Summary: Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade — Jason Sudeikis (Re-Release)
Podcast: Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade
Guest: Jason Sudeikis
Date: September 18, 2025
Main Theme:
A deep, comedic, and reflective conversation with Jason Sudeikis, covering his journey in comedy and television, Saturday Night Live (SNL) stories, movies, improv beginnings, and the cultural impact and creation of Ted Lasso.
Episode Overview
This re-release celebrates Jason Sudeikis — from his Kansas childhood and basketball days, through his formative years at Second City and SNL, and culminating in the tremendous international success and resonance of Ted Lasso. The hosts and Sudeikis discuss the evolution of comedic careers, creative collaboration, lessons from SNL, the blending of humor and heart, and the behind-the-scenes magic of Ted Lasso. The episode is rich with anecdotes, impressions, comedy theory, and memorable showbiz wisdom.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Jason Sudeikis’s Early Life and Basketball Roots
- Basketball prowess: Sudeikis played high school basketball and was the point guard, crediting the team camaraderie as a shaping force for his comedic sensibility. (09:55)
- Quote: "A lot of what we do on Ted Lasso is my experience of what it's like in locker rooms, people joking around." (10:20)
- Kansas childhood: Early exposure to varied comedic influences, including fake radio shows and characters with friends and siblings. (11:18)
- Comedy influences: Mom introduced him to theater and touring companies; improv beginnings at Comedy Sports in Kansas. (12:10)
2. Path to Comedy: From Improvisation to Chicago & Second City
- Chicago move: Inspired by family ties and mentorship (uncle George Wendt). Sudeikis credits the collaborative culture of Second City for honing his comedic instincts. (13:45)
- Improv vs Stand-up: Discusses the challenge of improv compared to stand-up: “Improv is so fucking hard. In standup… at least you can get a head start, you know, and think about it.” (13:00, David Spade)
- Stage fright: Saw performing as a sport, channeling excitement/anxiety into energy: “No stage fright. I’d get excited… like anxious is excited plus nervous.” (14:15)
3. SNL Years: Becoming a Cast Member and Writer
- Route to SNL: Initially hired as a writer, transitioned to performer following a distinctive audition. (21:27)
- Impressions: Discusses his take on Joe Biden, with a standout story about Fred Armisen texting him when Biden became Obama's running mate. (03:24)
- Quote: “I did him in a Halloween sketch... and when Obama picked Biden as his running mate, Fred Armisen texted me saying, congrats... I was like, I guess that means.” (03:24)
- “What Up With That”: Evolution of his iconic background dancing and what made those sketches beloved. (26:40)
- Quote: “It was the one that we did, my generation, where when they started to build the set, people would start to get hyped... everyone was in it!” (27:17)
- Main Justice and Potato Chip sketches: Affection for quirky, cult-favorite sketches; respect for writer collaboration, especially with Will Forte and John Solomon. (44:22)
4. The Alchemy of SNL: Writing, Performing, Surviving
- SNL’s pressure and culture: The rollercoaster of rejection and validation, how imposter syndrome is common, and the wisdom passed down from Tina Fey and others.
- Lauren Michaels: Sudeikis reflects on the enigmatic SNL producer’s hiring style and mentorship. (23:17)
- Quote: “He was always really nice to me. I think he wanted me to get out of my own way while on his watch.” (23:35)
- Advice to new cast members: “Enjoy the process of creation and destruction on a weekly basis... don’t judge yourself for when it sticks and when it doesn’t.” (64:07)
- Favorite SNL moments: Bonding and creative sparks at the rewrite table, collaborating with peers like Fred Armisen. (33:05)
5. The ‘Ted Lasso’ Journey: From Commercial Parody to Global Phenomenon
- Origin Story: Ted Lasso began as a 2013 NBC sports promo. Sudeikis, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly developed the character and world, modeling their planned series after the British Office. (78:27)
- Development Process: Multiple pitches, network passings, eventual landing with Apple. Bill Lawrence’s showrunner expertise proved pivotal. (80:11)
- Quote: “It starts and stops... But when Bill Lawrence looks at it and goes, oh, there’s something here... he got us moving.” (81:01)
- Writing British characters: Benefited from theater stints in Europe and deep respect for British comedic archetypes. (82:35)
- Why it resonates: Heart, egolessness, and subverting sitcom tropes (“be curious, not judgmental”). (85:02)
- Notable story: Real-life inspirations for Ted's positive, non-ego approach, influenced by psychedelic experiences and Michael Pollan’s writing on ego loss. (85:36)
- Cultural recognition: Celebrities and fans reaching out, the show’s multi-level impact on viewers’ emotions and worldviews. (77:05, 110:24)
- Quote [on success]: "It came out during quarantine... a guy would drive by the house when I'm taking out the garbage and honk, hey, I love the show." (95:33)
6. Creative Process and Collaboration
- Harmony in collaboration: Sudeikis praises the “best idea wins” attitude, openness to crew and cast input, and trusting department heads. (88:09)
- Editing and production insights: How his SNL experience shapes his show-running and editing sensibility (“If you leave a little space for the people behind the camera and in the office, marketing, whatever, to lean into this show, the same space and grace we want to afford the audience as well.”) (89:12)
- How to lead a show: He sees himself as helping “plate the dishes” at a big creative cookout. (87:04)
7. Reflections on Career, Fame, and Next Steps
- Navigating new attention: Sudeikis discusses handling renewed Hollywood “heat,” being deliberate about next career steps, and staying true to creative roots. (98:58)
- Long-term perspective: Emphasizes grace, luck, and pride in lifting others up, not just personal achievement.
- Quote: "All I've done is added to the people that I want to make laugh and be proud of what I'm doing and then how I'm going about doing it." (101:42)
- Staying humble: Paul Newman as a role model for humility and acknowledging luck. (102:48)
8. Pop Culture, Influences, and Legacy
- Movies and music that shaped him: Beverly Hills Cop, Color of Money, Pulp Fiction, Die Hard, Monty Python, Nirvana, and more. (103:20, 107:51)
- Kids and legacy: Sharing his love of movies and music with his children, reflecting on their excitement for art and comedy. (107:51)
- Comedy’s emotional impact: Recognizes the meaningful ways shows like Ted Lasso touch people during tough times. (110:07)
Notable Quotes & Moments
On advice to young SNLers:
- “If you get really good at doing SNL... you then need to leave... you'll feel like Daniel LaRusso, like The Karate Kid, 'oh, I didn't know I learned how to do this.'” (63:23)
On creative courage:
- “Just because it dies doesn't mean it's dead. Like it can come back around and find some other place or inspire some other thing.” (54:00)
On showrunning:
- “It’s a little bit like... everybody brings a dish and I just sort of help put things on the plate.” (87:04)
On ‘Ted Lasso’ ethos:
- “No ego. If you don't put any... if you just play it without any of that, he's not trying to get over on people. He's not trying to trick anybody.” (85:02)
- “Be curious, not judgmental. People have asked me to write that on their arms... and I don’t even know if it’s Walt Whitman’s.” (86:07)
On collaborative philosophy:
- “If you leave a little space for the people behind the camera and in the office... to lean into this show, the same space and grace we want to afford the audience as well.” (89:12)
On the unpredictability of show business:
- “There's so much whimsy to this game. And there by the grace of God go I. Gotta stay humble.” (102:48)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Early SNL/Impressions & Basketball: 03:24 – 10:20
- Comedy Roots/Chicago/Second City: 11:18 – 14:10
- Getting to SNL/First Audition: 21:27 – 23:17
- ‘What Up With That’ and SNL Sketches: 26:40 – 29:36
- Creative Process at SNL/Writer’s Room: 31:41 – 33:18
- Advice to New SNL Hires: 64:07
- Developing ‘Ted Lasso’: 78:27 – 84:26
- Ted Lasso’s Philosophical Core (“No Ego”/“Curiosity”): 85:02 – 86:07
- Dealing with Hollywood Fame/Next Steps: 98:58
- Discussing Influential Films & Legacy: 103:20 – end
Tone and Style
The episode is casual, fast-paced, and hilarious, laced with showbiz wisdom, behind-the-scenes stories, and the hosts’ signature blend of respectful roasting, self-deprecation, and affection. Sudeikis’s thoughtful, Midwestern, and collaborative style stands out amidst the banter.
Final Reflection
Jason Sudeikis’s humility and openness shine as he recounts the unpredictable but rewarding roads from Kansas gyms to SNL to shaping one of TV’s most beloved recent characters. Ted Lasso’s global embrace is traced back to lessons learned in comedy teamwork, empathy, and trusting the creative process. The conversation is a must-listen for comedy fans, aspiring performers, and anyone curious about why heart matters as much as humor in showbiz — and in life.