A Monroe goes from Second City to NBC

April 9, 2007
BY DOUG ELFMAN
Television Critic

Maribeth Monroe is yet another example of how Second City launches Hollywood careers. It was there she met her manager and Jim Belushi, who put her in an episode of "According to Jim." But Monroe could barely keep her eyes on the TV when she saw herself on "Jim."

"I dreamt of being on television all of my formative years, and I couldn't even watch," she says. "I was hiding behind my couch yelling at all my friends, 'Do I look OK? Am I pretty?' "

Now she's been all over TV, having improvised in a phone commercial that never stops running.

"I guess you'll just have to promote me to manager then, huh? There's a new sheriff in town!" she tells a boss in the ad, but she can't hear his response, then frets: "I, uh, understand I have to work my way up, though."

Starting tonight, Monroe appears a lot as a cast member in "Thank God You're Here," NBC's new improv/sketch comedy show similar to Drew Carey's "Whose Line Is It Anyway?"

Monroe and other castmates, including Second City alum Nyima Funk, use scripts. Guest celebrities improvise their way through scenes they're unprepared for.

"It is really funny to watch them try to swim their way out of s---, because they're totally surprised," Monroe says.

A native of suburban Detroit, Monroe was a Second City actor there first, followed by a run at the theater in Old Town.

She moved to Hollywood about seven months ago. Unlike many new L.A. residents, she booked jobs immediately.

Monroe believes Second City strengthened her ability to work a room and create a rapport with casting agents, directors and actors.

"You could be super talented and wonderful. But," she says, "you're going to be working with [actors and directors] for seven weeks [on a new show]. They don't want to hire someone who's an idiot, or an a--hole, or who doesn't have a good personality."

At auditions, Monroe specifically thinks about her improv experience.

"I go in the room presenting myself, but also trying to highlight the best parts of myself, like my comedy, and my personality and," she cracks, "my amazing body."

At Second City, Monroe co-wrote and performed in several mainstage revues as well as "My Cousin's Wedding," which she and writing partner Kirk Hanley took on a national tour.

A few years ago, "Saturday Night Live" flew her to New York to audition, but she didn't make the cut.

She planned for a while to leave Second City. She wanted to do TV and movies, so Monroe, in her mid-20s, told herself she wasn't getting any younger.

"I just thought it would be a good adventure. I said 'f' it. Actually, I didn't say 'f' it. I said, 'F--- it. ... I'm gonna go and give it a try.' "