Saturday Night Live alum Bill Hader is one of the most renowned actors to ever grace the stage on Lorne Michaels’ sketch comedy series. Many thought Hader would have made a guest appearance on the SNL 50th Anniversary Special, but instead skipped the event due to personal reasons.
Since Bill Hader was absent from SNL50, he potentially would’ve played a role in Andy Samberg’s digital short which was, ironically, about anxiety. During an appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers, Hader reiterated that he always feels anxious before a live show, and a big one such as SNL50 was no different.
Bill Hader Was Supposed To Star In Andy Samberg’s Anxiety Sketch From SNL
Bill Hader reveals to Seth Meyers how he was supposed to have a part in Andy Samberg’s SNL50 Digital Short-Anxiety. In the skit, Bowen Yang tells Samberg that he has doubts about going to SNL50 because he has anxiety. However, Samberg sings about how every SNL cast member over the years has also gone through anxiety.
Samberg sings through the early decades of the show starting in the 70s and gives examples of anxious SNL stars, including Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, Dana Carvey, Molly Shannon, and Ana Gasteyer. Hader would’ve had Yang’s role in the skit as the one Samberg is trying to comfort and convince that everyone on SNL has anxiety.
Hader applauded Yang’s performance in the skit, which effectively acknowledges the stress that comes with putting together an SNL show. Although Hader didn’t star in the digital short, his Stefon character is briefly shown having anxiety.
While this skit would’ve been a cathartic experience for Hader, his decision to turn down a role in Samberg’s digital short was, in all likelihood, a relief for him. Hader reliving his anxious behavior on an SNL set might have felt fearful and uncomfortable for him.
Hader Has Been Open About His Anxiety Working On SNL
Meyers mentions to Hader how open the SNL alum has been regarding the anxiety he had during his tenure on the sketch comedy series. Hader’s anxiety and stress has also resulted in him having shingles, which Hader hilariously compares to Jeff Goldblum’s character in The Fly due to the rashy skin he developed due to the viral infection.
Hader also recalls the vision issues he obtained due to anxiety on the SNL set, including vision loss during a Christmas skit with Jason Sudeikis. Hader was grateful to Sudeikis for helping him get through that sketch since he had trouble seeing in that particular occasion.
It would’ve been hilarious to witness Hader on Saturday Night Live‘s 50th anniversary show, whether on Samberg’s anxiety sketch, or reliving his memorable roles such as Stefon on “Weekend Update,” Devin from “The Californians,” and his impersonation of Dateline‘s Keith Morrison. Hader’s omission from SNL50 is proof that even the best performers can get anxious and are still human.
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