Palm Royale Stars Allison Janney & Leslie Bibb Talk Set Stories, Working with Kristen Wiig & More

Allison Janney has played many strong women on screen. From White House press secretary CJ on the West Wing to Bonnie on Mom, her range cannot be matched. And now with Palm Royale, Janney has done it again as beautiful, wealthy, socialite snob, Evelyn Rollins. She’s so good at being a terrible, rich person that you almost wish she would yell at you through the screen as she does to Kristen Wiig’s Maxine at least five times an episode. Leslie Bibb, her co-star on Palm Royale, lights up the screen as Dinah, another socialite, who’s following in the footsteps of Janney’s Evelyn, and matches her character’s biting sarcasm with a delightful dose of humor against Wiig. Bibb and Janney sat down with SheKnows to discuss their new show, and what it’s like to work with comedic legends, like Wiig and Carol Burnett. They also let us in on a few fun facts about their co-stars, from who sends voice texts, to who they’d like to sing karaoke with, and who makes them break the most in scenes. Set in Palm Beach in 1969, Palm Royale is simply like going on vacation with the best dose of drama that you don’t have to be part of.

The only way to describe this cast is royal. No, not like Prince Harry and Prince William royal, but a better kind of royal. It’s stacked with some of the most talented actors working today. Ricky Martin, Josh Lucas, Laura Dern, Julia Duffy, Mindy Cohn, Wiig, Burnett, and of course, Janney and Bibb, themselves.

When asked what she’s learned from working with Wiig, Janney quickly answered, “I don’t know if I’m allowed to say where, but let’s just say she used her incredible skills of ad-libbing. I mean she schooled me!” Janney revealed she was in awe of Wiig’s improv skills. And what did Janney teach Wiig, Janney deadpans, “I mean from me she learned how to hit her mark. I’m just kidding. I have nothing! I don’t know what she learned from me.” Someone might need to remind Allison Janney that she is the Allison Janney! Self-deprecating Janney also made sure to point out, “She hits her mark fine!”

Bibb quickly agrees with Janney about Wiig’s well-known improv skills, but her favorite moment was a scene with Wiig where they are on a golf course. “We were driving this golf cart, we’re drinking and taking pills, as you did in the ‘60s, and Ricky (Martin) was there on a Vespa, which has a bar cart attached to it, which Vespa really should trademark immediately.” Drinking on a golf cart with Kristen Wiig and Ricky Martin on a Vespa. Sign us up. Bibb can’t stop singing Wiig’s praises, “She’s incredibly talented, she’s a great producer, she’s a good advocate for her cast members.

Watch the video above to find out which song Allison Janney plans on singing with Ricky Martin, and what Janney tells Bibb she needs to make shorter. Palm Royale is streaming now on Apple TV+.

Before you go, check out the all-time best ‘Outlander’ episodes you need to watch.