Maya Rudolph: My Up All Night Character Is Not Based On Oprah

First Published: October 12, 2011 4:51 PM EDT Credit: Access Hollywood Caption Maya Rudolph stops by Access Hollywood Live on October 12, 2011LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Comedy genius and Up All Night star Maya Rudolph might have poked fun at Oprah during her days on Saturday Night Live, but the actress says her current role on her new NBC comedy is not based on the media mogul. Maya stopped by Access Hollywood Live on Wednesday, where she explained that her Ava character, an eccentric daytime talk show host, is not paying homage to the Queen of OWN. People always think Im doing Oprah, I guess because I did Oprah on the show, Maya said of Ava, who in the shows most recent episode blows off reading a book on the economic crisis to cut loose in Las Vegas at a foam party. You definitely have to have [gumption] to be a talk show host. I dont think I could personally pull it off being myself, she continued. Im sort of infusing Ava with this regalness that I think is fun to play. Maya also had high praise for recent SNL host and longtime friend Melissa McCarthy. I used to be at the Groundlings with Melissa, Ive known the secret of Melissa McCarthy for a long time, she said of the Emmy winner. You saw on SNL, she should be a cast member for sure. Shes one of the funniest people I have ever known and worked with. Up All Night, which also stars Christina Applegate and Will Arnett, airs Wednesdays at 8 PM on NBC. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.