Bill Hader Explains How He Directed the “ronny/lily” Episode of ‘Barry’ | The Ringer

On 'The Bill Simmons Podcast,' actor and director Bill Hader goes into detail about his process for directing the iconic “ronny/lily” episode from Season 2 of Barry. He explains everything from digitally creating trees to face-biting and what makes it such a special episode.
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[@kinocrone7275]

Bill is constantly crediting the crew and tech teams, often by name, and it''s so endearing

[@manvenderjora3795]

I noticed that too.

[@thegrimcritic5494]

Honestly, if I ever got to make some fairly high scale film production like this, I’d also go out of my way to give thanks and credit to everyone involved with any particular shot, scene, choreography, or special effects, when talking about the show.

[@RockinDbop1]

yes!! that's one thing in barry bts thats made me respect him even more! (apart from his awesome acting/writing/directing)

[@AlanCanon2222]

He worked as a production assistant for some time, including for Arnold Schwarzenegger, so it'd make sense that he'd have solidarity with his crew.

[@Person-lk1vs]

@@thegrimcritic5494 ok

[@Demonlord242]

I think I honestly like Barry more that GoT.

[@yuval1945]

@Dale Cooper the last season of barry is gonna be season 3 and season 3 of GoT wayyyyyy more better than anything that will happen in barry

[@yuval1945]

@Dale Cooper can't you fucking read Isn't season 3 gonna be the last season of barry? Its probably gonna be better ending than Got but if you compare it to season 3 of GoT it probably won't be better

[@cyrussmith4744]

@My Biography if you erase the last two seasons then yeah

[@cyrussmith4744]

@@yuval1945 nah at this point both of them are great and about the same quality (if we talk about got in seasons 1-6). The thing if that the two shows have very different stories. And because Game of thrones is more epic and bigger and barry focuses in one person it may look as GoT has more quality, but in reallity both shows are great and stand out in their own genres

[@cyrussmith4744]

@Scott Summers like i said they are different genres. Maybe Barry didnt have to be compared to a source material but it did have to make a compelling story and interesting drama and also make it funny. It also makes a study about this character and Bill hader just nails it because he has to cover Many ranges. Like i said, it isnt just a comedy, but is also a drama. obviously this doesn't make it better than got but my point is that they we're going for different things and they both succeded. I think comparing this shows would be valid if they were from the same genre

[@tyson31415]

Easily one of the best shows on TV right now. Such good writing.

[@cemaldindar771]

tyson31415 such a good writing? Ok Barry is not bad but have too much lazy writing.

[@bobbyknight9709]

Mc Rdnd examples?

[@paperchasindude6578]

Fax

[@chubberman1933]

@@cemaldindar771 the writing is phenomenal. Haters of the show just don’t understand it.

[@Blink_Salt]

@@chubberman1933 You could say "Haders" 😉

[@stumpy-wl9qc]

This entire episode was hilarious and well done, but I completely lost it at "WHAT ARE YOUUUUUU???"

[@iont8172]

I lost it at "it's heeeeeeer!!"

[@thatoneginger9928]

This was the funniest line in the episode for me but it was all hysterical

[@utkarshdeshpande3484]

"I superglued my hands"

[@puertoblack4605]

Shout out to the editor. This was edited really well. With the scenes mixed in with the interview. This was really good.

[@casinomann]

Second that, hate when people talk about parts of stuff and you have no idea what it looks like or what they are talking about. This was magnificent.

[@themagictheatre2965]

It's not at all difficult to do, but it is rare on youtube because editing on youtube is usually done in the laziest, most profit-oriented way possible.

[@1nvisible1]

*One of my favorite TV episodes ever. Reminded me of XFiles Bad Blood where Luke Wilson plays the vampire sheriff.*

[@ramentrifecta8619]

won emmy for the sound editing

[@derrickbeaubearic4100]

I concur!

[@BootyBot]

ironically the fight with Ronny in Barry was the most realistic fight scene I've ever seen in a show

[@metin5408]

so you clearly havent seen daredevil

[@BootyBot]

@@metin5408 yeah I saw the punisher fight scene. That was pretty legit too.

[@angelcanez4426]

& the fight at the end of Friday

[@butay2443]

@@metin5408 As good as those fight scenes are they aren't realistic. It's more realistic to have sloppy fights because that's what real fights look like. In reality fights against more than one dude are almost impossible to win.

[@thaksjtube]

@@butay2443 yeah what this guy said. gruesome / gory does not equal realistic

[@BeNice108]

The girl biting Fuches is the hardest I've laughed in the longest time, it triggered something in me that made it so hard to breath I almost suffocated. Totally worth it...

[@reedholland8279]

Matthew Goodfriend “Barry, get your gun. And shoot her. Off. My face”

[@BeNice108]

@@reedholland8279 Tryin to kill me?! So mean... xD

[@clemencec3790]

"Because I superglued my hands to the steering wheel", I laughed SO HARD when he said that, I had to pause the episode for a minute to catch my breath lmao

[@pseudotasuki]

When she runs out in front of the car and *roars* made me laugh so much that I had to rewind the episode to catch up. Everything in that episode was amazing.

[@damnbruh6183]

I died laughing 💀💀💀

[@nahuelm.a.8689]

So, he directed that chapter? HE'S ALL THE WAY A GENIUS!!

[@GayahakJ]

He directed the first 3 episodes in season 1 and a couple more

[@CommanderNixon]

@@GayahakJ He's a producer/writer for the show as well, this is definitely a passion project for him and it shows

[@royaltyblessed2454]

Its crazy bc after it ended i said out loud THIS HAS TO HAVE BEEN DIRECTED BY HADER lmao

[@rushpan93]

Late here but it's so weird to have both Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Bill Hader active at the same time. Both are absolute genius masters of acting, directing and writing.

[@carolmonteiro4267]

@@rushpan93 and Michaela Coel.

[@noiamhippyman]

I never noticed that "bakaw" squelch when dude gets headbutted. lol

[@Randinator]

This episode was a masterpiece. One of the few times I’ve actually laughed hysterically at a TV show too.

[@iwantaoctosteponmyneckbut3545]

Just a lil bit of crying too during the flashback

[@paperchasindude6578]

Fr it's a masterpiece

[@Vullgrim]

A masterpiece in assholeness

[@riffraffrichard]

Yeah I think it's so cool cause it just breaks away from the show into a fully blown action film with all the comedy to top it off

[@Randinator]

@@riffraffrichard I’m still in awe of how great the episode was that aired last night (S3E6 with the motorcycle chase). The cinematography is just getting better and better as the show goes on, and the humor is so well done. They seem to be honing in on the show’s unique identity.

[@tylerallen9311]

The look that Barry gives Ronnie when he first sees him in the grocery store is priceless

[@emptyroom9252]

11:31 you can clearly see the reflection in the window how Loach's head flies away

[@Rubiecat]

oh my god that's hilarious

[@UrAveragePOS]

I can see why they lost their shit filming that scene 😂

[@FlashakaViolet]

Holy shit 😂

[@garbage7156]

i laughed for 10 minutes straight watching this on repeat AHAHAH

[@sirleyserrano5115]

You just ruined the editors career 😂😂

[@Shezmen88]

Such a great show and brilliant episode. I was dying laughing with the superglue to close up the wound. My god...

[@reedholland8279]

Matthew Shezmen “theeeere we go, just packing it in”

[@connorwilson9949]

That’s a real thing

[@themagictheatre2965]

@@connorwilson9949 Yeah you can actually close wounds with certain types of glue. Probably not the most ideal way but if you don't know how to stitch up a wound then maybe an option worth considering.

[@Scardpelt]

@@themagictheatre2965 super glue/gorilla glue is anti-septic meaning it won't result in any infection if applied properly if I remember correctly. It's used for SOME medical application where shit needs to be glued

[@veiyi]

Word, my friend. I honestly chuckled out loud and let's be honest that doesn't happen a lot when you're alone at home

[@folkengames]

"Is that the episode that was nominated for an emmy?" "I don't know... maybe?" Bill Hader, everyone.

[@karicherrycola]

"Probably should be"

[@sonyawalker9212]

Not yet. Better be.

[@Notaweebiswear]

then follows it up with, that's our producer Amy's job xD this is why his stuff is so good, he is purely focussing on making the best possible show

[@VoltaDoMar]

@@Notaweebiswear I've been watching lots of Hader interviews and he's always downplaying what he does and giving credit to everyone else who works on it. And I'm learning a lot about the creative process

[@qweqqweq2090]

you have to spend six hundred dollars or more to just submit each item for an Emmy. so you have to think about it a little bit what you want to o submit for consideration so you don't just waste your time and money.

[@re9246]

That better be the Emmy episode. It’s flawless

[@francescacarrillo492]

What do they mean by emmy episode?

[@re9246]

Lulu Carrillo I believe the way the Emmy’s are set up is that one would submit one episode to represent your show.

[@francescacarrillo492]

Oh thank you!

[@jbmclorie]

If it was one scene it would be “....King of suckballs mountain.” For me.😂

[@mikejang]

yup, this episode was nominated for an emmy! hope it wins. such a great series and this episode totally stood out.

[@TheAndrewj96]

One of my favorite things about this episode is the fact that you could probably watch it on its own without having seen any of the rest of the show. You still get all the necessary information for the episode inside the episode itself (Loach hiring Barry to kill Ronny, Barry’s military service, his relationship with Fuches, etc.) without it feeling forced. It would have made an incredible short film if that had been how it was released.

[@caseyhart4999]

This was the first episode I ever saw of the show and you are absolutely correct.

[@Wiredj]

Yep, I showed this episode to my wife with very little context and she was entertained the whole time.

[@ErinJeanette]

This is the only episode I've "seen" lol I'm gonna watch the show now

[@Bronoulli]

i need more of Bill Hader. . He's like the best thing in comedy/show business rn

[@johanvonbronx5127]

Well, It Chapter 2 is out!

[@sheevpalpatine1883]

He won an Emmy too

[@eljefe720]

He’s been feeding us through South Park for a long time too

[@PakRT48]

I felt the Tarantino homage in this episode. The daughter coming into the house was like Vivica Fox's daughter coming into the house in Kill Bill 1. Then Barry running into the dad at the grocery store was like Bruce Willis crossing the street in front of Marcellus Wallace's car in Pulp. Amazing.

[@rodneycobble5481]

I am that guy. Marsellus Wallace was crossing the street in front of Butch's car, not the other way around. Love your comment though the Tarantino connection is really neat!

[@PakRT48]

@@rodneycobble5481 ah yes, slipped my mind. It was the other way around. I stand corrected. Thanks!

[@jameezy916]

Legit cackled aloud several times during this episode

[@jonathan2817]

Jamall Dye same

[@Chrise501]

I came to Barry after Game of Thrones on this episode. I had no idea who the characters were but it was possibly the weirdest and best things I’ve seen. I went back and binge watched all the episodes to Ronny/Lilly. This show is great and I keep telling people about it.

[@blasphemousyc5490]

What do you mean?

[@Chrise501]

Blasphemous Yc Which part?

[@blasphemousyc5490]

@@Chrise501 sorry i understand now. I did not read it right. I have been binge watching also

[@Chrise501]

Blasphemous Yc It’s a great show. The episode they are talking about is one of the best episodes. It’s so far out. I laughed so hard and I didn’t even know who all the characters were. That one episode made me go back and binge watch the first season. Enjoy!

[@caseyhart4999]

@@Chrise501 this was my exact experience with this show. Obviously I’ve been hooked ever since. It’s the only thing I’m grateful to the long night for since that episode was complete shit lol

[@Wakka617]

This is one of my favorite episodes of TV ever

[@paperchasindude6578]

Same

[@RobertGreenwald]

The best episode of the series so far. I absolutely love Stephen Root shouting at the girl “WHAT ARE YOU?”

[@Siptom369]

the detectives reaction to Ronny getting back up after getting shot is the best reaction ever

[@WhosBrazzyy]

I’ve heard this story like 5 times now... but I will continue to click any interview with Bill Hader

[@netilenva]

This episode was one of the best things that has ever been made. Not only was it freaking hilarious, it was incredibly well made, like it's just a one-of-a-kind, unique, mind blowing type of thing? Anyway, I'm in love.

[@zackearl3200]

BILL HADER is so criminally underrated its just sickening.... he is one of the best actors of my time.

[@ray.b.75]

That was, IMO, the best episode of Barry, all seasons included. Just incredible, funny and terrifying at the same time.

[@unowen7591]

Lily just chilling on the roof like a “gargoyle,” and then jumping on the car and biting Fuches’s neck. And then Fuches’ “….WHAT ARE YOU???” I laughed so damn hard through the entire episode I clapped.

[@ANGELILYworks]

*”WHAT ARE YOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUU?!”*

[@edwardigans1935]

It’s really nice that Bill Hader seems to know every single person responsible for the show, what a stand up guy

[@mov-e6612]

I binge watched the hole 2 seasons in 1 f*cking sitting.. I mean that alone tells how good this show is...

[@christopherjoseph7555]

Or how much free time you have

[@garthalmunemuralias9101]

@@christopherjoseph7555 no not really if it was bad why waste his free time

[@r2153]

At the time I was like, if Barry hurts this little girl....I’ll stop watching the show. What I got was comedy gold!

[@seanmelinn5321]

Simmons pretending he saw matrix 2 and had any clue what Hader was talking about is pretty funny

[@danielfittipaldi3705]

This episode was one of the best things I've ever seen on tv

[@olivierkepo]

This is the Pine Barrens of Barry. Basically a one off episode centred around two great characters, extremely funny. Great episode.

[@ryanpaul3221]

ur so right

[@peblezQ]

I was crying with laughter when I first saw this episode and saw thee dummy head go flying in the window reflection, and then the guy's body is fully intact in the next shot. That was god-tier comedy

[@AUniqueName]

I really hope that was intentional 😂 Either way it was all comedy gold

[@cakeisavegatable]

Bill Hader always names the people who never get public credit and I admire him deeply for that

[@KungaMatata]

Barry and Ozark are rising on my favorite shows list. Both star comedic actors that are supremely talented and capable of doing drama and they directed several episodes of their shows and I’m so here for it.

[@yooooo8600]

Too bad Ozark ended like poo poo

[@badhydra7866]

@@yooooo8600 yea

[@franciscooctavius5957]

One of the funniest effing episodes of this show. That little girl NAILED this.

[@Luminty99]

This episode is so goddamn iconic it was like the whole episode was just for comic relief lmao

[@0dirty]

This episode was absolutely bonkers. Once of the most amazing bad days I've ever seen on TV. Bravo!

[@paperchasindude6578]

Same

[@nathabjones2923]

Lmao if you look in the window when he kicks the head you can see it get kicked right off hahaha

[@benconnor3206]

Nathab Jones really ? What’s the time stamp ?

[@benconnor3206]

Nathab Jones that’s hilarious

[@jerodast]

11:37. It's totally visible, and totally hilarious :)

[@reedholland8279]

“WHAT ARE YOUUUUUU?!”

[@Aj-rj1wy]

Bill Hader is the best actor of this generation. Hands. Down. He’s always so good at everything he does. He can come shut down my neighborhood any day. He really needs more recognition.

[@TonyDanza4Lyfe]

He really is flat out incredible

[@camillep1866]

I JUST saw this episode last night. I knew it was gonna go bad when I saw the medals. The kid was the icing on the cake lmao

[@milanxlewis]

Bill Hader for DCs Plastic Man with Edgar Wright directing.

[@milanxlewis]

​@Scott Summers it doesn't even have to be Wright, but I think getting Bill for Plastic Man could be huge.

[@moonirah123]

more like bill hader should direct a dc movie

[@milanxlewis]

@@moonirah123 he's done pretty well with Barry, but I doubt they'd hand him that project. Lol

[@moonirah123]

@@milanxlewis one can only dream 😅

[@rehansrivastava]

Oh my God that got me hard

[@qweqqweq2090]

I didn't realize it at the time but now looking back all those fight sceenes where the camera just lazily follows the action make it really funny and interesting. they let the action be imagined in your mind like you normally do when you hear about something or are reading a book. it's kind of genius. it's way better than the annoying quick cuts and shaky cam usually used in fight scenes.

[@G82Jesse]

The prolonged nunchuck spinning paired with the labored wheezing is some of the funniest shit I've ever seen on TV. This episode was a fucking work of art

[@eagleclaw006]

I didnt notice until the slo-mo in this video that you can see the reflection of the fake head as it goes flying across the isle.

[@ebunnyzappa]

This has to be one of my favorite episodes of tv, and ima freak for arrested development! I don’t know Ronny but he was a beast and the comedic timing of it all is perfect!

[@charmicarmicat2981]

Not only the best episode of the show, but the best episode of any TV show I’ve seen in a very long time.

[@OrchardcottagefarmCo]

The Ronny Lilly episode was so amazing and well written. We watched that episode several times.

[@rapunzelagain]

Can't wait for Season 3 of "Barry"! Holy moly.

[@winstonmarlowe5254]

filming started this month

[@thegrimcritic5494]

Man, Bill really channeled his inner Cohen Brothers for this episode and it seriously shows. What an excellent episode.

[@boppob1343]

Barry is best the best thing on Television easily. Now its The Boys, since Barry is on break.

[@lexcas479]

Too bad we gotta wait for both of them now 😪

[@sportsfreak31]

I was trying to find a way to share this part of the podcast with my Barry-viewing friends. Thank you for making this (especially with the visuals)!

[@kalpitamookherji1808]

could someone explain to me how he directed an Emmy-award winning episode and then when asked about it goes "idk"? I mean. Such an amazing, iconic episode and looking at his interviews would you ever think the show has 20 emmy noms?

[@MaxSFA]

I just started watching Barry recently and I honestly wasn’t too sure about the show going into it but it has easily turned into one of my favorite shows.

[@jayrodriguez4062]

Bill Hader is funny without even trying.

[@poltotinco4eva]

as a swiss person I was kinda proud to see a great Daniel Bernhardt (Swiss actor and martial artist) as 'Ronny', that was one of my favorite scenes, so brutal yet so funny!

[@tijan8948]

Every Bill Hader directed episode has magic and extreme violence! I love it !!

[@Lopez1988chile]

This episodes had such a Sopranos' "Pine Barrens" vibe. Loved it

[@iambiggus]

You can see a reflection of the dummy head go flying in the glass behind Ronny 😂😂😂

[@JohnChangMBA]

BEST -- EPISODE - EVER! Lol, feral girl rocks! She needs to come back in a future episode!

[@i5hereal]

EVERYTHING BILL PUT INTO THIS SHOW IS PURE GENIUS! I AM SO PROUD OF HIM. I WATCHED 2 SEASONS IN 1 SITTING LMAO. THESE BEST ONE SHOT FIGHT SCENE! MASTER PIECE, THERE WAS NEVER A DULL MOMENT IN THE SHOT

[@lynx7426]

the whole room being covered in martial arts trophies was hilarious

[@nickcarneyphotography]

I don't think I've ever enjoyed an episode of TV from start to finish as much as this one.

[@michelehuston8247]

I watched this episode twice. I hope it won an Emmy.

[@danvondrasek]

The best part of that scene was how every time they panned off Barry, there was more and more trophies, and then they show above him and there's medals, and then the whole room is just a massive collection

[@li0nhart4477]

The ronny/lily” Episode is the reason i got into Barry as i heard Daniel Bernhardt was in the series and thought it stared him at first, who i'm a big fan of through his 80's and 90's martial art movies. However when i realized he was just in one episode later on i thought I'd give the show a go anyway. It turn out that i loved Barry the series and got into it and is now one of my favorite shows. Also Bill Hader is now one of my favorite actors. Really want series to come out on Bluray.

[@arizonabay15]

I was waiting for Barry to ask Fuches if he wanted any "Corn Nuts or maybe a Red Bull" just before he went into the grocery store.

[@MissUniqueSarah]

Thank you for posting this!! I love it 🥰

[@joseluki]

Every second of this episode I was more and more amazed about what I was watching, I wish all episodes were as surrealist as this one.

[@civerts]

Need more of this! Keep going.

[@edgar6368]

One of the greatest episodes of any show I’ve ever seen

[@robertcalifornia7505]

I could literally watch him do this talking about every episode. So cool to hear behind the scenes stuff!

[@therealbeaston]

This episode in particular is some of the best/funny television I have watched in years it was just so well done with it's mix of action/drama and comedy.

[@kristillery9022]

The whole Ronny thing was easily one of the funniest things I've ever seen

[@doc_inthahouse]

Oh my god this was just the video/info my mind desired after watching that killer episode, that too coming from the Genius Bill Hader himself. Thank you so much for this. I think I'm watching your content for the first time and the editing along with the way you kinda interviewed him in this video is just excellent.

[@AllysonWonderlandd]

The Ronny/Lily episode is by far the BEST episode from Season 2

[@BurdieFromHell]

This episode is one that I watch like it's art. I've never watched an episode of a tv series with so much appreciation!

[@benconnor3206]

The greatest episode of Barry for sure, one of the greatest half hours of television ever

[@JON27M]

Favourite episode so far.

[@elie1612]

this episode is crazy! i was laughing so hard in disbelief! especially the scene in the car and supermarket.

[@colheavn2721]

nah bro im convinced she’s an alien that jump and the sound effect they added to that was straight from a sci fi realm

[@kimmy8079]

sorry if I’m being basic but THIS EPISODE IS MY FAVOURITE

[@DavMCycle]

That episode was one of the best I've seen in TV, if has humor, action, a little drama. Great mix.

[@wblakekimber]

Both of Ronny's reveals (the room full of trophies and the neckbrace at the pharmacy) broke me when I saw this episode. Good shit. Deserves all the Emmy's.

[@godKingSchaeffer]

One of my favorite episodes of TV of all time tbh. An absolutely masterclass

[@austinsullivan6896]

My favorite episode of the series ! Amazingly engaging

[@fjbayt]

One of my favourite dark comedy episodes of all time! Brilliant!

[@paperchasindude6578]

Fax

[@alexkorda3788]

Love this inside baseball, keep making more!!!

[@modernlover0rosalyn]

This episode is outstanding and a definite stand out for the season.

[@JoelSquire85]

Bill could be a really great director some day, I hope he gets a shot at movies.

[@theperpetuallyannoyed4074]

Barry is just such a good show man... Brilliant writing n even Better performance by Bill

[@user-md2iq9vb9z]

man what a good interview! loved the splicing of the scenes to add context, a lot of them i totally missed upon a few watches like the "bacaw" during the headkick 🤣

[@Gonts64]

One of my favorite episodes of ANY tv show. Incredible.

[@samclemmons5373]

One of the craziest things I’ve ever seen on TV.

[@danielbrowniel]

I haven't loved a tv show this much in a long time. It had the intensity of Dexter and the charm of breaking bad.

[@bryanmiller6110]

Brilliant scene and show