Review of "Hello, Molly! A Memoir" by Molly Shannon

 

Molly Shannon


Molly Shannon, born in 1964, is an American actress and comedian who portrayed hilarious characters on Saturday Night Live (SNL) from 1995 to 2001. Shannon went on to appear in many films and television shows, and her career is still going strong. In this memoir, Molly shares anecdotes from her life and work, both of which had ups and downs.

When Molly was 4-years-old, her family drove from their house in Cleveland, Ohio to a cousin's graduation party two hours away. After the all-day festivities, Molly's 25-year-old cousin Fran grabbed a ride back with the Shannons. Molly's dad Jim was driving and apparently lost focus, sideswiped a car, then hit a light pole head-on. Molly's mother Peg, 3-year-old sister Katie, and cousin Fran died; Molly and her 6-year-old sister Mary were injured; and Molly's dad Jim was badly hurt and would always need a leg brace.


Molly Shannon's parents, Jim and Peg Shannon


Molly's mother Peg Shannon with her three daughters

The tragedy profoundly affected Molly, whose whole world collapsed. Molly felt her teachers couldn't see how hard she was struggling, and she tended to act out and misbehave. Molly writes, "Beginning in kindergarten, I sought out the worst-behaved boys and did what they were doing."


Young Molly Shannon

When Molly got a little older, she started playing creative games with her best friend Ann. Molly recalls, "The two of us lived in our own explosive, magical world of playing house and making up stories and doing characters and voices. We were always working on impersonations of people we knew, honing accents."

Molly's interest in performing stepped up when professional choreographers came to her Catholic school, St. Dominic, and taught the children an Irish musical number for St. Patrick's Day. Molly thought, "I love this. Wow."


St. Dominic School

Meanwhile, Molly's dad struggled with drinking and taking care of his daughters....but Molly loved him dearly. She observes, "I saw [my dad] as a real rebel and radical thinker who didn't want to play by the rules." Jim would make Molly and her friend Ann sneak into amusement parks; he would undress mannequins in the mall to make them laugh; he would encourage the girls to grab wigs from a wig store and wear them; and he was silly and mischievous. When Molly was 13 and Ann was 11, Jim even encouraged them to slip onto a commercial jet as a prank, and they did. The girls sneaked onto a plane to New York City (which was much easier to do in those days) and had fun being juvenile delinquents in New York stores and restaurants until they returned home.


Times Square in 1977

In addition to being a fun guy, Jim also had a flash temper, and could get nasty at the drop of a hat. Molly often didn't know what to expect, and writes, "I either adored my dad or was frustrated and at the end of my rope." In the end, though, Jim was a driving force for Molly's future career. She notes, "My dad was very much responsible for making me who I am. He gave me a lot of confidence. He was like the Mama Rose to my Gypsy Rose. He really believed in me, understood me, and gave me great advice."

Molly relates many tales about her childhood and her early experiences in 'show business', like the time she played Dorothy in the school play The Wizard of Oz at age eleven. Molly fell in love with acting and actors and the whole atmosphere.


Young Molly Shannon enjoyed playing Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz

In 1984 Molly began school at New York University Tisch School of the Arts, and this was a formative period in her life. Molly worked in restaurants to pay for school; met all sorts of people; and had all kinds of experiences. Before graduating from NYU, Molly spent a summer in Los Angeles, and relates a funny (but harrowing) story about almost being assaulted by diminutive actor Gary Coleman from “Diff’rent Strokes."


Gary Coleman

After college, Molly relocated to California and worked hard to get representation and break into the entertainment industry. Finally, after spending time honing her craft, Molly made it onto SNL. A good part of the book describes Molly's experiences on the program, where she worked with many talented people, and perfected characters like Mary Katherine Gallagher, Sally O'Malley, and others. (You can see clips of SNL on You Tube, and one where 50-year-old 'dancer' Sally O'Malley auditions for a job in Tony Soprano's strip club is hysterical.)


Molly Shannon as Mary Katherine Gallagher on SNL


Molly Shannon as Sally O'Malley on SNL


Molly Shannon (center) with Ana Gasteyer and Alec Baldwin on SNL

Molly remained close to her father, and writes, "Dad was so proud of me.....Since my dad always wanted to be an actor but said he didn't have the confidence, when I went and did that for him, it gave him access to a world that he'd always wanted to be a part of. Marci Klein. Lorne Michaels. Jim Downey. Conan O'Brien. Adam Sandler. I gave it to him.....and THEY loved him."


Molly Shannon with her father Jim Shannon

Molly also became a movie and television actress. She had roles in the films Never Been Kissed, Superstar, Shallow Hal, Evan Almighty, Bad Teacher, Other People, and more; Molly also appeared on the television shows Will and Grace, Sex and the City, The Middle, Raising Hope, The White Lotus, and others.


Molly Shannon in The White Lotus

Towards the end of Molly's stint on SNL, when she was 36-years-old, Molly met her future husband, artist Fritz Chestnut. Molly left SNL because she wanted to develop a personal life. Molly notes, "I had been so work-oriented for so long. I wanted to get coffee with friends and start a family. I wanted to enjoy my life and take a break from work. And I wanted to spend more time with my dad."


Molly Shannon and Fritz Chestnut

It was at about this time that Molly's manager, Steven Levy, told Molly that her dad Jim was gay. Steven told Molly, "We've been talking, and he's ready for you to know. He just doesn't know how to tell you." Molly was thrilled to learn the truth. She observes, "Suddenly everything made sense - the craziness, the drinking, the anger. I realized he hadn't gotten to be himself. Deep compassion, love, and understanding just flooded in." Sadly Jim died from cancer in 2002.

Towards the end of the book Molly includes remembrances about her mother, written by friends and family, and writes a little about her marriage and children, named Stella and Nolan. Molly tries to teach her children that life is an adventure and it's important to have fun.


Molly Shannon with her husband Fritz Chestnut and their children

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Molly Shannon, and Molly's lively personality and impish streak come across loud and clear.

I enjoyed the book. If you're a Molly Shannon fan, this is a must read.

Rating: 4 stars