A chat with ... '30 Rock' and 'SNL' star Jason Sudeikis

I really wanted to talk about 30 Rock, because you've been a major highlight of that show for me. It took me awhile to figure out who you were, though, because you play such a nice guy. (Laughs) How did that role come about?

Basically the good, old-fashioned audition process. I was asked at some point to go in and do a chemistry reading with Tina (Fey), so I just went in on a Thursday or Friday on an off-week for SNL, just really casually. A week and a half, two weeks later, they were like, "Hey, you got it." And then I was brought in really slowly, and then just sort of got more and more with each episode.

So did they know at first it was going to be a recurring thing?

I don't know how long they thought -- you know, my wife (Kay Cannon) is a writer on the show, so she's helping break and write these stories, which is kind of a fun wrinkle. (Laughs) But I'm not exactly sure what they had conceived at the beginning. I think it was a couple episodes.

That's another thing -- you and Tina have so much chemistry, but we never really saw you guys on screen together on SNL. Did you work together very closely when she was on the show?

Well, we're good friends. My wife, Kay, and then her and her husband, Jeff, who's a producer and writes all the music for the show, we all hang out, so for what we never got to do on SNL we've done many a time hanging out making jokes in late-night diners, or cracking jokes while watching the Golden Globes.

So I was told that there's quite a bit of Floyd on the show this week ...

Yeah, I think this week is called Cleveland. My character's from Cleveland, and I'm considering moving back there. I'm getting a little frustrated with New York. So, you know, Liz and I see if that's something we want to do.

So will we see Floyd at all next season? Can you tell me that?

I can't. Not because of any contractual obligations, because I don't know. I've heard that -- again, because of my inside sources, which I share a bathroom with -- I think there's been talk about it, but nothing that I know for sure. I kind of take it as it comes.

So what sort of stuff do you watch on TV?

I watch your usual suspects -- your American Idols, during the summer, So You Think You Can Dance. (Laughs) Lost, Sopranos, The Office, of course. We sort of mix it around. Oh, Friday Night Lights -- my wife and I are a big fan of that show. We have season one of The Wire sitting on our television, waiting for the summer months to come.

Yeah, what are you gonna do this summer when you have so much free time?

I don't know, I'm looking for a summer job, either mowing lawns, or maybe lifeguard at the local pool ... At this stage in the game, springtime brings leaves and flowers, but also reading a bunch of scripts and sort of seeing if there's anything that I would audition for that I could possibly get to do. But then I'm also writing a couple movies, so that's another big focus.

Has 30 Rock changed the kind of stuff that you're being offered?

Yeah, definitely. You know, like romantic comedies -- I've had a couple more of those come down the stream than I did, say, last summer. But something as mainstream as a Wedding Planner-type vibe to very weird, quirky stuff. I'm a big fan of those kinds of movies, you know: When Harry Met Sally, Four Weddings and a Funeral, things of that nature. I think it would be fun to do something like that.

And as far as SNL goes, what was one of your favorite shows this season?

Oh gosh, that's a good question. Hmm ... Justin Timberlake's always a good time. Peyton Manning was a lot of fun. You know, it's always fun to have big-time sports stars come in ... that was a good week. Gosh, I have to look at a picture. Sometimes, especially when you've only slept for four hours, they kind of all run together.

Well, I attended the Rainn Wilson show ...

Well, that was a great one, too. How could I have forgotten that one? See, that's what I mean. That's crazy to me that I wouldn't have said that right off the bat, based on I think that the monlogue was really fun, plus Arcade Fire playing after the show -- yeah, that's my answer. Let's go back, pretend the last five minutes didn't happen. Rainn Wilson, Arcade Fire.

And I'm pretty sure I saw you rocking out at the end there. So I wanna ask, what's on your iPod right now?

You know what I've been listening to recently? Their new CD, Neon Bible. Also, the Peter, Bjorn and John album I really like. You know that musical Spring Awakening? It's pretty great, it's kind of like a new generation's Rent -- I'm listening to that a ton, some good songs. Ray LaMontagne's good to walk around the city to.

I like that new Dixie Chicks album. Powerful stuff, Natalie Maines. Quite an instrument! (Laughs) That would read so corny -- quite an instrument! It might deserve italics. I don't know, I mix it up. You've always gotta throw some Beatles and some Ben Folds and some Wilco in there, but I try to keep a new jam on the iPod to try out new stuff.

Well, I guess I should let you get back to your read-through.

Yes, the big comedy-palooza.

So this means Scarlett is in the building, yes?

She sure is. She's getting ready to read about 40 sketches in a row.

So how long does that last? Hours and hours?

I would say -- we break it up -- like, five hours total. And they usually take about an hour, hour and a half to pick the sketches.

So you're reading for Lorne?

Yeah, Lorne, all the producers, head writers, the cast, there are probably 100 people sitting in the room. Heads of all the different departments -- scenic and costume and props, and they're taking notes on every single script in case it gets picked. They're calling in costumes, they're calling in wigs for scenes that go well. It's basically like a big game show. It's like one episode of Project Runway.

Do you know right away if a sketch bombs?

I've had a few where you can tell right away. It's usually 10 pages -- you can usually tell by page three if you've tried your big joke on page two and you do it again on page three and nobody's laughing anymore that, "Oh, these next seven pages are gonna be tough."

So fingers crossed, knock on wood that nothing like that happens today. But if it does, what's nice is it's just comedy. That's all, Whitney.

And if it bombs, you know what? You've got another job.

That's true. At least for two more episodes. (Laughs)