Wendi McLendon-Covey Says She ‘Goes Hard’ for the Holidays (Exclusive)

Wendi McLendon-Covey doesn’t take the holidays lightly.  

The actress, 56, recently sat down with PEOPLE to chat about season 2 of her sitcom St. Denis Medical. In the process, she shared an exclusive glimpse into her plans for the most wonderful time of the year — and they’ve been in the works for months. 

“I’ve scaled it to where when Halloween’s over, we’re going to go straight into Christmas,” McLendon-Covey said. “So all I have to do is take down some pumpkins, change some lights, take down the witch hats, put up the sugar plum whatevers. I go hard. From September to Jan. 1, that’s my season for decorating.”

After all, the Goldbergs actress has deemed the holiday season the “best time of the year” because, as she put it, “when it gets dark early, you want to look at something pretty.”

McLendon-Covey has also been known to create an extravagant Halloween display at “Covey Manor” when the spooky holiday rolls around. And while she often dons an elaborate costume herself, she’s always delighted to find other people dressed up as her own iconic characters.

“Well, Clemy, Deputy Johnson [from Reno 911]. I see a lot of those around Halloween,” she told PEOPLE. “A lot of Beverlys [from The Goldbergs]. And just a lot of crazy cat ladies because that is what I am. But people send me pictures, ‘Thought of you, you were my inspiration.’ So that’s really fun.”

While there are few very things that spark as much joy as decorating or dressing up for the holidays, McLendon-Covey also opened up about her passion for rescuing cats.  

“When they show up in your yard and they need you, we can’t look away,” she admitted of herself and her husband, Greg Covey. “I think my first pet was a kitty, and she was just so grateful to be rescued. And it’s just such a small thing, but it’s an important thing to show, ‘Okay, someone’s looking out for the little creatures.’ ” 

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“Everything else is going to hell in a handbasket, but we found this little life, and we’re going to nurture it and give it a good home, and maybe in some small way that’s making a difference somewhere. I don’t know,” she continued.

“They’re cuddly, they’re cute, they’re hilarious,” she added. “They all have their different personalities and they have their little meetings and their little way of talking to each other, and it’s just fascinating to watch. So that’s a hot Friday night for me — just throwing treats to the cats.”