Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade — RE-RELEASE: Paul Rudd
Aired: February 12, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode is a re-release of Dana Carvey and David Spade’s entertaining, free-wheeling conversation with beloved actor and comedy icon Paul Rudd. The hosts and guest riff on Rudd’s unusually varied Hollywood path, share SNL war stories, deconstruct comedy, go deep on their mutual Beatles fandom, and relive memorable moments from Rudd’s career, ranging from hosting SNL with Paul McCartney to cult classics like “Wet Hot American Summer.” The episode is packed with humor, inside-showbiz tales, and genuine admiration among the participants.

Main Discussion Themes & Key Moments

1. Paul Rudd's Career Trajectory & Early Days

• Clueless to Ant-Man: The Ageless Star
  • The hosts marvel at Rudd's perpetual youth and versatility: “He gets to do both…drama and funny.” (David Spade, 01:33)
  • Discussion of his career’s unexpected trajectory from “Clueless” and “Halloween 6” up to becoming a Marvel superhero.
• Getting Into Movies and First Paychecks
  • Dana asks when Rudd first "felt rich" and about his first substantial paycheck.
  • Quote: Dana highlights Hollywood’s reality: “It takes a long time to build up to something that’s substantial, even though you're a big movie star…hard to negotiate that.” (02:03)
  • Rudd shares it definitely “wasn’t Clueless or around then,” acknowledging substantial pay only came much later, likely around the Marvel films. (69:03, 69:21)

2. Writing Marvel’s ‘Ant-Man’ and Comedic Influence

• How Rudd Became a Writer on ‘Ant-Man’
  • Rudd explains the chaotic script development, Edgar Wright’s departure, and how he and Adam McKay wound up rewriting the film:
    “Adam and I kind of holed up in a hotel room for a couple months and then just really tried to cruise through that.” (Paul Rudd, 04:30–05:28)
• On Comedy in Marvel
  • Rudd describes how ‘Ant-Man’ intentionally felt different inside the Marvel universe:
    “They kind of existed even though they were part of that Marvel Universe, they existed in their own space and they were a little smaller.” (08:26)
  • Reveals Kevin Feige, head of Marvel, is a huge Tim & Eric/On Cinema fan, leading to obscure comedians getting cameos in “Ant-Man.” (08:27–09:40)
• Improvisation & Creative Freedom
  • On working with Judd Apatow and others: “There does seem to be a lot of improvisation…certainly with the way Judd works. We’re all kind of working on things together.” (Paul Rudd, 05:49)

3. Rudd’s Experiences on SNL

• Five-Timers Club and Favorite Sketches
  • Paul recalls the surreal nature of hosting SNL multiple times.
    “The first time I hosted was I think two weeks…after my father had died, so I was in this state of complete…grieving, but I was also…half there. But I was so excited to host SNL.” (Paul Rudd, 38:04)
• SNL Behind the Scenes
  • Technical challenges: Reading cue cards, pausing for cameras, feeling pressure as a host. “Nobody ever tells you, ‘this is how you should really read the cue cards…wait for that camera…’” (Paul Rudd, 36:10–36:47)
  • Favorite recurring bits: Rudd highlights the "Kissing Family" sketches, the tension and earnestness that made them fun, and working with Fred Armisen. (30:07–31:49)
• SNL Musical Guests
  • Hosting with Beyoncé, Paul McCartney, One Direction—tells the story of Paul McCartney’s impromptu piano performance at SNL rehearsal:
    “He just started playing The Long and Winding Road…I was standing 10ft behind…that’s him, that’s the guy who made this…” (58:59–59:51)
• The COVID-Canceled Episode
  • Details how his fifth hosting gig was disrupted: show canceled the same day due to the Omicron variant, leading to a partially restructured episode with Tom Hanks, Tina Fey, and others. (51:27–54:10)

4. On Set with Icons: Only Murders in the Building

• Rudd describes working with Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Meryl Streep:
  “I can’t think of anybody I’d be more knocked out by…Steve Martin since the moment I ever realized people could make a living talking, I was so obsessed with him.” (27:06–27:31)
• Shares about feeling starstruck when saying goodbye to Meryl Streep—awkwardly kissing her on both cheeks. (29:10–29:41)

5. Reflections on Comedy, Friendship, & SNL Camaraderie

• The group discusses the bonds and awe among comedic talent, and how genuine admiration shapes comedic collaborations.
• Dana and Spade reflect on surprising sketch successes and the technical quirks that decide which sketches land with audiences and which fade away. (49:19–50:41)
• Dana: “Being host is, generally speaking, so much harder…because you’re in everything.” (39:22–39:33)

6. The Magic of The Beatles

• Deep-dive into mutual Beatles obsession, including Fred Armisen’s ongoing bit about discovering the band and the ineffable power of their music.
  • “They’re not the greatest band that has ever existed—they’re the greatest band that ever will exist. They are like Shakespeare…Mozart….they redefine that kind of beauty.” (Paul Rudd, 60:04)
  • David Spade shares he owns John Lennon’s glasses, and they muse about how no one (even Dennis Miller) can “wrap their mind” around the Beatles’ genius. (63:21–64:43)

7. The Business of Acting & Artistic Choices

• Rudd’s Philosophy on Projects
  • Has rarely chosen roles for money; credits his “artistic North Star” as being influenced more by musicians’ careers (Tom Waits, Elvis Costello) than by traditional acting. (73:08–75:47)
• On Commercial Offers
  • While open to commercials (“Totally fine…I would do any commercial”), he always tries to make “artistic decisions” whenever possible. (72:13–73:28)
• Desire for New Challenges
  • Would love to work with directors like Scorsese or Tarantino; open to more dramatic and varied roles in the future. “I would certainly like to do things I haven’t done.” (77:43–78:59)

8. Personal Quirks & Humor

• Paul reveals his penchant for using a label-maker, showing off his labeled AirPods case (numbered for organization). (76:48–77:01)
• Dana asks about tidiness at home, and Rudd self-identifies as the more meticulous one.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Marvel Fandom:
  “I would go outside and people would just yell, ‘Ant-Man!’…and it’s such a global thing.” (Paul Rudd, 12:08)
• On Awards Show Gifts:
  “I got a call…Bill Hader called me: ‘You want to know who your musical guest is? …Paul McCartney.’ And I just couldn’t go back to sleep.” (Paul Rudd, 40:11–40:21)
• On the Beatles:
  “It’s divine. I don’t think they’re the greatest band that has ever existed—they’re the greatest band that ever will exist.” (Paul Rudd, 60:04)
• On Making It in Showbiz:
  “Sometimes you have to [take a money gig]…I could certainly point to a couple on that résumé…But 97–98% of my decisions have been because I really thought it was something I wanted to do.” (Paul Rudd, 73:28–74:39)
• On Hosting SNL:
  “Nobody ever tells you how to read the cue cards or wait for that camera…over the course of hosting a few times, [I] started to pick [it] up.” (Paul Rudd, 36:10–36:47)
• On Comedy Bonds:
  “I’m such a fan…to see all of this stuff kind of in person and then get to do it with them, it’s pretty mind boggling.” (Paul Rudd, 44:26)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro/Paul’s SNL legacy: 01:20–03:59
• How Rudd became a writer on ‘Ant-Man’: 04:17–05:28
• Improvisation and writing process: 05:49–06:03
• Marvel & comedy fan in-jokes: 08:26–10:07
• SNL hosting + musical guests: 38:04–41:00, 58:59–60:29
• Awkward moments with legends (Meryl Streep): 29:06–29:41
• The Beatles & Paul McCartney at SNL: 58:59–64:43
• Artistic choices and resisting money gigs: 73:08–75:47
• SNL technicals and sketch successes: 36:10–37:43, 49:19–50:41
• Career advice/future hopes: 77:43–78:59

Conclusion

This episode is a goldmine of comedic insider knowledge, heartfelt and hilarious moments, and industry insights. Rudd, Carvey, and Spade’s rapport makes for a warm, often irreverent but always sincere look behind the showbiz curtain—whether they’re sharing SNL war stories, trading impersonations, philosophizing about art, or geeking out over the Beatles.

Standout Listeners’ Moments:

• Paul McCartney’s impromptu SNL piano set (58:59)
• Rudd’s reflections on sketch comedy and SNL hosting highs and lows (38:04–39:46)
• The label-maker reveal (76:48)
• Beatles super-fan mutual fawning session (60:04–64:43)

A must-listen for comedy fans, SNL history buffs, and anyone fascinated by the ever-likeable Paul Rudd.