Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade
Episode: RE-RELEASE – Jon Hamm
Original Air Date: December 3, 2025
Guest: Jon Hamm
Episode Overview
This episode features actor Jon Hamm joining hosts Dana Carvey and David Spade for a lively, freewheeling conversation about Hamm’s career, stories from “Mad Men,” his comedic chops, and experiences in the entertainment industry. The banter flows from Hollywood anecdotes and impressions, to tales from SNL hosting, and lessons from the comedy world. The tone is loose, self-deprecating, and full of the signature quick wit and digressive energy that defines the podcast.
Main Themes and Highlights
- Jon Hamm’s Comedy Roots and Friendship with the Hosts
- SNL Hosting: Inside Stories and Jitters
- Transition From Waiting Tables to Stardom
- Iconic Projects: Mad Men, The Town, Fletch, Apple Commercials
- Impressions and Comedy Technique
- Navigating Hollywood: Career Choices and Missed Opportunities
- Collaborating with Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm)
Key Segments & Timestamps
1. Welcoming Jon Hamm, Early Impressions, and Comedy Chops
[00:29–06:00]
- Spade and Carvey introduce Jon Hamm with playful “hunk” banter, noting his comedic presence and versatility.
- Discussion about skiing misadventures as kids; Hamm reveals his first ski lesson was on a frozen golf course in St. Louis:
“My friends who all knew how to ski said, just keep your skis pointed and keep your weight on your downhill ski. And then pushed me. ...I immediately fell down.” – Jon Hamm [03:10]
- Light conversation about Midwest upbringings and St. Louis connections.
2. References and Impressions
[06:10–12:13]
-
Exploration of movie and TV impressions. Carvey briefly impersonates Brad Pitt, Spade riffs as Woody Allen, and Hamm joins in with comedic asides.
-
Carvey's Don Draper Impression:
“Don Draper is asked to give someone a ride to the airport. I don't even know you.” – Dana Carvey [10:52]
- Leads to discussion of Mad Men memes and the enduring coolness of Draper.
-
Hamm discusses the unique challenge of embodying Don Draper, drawing a parallel to Daniel Craig as James Bond:
“There is a part of it, you know...obviously, when I'm wearing the suit and the thing and the hair slicked back...I’m playing a character.” – Jon Hamm [12:47]
3. Comedy Collaborations, Sketches, and SNL
[13:53–22:04]
- Spade and Hamm bond over keeping up with one another’s work, including films like “Keeping Up With the Joneses.”
- Micro-impressions section: Ray Romano, Barney Fife, Christopher Walken.
- Nostalgic riff on unrealized “Mayberry RFD” project between Carvey and Dan Aykroyd.
- Apple TV Commercial:
“Everybody but Jon Hamm.” – Jon Hamm [16:46]
- Hamm describes the personal joy of working on the spot, including collaborating with old comedy friends from the L.A. scene and Largo.
Largo: The L.A. Comedy Scene
[17:54–19:28]
- Hamm reminisces about discovering comedy cheaply and forging friendships with Zach Galifianakis, Sarah Silverman, Bob Odenkirk, Tenacious D, and others at Largo.
“It was a pretty hot moment in time, the late 90s... Five bucks. It was like, it's great.” – Jon Hamm [18:29]
4. Humble Beginnings: Waiting Tables and Doing Porn... Sets
[19:28–23:32]
- Hamm recounts moving to L.A. in ‘95, his four years of waiting tables, and surprise connections from his restaurant days.
- Dana asks if Hamm ever waited on anyone famous. Hamm: only Don Henley [21:13].
- Spade and Carvey joke about rumors Hamm worked as a “fluffer” on porn sets.
“Certainly there were no genitals touched. I was in the art department.” – Jon Hamm [21:44]
- Leads to memories of awkward, low-budget shoots in downtown L.A.
5. SNL Hosting: Behind-The-Scenes, Sketches, and Pressure
[23:32–34:20]
- Hamm recalls being invited to host SNL as Mad Men was gaining steam. He almost passed due to a vacation, but SNL simply moved the date for him:
“I had to say no…immediately came back, well, how about the following week? ...not having any idea what it entailed.” – Jon Hamm [24:37]
- Remembers an infamous week when Amy Poehler gave birth on Saturday; the episode was rewritten last minute.
- They all trade stories on the nerve-wracking week of SNL: the relaxed first days, the overwhelming flood of sketches, and Lauren Michaels’ process:
“There’s nothing to suggest like, oh, this is going to be terrifying until Wednesday when you have a packet of, you know, 25 sketches that you have to read at that table…” – Jon Hamm [31:50]
- Lauren’s famous “hat on a hat” critique gets a laugh [38:18].
6. Sketches, Farley Stories, and the Art of Rejection
[33:13–35:12]
- Spade and Carvey reminisce about quirky SNL sketches and Lauren Michaels skipping over their weirdest ideas.
“Lauren gets through and he goes, goo goo in the honey pot…turns the whole sketch over.” – David Spade [33:31]
7. Obscure Impressions and Comedy Technique
[36:34–41:44]
- Carvey praises Hamm’s James Mason impression alongside Bill Hader’s Vincent Price; Hamm explains its Paul Rudd-inspired origins.
“Me and Paul Rudd growing up…we loved the movie Heaven Can Wait. …his line is, 'you’re dead, Joe'…we would always say to each other randomly.” – Jon Hamm [39:27]
8. Hollywood: Meeting Icons, Missed Roles, and Career Choices
[41:44–47:34]
- Hamm shares stories about meeting Warren Beatty and Redford fandom in the family.
- Hamm reveals he was almost in “Gone Girl” but Mad Men’s schedule conflicted.
“I’ve had pretty good luck, honestly. …The things I’ve turned down…have not come back to kind of haunt me.” – Jon Hamm [42:53]
- On being asked to do “Curb Your Enthusiasm”:
“I had done a weird little movie with Larry…We had a really good time… ever since then, he’s kind of kept me in mind for stuff.” – Jon Hamm [43:47]
- Curb’s improv chaos described in detail:
“It’s not unlike SNL. You just want to try to stay out of the way and understand that the process is going to work and you can contribute where you can.” – Jon Hamm [47:13]
9. Collaborative Comedy and the New “Fletch”
[53:05–57:55]
- Hamm would love to do a Star Wars project (missed his window); discusses his collection of Star Wars toys growing up.
- Talks about starring in and developing the new “Fletch”:
“It’s kind of like a cover song…I looked at it…Why would you do it just like ‘Hey Jude’? Maybe mix it up a little bit…we were very cognizant of not doing Chevy.” – Jon Hamm [55:40]
- Raves about collaborating with comedy writers like Bill Hader and Paula Pell to create new Fletch gags.
10. Iconic Roles and Pop Culture Legacy
[49:00–53:05]
- Spade and Hamm discuss fan encounters and how people recognize Hamm—from “Mad Men” to “The Town.”
“I get [the Town] in Boston and I get that in airports. The TSA loved The Town.” – Jon Hamm [49:11]
- Ben Affleck’s leadership and the process of blocking off Boston for movie shoots are discussed.
11. Closing Banter and Memorable Moments
[57:55–End]
- Talk about agency rejections and Hamm’s old agency, WME:
“Don’t you think there should always be one person working for WME, his name is William Morris, so you could go and be like, you’re the guy.” – Jon Hamm [60:16]
- Hamm is teased about airport sweatpants (a nod to tabloid rumors):
“I tend to dress up for the airport, thank you very much. I think my grandmother taught me to wear nice clothing.” – Jon Hamm [58:41]
- Carvey muses about ghosts in his 1912-built house [62:23].
- Hamm recalls almost being on Star Wars by visiting Skywalker Ranch [62:43].
Notable Quotes
-
On Comedy:
“I love micro impressions where it’s the essence. You don’t need to say anything more.”
— Dana Carvey [15:24] -
On SNL Process:
“There’s nothing to suggest like, oh, this is going to be terrifying until Wednesday when you have a packet of, you know, 25 sketches..."
— Jon Hamm [31:50] -
On Mad Men’s Impact:
“Sometimes you go, I remember that day, it was cold and we came to the set late. There was a problem with the lights...”
— David Spade [07:49] -
On Curb Your Enthusiasm:
“The fun for me — because I don't improv a lot — was a whole scene where they go …you'll find out...So you gotta be on your fucking toes."
— David Spade [46:00]
Memorable Moments
- The hosts and Hamm riffing on disastrous skiing experiences and comedic impressions
- Recollections of SNL’s hectic sketch process and Lauren Michael’s legendary “hat on a hat” note
- Spade displaying envy at sketches skipped by Lauren Michaels
- Hamm’s humility and gratitude for his slow-burning success and surprise at fan encounters
- Lively breakdown of how the new “Fletch” movie was crafted collaboratively with comedy’s best minds
Wrap-Up
This episode encapsulates the camaraderie, shared history, and comedic instincts of three industry veterans. Listeners are treated to inside stories from SNL, Hollywood, and the live comedy world, as well as insights into Jon Hamm’s unique path from struggling waiter to TV icon and comedic mainstay. The rapid-fire jokes, warm reminiscence, and mutual ribbing create a fly-on-the-wall look at showbiz with plenty of laughs and genuine respect.
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