Bill Hader's First Meeting with SNL Creator Lorne Michaels

Bill Hader talks to Sam Jones about the first time he met Lorne Michaels and why he has Megan Mullally to thank.
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[@Craig496]

Hader's Lorne Michaels impersonation is the best I've heard.

[@BlackAdder665]

Hader's impersonation of anyone and everyone is the best I've heard and seen. :-D He's unbelievably talented.

[@justinbehrenshausen1653]

I can’t even properly explain how happy I am to have found this channel

[@theoffcamerashow]

FYI - Full hour long episodes air every Monday on DirecTV's Audience Network and 30 days after are made available to purchase at www.offcamera.com ...Or listen to the podcast on iTunes.

[@maxscene7]

@@theoffcamerashow hi! Do you have other methods for payment like paypal? I really wanna watch bill's and john'a full interviews but it only has credit card options 😭

[@yungpapi]

@@theoffcamerashow You guys should really promote the podcast since we're tryna hear these full convos but not pay 😂

[@geinikan1kan]

"This is crazy, let's see what happens." Love it. Hader has a great attitude, and he was damned lucky.

[@gregboam8474]

I actually looked up the video of Tofer Grace's monolog in 2005 and when Jason Sudeikis asks a question you can see a white dress shirt figure in the background.

[@svyt]

Find it here: www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/topher-grace-monologue/n11905 at around 1:45.

[@losgryfog]

@@svyt good ol' youtube comments 👍

[@hameedahettu8266]

😭

[@peacexfrogx]

Oh my god he has longish hair. Its adorable lmao

[@maxscene7]

@@svyt Can someone like screenvideo it and post it or something i cant see it from my.location 😭😭😭

[@everydayashley2272]

this gave me so much encouragement. Literally, so cool to see normal people with gifts and talents be recognized and plucked into their destiny.

[@TheMidnightPhil]

But y'know, how lucky were the REST of us? We got Bill Hader! Years and years of absolute comedic brilliance from that man, and to hear him tell it things just as easily could've gone the other way.

[@soph7480]

Stories like his make it really hard for me to believe that destiny isn't a thing. Like c'mon. That's wild.

[@MrProofMan]

For every person like Bill there's a million more that it didn't work out for. You only hear about the successes.

[@floatingsara]

@@mikeb1039 exactly. I'm sure Megan Mullally also watches other people performing, but she doesn't call Lorne Michaels every time. Besides, she said that Bill was above the level not only of his fellow students, but of people already famous for being funny. If she hadn't noticed him, other people would eventually have.

[@ScaryMason]

It sounds like Bill was a talented person in a place people look for talent, you know, Hollywood.

[@soph7480]

@@ScaryMason We only hear about the people that make it. The odds of people with talent being in the industry and not breaking through to his level of success exist. I was more referring to how his path was not directed towards comedy. He was redirected in that direction by what seems like destiny. But, it sounds like you're a negative nancy in a place where people are negative nancies, you know, KZbin comment sections.

[@ScaryMason]

@@soph7480 you think I am negative? There is a word for meeting one’s destiny: DOOM. Destiny is a wonderful idea when thinking about someone like Bill. If we’re talking about someone like Florence Nightingale who changed a hospitals mortality rate from 40% down to 2%. If that was the destined outcome she could’ve stayed home.

[@editboy23]

Bill's laugh is the best

[@soph7480]

honestly!

[@blank_canvas3391]

“That must have been ~wild~ “

[@rabbisidneyapplebaum1451]

immediately went to the topher grace episode to check for him and not only can you see him but when he’s in the background jason sudeikis is asking a question and at that time i’m pretty sure he wasn’t in the cast yet he was still a writer

[@MarxistKnight]

I love that he seems to be someone that still can’t believe he’s famous and successful. Like, he’s still star struck talking about famius people that he’s worked with.

[@1976JMR]

SNL would have sucked without Bill.. god i miss him on the show.. I get excited when he's when hosting the SNL , just love that man...

[@JulianKable]

Great Interviews man, you have a very calm and genuine vibe!

[@A-small-amount-of-peas]

Now I love Megan Mullally even more. Damn foxy lady too. Nick Offerman I tip my cap at you sir

[@tuomoluukkanen7265]

Because he gets to bang her -- if you know what I mean...

[@A-small-amount-of-peas]

J G Think you missed the point

[@johnburn872]

Wait, so Lorne was testing Bill with a bad story and Bill didn't fake a laughing reaction. That was Lornes test, right?

[@sollertiskhan3254]

no.... it wasn't lmfao. It wasn't funny but it was actually a great story. And he was brushing Bill off.

[@clemencec3790]

I understood his story like "I know Bill Murray, I don't need another one", like he just needed Hader to be himself and not try to mimic somebody's else humor for the audition

[@Curious2Know2]

@@clemencec3790 Ditto.

[@BruceApar]

Any SNL player in its history who talks about their audition describes the exact same experience: Michaels never lets out a single laugh during an audition. He approaches his work more like a dour surgeon than a flamboyant show biz impresario.

[@basketanand]

XD Lorne’s point was exactly what all of you are doing now. To impose an air of mystery and majesty to the show, to go this is SNL. To make a great story, fuck with this kid, and keep him and everyone else guessing and add to the mystique of what SNL is.

[@shawnf764]

He's one of my SNL favs. He's hilarious, and still humble.

[@dancollins4755]

I just discovered this ! Thank you!

[@TrumbullComic]

I love that Bill just threw in a random Ellen Cleghorne reference at 2:25.

[@TheAgentAssassin]

I worked at a hotel and took Lorne Michaels room service breakfast order (pre-order) and he TOTALLY sounds like that in real life.

[@yukywookie4867]

I watched Topher Grace's monologue and I screamed when I saw Bill in the back (1:48)

[@melkormorgoth9022]

Never seen him be anything but a humble sensitive funny af guy and when you think of the people you're glad made it to the top He Is One of them:)

[@theoriginal1971]

I think a lot of people have no idea how utterly impressive it is that he was doing improv just for a YEAR and someone noticed that he's good enough to make it to fucking SNL. Some people take years just to be noticed. Yes some of it is luck, but majority of it is because of his sheer talent. It's mind-boggling that on his first episode he already debuted his Pacino impression to raucous applause. In his fifth episode he's already debuting his Vincent Price (along with Kristen Wiig's Judy Garland, who's in her 2nd ep). He was just a feature player back then and you can already see how much he can bring to the table.

[@donx2341]

The guy is a hell of an actor and funny as hell! 👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽

[@therealarien]

His Stefon character is hilarious. I love how he breaks every time

[@vampjoseph1198]

Him breaking as Stefan was John Mulaney writing specifically to make Bill break.

[@bubba11793]

Makes me want to go join an improv group.

[@jbasti227]

Jared Johnson Same

[@jordachejordan90]

Do it. Both a yas. Do it.

[@nebulousisgod]

As long as you don’t mind making a fool of yourself constantly. Improv groups are extremely annoying. But if you’re good enough to make it to someplace like Second City then you have a chance. That’s about it b

[@JohnMoseley]

If you get a good teacher, it's the best thing in the world.

[@annaalindajao3004]

Love love Hader

[@evnthespian]

The absolute best thing to happen to Saturday Night Live.

[@SKITTLELA]

Where is the pic Bill is referring to?

[@LouSpowells]

Google: "MONOLOGUE: TOPHER GRACE THINKS HE'S ON PUNK'D" 1:45 in, if you're curious. Can't link it because it's the NBC website.

[@Fire_Marshall_Bill]

Lou Spowells it’s crazy where life takes you. He went from being a blur in the background to the star in the foreground.

[@myztik5716]

Don't see him

[@evanfaas2560]

I think Bill is the one in the lighter shirt standing in the background. In the video he's immediately to the left of Jason Sudeikis' head.

[@ktpinnacle]

So you can't even make out who it is , just a ghostly white shirt in the background. And here he is 13 years later and a hit with his own show. Got a break - but he worked for it.

[@areyoufriendly]

You can see Bill well here: imgur.com/ZEgOpF6

[@user-ts6iz8yk3n]

Here's the clip he's talking about at 1:35: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXjTfap8m8h0Ztk (1:46 mark of that video). It's pretty incredible, you can even see his "visitor" badge around his neck.

[@kartikjain7105]

U are free

[@user-vz8rl5tq4u]

This is very much so ON camera...

[@floatingsara]

I'm baffled at the number of comments saying that Bill Hader was "lucky". If you haven't watched "Barry" yet, please do. Bill's talent is simply huge, not only as a script writer but also as an actor. Megan Mullally happened to be the FIRST to notice him (only after a year !), but if she hadn't, somebody else would have. Don't fall into the mental trap of "luck". Talent and will power shape opportunities, not the opposite.

[@DarellDavie1]

Legendary.

[@MisterSpeaker.]

The really want to see this entire video, but it is not being released until April 19? Why not?

[@theoffcamerashow]

Full episodes premiere on DirecTV's Audience Network. We release them ourselves 30 days after the original air date.

[@jwnyc3]

I never thought I'd get to see Bill Hader scratch his balls on camera. This some great editing right here.

[@stepchildofsoul]

"Ellen Cleghorne did this..."

[@emmarodden7178]

“This is crazy, let’s see what happens!” meanwhile poor Andy Samberg was backstage throwing up before his audition 😅

[@WelfareChrist]

This is why none of us will ever become famous. Its such an arbitrary thing. There are unknowns who have been working Second City years who are also super funny, but they don't get breaks like this.

[@thevoxdeus]

Well that's why you should do it because it's fun for you and not to get famous.

[@CJW0056]

@@nicoles7800 lol, I was buying it until "gave me a kiss on the lips"

[@ingvarhallstrom2306]

Hader is just being humble. You don't have Lorne Michaels fly to LA to watch a show like a personal headhunter unless you're ridiculously talented, and Bill Hader is so talented it's ridiculous.

[@floatingsara]

@@ingvarhallstrom2306 well said. I'm watching "Barry", and I'm blown away by Bill's talent, not only as a script writer but also as an actor. Megan Mullally happened to be the FIRST to notice him (only after a year, notice !). If she hadn't, somebody else would have.

[@BbGun-lw5vi]

Ingvar is right on this one. I do agree with you that in Hollywood most people get famous through luck and personal connections. But Bill Hader was a nobody from Oklahoma and he had to be ridiculously talented to get famous.

[@NGEternal]

Dude this is the craziest fucking thing I have ever heard

[@brooksbrooks6805]

I know Bill Murray....

[@lukeorrell4645]

great bill murray story. highlights the need to be authentic and you're own voice which is what hader accomplished

[@nisadwyz]

id do anything for bill hader

[@Hmm...Whats-Their-Name]

S30 ep9 around 10:35 (on hulu) or when jason sudeikis is asking his question. Bill is in the back slightly to the left in a white button up with his goofy long hair from back in the day.

[@sadstormtrooper]

It isn't a Bill Hader interview if there aren't any impressions😁

[@christianminton]

Bill Hader should grow a huge beard. I see the potential.

[@olihhayes]

0:59 what did Lorne meant?

[@kerryobrien6110]

I think that's Bill in the white shirt in the background of Topher Grace's SNL monologue (see at 1 min 47 sec) kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXjTfap8m8h0Ztk

[@xradical89x]

this is the video Bill is talking about at 1:32 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXjTfap8m8h0Ztk yeah, no problem, enjoy! :)

[@Nootnoot1765]

I will marry this man. Watch this space❤️

[@mannypdesign]

You can see Bill Hader in the background behind Jason Sudeikis here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXjTfap8m8h0Ztk

[@DanButcher303]

I read online one time that Bill Hater is good at joking around. The online said he basically a pro joker

[@rocketscott]

I want him to play the Joker.

[@jmasked5082]

Did anyone decipher what Lorne Michaels' Bill Murray story was about? Lol

[@OTROHIJO]

Originality

[@Research0digo]

being funny on top of funny - Bill Murray never had to resort to that, even on Caddy Shack.

[@nebulousisgod]

That story Lorne Michaels told Bill makes no sense whatsoever to me. What in the hell does it mean?! Someone help

[@TheCommandoSnail]

ZEB I think it’s cause he doesn’t want to see people who are similar to other comedians he’s already worked with

[@23Guitardood]

In other words, he wasn't looking for another Bill Murray he was looking for an original. "I know Bill Murray" as in "I've seen that before, show me something new." ... That's my take, anyway.

[@Seeker0fTruth]

But also it’s like going to a guru... They throw out these nuggets of wisdom and you have to try to figure out what on earth it all means... Almost speaking another language... I mean Bill was so green and Lorne had all the power in that situation... Lorne wasn’t worried about Bill understandings the interaction... Lorne simply wanted to meet Bill and see if he was the right guy for the job. Wax on...wax off!

[@nebulousisgod]

Oh alright. Now that you say that it seems really obvious. Thanks

[@sam21462]

Yet another semi autobiographical thing that happened in "Barry". Anyone know what this guy did before "Iron Chef"? Do we really want to know?

[@Research0digo]

#BillHader

[@saranobutt]

I always thought they called him Bill hater, like because he was a hater or something.

[@CletusTheHuman]

for like 2 seconds I thought the host was papa john. Hes clearly not, but the side profile....I dunno.

[@greta6336]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXjTfap8m8h0Ztk 1.46 you're welcome

[@erichvonmolder9310]

Destiny.

[@arkafella1984]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXjTfap8m8h0Ztk @1:48, found ya

[@gavymararsekhon4821]

warriors imagine dragon

[@jhonm6347]

The only meh thing about this show is the black and white filter, it's so boring and unecessary.