Lily Tomlin: The Kindle Singles Interview

by Tom Roston

With a hit Netflix series (“Grace and Frankie”) and a much buzzed-about feature film (“Grandma”) on the way, Lily Tomlin is all the rage. Of course, the 75-year-old actress and comedian has been turning out unforgettable roles for the better part of five decades, from Ernestine, the condescending telephone operator on “Laugh-In,” to Violet Newstead, the secretary in “9 to 5.” In this wide-ranging, intimate and often hilarious Kindle Singles Interview, Tomlin covers all aspects of her extraordinary life and career, turning a drab Manhattan hotel room into a one-woman show with tales of her childhood in Detroit, her early years in New York, and the origins of her classic characters.Tom Roston is a veteran journalist and author of two previous Kindle Singles Interviews, with Ted Allen and Ken Burns. Roston began his career at The Nation and Vanity Fair, before working at Premiere magazine as a senior editor. He is a frequent contributor to The New York Times and his book, I Lost It At The Video Store, a filmmakers' oral history, will be published by The Critical Press in September. He lives with his wife and their two daughters in New York City.Cover design by Adil Dara.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

50 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 2, 2015

Reviews

[Terri Noftsger]

This is a short Kindle Single of an interview done a couple of years ago. I enjoyed reading it. If you are a fan of Lily Tomlin, you will enjoy it.

[Carrie]

Awesome Woman

A short, but very insightful look at Lily Tomlin. I love her response to the question in regards to Obama.

[Teri]

This is a short interview with Lily Tomlin, hosted by Tom Roston for Kindle Singles. I've loved Lily Tomlin since I watched her on Laugh-In. In person, she seems to be the same funny lady I grew up watching. She seems very open and honest with a no-holds-barred attitude. The interview covers her time at Laugh-In with characters like Edith Ann and Ernestine to her time on 9-5 with Jane Fonda and Dolly Parton. The main focus is a promotion for her movie Grandma and her Netflix original show Grace and Frankie.

[Kerry]

How can an interview with Lily Tomlin be dull? When the interviewer doesn't let the interview progress naturally and inserts himself into it too much, that's how. We should have have gotten more of Tomlin's humor and humanity. But, whether due to time or length constrains, this interview seems rushed and jerky.

[Josetta]

Who doesn't love Lily Tomlin? This as a fun interview about what's going on with her life now, as well as what she's done in the past and how she's changed. It's a quick read and, while it's not a "biography" per se, it's still worth reading. It also makes me want to see her recent films.

[Clair]

Some Excellent insight into the mind of The Great Lily Tomlin

I gave it 5 stars because it's an Excellent interview, very interesting, and gave some insight to one of the longest running actresses/comedians of my time. Highly recommended read!

[Joey Sharpe]

Quick read but insightful interview

I love Lily Tomlin ever since watching her on Laugh In as a very young kid. She always makes me laugh, whether in movies or when I see her interviewed. This read won't disappoint, either.

[Cynthia Sterling]

I loved the interview. Lily Tomlin, as my Mum would say was the first one, to make me laugh so hard I cried on laugh In. I remember all the shows she was on and love Grace & Frankie. Looking forward to Grandma💖💕❤️🌹

[rosanne Marcello]

Honestly Lily

I don't usually read interviews, but Lily Tomlin is just different. And this interview shows it. She's just real, humble, and honest

[Simon Sweetman]

A very good interview w/ a comedy icon.