Kristen Schaal Is the Last Man on Earth’s Last Woman

The Last Man on Earth has met his match. In the season premiere of the new Fox comedy, titular wanderer Phil Miller (Will Forte) encountered control freak Carol Pilbasian (Kristen Schaal), but it was hardly love at first sight. Schaal, who also does voice work on Fox’s Bob’s Burgers and Disney XD’s Gravity Falls, previews the adventures ahead for the mismatched couple.

How difficult was it to keep this role under wraps while filming?

It was fun! I got to lie to people, or I would get in trouble. When people asked me what I was working on, I would say Bob’s Burgers or Gravity Falls, and those are good enough answers. Nobody pushed me further or asked, “What about any secret shows?”

What skills does Carol possess that have enabled her to survive this long?

She’s a tough cookie. I like to think of her as an office worker meets a Girl Scout. She is a scrapper, and to survive, she is looking at things that worked in the old world that have to keep going in this desolate world. There’s something about not being completely flexible that is actually helpful in a world that is completely destroyed.

How does married life change Carol and Phil’s relationship?

Something that’s been so special to me about this show is the complexity of their relationship. It’s so unique and cool and unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I don’t want to give too much away, but where it goes is really exciting. And there’s a dress I get to wear much later that doesn’t look so bad! [Laughs] Carol is not very clothes oriented.

What would you do if you were the last woman on Earth?

Drink Phil’s margarita pool immediately! [Laughs] But honestly, I don’t know if my mind could handle the emotional stress of it. I would probably just paint a lot. I’m not a painter by any means, but when I didn’t have any money in New York, I would stay home and paint to pass the time. So I would be in the margarita pool painting.

The Last Man on Earth, Sundays, 9/8c and 9:30/8:30c, Fox