I can't help but feel really sorry for Rachel Dratch. The comedian left Saturday Night Live two years ago for a role on 30 Rock. She played the original 'Jenna', but the network replaced her with Jane Krakowski, who made the role a lot ditzier than Rachel played it. After that, Dratch had a few guest parts on 30 Rock but we haven't seen her at all this season.Evidently, she's not doing much these days. She told New York magazine that she's getting bored and, "I'm starting to go crazy. I'm ready for a job." The reporter for the magazine must've caught her on a bad day because she says she'd take a job in a "black-box theater company" at this point.
It's very sad, isn't it? Rachel had some great characters on SNL, including 'Denise' from Boston Teens and that person with the baby arm growing out of her head (oh yeah, she was Debbie Downer too, but I wouldn't call that "great"). She said that she recently hit a low point when Vanity Fair did a cover story on women in comedy--she wasn't listed or mentioned, but everyone she used to work with (i.e., Tina Fey, Amy Poehler) was included.
I wonder why she's not getting work. Do people not think she's funny? Or, is she not hot enough? Or, is it the last name-- "Dratch"?
Ask TV Squad: Eureka, The Prisoner and more!
TV Squad Ten: Cartoon women who should have Playboy centerfolds
Six Mad Men characters who are in limbo after the finale
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
4-07-2008 @ 4:46PM
Rich C said...
For me: it's all 3 reasons!
Reply
4-07-2008 @ 4:40PM
Anita said...
I hadn't known that she was the original Jenna. It makes sense. I always thought JK played it a bit ditzier and prettier than actresses we actually see on improv and now I know why. It seems slightly ironic that a show lightly satirizing improv TV, gives into the very types it allegedly mocks -
Reply
4-07-2008 @ 4:55PM
Adam P said...
Maybe it's the name... that's a good point. I had trouble wanting to like her as a comedienne when she started out on SNL because of the dratchy quality of the name.
She could change her name to "Rachel Sunshine." She could make it a HUGE publicity thing... like everytime Sean Combs makes an announcement. She is very funny and should be back on the TV.
Reply
4-07-2008 @ 5:03PM
Steve said...
good riddance.
Reply
4-13-2008 @ 7:08AM
J. said...
Successful women comedians need to be hot and funny these days. Guys can get away with being conventionally unattractive and funny, but the days of Ruth Buzzi are over.
p.s.: She's got a great rack though!!
Reply
4-13-2008 @ 5:40AM
Norm said...
> p.s.: She's got a great rack though!!
Too true.
4-07-2008 @ 5:17PM
Gary said...
That character of the baby with the arm going out of it's head was supposed to be the child of the alleged incestuous sex between Angelina Jolie and her brother.
Reply
4-08-2008 @ 11:44PM
Katie said...
Actually, the baby character *originally* came about when that weird alien cult from Canada/Quebec claimed to have created the first successful human clone, named Eve, and the character was the baby
4-07-2008 @ 5:34PM
John Gross said...
it's because she's unattractive. Go through her imdb.com pictures and you'll see what I mean.
Her eyes are so weird.
Reply
4-07-2008 @ 5:36PM
jordancda said...
Unfortunately, its definitely the looks. Rachel Dratch is a funny, funny woman. Hilarious, even. And really talented at improv. But she's just not good looking enough for that business. Its harsh, and I don't agree with it, but that's the way it works. Its really too bad she lost her SNL gig.
Reply
4-07-2008 @ 5:49PM
nickmagoo said...
i would think her, uh, offbeat looks would get her plenty of gigs, and i would think she has plenty of friends within the industry. she's talented enough to get an acting job if she REALLY wanted. maybe it's just that her agent sucks...
Reply
4-07-2008 @ 6:46PM
eugene said...
I dunno about the "looks" reason, lisa lamponelli does okay for herself and she definitely isn't a looker.
Reply
4-07-2008 @ 6:49PM
Joel Keller said...
I dunno... I took a look at those IMDb shots, and, besides that "deer in the headlights" look in her eyes, I thought she looked pretty cute in all of them. Also, I've seen her in person -- ASSSSCAT at UCB, mostly -- and, while she's definitely unconventional-looking, she makes it work for her. And she's way, way too funny to be out of work just because she doesn't have a tiny nose. She'd make a pretty good correspondent on The Daily Show, but I'm guessing that gig is probably a bit of a step down for her at this point.
It's too bad that she lost the 30 Rock job... she would have been really good on that show...
Reply
4-07-2008 @ 8:30PM
Vito said...
She could always come on board as a special guest correspondent. In the same way John Hodgman or Demitri Martin have. The main thing is just for her to keep working and not start doing lousy stuff. That's what killed Jon Lovitz and Dana Carvey.
4-07-2008 @ 7:28PM
Jake said...
Well I don't think she's funny at all. And to be honest it doesn't surprise me she kind of faded away... how many women on SNL have really had a successful careers after leaving SNL? Jane Curtain and Tina Fey are the only two who come to mind. Molly Shannon to a lesser extent.
Reply
4-08-2008 @ 3:54AM
nickmagoo said...
regarding women from snl other than fey or curtin...ever heard of a show called seinfeld with julia louis-dreyfus? but there aren't that many, to be sure...
4-07-2008 @ 7:39PM
wed said...
Feel rude for daying it, but she annoys the t*ts off me! Which is annoying as I hear Strangers with Candy is good.
Reply
4-07-2008 @ 8:01PM
Annie said...
Whoa there. Dratch isn't part of 'Strangers with Candy'. You need to get on that business, 'cause that show is fantastic.
Anyway... On-topic: I don't find Dratch particularly amusing. None of her recurring SNL characters were any good. "Debbie Downer" was only funny when she screwed up.
4-07-2008 @ 8:41PM
YouFaceTheTick said...
She always reminded me of the Penguin from Batman.
Reply
4-07-2008 @ 10:40PM
Jimmy said...
I've always been a fan of The Dratch.
Don't forget Zazoo!
Reply