On Monday night, Chloe Fineman walked the carpet for new movie The Dink, following two big pieces of career news in the last week — first, that she was leaving Saturday Night Live, and second, that she would be joining NetflixshowMyron Bolitaras a series regular.
Fineman had appeared on SNL for seven seasons and wrote in her announcement post on Instagram that she “decided it’s time for my next chapter.” The new series — an adaptation of Harlan Coben’s thriller novels about an NBA star-turned-sports agent that is being co-showrun by David E. Kelleyand Kyle Long — seems to be a big part of that next chapter, as she told The Hollywood Reporter at The Dink premiere.
“Seven years is kind of like the classic way [at SNL], and then like right as my contract was up, this amazing David E. Kelley opportunity came in like completely out of the blue. I did a little chemistry read and it was off to the races; it just felt like a perfect time,” Fineman explained. “I’m really proud of everything, but it’s hard. I’m genuinely really good friends with everybody, and I genuinely couldn’t love that job more. So it’s really bittersweet, but I’m gonna be in New York. I’m down the street. Maybe you’ll see me.”
She noted that Colin Jost had called her earlier that day because it was her birthday (“I fully cried”) and “everyone’s like really reaching out. It’s the sweetest show. It’s a hard show, but the people — it’s because of hours and everything. But like it really is a family, and I’ve been crying like sweet tears.” The comedian also added that she felt lucky to get to adjust to a more regular, non-SNL schedule while also working on something she was excited about, with filming starting on Myron Bolitar this week.
As for larger SNL plans, Fineman said she was looking forward to “just stretching the TV wings and like who better than David E. Kelley? And I’m really excited to like watch SNL as an audience member [in person], which I’ve never done.”
Her summer also includes the release of The Dink, starring alongside Jake Johnson and Ben Stiller in a comedy about a washed-up tennis pro who tries to save a club by reluctantly playing pickleball.
Johnson joked that they “represent both sides” in the tennis vs. pickleball debate and the project came about when he was looking to do something “just funny and light and kind of easy listening.”
“This kind of mid-range comedy with a nice three-act structure that’s kind of light has gone away, and they’ve either become really cool indies that are like very cool or huge franchises, and neither of those were the ones I really dreamt of making,” Johnson, who is a producer on the film, added of the sports comedy. “Being able to make a mid-tier comedy that’s just got like every scene there’s a different funny person who comes in — everybody’s funny in the movie. There’s heart. There’s a real story. There’s a structure. Like I want more movies like this, so I really hope it works.”
The Dink, which also stars Mary Steenburgen, Ed Harris and Aaron Chen, premieres Friday on Apple TV.