Be my guest

Those who have been here a while know that I love it when certain guests come on Elle DeGeneres’ show. Allison Janney in particularly, but Emma Thompson worked that pole like a pro. But now, well, now there may be a new rival for my affection in the Great Panted One’s guest chair. And that someone is Melissa McCarthy. Now my love for Melissa is no secret. I’ll say it loud and say it proud. But the best way to really appreciate her is to see her in action. Not just her films, though come on if you haven’t seen her in “Bridesmaids” I seriously fear for your mental health, but also her overall persona which is fun and honest and flat-out hilarious. She comes off as real, which is what she is. And a real funny lady is something the world could always use more of, sitting next to Ellen or not. So here is a little taste of the funny business that ensues when Melissa and Ellen get their chat on. I can’t wait for her to come back after the Oscars. Oh yeah, and about that, I don’t know about you but I can’t get enough of the sound of Academy Award nominee Melissa McCarthy.

On the Golden Globes


On her Spanx


On a test scene for “Bridesmaids 2”

My Weekend Crush

Melissa McCarthy is having more than a moment. She is having an era. Sure, maybe not necessarily in length, but definitely in importance. Breakout star status doesn’t usually happen to 40-something, plus-sized women. And when I say “usually,” I mean ever. But here she is with a brand new Emmy on her mantel and a blockbuster comedy hit on her resume and a highly rated sitcom on every week and more movie deals and TV deals coming her way and a hosting gig on “Saturday Night Live” this weekend. It’s just, well, it’s just great. And I can honestly say it couldn’t happen to a more likeable and hilarious gal.

To just say Melissa was funny in “Bridesmaids” is like just saying the Grand Canyon is a big hole in the ground. Sure, it’s true, but it’s a massive undersell. She was pee, or in this case poop, your pants funny in that movie. Her Megan was a singular cinematic creature - a confident, pragmatic, butch, sexual and loveable oddball who you laughed with more than at. And out of all of that, I think the confidence of her character was the most amazing attribute. We’re used to funny women in comedies being neurotic messes. They fret and thither, over-think and under-appreciate themselves. But not Melissa’s Megan. Confidence made that character more than just the punchline, it made her a heroine.

And that all came from Melissa, who has made herself a new kind of comedy heroine for us all. Of course, some of us knew years ago when she was the sweetest little chef in all of Stars Hollow. Let’s hope her era never ends. Happy weekend, all.

EDIT: To the skeptics who doubt it when I say “breakout star status doesn’t usually happen to 40-something, plus-sized women,” it really doesn’t. Ages when they found breakout success: Roseanne Barr, 36; Oprah Winfrey, 32; Anna Nicole Smith, 26; Liza Minnelli, 26 (also not exactly plus sized at the time); Queen Latifah, 19; Nikki Blonsky, 19. Also, Rosie O’Donnell got her talk show at 34. So, no, sadly almost never.