Saturday Night Live's Nasim Pedrad Talks to Movieline About Her First Year at 8H and Her Dream Host

Just two episodes into the 36th season of Saturday Night Live, one featured player has distanced herself from the female 8H pack: Nasim Pedrad. The Iranian-born actress/comedienne beat out reliable SNL MVP Kristen Wiig for face time this past weekend thanks to her original character, Henry and a commercial parody about Pepto-Bismol Ice. Pedrad has also established her position as one of the most talented parts of the cast via another original character, Bedilia, and impressions of Christiane Amanpour, Kim Kardashian, Maria Menounos and Shakira. Not a bad variety of types, huh?

In anticipation of her second season at Studio 8H, Movieline met up with the talented Groundlings alum during this summer's Television Critics Association Tour, where Pedrad opened up about her SNL learning curve, her dream guests and the one skit she is still hoping to get on the air.

Congratulations on your first season.

Thanks, it was more fun than I could have ever imagined.

You seemed comfortable onstage almost immediately, but I imagine there were masses of nerves involved. Do you remember one point -- a sketch or an episode -- in the season where that nervousness dropped away?

Not really. Everyone was so incredible and welcoming and nice in a way that I never anticipated

As a featured player, do you you get to write sketches?

Yes. I wrote the sketch on the J. Lo episode about Smash Mouth coming out of the closet and I came up with the Bedilia character.

It seemed like the season's best hosts wanted to do the Bedilia sketch with you. Tina Fey played Bedelia's mom. Alec Baldwin played Bedilia's dad.

I know. I got really lucky. She'll hopefully be coming out more next season too.

Growing up, did you have a favorite Saturday Night Live cast member?

I really looked up to Tina Fey as a writer and because I did have a background in writing, she is someone whose career I really did admire.

Do you write features too?

Yes, I was actually working on a script this summer. We all get a little burnt out on sketches sometimes.

Can you talk about what your script is about?

I actually don't know if I am allowed to, so I probably shouldn't.

Do you write with a partner?

I usually write with a friend but on the feature I'm working on now, I'm writing with my sister. We're going to see what happens once the [SNL] season starts because I will probably be pretty consumed by that.

Getting back to Saturday Night Live, which impressions did you use for your audition?

I don't really remember my audition actually. I think I did Kim Kardashian, Judge Sotomayor, Victoria Beckham and like five other people. Who am I forgetting? Oh, I did Dora the Explorer. It's such a blur, to be honest with you. I am having trouble remembering.

How much is your writing process at Saturday Night Live affected by that week's host?

We don't really know what we are going to write about until that week and most of the time I rely on the host for inspiration. When I know who is hosting, I will think about what I want to do with that person.

And then how much time does the cast actually spend with the host in the week leading up to the show?

Oh, all week. Like with Alec Baldwin -- who has done the show so many times and just feels like one of us -- he just hung out with us all week. It was a lot of fun.

Do you have a dream host?

Mariah Carey? I don't think I've ever used the words "dream host." Betty White was a close to a dream as it gets, really. She is just so awesome in so many ways.

Finally, is there one sketch that you've pitched more than once that you are still hoping gets on the air?

No, I haven't really pitched anything other than a commercial for cat food that is safe for ladies to eat too. It's just a way to share yet another moment with your cat.