AS THE CULT HIT UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT 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 (Carol Kane) 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 Uber 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 college or come out until their 20s,” reasons Kemper. “You’re discov- ering dating for the first time, and she has Kemper and Tituss Burgess 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 Brooklyn the cynical-turned-sunny characters, and the ground cult and escapes to New York City napped and held in a bunker. Every main home of Netflix’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 (Ellie Kemper) (and, thanks to its catchy music, an exercise she missed. Kemper, who gained recogni- flashbacks, like 30 Rock 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 The Office, has never Sex and the City. “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 (Jane Krakowski’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 Tina Fey 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 THISSPREAD) 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 Amy Sedaris 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, Girls’ 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 Saturday Night Live 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 Jenna Maroney for vapid socialite think Jacqueline can’t sing, so poor Jane”— show I keep hearing about.