for SCTV, Beetlejuice, and Schitt’s Creek, recalls early improv roots and fearless experimentation. They trade Vatican anecdotes and comedy-making memories. Conversations touch on balancing motherhood and career, improvisation techniques, and how aging and gratitude shape their work and lives.
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Live TV's Brutal Selection
- Julia notes live sketch shows kill many good bits at the table read, making the selection process brutal but necessary.
- Returning as host felt like redoing high school with learned strategies for success.
Apologetic Pitching Habit
- Catherine admits she often let male colleagues pitch her ideas and still sometimes starts suggestions apologetically, a remnant of not being heard earlier.
- She recognizes and tries to push through that defensive 'sorry' habit when presenting ideas.
Improv Needs Clear Goals
- When improvising, know your parameters: identify point A and point B so you can freely explore between them.
- Catherine advises that clear beats allow improvisation to feel safe rather than chaotic.