Leslie Jones says performing stand-up for the first time as a freshman in college felt like putting on a shirt that fit perfectly: "It was just so natural." She spoke with Tonya Mosley about the best advice she got, her bittersweet time at SNL, and why she loves physical comedy. Her memoir is Leslie F*cking Jones. Also, Justin Chang reviews the Leonard Bernstein biopic Maestro, starring Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
On the Ted radio hour, linguist Ann Curzan says she gets a lot of complaints about people using the pronoun they to refer to one person.
I sometimes get into arguments with people where they will say to me, but it can't be singular.
And I will say, but it is the history behind words causing a lot of debate.
That's on the Ted radio hour from NPR.
This is FRESH AIR.
I'm Tanya Mosley.
When comedian and actress Leslie Jones joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 2014, she held the distinction of being the oldest person to ever join the cast at 47 years old.
But that detail might just be the least interesting thing about her.
Jones was on Saturday Night Live for five seasons, first as a writer, then as a cast member.
She became known for her hilarious weekend update reports, as well as her outrageous sketches playing everyone from Whoopi Goldberg to Donald Trump.
And last week, she guest hosted the Daily show.
Here she is responding to Trump's comments that if president again, he would root out the vermin in this country.
This man is calling american citizens vermin when he is literally the definition of vermin.
He's talking about throwing the definition.
He's talking about throwing his opponents in jail when he literally should be in jail.
And he, he is the leading candidate.
Can you, can you believe he is the leading candidate?
What the America did y'all?
How did y'all let this happen?
Cause this ain't my fault.