I Hate To Admit It...

[AndrewCrossett]

I think she'll succeed because she knows what people like Steve Martin, Bill Murray and Robin Williams knew: you can make a name for yourself playing wacky, off the wall characters, but you'd better be able to evolve because when people get tired of that, they get tired of it quickly and with great finality.

[Danimal]

I think Wiig is both extremely talented and has some pretty awful reoccurring characters. I'm really hoping she avoids making any of them into films and just concentrates on doing new stuff.

[MacQuarrie]

I think she'll succeed because she knows what people like Steve Martin, Bill Murray and Robin Williams knew: you can make a name for yourself playing wacky, off the wall characters, but you'd better be able to evolve because when people get tired of that, they get tired of it quickly and with great finality.

The secret is to not be the star of everything, and not build your career around one schtick. Do ensemble work, play straight roles regularly, and never let the whole project rest on only your shoulders.

David Spade said he was offered a hundred different versions of "The David Spade Show" when he left SNL, and he deliberately chose "Just Shoot Me" instead, because he would be part of a group of funny people, and if it flopped he wouldn't get blamed for it. Phil Hartman did the same thing with "NewsRadio." Rob Schneider never learned this wisdom.

[Ziggy Stardust]

I think she'll succeed because she knows what people like Steve Martin, Bill Murray and Robin Williams knew: you can make a name for yourself playing wacky, off the wall characters, but you'd better be able to evolve because when people get tired of that, they get tired of it quickly and with great finality.

Did Howie Mandell ever learn that lesson?

[AndrewCrossett]

The secret is to not be the star of everything, and not build your career around one schtick. Do ensemble work, play straight roles regularly, and never let the whole project rest on only your shoulders.

David Spade said he was offered a hundred different versions of "The David Spade Show" when he left SNL, and he deliberately chose "Just Shoot Me" instead, because he would be part of a group of funny people, and if it flopped he wouldn't get blamed for it. Phil Hartman did the same thing with "NewsRadio." Rob Schneider never learned this wisdom.

Neither did Adam Sandler, yet he continues to make money. He's the annoying exception that proves the rule.

[stevapalooza]

I think Wiig is both extremely talented and has some pretty awful reoccurring characters. I'm really hoping she avoids making any of them into films and just concentrates on doing new stuff.

Yeah I agree. And I think that's how a lot of people feel because it wasn't until her movie career took off that people suddenly started calling her brilliant on the show. Personally I think she's not even in the top five of funny SNL women (I'll take Jan Hooks, Tina Fey, Molly Shannon, and even Cheri Oteri over her). But I agree, she's great on film.