Maya Rudolph: My ‘Up All Night’ Character Is Not Based On Oprah

Comedy genius and “Up All Night” star Maya Rudolph might have poked fun at Oprah during her days on “Saturday Night Live,” but the actress says her current role on her new NBC comedy is not based on the media mogul.

Maya stopped by Access Hollywood Live on Wednesday, where she explained that her Ava character, an eccentric daytime talk show host, is not paying homage to the Queen of OWN.

“People always think I’m doing Oprah, I guess because I did Oprah on the show,” Maya said of Ava, who in the show’s most recent episode blows off reading a book on the economic crisis to cut loose in Las Vegas at a foam party.

“You definitely have to have [gumption] to be a talk show host. I don’t think I could personally pull it off being myself,” she continued. “I’m sort of infusing Ava with this regalness that I think is fun to play.”

Maya also had high praise for recent “SNL” host and longtime friend Melissa McCarthy.

“I used to be at the Groundlings with Melissa, I’ve known the secret of Melissa McCarthy for a long time,” she said of the Emmy winner. “You saw on ‘SNL,’ she should be a cast member for sure. She’s one of the funniest people I have ever known and worked with.”

“Up All Night,” which also stars Christina Applegate and Will Arnett, airs Wednesdays at 8 PM on NBC.

Copyright © 2024 by NBC Universal, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

This material may not be republished, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Read More

‘90 Day Fiancé: Love In Paradise’ Returning With Dramatic & Wild New Season