We are fast approaching thehalfway markof summer, but for some people, the season of sun wont officially begin until July 31, when Netflix will release Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp. Created by David Wain and Michael Showalter, the eight-episodeprequel to 2001s big-screen cult favorite Wet Hot American Summer welcomes backall of theoriginaladult cast membersyes, including Bradley Cooper, Amy Poehler, Elizabeth Banks, and Paul Ruddand introduces a bevy ofnew characters played by famous folks like Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig and Jason Schwartzman. You can learn all about the return to Camp Firewood in the latest issue of EW, but right here, you can check out aQ&A with Poehler, who spoke to EW during our February visit to the WHAS: FDOC set. (While the movie was shot at Camp Towanda in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, the set was recreated at the Calamigos Ranch in Malibu for the prequel.)Read on to see what the Parks and Recreation alum had to say about revisiting her Wet Hotrole of hard-edged thespian Susie, what to expect from Susie and Benin the coming season, and her interest in shootingeven more episodesdown the country road.
Its a little cold out there today. Did that remind you of the old days of shooting the movie?
Weve been in this cold warehouse and outside and it reminded me exactly of exactly when we shot [the movie in Pennsylvania], which was rainy and cold and we were all in shorts. The only difference was that then we were staying where we were shooting so you could actually go back to your bunk. There are so many different things about shooting now and then. One is that were all 15 years older. The other is that there were no cell phones when we shot the movie There was just one payphone and no one was on a laptop.
When people werent on their cell phones and laptops, what has been the vibe on set?
Its been really cool. Because the people that are shooting the series love the movie. It does have that vibe, that feeling of, Can we pull this off?, which I think can be important in comedy. Its so much better than it being this gigantic, luxurious, indulgent production. You can feel a scrappiness to it that was in the original film, which was good. And its just the right amount of dirty and weird.Its just been a lot of us laughing and talking about the past 15 years. Its very strange that you get to punctuate your life in that way, circle back around and be like, Look at these same people! Just like the shooting of the film, it feels really fun, and also no one is taking it too seriously, which is important. I mean, were saying ridiculous things.
Everyone talks about it feeling like a reunion.
Very class-reunion-y. Everyone is feeling super happy to be there. Everyone is lot older and little bit more relaxed. And everyone is a little less hungover. Maybe. I cant speak for everyone. [Theres] lot more sharing pictures of kids and dogs, a lot more of Where are we going to dinner? whereas 15 years ago, it was a lot of smoking and sneaking around and going into town to buy booze. And its really nice. Ive been lucky to work with David and Michael [Wain and Showalter, the shows creators] in various ways through the years, but I think that it was nice to be reminded: The legacy of that movie is in many ways the cast that was assembled, so it was nice to assemble them again.
What was it like to slipback into this character for the first time?
It was weird. The entire experience of Wet Hot from beginning to end almost feels like a bonus track. The fact that we got to do it, the fact that it was made, the fact that it was good, the fact that people continue to like it, and now were doing thist all feels like extra cool stuff. It was just really fun and silly to be back in the outfits When I turned the corner to the set and saw the replica, I was overwhelmed. I was like, Whoa. It was really cool. Really cool.
Michael Showalter said it took him a couple takes of a scene to get back into Coops skin. How about you?
I dont even know if Im even in it, to be honest with you. I dont think I gave the character of Susie much thought. [laughs]But when I was with Bradley today, it really came back. Today we were backstage, we had to dress up like raggedy Ann and Andy and do a dance routine and Bradley and I were just going over the steps. And it was like Oh, yeah, I remember this taking themselves really seriously and being really into the idea of American theater. Its really funny. Susie is a toughie. She just does not take s. There is a funny line we were shooting today where [a character] just screws up and she was like, We dont make mistakes here. Youre out! [laughs] That was fun. So I dont know if Im in the wig and the outfit help.
What did you and Bradley say when you first saweach other in costume today?
Whats been nice is Ive seen him over the past couple months and been like, Oh, Ill see you at Wet Hot. Honestly, Im just really excited everyone has made it back. Its so exciting and cool.We were in the trailer and we were just laughing and looking at old pictures of ourselves and Bradley was like, Dude, were hanging in there! Fifteen years later but were looking pretty good! And I was like, Thats true! Not bad. Things could be worse. Im wearing a wig, which I want a lot of people to know, because my hair is not as short or as blonde as it used to be. Theres a lot of men wearing wigs, but Im also wearing a wig. Honestly if given the chance, I will always go with wig.
I thought the feathered hair looked great.
Even though this takes places in the 80s, I feel like Susie is a little behind the times.
Did Bradley snap back into ittoo?
Yes, I have to say that Bradley seemed like he snapped right in. The man has excellent training. I saw his Broadway training at work. It was fun that we were makingjokes like, Heres how you do it on Broadway,and then I was like, Oh. Bradley actually is on Broadway. [laughs]He does know.
You were there for the cast live-readin 2012 at SF Sketchfest, whichwas the last time you were technically in the role. But what was it like to get a call from David saying that they were actually going to do moreWet Hot?Was it just, Sure, why not? Sounds fun!?
Totally. In between that time, David and Paul [Rudd]and I went and made a movie They Came Together. And during that time, David was like, I think were gonna do something with Wet Hot, and it was like, Oh my G*d That idea of getting everybody together again everybody was excited. I was certainly excited. And then when I heard it was for Netflix, I was like, Thats perfect. It was a perfect way to not only just logistically be able to get everybody, but alsofrom the point of view of being able to parcel it out in a way I dont think another feature would have been the way to go. And I think everybody is really excited to watch these episodes in a row, like how people watch television now.
So, what new sides of Susie will we see?
Were going to see that shes a sexual person. Maybe in the movie, you were like, Whats her deal? And then in the show, you realize, Ahh, shes not getting laid. And its bothering her. Shes like, Why doesnt my boyfriend like me? Her boyfriend, played by Bradley, is just not into it. And then enter Claude Dumet [a Broadway director played byJohn Slattery who comes to Camp Firewood to stage a staff musical]. Shes very impressed by his long list of credits.
If there isa season 2, wouldyou do it?
Oh, for sure. David and Michael and Netflix do it the way I like to do it, which is just fun and fast.
Related StoriesNetflixs first Wet Hot American Summer full trailer released Wet Hot American Summer: A first look at the Netflix prequelWet Hot American Summer creator David Wain says there could be more Netflix episodes
Source: http://www.ew.com/article/2015/07/22/amy-poehler-wet-hot-american-summer-prequel
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