Ego Nwodim on Brat, BBLs, and Her “Daddy” Lorne Michaels

Over six seasons on Saturday Night Live, the hilarious Ego Nwodim has made her mark among a cast of all-stars by playing characters who are riotously out of touch with reality. Take her trademark Lisa from Temecula, a lawyer whose affinity for “extra, extra well done” steak had an entire table of acting veterans, including Pedro Pascal, breaking character mid-sketch in fits of laughter. There’s also Veronda, or Rich Auntie with No Kids, who’s “too blessed to be stressed” about Christmas shopping, and Nwodim’s side-splitting Dionne Warwick impression, which was so spot-on that the hitmaker herself guest-starred opposite Nwodim in Season 47. Now, after appearing on the cover of The Hollywood Reporter with fellow titans of comedy like Kristen Wiig, Maya Dudolph, and Quinta Brunson, Nwodim is set to star in Peacock’s Mr. Throwback, a new half-hour comedy starring Adam Pally and three-point god Steph Curry (in his first major acting role). But first, we asked Nwodim to  play a different character—herself—for this week’s Rorschach Test, in which the funny lady and Baltimore native sounds off Brat summer, Kendrick vs. Drake, and growing up the child of immigrants.

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STEPH CURRY

“He’s a phenom. I went to his shooting practice and it absolutely blew my mind. And he acts. What isn’t he good at? I need to find out what his kryptonite is.”

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OLD BAY

“Old Bay, new bay, my forever bay. I have two giant containers of Old Bay in my cabinet. I’ve been toying with the idea of Old Bay on fruit, actually.”

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KAMALA HARRIS

“I am ready for her to be the Commander in Chiefala.”

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BRAT

“Everyone’s talking Brat. I wear green, everyone’s like ‘Brat!’ I order a matcha latte, everyone’s like ‘Brat!’ And I’m like… what did you just call me?”

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JOHN WATERS

“Every time I say I’m from Baltimore, three things come up: The Wire, Hairspray, and John Waters. He’s a Baltimore legend. But I’m a foodie, so let’s talk about crabs.”

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BBLs

“Why is it Brazilian? It’s popping off in Turkey as well. so it’s time for Brazil to surrender the title.”

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The MTA

“Mass Transit Administration? Authority? I don’t know what the A stands for, but I know it’s something powerful.”

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KENDRICK VS. DRAKE

“I love a good rap battle. Kendrick won. It was better than any episode of Real Housewives I have ever seen in my entire life. I mean, this one got nasty.”

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JD VANCE

“I don’t get to do the casting, but I’d be calling Taran Killam to play him on SNL.”

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LORNE MICHAELS

“What a curious man. I get flowers from him for my birthday every year and I’m like, the man knows how to charm a woman. I know people are scared of him, but ain’t nothing to be scared of. One time I slipped up and called him Daddy Lorne to his face.”

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AWARDS SHOWS

“Award shows are to the entertainment industry as prom is to high school: a fun reason to dress up.”

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DIONNE WARWICK

“A legend, a queen, a shining bright light of womanhood. I’m so grateful she embraced my impression of her. [When she visited SNL] she had a ton of Diet Coke and cigarettes in her dressing room. Legend.”

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BEING A CHILD OF IMMIGRANTS

“I love being the child of immigrants because it has instilled a work ethic in me that I’m very proud of but that can also be remarkably annoying to people. ”

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