September 6, 2023

Jane Curtin ~ The Ultimate "Straight-Man"

 ~       
 
Jane Curtin - 1971 
photo by Friedman/Abeles
 
 
 
Today September 6, is the birthday of TV actress Jane Curtin who was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her ancestry is Irish.    
 
In 1968, Curtin decided to pursue comedy as a career and dropped out of college. She joined a comedy group, The Proposition, and performed with them until 1972. One of the original Not Ready For Prime Time Players of NBC's Saturday Night Live (1975), Curtin remained on the show through the 1979–1980 season.       
       
I enjoyed seeing her as, usually, the "straight man" in most of the skits. A sample is when Dan said, "Jane, you ignorant slut!" on a "Weekend Update" (link below) but she could come off with some terrific zingers.     

Her interaction with the other cast members of SNL was perfect and I enjoyed each episode she appeared in. 

From 1996 to 2001 she appeared as the straight-laced Dr. Mary Albright in the comedy series, 3rd Rock from the Sun. I loved this show! It chronicles the mishaps of four aliens sent to Earth to study human life and culture. The aliens are Dick Solomon (John Lithgow), the High Commander and leader of the expedition, the family provider and a physics professor at Pendelton. Information officer and oldest member of the crew Tommy (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) has been given the body of a teenager and is forced to enroll in high school, leaving security officer Sally (Kristen Johnston) and "the one with the transmitter in his head", Harry (French Stewart). Stewart was hilarious! The show involved their relationships with humans, mostly their love interests. William Shatner plays the Big Head!              
 

      
       
      
      
      
       
      
       
      
Viewfinder links:       
 
Jane Curtin       
Kristen Johnston       
John Lithgow           
      
Net links:       
      
Mental Floss ~ 16 Far Out Facts About 3rd Rock from the Sun            
      
YouTube links:       
       
3rd Rock From the Sun Links       
Saturday Night Live Links      
Weekend Update: "Jane, You Ignorant Slut" - SNL      

      
       
Happy Birthday, Jane 
      
       
      
Styrous® ~ Wednesday, September 6, 2023      
       
   
 
    
      
      
 ~
 ~








No comments:

Post a Comment

PLEASE NOTE: comments are moderated BEFORE they are posted so DO NOT appear immediately.

Thank you.