Ask and ye shall receive. Or, in Rachel Dratch's case, beg a little and ye shall be gainfully employed again. After she told New York magazine earlier this month that she was "not doing much" and "ready for a job," the out-of-work Saturday Night Live alum got an emphatic answer from the universe.

Dratch has just been cast in the comedic play Scramble! at the Westport County Playhouse, a historic Connecticut theater revived by Paul Newman and his wife, Joanne Woodward. She will appear in the production in July. Earlier this week she flew to Los Angeles to shoot a pilot for a new, as yet unnamed, TV series.

When New York magazine caught back up with Dratch at the opening night of the new musical A Catered Affair over the weekend, she confessed a little post-press remorse. … continue reading

The woman who created Debbie Downer is a little down in real life. Seems Rachel Dratch hasn't found much work since she left Saturday Night Live two years ago. In fact, when asked what she'd been up to last month, her response was telling: “I know you're supposed to come up with fake stuff you're doing. But honestly, I'm not doing much. [Downtime] is starting to get old. I'm starting to go crazy. I'm ready for a job.”

I've always thought Dratch was pretty great on SNL, mainly for her willingness to look crazy and do anything for a laugh. Besides Debbie Downer, she created such memorable characters as Boston teen Denise “Zazu” McDonough and the adorable love child of Angelina Jolie and her brother. See what I was saying about going for it?

I also loved how she could crack the cast up, particularly as Debbie Downer. … continue reading