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Hello, Molly!: A Memoir
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Humor (2022)A candid, compulsively readable, hilarious, and heartbreaking memoir of resilience and redemption by comedic genius Molly Shannon
At age four, Molly Shannon's world was shattered when she lost her mother, baby sister, and cousin in a car accident with her father at the wheel. Held together by her tender and complicated relationship with her grieving father, Molly was raised in a permissive household where her gift for improvising and role-playing blossomed alongside the fearlessness that would lead her to become a celebrated actress.
From there, Molly ventured into the wider world of New York and Los Angeles show business, where she created her own opportunities and developed her daring and empathetic comedy. Filled with behind-the-scenes stories involving everyone from Whitney Houston to Adam Sandler to Monica Lewinsky, many told for the first time here, Hello, Molly! spans Molly's time on Saturday Night Live—where she starred alongside Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler, Cheri Oteri, Tracy Morgan, and Jimmy Fallon, among many others. At the same time, it explores with humor and candor her struggle to come to terms with the legacy of her father, a man who both fostered her gifts and drive and was left with the impossible task of raising his kids alone after the loss of her mother.
Witty, winning, and told with tremendous energy and heart, Hello, Molly!, written with Sean Wilsey, sheds new and revelatory light on the life and work of one of our most talented and free-spirited performers.
At age four, Molly Shannon's world was shattered when she lost her mother, baby sister, and cousin in a car accident with her father at the wheel. Held together by her tender and complicated relationship with her grieving father, Molly was raised in a permissive household where her gift for improvising and role-playing blossomed alongside the fearlessness that would lead her to become a celebrated actress.
From there, Molly ventured into the wider world of New York and Los Angeles show business, where she created her own opportunities and developed her daring and empathetic comedy. Filled with behind-the-scenes stories involving everyone from Whitney Houston to Adam Sandler to Monica Lewinsky, many told for the first time here, Hello, Molly! spans Molly's time on Saturday Night Live—where she starred alongside Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler, Cheri Oteri, Tracy Morgan, and Jimmy Fallon, among many others. At the same time, it explores with humor and candor her struggle to come to terms with the legacy of her father, a man who both fostered her gifts and drive and was left with the impossible task of raising his kids alone after the loss of her mother.
Witty, winning, and told with tremendous energy and heart, Hello, Molly!, written with Sean Wilsey, sheds new and revelatory light on the life and work of one of our most talented and free-spirited performers.
291 pages, Hardcover
First published April 12, 2022
About the author
Molly Shannon
6 books122 followersMolly Shannon is an actress and comedian. She spent six seasons as a member of the repertory company on Saturday Night Live, primarily known for the eclectic characters she created, such as Mary Katherine Gallagher and Sally O’Malley. In 2000, she received an Emmy nomination for “Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program.” In 2017, she was awarded the Independent Spirit Award for “Best Supporting Actress” for her performance in the highly acclaimed drama Other People, written and directed by SNL writer, Chris Kelly. Molly can currently be seen in the Netflix drama, Horse Girl, alongside Alison Brie and directed by Jeff Baena; as well as recently making a hilarious cameo role in the film, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot. She can also be seen in the crime drama, Promising Young Woman, with Carey Mulligan and Bo Burnham. Molly Shannon was born in Shaker Heights, Ohio, Molly earned a BFA in drama from New York University’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts. She currently lives in California with her husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,432 reviews
June 12, 2022
I’m not one for celebrity memoirs as many seem to be a vehicle to humble brag. But not this one.
Molly has a tragic past with the death of her mother and younger sister when she was only 4. This was back in the day when no one was overly concerned about the psychological effects on children so Molly had no way to process her feelings. Her dad provided her love, but also a bit of an unconventional upbringing that likely played a part in her determination and success.
Molly is heartfelt and honest, as well as funny and self-deprecating. I love a good underdog story and Molly had to overcome many hurdles to get to where she is. There is no woe-is-me tone, but instead it is hopeful and joyful. She seems well-grounded and down to earth.
I do wish she had spoken more about her most recent life including her marriage and children, but I respect her right to protect their privacy.
Funny, wise, and tender, this is well worth the read, but not as a “celebrity" tell-all memoir (which I appreciated), although there are a few enlightening behind the scene stories.
The audiobook is narrated by Molly herself, and I highly recommend this format. There’s nothing quite like hearing it in Molly's own voice.
Molly has a tragic past with the death of her mother and younger sister when she was only 4. This was back in the day when no one was overly concerned about the psychological effects on children so Molly had no way to process her feelings. Her dad provided her love, but also a bit of an unconventional upbringing that likely played a part in her determination and success.
Molly is heartfelt and honest, as well as funny and self-deprecating. I love a good underdog story and Molly had to overcome many hurdles to get to where she is. There is no woe-is-me tone, but instead it is hopeful and joyful. She seems well-grounded and down to earth.
I do wish she had spoken more about her most recent life including her marriage and children, but I respect her right to protect their privacy.
Funny, wise, and tender, this is well worth the read, but not as a “celebrity" tell-all memoir (which I appreciated), although there are a few enlightening behind the scene stories.
The audiobook is narrated by Molly herself, and I highly recommend this format. There’s nothing quite like hearing it in Molly's own voice.
September 26, 2023
What a treat to listen to Molly Shannon read her own book! I highly recommend the audiobook 🎧.
Blog: LucyKnowsThings.com
Blog: LucyKnowsThings.com
December 16, 2022
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Ecco, and to Molly Shannon and Sean Wilsey for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 4.12!**
SUPERSTAH.
There's only one way you can read that...and one pose and person that probably comes to mind...the indomitable Molly Shannon.
But far from the buoyant, bubbly, and wacky characters Molly played during her SNL run and in various films (remember her part as Josie's bestie Anita in Never Been Kissed?) Molly began growing up at an incredibly early age. On their way home one evening, with her father at the wheel, tragedy struck as he lost control of the vehicle and slammed into a light pole, killing Molly's cousin, her three year old sister...and her mother. As so many in this sort of situation do, Molly jumped into the role of protector...but rather than protecting her older sister, she instead must take on the task of 'managing' her father, whose drinking can be out of hand and wild schemes can get her into trouble...but also make for some wild stories!
Though a good portion of this memoir deals with Molly's relationship with Dad, she has quite a few fun Hollywood anecdotes to share (and one disturbing one involving Gary Coleman...you've been warned!) I always appreciate getting to know comedians on a deeper level, and I have to admit I don't think I've so much as watched an interview with Molly on a talk show prior to reading this book, and in some ways, that was wonderful because I felt like I got to know her on a deeper level from the start.
Since this is an uncorrected proof, there were a few sections where excerpted interviews with other individuals etc. weren't in their finished form and that did complicate reading, but only a bit. I have every confidence everything will be smoothed out and flow correctly in the book's finished form. For the SNL junkies, there is a fair amount dedicated to Molly's time on the show, as well as the development of the aforementioned Mary Katherine Gallagher (I won't spoil the origins, but I know I'll look at those sketches with new eyes after reading!)
Hello, Molly! strikes a fantastic balance between fun and emotional, silly and somber, all while maintaining authenticity. Jim Shannon would be--and undoubtedly is--oh so proud. Though she might not have a one woman show about her life out just yet...it DOES sound like she's found the perfect title!
4 stars
Nominated for Best Humor in the Goodreads Choice Awards!
SUPERSTAH.
There's only one way you can read that...and one pose and person that probably comes to mind...the indomitable Molly Shannon.
But far from the buoyant, bubbly, and wacky characters Molly played during her SNL run and in various films (remember her part as Josie's bestie Anita in Never Been Kissed?) Molly began growing up at an incredibly early age. On their way home one evening, with her father at the wheel, tragedy struck as he lost control of the vehicle and slammed into a light pole, killing Molly's cousin, her three year old sister...and her mother. As so many in this sort of situation do, Molly jumped into the role of protector...but rather than protecting her older sister, she instead must take on the task of 'managing' her father, whose drinking can be out of hand and wild schemes can get her into trouble...but also make for some wild stories!
Though a good portion of this memoir deals with Molly's relationship with Dad, she has quite a few fun Hollywood anecdotes to share (and one disturbing one involving Gary Coleman...you've been warned!) I always appreciate getting to know comedians on a deeper level, and I have to admit I don't think I've so much as watched an interview with Molly on a talk show prior to reading this book, and in some ways, that was wonderful because I felt like I got to know her on a deeper level from the start.
Since this is an uncorrected proof, there were a few sections where excerpted interviews with other individuals etc. weren't in their finished form and that did complicate reading, but only a bit. I have every confidence everything will be smoothed out and flow correctly in the book's finished form. For the SNL junkies, there is a fair amount dedicated to Molly's time on the show, as well as the development of the aforementioned Mary Katherine Gallagher (I won't spoil the origins, but I know I'll look at those sketches with new eyes after reading!)
Hello, Molly! strikes a fantastic balance between fun and emotional, silly and somber, all while maintaining authenticity. Jim Shannon would be--and undoubtedly is--oh so proud. Though she might not have a one woman show about her life out just yet...it DOES sound like she's found the perfect title!
4 stars
Nominated for Best Humor in the Goodreads Choice Awards!
November 10, 2022
I won a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
It’s truly a shame. Molly Shannon had such a tragic and traumatic, yet interesting childhood and young adulthood. I don’t like to read celebrity memoirs just for the sake of reading about a certain celebrity. They have to have a story. I want to know what set this person apart from the rest of us, how they got where they are. I want to see these people as, well…PEOPLE. Molly Shannon’s memoir had so much potential because she had such an interesting life. But it fell flat for two very simple reasons. Firstly, I felt like I was reading the journal of a fourth grader with ADHD. Molly might be a talented comedian and be able to write funny sketches, but an author she is not. She jumped all over the place and I found myself confused more often than not. Plus, half the time the writing made no sense. And the relationship with her father was bizarre to say the least. It made me feel quite icky and uncomfortable. Secondly, this memoir was missing whatever made Molly funny. Not that I really know what that is because I really haven’t ever seen anything with her in it except for a few “best friend” roles. This book took FOREVER for me to read and really bummed me out because I couldn’t get into it or anything else at the time. Unless you’re really a big Molly Shannon fan, skip this one.
It’s truly a shame. Molly Shannon had such a tragic and traumatic, yet interesting childhood and young adulthood. I don’t like to read celebrity memoirs just for the sake of reading about a certain celebrity. They have to have a story. I want to know what set this person apart from the rest of us, how they got where they are. I want to see these people as, well…PEOPLE. Molly Shannon’s memoir had so much potential because she had such an interesting life. But it fell flat for two very simple reasons. Firstly, I felt like I was reading the journal of a fourth grader with ADHD. Molly might be a talented comedian and be able to write funny sketches, but an author she is not. She jumped all over the place and I found myself confused more often than not. Plus, half the time the writing made no sense. And the relationship with her father was bizarre to say the least. It made me feel quite icky and uncomfortable. Secondly, this memoir was missing whatever made Molly funny. Not that I really know what that is because I really haven’t ever seen anything with her in it except for a few “best friend” roles. This book took FOREVER for me to read and really bummed me out because I couldn’t get into it or anything else at the time. Unless you’re really a big Molly Shannon fan, skip this one.
July 24, 2022
I read Hello, Molly in under 24 hours, and it was a delightful reading experience. In this memoir, Molly Shannon writes about the tragedy of losing her mother and sister in an accident and her complicated upbringing with her father. Reading about her life, we see the qualities that made Shannon into the success she is, namely, work ethic, positive attitude, and being true to her own values.
Shannon talks about her creative process and where she drew inspiration for certain characters. There are multiple references to her well-known SNL skits, and it was interesting learning about how the production of the show works. The author comes across as authentic, humble, and generous, and I enjoyed learning about her.
Shannon talks about her creative process and where she drew inspiration for certain characters. There are multiple references to her well-known SNL skits, and it was interesting learning about how the production of the show works. The author comes across as authentic, humble, and generous, and I enjoyed learning about her.
March 13, 2022
Who can forget the "Superstar," Mary Katherine Gallagher? Without a doubt, one of my favorite characters brought to life by Molly Shannon. Her memoir is quite easy and breezy despite the great tragedy in her early life. Perhaps it is her middle of the country, Catholic roots that grounded her. I was so impressed by her hustle and her positive outlook. She has such a healthy outlook on life and I enjoyed hearing her share events from her childhood, early showbiz years, SNL, and especially her love for her family. One fascinating bit of trivia: as a teenager, Molly performed in local Cleveland drama productions and Jim Brickman was the pianist. Molly is definitely someone I would love to meet in person.
Thank you to Harper Audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Harper Audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 12, 2022
The audiobook is the way to go! She’s an amazing narrator; it’s so much more than just her reading it. It feels like she’s talking to you as a friend and she throws in her own style and silliness which is lovely. But you also hear her get choked up talking about particularly difficult parts of her life and she doesn’t avoid being vulnerable. I have always loved her comedic style but I respect and appreciate how she developed her acting skills even more after reading this memoir.
December 9, 2022
“You seem happy.”
I usually don’t read celebrity memoirs, and this book reminded me why. It’s because mostly they are not very good. HELLO, MOLLY! is poorly written and very jumbled. Even the never ending “Acknowledgements” at the end was overdone!
Molly Shannon was a cast member on Saturday Night Live the last time I paid any attention to the show (it’s been a while) and I enjoyed her. I’ve seen her in occasional films and tv since.
I realize it is a memoir, but there is a lot of “It’s about me” in this text. More than I think is necessitated by the genre.
Quotes:
• “If you ever feel stuck, just go into a completely different atmosphere with different kinds of people and see how stimulating it is. There’s nothing better.”
• “It’s good to be responsible, but there’s no point in being so stressed that you can’t adjust or bend the rules a little when necessary.”
The closing chapter where Shannon addresses the daily struggles of real life; running out of gas, running late, grocery shopping, etc. is an engaging section with some sound advice. It also contains some nice thoughts about being a mother, and it is easily the book’s best part and a strong finish.
I read HELLO, MOLLY! quickly and easily, so although there is not much to it, I’m no worse for the wear.
I usually don’t read celebrity memoirs, and this book reminded me why. It’s because mostly they are not very good. HELLO, MOLLY! is poorly written and very jumbled. Even the never ending “Acknowledgements” at the end was overdone!
Molly Shannon was a cast member on Saturday Night Live the last time I paid any attention to the show (it’s been a while) and I enjoyed her. I’ve seen her in occasional films and tv since.
I realize it is a memoir, but there is a lot of “It’s about me” in this text. More than I think is necessitated by the genre.
Quotes:
• “If you ever feel stuck, just go into a completely different atmosphere with different kinds of people and see how stimulating it is. There’s nothing better.”
• “It’s good to be responsible, but there’s no point in being so stressed that you can’t adjust or bend the rules a little when necessary.”
The closing chapter where Shannon addresses the daily struggles of real life; running out of gas, running late, grocery shopping, etc. is an engaging section with some sound advice. It also contains some nice thoughts about being a mother, and it is easily the book’s best part and a strong finish.
I read HELLO, MOLLY! quickly and easily, so although there is not much to it, I’m no worse for the wear.
April 26, 2022
Hello, 5-star review!
"Hello, Molly!" is a heartwarming, candid, engaging, and upbeat memoir by celeb Molly Shannon.
Molly Shannon begins her memoir by recanting a horrific incident that changed her life and the life of her family.
When Molly Shannon was four years old, her mother, younger sister, and cousin died in a car accident while her father was driving under the influence of alcohol. Molly and her older sister Mary were in the car and both were hospitalized for two months.
A major portion of this book focuses on Molly's early life and the challenges of growing up without a mother in Shaker Heights, a suburb of Cleveland.
Although Molly always had the support of her large Irish family and friends, at a very early age, Molly had to be a street smart adult and think out of the box.
I was personally impressed with Molly's attitude, resilience, and strong work ethic.
Without any parental prodding, Molly completely "took charge" and aced the audition required to gain admission to NYU, her first-choice college.
I especially enjoyed the clever "David Mamet trickster" anecdote that she shared about scoring casting calls.
My one criticism of the book concerns the fact that major portions of her life were omitted.
There was no mention of her wedding or the fact that she gave birth to two children. Her children's names appeared in her endearing acknowledgment at the end of the book and that is how I knew that she had children.
I understand Molly's wish to protect her family's privacy but I did feel that minimal information about her family belonged in her "tell-all" book.
I listened to the audiobook, read by Molly Shannon. I always love it when authors read their own memoirs and Molly Shannon did an outstanding job with the narration.
Even with my one criticism, Molly Shannon's memoir was a 5-star read that I highly recommend.
"Hello, Molly!" is a heartwarming, candid, engaging, and upbeat memoir by celeb Molly Shannon.
Molly Shannon begins her memoir by recanting a horrific incident that changed her life and the life of her family.
When Molly Shannon was four years old, her mother, younger sister, and cousin died in a car accident while her father was driving under the influence of alcohol. Molly and her older sister Mary were in the car and both were hospitalized for two months.
A major portion of this book focuses on Molly's early life and the challenges of growing up without a mother in Shaker Heights, a suburb of Cleveland.
Although Molly always had the support of her large Irish family and friends, at a very early age, Molly had to be a street smart adult and think out of the box.
I was personally impressed with Molly's attitude, resilience, and strong work ethic.
Without any parental prodding, Molly completely "took charge" and aced the audition required to gain admission to NYU, her first-choice college.
I especially enjoyed the clever "David Mamet trickster" anecdote that she shared about scoring casting calls.
My one criticism of the book concerns the fact that major portions of her life were omitted.
There was no mention of her wedding or the fact that she gave birth to two children. Her children's names appeared in her endearing acknowledgment at the end of the book and that is how I knew that she had children.
I understand Molly's wish to protect her family's privacy but I did feel that minimal information about her family belonged in her "tell-all" book.
I listened to the audiobook, read by Molly Shannon. I always love it when authors read their own memoirs and Molly Shannon did an outstanding job with the narration.
Even with my one criticism, Molly Shannon's memoir was a 5-star read that I highly recommend.
May 28, 2022
I feel horrible giving a memoir 1 star, but my reading experience trying to get through this was horrible. I really should’ve DNFed it near the beginning when I was first put off by the incredibly simple, disjointed writing (chapters are filled with seemingly random, surface level thoughts that rarely have any relation to each other and end with sentences like “She was great.”) Reading memoirs, I hope to get sucked into either the writing style, the person’s story or unique perspective, or their particular brand of humor, but I got none of that here aside from the heartbreaking story about how Shannon lost her mother, sister, and cousin at a very young age. Sharing that one chapter at the beginning is the deepest and most vulnerable she gets - every other chapter felt very superficial and detached (this happened, that happened, this was cool, that was bad). I figured it’d get better once she started sharing about her career and SNL (which was the main reason I was drawn to read this) but it continued to fall flat. Maybe this would’ve worked better for me as an audiobook read by Shannon herself (her humor seems to rely heavily on her physicality and exuberance), but it ended up being a real chore to finish this. Very disappointing.
May 11, 2022
Gotta say, I did not have “You will be bowled over by Molly Shannon’s memoir” on my 2022 bingo card. And yet, here I am, telling you how much I FIVE-STAR loved this read.
If you have even an ounce of interest in picking this title up, but your familiarity with Molly centers mostly on your knowledge of her impressive run on Saturday Night Live**, then do NOT read any more reviews or press she’s done for this book. Seriously, don’t even Google her!
I say this because I want you (like me) to have the experience of being fully stunned by the first 10 minutes of this book (.... or however many pages that turns out to be; I don’t know, because I listened to this on audio, which is absolutely how I recommend you experience this one.)
Molly’s life is a rollercoaster of highs and lows, and she’s such a first-class storyteller that she had me hooked from the get go. Having read this, I can now say how much I admire her resiliency (as an actor, but, more importantly, as a person). I also very much loved her stories from her time at SNL as well as the tender way she talked about the dysfunctional yet dear relationship she had with her dad.
For those of you who have read this, I wish I could talk with you in person about some of my favorite stories from the book. (For me, the highlights reel includes: her dad cleaning the house on speed! that time she snuck onto a flight to NYC as a child! her Gary Coleman encounter! the David Mamet scheme! and the origin story of Mary Katherine Gallagher!)
If you’re in the mood for a book that will make you laugh, make you feel more grateful to be alive, and might even leave you with tears streaming down your face in its final few minutes, this memoir (with its bag of dramatic twists!) is the book for you.
**Molly Shannon’s years on SNL—1995 to 2001—coincided with my years in junior high/high school. When I say I was obsessed with SNL at this age, I mean I.WAS.OBSESSED. (My best friend and I had the “Superstar” tees we bought from Spencer’s to prove it. Ha!) From Molly to Will Ferrell to Cheri Oteri to Ana Gasteyer, every cast member from that era was beloved. So, it was a nice gift of nostalgia to read this book, to remember how much Molly’s fearless comedy added to the show, and to reflect back on allll those happy Saturday nights I spent glued to the TV with my best friends by my side.
If you have even an ounce of interest in picking this title up, but your familiarity with Molly centers mostly on your knowledge of her impressive run on Saturday Night Live**, then do NOT read any more reviews or press she’s done for this book. Seriously, don’t even Google her!
I say this because I want you (like me) to have the experience of being fully stunned by the first 10 minutes of this book (.... or however many pages that turns out to be; I don’t know, because I listened to this on audio, which is absolutely how I recommend you experience this one.)
Molly’s life is a rollercoaster of highs and lows, and she’s such a first-class storyteller that she had me hooked from the get go. Having read this, I can now say how much I admire her resiliency (as an actor, but, more importantly, as a person). I also very much loved her stories from her time at SNL as well as the tender way she talked about the dysfunctional yet dear relationship she had with her dad.
For those of you who have read this, I wish I could talk with you in person about some of my favorite stories from the book. (For me, the highlights reel includes: her dad cleaning the house on speed! that time she snuck onto a flight to NYC as a child! her Gary Coleman encounter! the David Mamet scheme! and the origin story of Mary Katherine Gallagher!)
If you’re in the mood for a book that will make you laugh, make you feel more grateful to be alive, and might even leave you with tears streaming down your face in its final few minutes, this memoir (with its bag of dramatic twists!) is the book for you.
**Molly Shannon’s years on SNL—1995 to 2001—coincided with my years in junior high/high school. When I say I was obsessed with SNL at this age, I mean I.WAS.OBSESSED. (My best friend and I had the “Superstar” tees we bought from Spencer’s to prove it. Ha!) From Molly to Will Ferrell to Cheri Oteri to Ana Gasteyer, every cast member from that era was beloved. So, it was a nice gift of nostalgia to read this book, to remember how much Molly’s fearless comedy added to the show, and to reflect back on allll those happy Saturday nights I spent glued to the TV with my best friends by my side.
October 10, 2022
Hello, Molly!: A Memoir by Molly Shannon is the comedienne’s take on her unusual life. I expected to be laughing uproariously with this autobiography but found myself surprised by the author’s difficult younger life. When she was four, Molly survived a car accident but her mother, baby sister and cousin were killed and the driver of the car was her father. This lead to the surviving children having a very permissive life because her father did not really know what to do. Molly became fearless and independent at a very early age, which led her to her career as a successful entertainer, comedienne and actor. She describes her career in detail, frequently dropping famous names and telling it like it is. The courage and drive developed in her early childhood have possibly led Shannon to a very successful career. This memoir is touching and entertaining. Highly recommended.
March 12, 2022
If you, like me, enjoy the occasional celeb-narrated memoir, this is a perfectly nice one to add to your shelf. This memoir is mostly about her childhood, when she was just 3 a car accident killed her mother and younger sister. You get some of her later career, but mostly this is a book about her life, with a few sections that may be interesting for people looking to emulate her career path. The family writing is really poignant, particularly Shannon's relationship with her father, who was left disabled after the accident and suffered from guilt as he was the driver of the car. It's deeper than a lot of these books go in the personal stories, and Shannon is an ebullient reader with an infectious personality.
December 26, 2023
I mostly didn't like this, but it wasn't because of the content/story. Molly Shannon seems really genuine and she's definitely been through challenges that are interesting and emotional. But.
I listened to this one on AB, and it was *brutal.* Her inflection of every.single.sentence was way OTT. Everything was the absolute most. At first it was nice to have so much personality injected but it became exhausting and repetitive. And eventually I could tell that I wouldn't have liked it any better if I'd visually read it, although my gripes would have been different.
I listened to this one on AB, and it was *brutal.* Her inflection of every.single.sentence was way OTT. Everything was the absolute most. At first it was nice to have so much personality injected but it became exhausting and repetitive. And eventually I could tell that I wouldn't have liked it any better if I'd visually read it, although my gripes would have been different.
He really liked what I was doing. He said, "Molly, I really like what you're doing."I'm paraphrasing; that's not an exact example. (I don't think. It may well be, though.) But this cadence was repeated constantly. Very stilted and flat writing that was then melodramatically performed. I'm not really sure how I finished the 8 hours tbh.
September 22, 2023
Wow. This is much more of an emotional read then I was anticipating. Literally cried every few pages.
April 12, 2022
Saturday Night Live’s Molly Shannon is famous for her funny characters, sketches and slapstick comedy. But this Cincinatti born actress and comedian has written an incredibly funny, inspiring memoir. It is quite the homage to her late parents, especially her dad.
As we discover in the first chapter, Molly’s life was turned upside down when at the age of only four, her mother, younger sister and cousin were killed in a car accident in which her father fell asleep at the wheel. Waking up in the hospital no one wanted to tell her what happened and all she kept saying was she wanted her mom. Her life and her sister Mary’s changed forever after the tragedy.
As Molly, her older sister and father tried to adjust to the new family dynamics, their father, who never really recovered psychologically or physically from the accident was at a loss as to how to move on. He turned to drinking and Molly became his best friend. He would get jealous if Molly wanted to go out with her friends and she would have to prepare herself when she knew she had to tell him she would be going out. He did not understand why she would want to go out when they could have fun together. There were times when anger would get the best of her father and he would lash out screaming. Molly and her sister became adept at knowing what mood he was in just by the way he would enter their apartment.
But, for all her father’s faults, he was her biggest fan. She feels her creativity came from the crazy situations her father would get them into and then get them out of. From the moment she decided to become an actress, he pushed her to pursue a career, telling her never to take no for an answer and just keep pushing herself because he knew she could do it.
So that is just what Molly did. After graduating from college in New York, Molly headed to Los Angeles where she began waiting tables and trying to find work and an agent. It was there that she began the creation of Mary Catherine Gallager, a young Catholic schoolgirl who was prone to anxiety and clumsiness. The tagline “Superstar” is actually a nod to a childhood friend. She even had her own one woman show which she would invite all the guests from the restaurant, (and even homeless people) as well.
She and one of her male friends actually had a hustle where they would claim to be calling from playwright David Mamet’s office late on Friday afternoons recommending each other to the casting offices and setting up appointments for each other. They would each have to get five meetings before they could call it a day. Talk about persistence and genius!
But then she was finally cast on Saturday Night Live where she worked with Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler and Cheri Oteri. And she became a “superstar”! That portion of the book is filled with wonderfully funny stories about how certain sketches came to fruition and all the back-stage drama that comes along with working with different personalities on a weekly basis. Throughout this time her biggest cheerleader was her dad who was still dealing with heartbreaking conflicts but was a favorite friend to all the cast at SNL.
As you read and understand Molly’s tragedies and triumphs, you also get the feeling after all these years that perhaps Molly is also healing herself and putting all the heartbreak behind. One theme throughout the book is her hope that upon reading, women who want to break into the business can learn that they must be more persistent and stronger and wiser as well as think outside the box when it comes to getting their foot in a door.
Hello, Molly is a fantastic memoir filled with heartwarming stories, some funny and some horribly sad, but certainly gives the reader a perspective into Shannon’s upbeat personality, her wisdom and her charm.
Thank you #NetGalley #HarperCollins #MollyShannon #HelloMolly for the advanced copy.
As we discover in the first chapter, Molly’s life was turned upside down when at the age of only four, her mother, younger sister and cousin were killed in a car accident in which her father fell asleep at the wheel. Waking up in the hospital no one wanted to tell her what happened and all she kept saying was she wanted her mom. Her life and her sister Mary’s changed forever after the tragedy.
As Molly, her older sister and father tried to adjust to the new family dynamics, their father, who never really recovered psychologically or physically from the accident was at a loss as to how to move on. He turned to drinking and Molly became his best friend. He would get jealous if Molly wanted to go out with her friends and she would have to prepare herself when she knew she had to tell him she would be going out. He did not understand why she would want to go out when they could have fun together. There were times when anger would get the best of her father and he would lash out screaming. Molly and her sister became adept at knowing what mood he was in just by the way he would enter their apartment.
But, for all her father’s faults, he was her biggest fan. She feels her creativity came from the crazy situations her father would get them into and then get them out of. From the moment she decided to become an actress, he pushed her to pursue a career, telling her never to take no for an answer and just keep pushing herself because he knew she could do it.
So that is just what Molly did. After graduating from college in New York, Molly headed to Los Angeles where she began waiting tables and trying to find work and an agent. It was there that she began the creation of Mary Catherine Gallager, a young Catholic schoolgirl who was prone to anxiety and clumsiness. The tagline “Superstar” is actually a nod to a childhood friend. She even had her own one woman show which she would invite all the guests from the restaurant, (and even homeless people) as well.
She and one of her male friends actually had a hustle where they would claim to be calling from playwright David Mamet’s office late on Friday afternoons recommending each other to the casting offices and setting up appointments for each other. They would each have to get five meetings before they could call it a day. Talk about persistence and genius!
But then she was finally cast on Saturday Night Live where she worked with Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler and Cheri Oteri. And she became a “superstar”! That portion of the book is filled with wonderfully funny stories about how certain sketches came to fruition and all the back-stage drama that comes along with working with different personalities on a weekly basis. Throughout this time her biggest cheerleader was her dad who was still dealing with heartbreaking conflicts but was a favorite friend to all the cast at SNL.
As you read and understand Molly’s tragedies and triumphs, you also get the feeling after all these years that perhaps Molly is also healing herself and putting all the heartbreak behind. One theme throughout the book is her hope that upon reading, women who want to break into the business can learn that they must be more persistent and stronger and wiser as well as think outside the box when it comes to getting their foot in a door.
Hello, Molly is a fantastic memoir filled with heartwarming stories, some funny and some horribly sad, but certainly gives the reader a perspective into Shannon’s upbeat personality, her wisdom and her charm.
Thank you #NetGalley #HarperCollins #MollyShannon #HelloMolly for the advanced copy.
May 31, 2022
I really wanted to like this book, because I find Molly Shannon and her outrageous characters absolutely hilarious. Unfortunately, this was a complete miss for me, and I’m honestly baffled by the four and five star reviews. This seems to have been written specifically to showcase Molly’s talents in audiobook format. The simple sentence structure, overuse of italics and constantly repeated thoughts/observations/etc. made this quite the slog, and I found myself speed reading to get it over with. It felt more like a grade school diary than a memoir. “Then this thing happened. It was neat. Then this person said this. It was funny!” She has such an interesting story. I just wish someone else wrote it for her.
September 8, 2022
This audiobook broke my heart.
Molly Shannon is so raw and honest with her story that I both laughed and cried with her. She is infectious with her positive energy. Her story is full of hope and resilience. She talked through her set-backs and how she learned from them and continued forward towards her dream. She discusses the loss of her mother and her relationship with her father throughout and it was so relatable and heart-breaking. I highly recommend the audiobook, because as many others have said, it's best to hear it from Molly herself.
Molly Shannon is so raw and honest with her story that I both laughed and cried with her. She is infectious with her positive energy. Her story is full of hope and resilience. She talked through her set-backs and how she learned from them and continued forward towards her dream. She discusses the loss of her mother and her relationship with her father throughout and it was so relatable and heart-breaking. I highly recommend the audiobook, because as many others have said, it's best to hear it from Molly herself.
January 31, 2023
Remember that time when you were four and your dad got super wasted and ended up killing your mom and your cousin and little sister and a car wreck and you ended up making it into a hilarious audiobook?
If not, that's probably because you're not Molly Shannon. SNL alum Molly Shannon, known for her over the top characters like this super enthusiastic cheerleader, brings that same enthusiasm to her memoir.
I am not usually a fan of audiobooks, but I picked this one figuring Molly Shannon would be a great narrator of her own story given her acting chops. I'm wondering if I did myself a disservice by listening to this book instead of reading it on the page. Molly goes through some shocking life events revolving largely around her father's alcoholism and neglect and her tone never quite seems to find itself in the book. Surely a financially disastrous father who never really got sober would be a source of pain and unhappiness, but the ever buoyant Shannon doesn't convey this at all in her audiobook (nor is it conveyed in interviews. I've heard from her promoting the book on programs like Fresh Air). She has a real 'gee whiz' quality and describing how she had to cook and clean and navigate her father's deep clinical depression.
Maybe she is just that well adapted and happy? Maybe there's no grim reality underneath her need for approval as a comic? I certainly hope that's the case, but I also don't know that I really grasped any life lessons from her book. On the one hand, it's an entertaining book to listen to on a car trip. Molly Shannon is a charismatic person. However, not exploring the pain of these events in any meaningful way made me feel like I was buying into something that was painfully dissociative.
If not, that's probably because you're not Molly Shannon. SNL alum Molly Shannon, known for her over the top characters like this super enthusiastic cheerleader, brings that same enthusiasm to her memoir.
I am not usually a fan of audiobooks, but I picked this one figuring Molly Shannon would be a great narrator of her own story given her acting chops. I'm wondering if I did myself a disservice by listening to this book instead of reading it on the page. Molly goes through some shocking life events revolving largely around her father's alcoholism and neglect and her tone never quite seems to find itself in the book. Surely a financially disastrous father who never really got sober would be a source of pain and unhappiness, but the ever buoyant Shannon doesn't convey this at all in her audiobook (nor is it conveyed in interviews. I've heard from her promoting the book on programs like Fresh Air). She has a real 'gee whiz' quality and describing how she had to cook and clean and navigate her father's deep clinical depression.
Maybe she is just that well adapted and happy? Maybe there's no grim reality underneath her need for approval as a comic? I certainly hope that's the case, but I also don't know that I really grasped any life lessons from her book. On the one hand, it's an entertaining book to listen to on a car trip. Molly Shannon is a charismatic person. However, not exploring the pain of these events in any meaningful way made me feel like I was buying into something that was painfully dissociative.
April 14, 2022
What a breath of fresh air Molly Shannon's view on life is! Didn't think I could love her any more than I already did from years of admiring her work, but learning so much more about her younger years and family life gave me a new appreciation for the works I've loved all these years.
July 4, 2022
Few autobiographies shock me as to how negative and depressing they are, but this is one of them. If you're expecting an uplifting, funny memoir then look elsewhere. This is the story of a 4-year-old girl who lost her mother to a car accident (no spoiler there, she talks about it on TV promoting the book), then has to deal with a drunk father who teaches her that it's okay to lie, cheat, steal, and take advantage of others to get ahead.
And Molly Shannon to this day seems to have no conscience about the horrible things she did, bragging about them on these pages and trying to then turn us sympathetic toward her father when he finally comes out as gay before his death. His sexual revelation is not only poorly written but she makes it seems like it was the cause of his alcoholism. Then the book ends, leaving us wondering about the past twenty years and if she has actually become a decent moral human being.
It's disgusting. She should be ashamed of approaching the book this way, thinking she's great for shoplifting all the time or underage drinking or cheating on tests or as an adult making fake phone calls for six months to get parts in Hollywood shows. She can try to blame it on the trauma of losing a mother in childhood or her crazy father being a bad parent, but as a supposedly responsible adult she continues all of the bad choices and tries to make them sound honorable in the book.
After pulling the "David Mamet Scam," where she and a pal would call for each other to agents or studios claiming to work for Mamet, trying to get meetings for the other, she is proud that it worked all but once and she was able to get actual parts in TV shows based on the fraud. She concludes that chapter with, "Maybe more women need to push the rules to get to the yes and even out the biased playing field in Hollywood." HUH? So because she perceives that there's anti-female bias in the business it's okay to lie repeatedly, cheat others out of opportunities, and take things that aren't yours? That's her father's philosophy playing out in Molly Shannon's adult life.
I could go through all the things wrong with this book but it's very poorly written, especially the first hundred pages where there's no emotion and the "stories" are just glib memories, often a single paragraph. She has a co-author on this and he doesn't seem to be doing his job because it's choppy with large chunks of the narrative missing. And there's nothing funny about any of it, except possibly when Gary Coleman tries to bed her. But she's told that story on TV and it's not representative of the rest of the memoir.
Ironically the back cover has quotes from fellow leftist female empowerment types. Amy Schumer calls the book "life changing," (maybe she didn't mean that in a positive way?). Aubrey Plaza says it's "the most inspiring memoir I've ever read" (she must not have read many others). And Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney calls it "exuberant, brave, wholehearted and hilarious" (none of those PR adjectives are true). There's nothing inspirational about it and in the end the reader feels manipulated. This is the perfect example of how immoral and unethical celebrities can be, thinking nothing of abusing their power, mooching off the system, and demeaning others along the way in order to become a "superstar."
And Molly Shannon to this day seems to have no conscience about the horrible things she did, bragging about them on these pages and trying to then turn us sympathetic toward her father when he finally comes out as gay before his death. His sexual revelation is not only poorly written but she makes it seems like it was the cause of his alcoholism. Then the book ends, leaving us wondering about the past twenty years and if she has actually become a decent moral human being.
It's disgusting. She should be ashamed of approaching the book this way, thinking she's great for shoplifting all the time or underage drinking or cheating on tests or as an adult making fake phone calls for six months to get parts in Hollywood shows. She can try to blame it on the trauma of losing a mother in childhood or her crazy father being a bad parent, but as a supposedly responsible adult she continues all of the bad choices and tries to make them sound honorable in the book.
After pulling the "David Mamet Scam," where she and a pal would call for each other to agents or studios claiming to work for Mamet, trying to get meetings for the other, she is proud that it worked all but once and she was able to get actual parts in TV shows based on the fraud. She concludes that chapter with, "Maybe more women need to push the rules to get to the yes and even out the biased playing field in Hollywood." HUH? So because she perceives that there's anti-female bias in the business it's okay to lie repeatedly, cheat others out of opportunities, and take things that aren't yours? That's her father's philosophy playing out in Molly Shannon's adult life.
I could go through all the things wrong with this book but it's very poorly written, especially the first hundred pages where there's no emotion and the "stories" are just glib memories, often a single paragraph. She has a co-author on this and he doesn't seem to be doing his job because it's choppy with large chunks of the narrative missing. And there's nothing funny about any of it, except possibly when Gary Coleman tries to bed her. But she's told that story on TV and it's not representative of the rest of the memoir.
Ironically the back cover has quotes from fellow leftist female empowerment types. Amy Schumer calls the book "life changing," (maybe she didn't mean that in a positive way?). Aubrey Plaza says it's "the most inspiring memoir I've ever read" (she must not have read many others). And Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney calls it "exuberant, brave, wholehearted and hilarious" (none of those PR adjectives are true). There's nothing inspirational about it and in the end the reader feels manipulated. This is the perfect example of how immoral and unethical celebrities can be, thinking nothing of abusing their power, mooching off the system, and demeaning others along the way in order to become a "superstar."
June 7, 2022
This is 3.5 stars. Molly's writing itself isn't strong, but the story she tells is. Don't read this if you have the option of listening to her narrate it-- you'll be charmed. I enjoyed learning more about her life. I have long idolized her fearless comedic talent and was pleasantly surprised at her positive, warm, confident disposition. She's had a lot of trials in her life; she lost her mother suddenly at a very young age, and had a topsy-turvy, codependent relationship with her father. She is self-made and it's easy to understand how she found success - aside from her incredible talent, she's one determined lady.
June 5, 2022
This was a nice mix of hilarious and poignant stories. Molly Shannon writes about the accident that killed her mother, younger sister, and cousin when she was a kid and how that impacted her throughout her life. There’s a lot about how she got started in the entertainment business and behind the scenes stories of SNL and more. I appreciated how her voice really came through in the writing. However, it was just all over the place. It jumped around so much that it was hard to follow at times. It didn’t really feel like a cohesive, well-organized book. I wish it had flowed better rather than giving me whiplash as it went from story to story.
September 29, 2022
مقززة جدًا هذه السيولة في الركض وراء "صرعات وصرخات" الموضة الفكرية الشاذة
تبًا للالتزامات التي تجعلنا نقرأ مثل هذا الهراء
تبًا للالتزامات التي تجعلنا نقرأ مثل هذا الهراء
December 12, 2022
It was ok. I did find Molly’s writing style to be very simple. I was also expecting it to be a little bit funny - it was not. I enjoyed all of her SNL insider stories.
October 8, 2021
There is a lot of truth to the idea that comedy springs from tragedy, and certainly SNL cast member Molly Shannon's life is proof of that. When Molly was a toddler, her mother, baby sister, and cousin were killed in the car that she was also in, along with her other sister. Her father, after a night of drinking, was at the wheel. I had to wonder what would have happened to Molly's father, Jim, nowadays - very possibly he would have been brought up on charges and spent time in prison. In fact, there does not appear to even have been any kind of legal repercussions at all - but there were plenty of emotional ones. Jim Shannon, who was severely injured in the crash as well, spends the rest of his life wracked with guilt, struggling with alcohol addiction, making Molly his "surrogate wife" (emotionally not physically!), and denying his sexuality (towards the end of his life, he comes out as gay or bisexual). He's an extremely complex character - alternatively infuriating, boundary-busting, charming, encouraging, and raging. In fact, I got the feeling Molly really wanted to write about him and not her own significant acting and comedic accomplishments.
If you want to hear about Molly and not her dad, you've got to look a bit harder. Her SNL years are covered in a couple of chapters in the middle, and though personally I would have loved to hear much more about them, they are still interesting. What impressed me most was how incredibly grateful she was for her time on the show. I've read other SNL memoirs and no doubt it is one of the toughest, most frustrating gigs in show biz, but it can also launch you to the stratosphere. Molly never forgot that and remains gracious and humble to Lorne Greene.
We hear a lot about her favorite and most famous character, rambunctious, angry, and Uber-enthusiastic Catholic school girl Mary Katherine Gallagher. I went back and watched a few of these skits and they appealed to me more now than when they first aired - perhaps I was too young to appreciate them at the time as they don't come with easy chuckles. My favorite impression of hers is still Courtney Love.
There are also a few anecdotes from her youth that will have today's coddled kids gaping in shock - such as when she and her friend snuck onto a plane at 11 years old, and actually ended up wandering around NYC by themselves. Molly didn't even get into trouble, her dad thought it was hilarious (in fact, the whole thing was his idea). Then there's that incident with the sheik!
All in all, a really entertaining and often tear-jerking memoir. Thank you to NetGalley, Molly Shannon, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If you want to hear about Molly and not her dad, you've got to look a bit harder. Her SNL years are covered in a couple of chapters in the middle, and though personally I would have loved to hear much more about them, they are still interesting. What impressed me most was how incredibly grateful she was for her time on the show. I've read other SNL memoirs and no doubt it is one of the toughest, most frustrating gigs in show biz, but it can also launch you to the stratosphere. Molly never forgot that and remains gracious and humble to Lorne Greene.
We hear a lot about her favorite and most famous character, rambunctious, angry, and Uber-enthusiastic Catholic school girl Mary Katherine Gallagher. I went back and watched a few of these skits and they appealed to me more now than when they first aired - perhaps I was too young to appreciate them at the time as they don't come with easy chuckles. My favorite impression of hers is still Courtney Love.
There are also a few anecdotes from her youth that will have today's coddled kids gaping in shock - such as when she and her friend snuck onto a plane at 11 years old, and actually ended up wandering around NYC by themselves. Molly didn't even get into trouble, her dad thought it was hilarious (in fact, the whole thing was his idea). Then there's that incident with the sheik!
All in all, a really entertaining and often tear-jerking memoir. Thank you to NetGalley, Molly Shannon, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 24, 2022
“Sometimes I could hardly perform in a sketch with Will because I would just start laughing. And I think it’s a good sign when someone laughs during a sketch. It shows that you’re open, you’re really listening, and your instrument is relaxed. The audience likes it, too. It gives them a license to laugh. And they feel in on something happening live.”
Is there anything better than when the actors break on SNL? It’s my favorite thing about the show.
This memoir was NOT WHAT I EXPECTED in the best way. It wasn’t even on my radar and besides her time on SNL and her films, I knew nothing personal about Molly Shannon. But my husband bought it for me for my birthday so I cracked it open right away. I expected your typical comedic memoir, but it opens with a gut wrenching tragedy and I was bawling by page five.
Then at the end I was bawling again! This memoir was so surprising and heartfelt and yes, FUNNY, but it’s so much more than that. It’s a profound testament to FAMILY, both blood and chosen, and holding those you love close because you never know how much time you have. Be grateful to be alive. Have fun. Be silly. Be yourself. Follow your dreams.
Molly’s life has been filled with tragedy and trials but also laughter and love. She has had some wild times and she will tell you all about it. And you should listen. This book is wonderful.
Is there anything better than when the actors break on SNL? It’s my favorite thing about the show.
This memoir was NOT WHAT I EXPECTED in the best way. It wasn’t even on my radar and besides her time on SNL and her films, I knew nothing personal about Molly Shannon. But my husband bought it for me for my birthday so I cracked it open right away. I expected your typical comedic memoir, but it opens with a gut wrenching tragedy and I was bawling by page five.
Then at the end I was bawling again! This memoir was so surprising and heartfelt and yes, FUNNY, but it’s so much more than that. It’s a profound testament to FAMILY, both blood and chosen, and holding those you love close because you never know how much time you have. Be grateful to be alive. Have fun. Be silly. Be yourself. Follow your dreams.
Molly’s life has been filled with tragedy and trials but also laughter and love. She has had some wild times and she will tell you all about it. And you should listen. This book is wonderful.
July 10, 2022
For my money, the best SNL cast was the one from when I was 13 - the 1995-96 group, Shannon’s first full season on the show (and the first one I ever got to watch). So I was looking forward to the release date on this one.
Shannon was on the show for five seasons as Mary Catherine Gallagher, joyologist Helen Madden, and Sally O’Malley. I would have loved more SNL than what we got, but the book really focuses on her upbringing and family. Her mom and sister died in a car crash when she was young, an event that affected every part of the rest of her life.
Despite her childhood and long run in show business, this is a book completely without bitterness. Shannon turns out to be exactly the person you would expect from watching her on TV. Upbeat, funny, very gifted.
I highly recommend the audio book - it is read by Shannon and as you would expect, it is a performance.
Shannon was on the show for five seasons as Mary Catherine Gallagher, joyologist Helen Madden, and Sally O’Malley. I would have loved more SNL than what we got, but the book really focuses on her upbringing and family. Her mom and sister died in a car crash when she was young, an event that affected every part of the rest of her life.
Despite her childhood and long run in show business, this is a book completely without bitterness. Shannon turns out to be exactly the person you would expect from watching her on TV. Upbeat, funny, very gifted.
I highly recommend the audio book - it is read by Shannon and as you would expect, it is a performance.
August 30, 2022
Well, hello Molly! It was utter delight to listen to you tell your story! Readers, yourself a favour, and listen to this on audiobook.
Molly IS Mary Katherine Gallagher. She IS Sally O’Malley. And she is so much more. Molly took her early childhood trauma and her unconventional upbringing and instead of letting it define her, she transformed herself into a woman who is full of love, life and boundless energy.
You’re lookin’ swell, Molly. I can tell Molly. You’re still glowing’ you’re still crowin’ you’re still growin’ strong!!
Molly IS Mary Katherine Gallagher. She IS Sally O’Malley. And she is so much more. Molly took her early childhood trauma and her unconventional upbringing and instead of letting it define her, she transformed herself into a woman who is full of love, life and boundless energy.
You’re lookin’ swell, Molly. I can tell Molly. You’re still glowing’ you’re still crowin’ you’re still growin’ strong!!
March 29, 2022
You might pick up this book expecting it to be a laugh riot, which it is, but only some sections. Molly’s childhood was somewhat sad and this book delves deeply into that. It’s a fascinating book. After I finished it, I went back and watched several of her SNL skits. I definitely didn’t appreciate her enough, she is a powerhouse!!
I highly recommend the audiobook version since Molly narrates it herself and it’s a joy to hear her expressive voice. Five stars for Molly! Superstar!
I highly recommend the audiobook version since Molly narrates it herself and it’s a joy to hear her expressive voice. Five stars for Molly! Superstar!
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