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Home , Ellie Kemper, Jane Krakowski, Jeff Richmond, Kimmy Schmidt, Robert Carlock, Sex and the City

AS THE CULT HIT UNBREAKABLE RETURNS FOR ITS SECOND SEASON, EW GOES ON SET TO WATCH THE WORLD’S MOST RESILIENT MOLE WOMAN AND HER DYSFUNCTIONAL FOUND FAMILY FACE A BRAND-NEW BARRAGE OF BONKERS.

BY MARC SNETIKER @marcsnetiker

Ellie Kemper

APRIL 1/8, 2016 EW.COM 51 the show for a year and then not seeing it, how what’s happened to you before plays not knowing how people reacted, not even out now and what it does to your ability to knowing if it would be on TV,” says Kemper, find happiness and success in the future.” 35. (Kimmy was slated to air on NBC in For some, the past offers something to spring 2015 but was shuffled over to Net- be recaptured: Nutjob landlady Lillian flix.) “Coming back for season 2, there’s a () will combat gentrification and very motivating, positive feeling knowing a try to restore her beloved neighborhood to tone has been struck that’s resonating with its former glory, while Krakowski’s recently people. The first year was kind of like giving divorced socialite Jacqueline stoops to new birth—maybe awkward? And painful? But lows to regain the highs of the wealth and Burgess shines never bloody!” Burgess, who plays Kimmy’s social status she lost in her divorce. in the viral video for stylish diva roommate Titus, offers a differ- For Titus, whose escape from Mississippi “Peeno Noir” PEENO, ent metaphor: “The house is built; now is explored in the season premiere, his jour- PART 2? you’ve got to go pick out furniture and ney is one of reinvention: A promising love arrange for a housewarming party.” story will dominate his arc this year, thanks IN SEASON 1, Titus’ hyper-absurd music video The atmosphere on season 2 isn’t quite a to a lucky gentleman (whom viewers briefly “Peeno Noir” became a party but more like a high school gradua- met in season 1) who gets the outlandish sensation—so much so, the video’s clocked tion when you haven’t yet declared a major: wannabe superstar to strip away those almost 1.5 million views on Kemper’s character has largely left the emotional pashminas. “We learn why Titus YouTube, and even inspired Burgess to release his own trauma of her childhood abduction in puts up such a fight, why there’s a guard to brand of wine in real life. the past, and she has nowhere to go but keep people from getting into the Emerald “I’m just waiting by the mail- box for my check,” jokes forward—quite literally, as a three-month City,” says Burgess. “It’s so strange to Carlock, who teases the time jump in the premiere ignites the sea- watch him put someone else’s feelings first, Titus tune this season that may knock “Peeno” off its son with a lightning round of absurd and that’s been a bit of recalibrating that I reigning Internet pedestal. scenarios that the first eight episodes will didn’t anticipate. You catch glimpses of him “I’m hoping the viral song is one that Titus, while in a build toward (art theft, Santa Claus, and a and you go, ‘Oh! There’s actually somebody feverish fugue, sings about jilted wife all play a role). Kimmy’s contin- living inside of this emperor.’ ” teeth,” he says. “It might be my favorite thing. It’s going ued epiphanies about the essence of But it’s still Kimmy, the show’s optimis- to be fun and funny and adulthood will manifest in new milestones tic heartbeat, who will once again endure bright and horrifying. A mixed tone—these things (She gets her learner’s permit...), new where they sound like they careers (...to be an driver!), and new shouldn’t be funny—might be what Tina and I have mistakes—like what happens when she just decided is what we do pursues a married man. “She has ideas now.” Hmm...what rhymes about boys that are very teenage and not with “teeth”? fully formed, but it’s similar to anyone who didn’t date in or come out until their 20s,” reasons Kemper. “You’re discov- ering dating for the first time, and she has Kemper and certain ideas in her head.” The season opener also immediately resolves last year’s cliff-hangers (like the appearance of Titus’—gasp—ex-wife) and Not to burst your bubble, but Call it the Kimmy Schmidt effect, whereby The show follows the adventures of introduces the overarching theme of life on the set of Unbreakable Kimmy the radiant presence of Kemper’s 30-going- Kimmy Schmidt, a sweet Midwesterner who Kimmy Schmidt’s second outing: Damage Schmidt isn’t all babies, kitties, and rain- on-13 protagonist shines over the buoyant set, was held captive for 15 years in an under- isn’t limited to those who have been kid- bows. The vibe here at the the cynical-turned-sunny characters, and the ground cult and escapes to napped and held in a bunker. Every main home of ’s charming sleeper com- viewers who made the series a fast favorite stunted and in search of the teenage years character gets their share of illuminating edy about a cult escapee () (and, thanks to its catchy music, an exercise she missed. Kemper, who gained recogni- flashbacks, like meets Lost by way of readjusting to the real world is decidedly, in Internet virality) when it debuted on Net- tion in season 5 of , has never . “Heading into this season appropriately grittier: Really, it’s more like flix last March. With the bingeable season 2 headlined a show, let alone one developed knowing that we were on Netflix, we did Kemper and toddlers (’s 4-year-old son, inbound on April 15, the cast and creators are especially for her by the creators of 30 Rock; feel like we could play with time more,” co-creator/ writer Bennett) chasing puppies (Tituss Burgess’ relishing the blazing confidence they’ve found just as Kimmy is conquering new frontiers, says co-creator Carlock. “Everyone has on set during new rescue dog, Hans) down neon blue now that the world has met Tina Fey and so is Kemper acclimating to life as the their past, people have their ‘bunkers.’ a break in shooting and green hallways. Robert Carlock’s wild, wonderful creation. face of a buzzy hit. “It was very hard doing (PREVIOUSSPREAD AND THIS SPREAD) ERIC LIEBOWITZ/NETFLIX (4) [Tina and I] wanted a show that was about

52 EW.COM APRIL 1/8, 2016 APRIL 1/8, 2016 EW.COM 53 SPECIAL KIMMY SCHMIDT the most emotional twists, especially as she embarks on a quest to reconnect with her EDITION! mother. “Kimmy is incomplete in a lot of ways, and her belief that everything’s going THE SHOW’S CHARACTERS (COUGH, WRITERS*, COUGH) to be okay is not always true—you can’t get CHOOSE THEIR POP CULTURE FAVES everything you want just because you believe in yourself, and that includes fam- ily,” says Carlock. “There was a subtext in the first season that her family was clearly not functional, and after season 1, we found KIMMY JACQUELINE TITUS LILLIAN the tone and the confidence to tackle those Carol Kane and Burgess SCHMIDT VOORHEES ANDROMEDON KAUSHTUPPER heavy things in heavy ways.” Short of spoiling which beloved TV 1 | MOVIES 1 | BOOKS 1 | MUSIC 1 | TV comedy icon landed the role of Mommy Room Simple Times: Rihanna HGTV’s Renovation Brie Larson was so good, Crafts for Poor People, A Rihanna song I taped Raiders Schmidt, there are plenty of other guest darling 30 Rock. Much of the same crew is “I have a lovely song with Tituss that I was

but where were the jokes?! by off the radio that is As a landlord, it’s great : stars who will invade Kimmy’s kooky world employed on Kimmy, along with its music so nervous to do because that voice sets Also, 10 Cloverfield Lane— I’ve really had to called either “Wer” to see people as

ROOM this year, including Anna Camp as Jacque- supervisor (Fey’s husband, Jeff Richmond) such a high bar,” says Kane, alluding to John Goodman was adjust my lifestyle or “Der.” I cannot tell. committed to shoddy so scary, but where were since I left Julian. workmanship as I am. line’s rival debutante, ’ Zosia Mamet as and star Krakowski. “When I took the part Burgess’ soaring soprano in last year’s the jokes?! 2 | BOOKS a meddling hipster, and I had no idea what they were going to write, “Peeno Noir” (see sidebar). But unfortu- | MOVIES | MUSIC 2 The Life-Changing 2 JOAN: MARCUS; alum Fred Armisen as Lillian’s former but I knew I wanted to work with them nately, not everyone gets to feel the rhythm, 2 | TV The Big Short Pandora Magic of Tidying Up, flame, who happens to be based on a very again,” says Krakowski, who swapped vapid says Carlock: “The bitter irony is that we Mr. Robot I watched for the man by Marie Kondo I have a channel called “Son I really want to see this candy. In the last Once a year I go through of Sam.” It’s mostly ’70’s real, very infamous person. “Everyone was actress for vapid socialite think Jacqueline can’t sing, so poor Jane”— show I keep hearing about. 10 minutes of the movie, all my clothes, and if disco and the occasional SHELOVES ME obsessed with when we sat down Jacqueline. “It felt like a homecoming, and a Tony-winning musical star—“has to just He sounds so fancy, like all those characters they don’t “spark joy” Trump press conference. he’s a robot with a brief- become soooo hot. in me, I hang them back to write,” reveals Carlock. “Tina really I’m sure that’s due to the Tina Fey effect of sit there and listen to everyone else.” case! I’d be like, “Good day, on that fence where I 3 | MOVIES insisted that the overlap between these two the types of people she hires, that we all But perhaps Krakowski will get another Mr. Robot! The weather is found them. Carol New York eccentrics was just too good.” match up in our spirit and humor.” attempt at song and dance next year, just splendid, yes? Give my It happened pretty much best to Mrs. Robot, won’t Fey’s influence is also felt in the way The season has also upped its quota of as the show has already been renewed 3 | TV just like they show in the you?” Hey, I wonder if he’s movie, except I ended up WILSON: WEBB; (THISPAGE) ERIC LIEBOWITZ/NETFLIX(2) to Mr. Belvedere? The People v. O.J. Kimmy bears the same rich comedic inanity musical moments for the gang, which are for season 3 by Netflix. Given its strong Simpson shooting her husband. (OPPOSITE PAGE) CHARACTERS: MATTHIAS CLAMER/NETFLIX (4); CLAMER/NETFLIX MATTHIAS CHARACTERS: PAGE) (OPPOSITE GEORGE KRAYCHYK; HOGAN: WWE; CAROL and frenetic non sequiturs as her critical fast becoming a signature of the series. embrace at last year’s — ...but DON’T watch ’Cause I did not have where it garnered seven nominations, The Bachelor a TV the first time around, and I want to see how Some reverend gets to including one for Outstanding Comedy 3 | THEATER this case turned out! tongue-down dozens Series—there looks to be no shortage of women trapped in a big of attention this year. By all measures, house?! We gotta find that That Jane Krakowski is 4 | THEATER a national treasure! house and free those girls! Definitely NOT Hamilton Kimmy Schmidt isn’t just Unbreakable but 4 | SOCIAL MEDIA That boy stole my idea unstoppable. JDate 3 | MUSIC 4 | TV of doing a Broadway show There’s nothing like the Carlock laughs when asked whether the Hulk Hogan’s The Real Housewives about wearing vests! look on a nice Jewish boy’s sax tape of New York City series will end when Kimmy finally “gets face when he realizes he’s I haven’t heard it yet, I love getting a deeper it”—that is, when she’s fully adapted to but I love the Hulkster, been catfished. And they’re insight into all these usually too polite to leave the mean and modern world. “Maybe?” he and I love saxophone amazing women I’ve music! before I score myself a free considers. “Either when she gets it or shared numbing gel with boilermaker. at the laser place. when she proves the whole world wrong.” But she might be catching on sooner than later, at least based on what happens here on the trendy Greenpoint set, where Kem- * TINA FEY, per ventures off-soundstage in Kimmy’s ROBERT so-retro-it’s-hip costume. “I go out to get CARLOCK, coffee here in bright green pants and a tur- SAM MEANS, AND MEREDITH quoise top, and nobody looks twice,” she Jane Krakowski SCARDINO says. “Maybe I’m a hipster now!” Baby steps, Kimmy. Baby steps. ◆

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