RE-RELEASE - Taran Killam

Summary

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Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade

Episode: RE-RELEASE - Taran Killam
Date: August 12, 2026
Main Guest: Taran Killam (SNL alum, actor, comedian)
Theme: Life Behind and Beyond SNL—Reflecting on Sketch Comedy, Impressions, and Showbiz Camaraderie

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Episode Overview

This lively, nostalgia-filled episode reunites Dana Carvey and David Spade with Taran Killam, an alum of “Saturday Night Live.” The trio deep-dives into the idiosyncratic world of SNL, swapping war stories from their years on the show, sharing the mechanics and anxieties of sketch comedy, and reflecting on what it means to be part of SNL’s legendary legacy. Taran Killam opens up about his early career, impressions, high-profile exits, and what keeps SNL—and those who pass through it—so special.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. SNL Camaraderie, Memories, and Rituals

• Opening Banter & Impressions
  Lighthearted riffing kicks off the episode, with the hosts swapping jokes about age, facial hair, and stock advice before turning to show business memories.

  • Taran: “The beard is fake. So I can get booze.” (04:11)

• Space Travel & SNL Alums as Astronauts
  Imagining an SNL-crew rocket mission, the hosts joke about assembling a dream “SNL astronaut” cast.

  • Dana: “We could do an SNL alumni rocket.” (06:27)
  • Taran: “I didn’t know this was going to be an hour of my heroes complimenting me, but I’m kinda here for it." (06:55)

• Good Nights Ritual & Behind-the-Scenes Dynamics
  The physical and emotional choreography of SNL’s traditional “Good Nights” segment—hugging, costumes, and decoding cast dynamics.

  • Taran: “The only thing I would do is...when the beat would drop in the drums, I would, like, jump into the air.” (09:41)
  • “I wish I’d stayed in costume more because those are my favorite good nights to see.” (10:20)

• Memory Blackouts on SNL
  Despite high-pressure performances, even iconic moments can escape memory.

  • David: “I do not remember being on the Good Nights, and I do not remember seeing them kiss. ...It does happen. It’s very real.” (09:00)

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2. The SNL Experience: Auditions, Impressions, Sketches

• Origin Stories—Getting to SNL

  • Taran recounts being immersed in sketch from an early age, his time at the Groundlings, MADtv, and musical theater roots.
  • On his parents: “They were in support of it. If anything, my mom was encouraging of it.” (29:46)

• The Power of Comedy Training
  Discussion of the differences between stand-ups and sketch actors—Groundlings “behavioral comedy” vs. joke-driven stand-ups.

  • Taran: “Groundlings are character based. So it’s behavioral comedy. ...And the standups, I was always so envious...just knowing you had to get laughs.” (12:21)

• Impression Highlights

  • The trio reminisces about favorite sketches, including Taran’s celebrated impressions (Harrison Ford, Matthew McConaughey—see below for deeper dive).
  • Dana: “Your Matthew McConaughey...it’s better than even a great impression. It’s like a character, an extrapolation into a character.” (39:41)

• Memorable Sketch—The “Glice” Bieber Sketch

  • The famous SNL bit where Justin Bieber mangled “glad/nice,” creating “glice,” and Taran’s character ran with it.
  • Taran: “He can’t let go of the one thing he has against this beautiful, charming young man who’s come home.” (14:00)

• Cut Sketches, Writing, and Dealing with Rejection

  • Painful humor about sketches making it—or not. Navigating the infamous “Lauren’s office” cut meetings.
  • David: “Just no one connecting eyes tells you something.” (33:08)
  • Taran: “I never housed more handfuls of popcorn than with a cut sketch and small talk.” (33:12)

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3. Showbiz Journeys—Beyond SNL

• Career Aftermath and the Exit

  • Taran shares the awkward, anticlimactic process of learning he wouldn’t be renewed for another SNL season.

  • Taran: “My manager at the time called me...three weeks goes by...then like in the fourth week, my manager calls and goes like, I think I’ve got good news. And they’ve decided not to pick up.” (52:11)

  • On making peace with his run: “I’ve made peace. And I’ve also really been able to take more responsibility for my participation in that. I got what I asked for, quite honestly. And it’s not fair of me to go like, yeah, but I didn’t want it in that way.” (53:27)

• The Evolving SNL Process—Pre-Tapes, Podcasts, Institutional Memory

  • New traditions and technological changes (YouTube, Lonely Island, etc.)
  • Taran on pre-tapes: “There are four guaranteed pre-tapes per episode. ...Lonely Island will never get as much credit as they really deserve for adapting the format for a new generation.” (48:21)
  • Dana: “Lorne stayed with the brand but also was very flexible with the brand, you know, as it changed, the culture changed.” (46:36)

• Camaraderie at SNL’s 50th Anniversary

  • The strong sense of kinship among cast alumni.
  • Taran: “Being back for the 50th was truly healing and joyful...from word one, it was just like appreciation and reflection and gratitude and, you know, swapping stories.” (55:14)
  • David: "The camaraderie is more akin to like we were in ...the Blue Origin together. The space thing." (59:21)

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4. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Taran Killam

• "I love authentic Spade. Spade is my favorite Spade.” (03:30)
• “If we lost Gayle that way, I’d never forgive us.” (05:35)
• “Anybody who drives a cybertruck suddenly ends up dead.” (05:52)
• “You are a legend, and… it was felt. It certainly was.” (19:20)
• On learning his SNL dialogue was used in Star Wars: “He said he used it up to literally the final mix. That was really cool.” (20:21)
• “Cut for Time sketches...He [Will Forte] gives me so much joy.” (31:49)
• “I, I being back for the 50th was, was truly like healing and joyful. ...Appreciation and reflection and gratitude.” (55:14)
• On impersonating McConaughey: “It was watching True Detective. I was obsessed with that first season...he was so indulgent out there in the stars.” (40:07)

Dana Carvey

• “The high school seniors...Shave the beard and go out.” (04:05)
• On SNL's changing culture: “The paradigm shifted. We’ll evolve with the moment.” (47:32)
• “Anyone who did it and did it well, it’s just respect, you know.” (59:21)

David Spade

• On SNL memory lapse: “I do not remember being on the Good Nights...it does happen. It’s very real.” (09:00)
• On being cut from sketches: “Just no one connecting eyes tells you something.” (33:08)
• “The camaraderie is more akin to like we were in...the Blue Origin together.” (59:21)

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Timestamps of Important Segments

• SNL Rocket Imaginations – 06:23
• The “Glice” Bieber Sketch – 13:23
• Impressionists/Training (Groundlings vs. Stand-up) – 12:21
• Harrison Ford Impression Story, and Star Wars – 19:37
• SNL Cut Sketch Rituals – 32:00
• Will Forte’s “Finders Keepers” – 31:03
• Matthew McConaughey Impression Deep Dive – 39:38
• Leaving SNL—The Call – 51:01
• SNL’s 50th Anniversary & Camaraderie – 55:14
• Monty Python/Spam-a-Lot & Broadway – 60:46

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Highlighted Impressions & Sketches

• Harrison Ford:
  J.J. Abrams requested Taran’s Ford for a temp track in Star Wars: The Force Awakens; his voice remained until the final mix. (20:07)
• Matthew McConaughey:
  Inspired by “True Detective”—McConaughey’s philosophical, spacey monologues. (40:07)
• The Bieber/Glice Sketch:
  Character’s obsessive riffing on Justin Bieber’s accidental portmanteau “glice.” (13:23)
• Will Forte’s “Finders Keepers”:
  A surreal cut sketch with Alec Baldwin and Forte singing about lost cars and beach rules. (31:03)

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Reflections on the Show and Its Evolution

• The ongoing balance between institutional tradition and change (“from analog to YouTube”).
• The bittersweet nature of SNL departures and how alumni often make peace with how/when they left.
• The unique fraternal bond shared by show alumni, regardless of when they served on the cast.

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Final Thoughts

This episode expertly blends comedy industry shop talk with heartfelt nostalgia and mutual respect. Taran Killam’s warmth, humility, and deep affection for SNL shine, matched by Carvey and Spade’s camaraderie and candid reflections. Listeners get a behind-the-scenes look at comedy’s most legendary institution—quirky rituals, the artistic grind, and the unbreakable bond among cast members.

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For SNL aficionados and comedy fans alike, this episode is a rich, generous belly-laugh buffet packed with wisdom, war stories, and a love letter to sketch comedy’s greatest stage.

Transcript

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[Dana Carvey]

Taran Killam.

[David Spade]

Taran Killam is an SNL alum.

[Dana Carvey]

Alum. All star. Great, great kick.

[David Spade]

Cast member 100 into our show and we had a lot of laughs with the dude. I just saw him. I think I saw him at the 50th for sure and you see him on a lot of stuff out there. We had a great chat with him. I mean you might have. Were you there? He wasn't there when you were doing all the.

[Dana Carvey]

No, I think I was just left. I was visiting in and I think he might have done a trump like people were doing different trump impressions yeah. At that time. Then Daryl Hammond came and did one on Church Chat.

[David Spade]

All right.

[Dana Carvey]

But Taran is a great impressionist, great actor and singer. He's on Broadway a lot. Does a lot of stuff. And he tells us his story and it's always an interesting thing to find out how someone got on snl, what happened on SNL and how's his life now?

[David Spade]

Yeah. And we'll let him tell you. Here he is. Taryn Killam.

[Taran Killam]

You look great. You look wonderful.

[David Spade]

Thank you. They pulled me from hair and makeup. They pulled.

[Taran Killam]

I love. I love authentic. Spade is my favorite. Spade.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah.

[David Spade]

Look at me.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah, it's awesome.

[David Spade]

It's a little dark. Yeah, sure.

[Taran Killam]

Sharp. Good. No, there's texture, there's. There's contrast.

[David Spade]

Taren looks the best. Dana looks like a best because it's bright and.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah.

[David Spade]

Do you have the blur background, Taren?

[Taran Killam]

No, it's a good camera. But I do have the touch up filter on.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah. You know, pores 26. So I don't know. Yeah, we're. If we can videotape this. I mean, your new nickname is high school senior.

[David Spade]

Yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

Shave the beard and go out. Just go out.

[David Spade]

Yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

The.

[Taran Killam]

The beard is fake. So I can get booze.

[David Spade]

He was a family man that went back to high school.

[Dana Carvey]

He had a beard when he was 13.

[Taran Killam]

Invest in Apple. Trust me.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah. Damn. That's too close to home. I was told to do that 2003 and I told the guy to off. I said no, take your Apple stock ideas.

[David Spade]

It will never.

[Taran Killam]

You're the Dana. You're the anti Forest Gump.

[David Spade]

Yeah. You go back and get bad advice.

[Dana Carvey]

What is that obvious now? You know what's. What's the. We can't tell right now because everything's just like.

[Taran Killam]

It's gonna. Exactly. It's gonna be. Attack that. That I don't even understand.

[David Spade]

I got all my money in female space missions.

[Taran Killam]

Okay. You're doing very well.

[David Spade]

One for one.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

Oh, that's right. Well, we'll. We could talk about that if you

[Taran Killam]

want, but I just went straight into the divine feminine. All divine feminine. That's the future. No, I'd go to space. I'd go to space. Wouldn't you go to space?

[David Spade]

Sure.

[Taran Killam]

It's seemingly like the uproar is like how they talked about going to space. Like they weren't. They weren't acknowledging of the jet fuel enough. But I go to space.

[Dana Carvey]

Well, the tension is. Is that any rocket could blow up any second in the.

[David Spade]

I guess that would make me nervous.

[Dana Carvey]

And that's the. You know. Oh. Oh, sorry. It was a fuse. We didn't trade it out, you know, so.

[Taran Killam]

If we lost Gail that way, I'd never forgive us.

[David Spade]

Never.

[Dana Carvey]

Imagine if Oprah just went full Oprah. If that thing exploded and she started beating the shit out of Bezos.

[Taran Killam]

That's her, like, John Wick movie. She becomes one A one Oprah army.

[David Spade]

Try to pull her off.

[Taran Killam]

Anybody who drives a cybertruck certainly suddenly ends up dead.

[Dana Carvey]

You want some of this Oprah? But anyway, I like the Jeff Bezos. Everything in his whole ecosystem looks like a dick. Like the spaceship does the swoop on Amazon does his head. His actual head.

[Taran Killam]

His own head.

[Dana Carvey]

Sorry, I don't.

[David Spade]

His wiener surprisingly doesn't.

[Taran Killam]

It is. No, it's. It's more square.

[David Spade]

Square.

[Taran Killam]

It's more chod.

[Dana Carvey]

Like, they're rich and famous. Fun to on them.

[Taran Killam]

They're fine.

[Dana Carvey]

They're fine, man. But seriously, would you go on the rocket?

[Taran Killam]

Yes.

[Dana Carvey]

Because we could do an SNL alumni rocket.

[David Spade]

Oh, yeah.

[Taran Killam]

That's what we should do.

[David Spade]

All right, troops.

[Dana Carvey]

Fred Armisen, you'll be in the blue chair.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah. Who's your dream cast? Like, no. Who's your dream SNL astronaut.

[David Spade]

Yeah. Who's your dream rocket cast?

[Taran Killam]

Yeah, yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

Actually, I would cast you as an astronaut.

[Taran Killam]

I'll take it.

[Dana Carvey]

Because you could play. You can act and you could play it, and you could play that kind of whatever you call that astronaut vibe.

[Taran Killam]

I'll take it. Dana. I didn't know. This is going to be an hour of my heroes complimenting me, but I kind of is faster.

[Dana Carvey]

It is. Well, we just. Yeah, you can run, but you cannot hide. Sorry. 10 killiam.

[David Spade]

What about you could use your bland bachelor sort of character to go up in space to be the everyman.

[Taran Killam]

Exactly.

[David Spade]

I just watched Bland Bachelor. What was it called?

[Taran Killam]

Selena Gomez. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

I remember that.

[Taran Killam]

How often does it happen where people bring up sketches that you have no memory of?

[Dana Carvey]

It's never not happened.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[David Spade]

It's funny because I said there's. I will remember everything I did on snl, and I wasn't like, super Sketch guy, so I was in, like, one or two a show, and I still cannot remember half of them.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah, I remember my first week very well, and Seth being at the table talking about seeing an episode on VH1 or whatever, and he's like, it turned it on, and Amy Poehler was in it, and I was like, oh, I must have been changing backstage. I don't remember this sketch. And he walked onto the screen. He was in the sketch. And I remember thinking to myself, that'll never happen to me. There's no way I will remember every second of this.

[Dana Carvey]

Well, 127 shows is the main metric that I read, so. Probably because you were ubiquitous on the show. 400 sketches. Yeah, probably maybe 500.

[Taran Killam]

Half of those high school astronauts.

[Dana Carvey]

The high school.

[David Spade]

That's a addendum.

[Dana Carvey]

I. I have some film ideas for this dude before we get done, but let's go through his. Let's go through.

[Taran Killam]

Listen to my transition to do a pitch.

[David Spade]

I was at the Good Nights. I saw a clip the other day, and it was. It was when Nirvana was on either. I don't know which time, but I guess Kurt Cobain had purple hair, and he turned around and started making out with Chris Novosec or Dave Grohl. And it was a big story. And you pant, you pull back, and I'm standing right there, you know, in the back, waiting to hug someone, get it over with, not really watching them kiss. And I'm like, I do not remember being on the Good Nights, and I do not remember seeing them kiss. And that was scary because that was actually something that happened instead of just being in the background of a sketch or something. So I realize it does happen. It's very real. What we're talking about.

[Dana Carvey]

It is we're getting deep, heavy, and real. But I keep heavy and real.

[David Spade]

Dana's new special.

[Dana Carvey]

Deep, heavy, and real. No, I know someone says that, you know, when you hug people on the Good nights, it's kind of interesting. There's a traditional amount of hugging and hugging pressure, and then there's more pressure and longer and like, geez, I didn't know you felt this way about me. It's like Heidi Gardner.

[Taran Killam]

It's fascinating to, like, she feels that way about everybody.

[Dana Carvey]

She's a lover. She's a lover.

[Taran Killam]

It's fascinating how people project onto the Good Nights, you know, Like, I, I. The only thing I would do is that when the. When the beat would drop in the drums, I would, like, jump into the air. And people caught on to that. But that was, like, a fun tradition. Oh, that's cool. But otherwise, it's. Yeah, it was nice. It was. And. And not always on camera, so sometimes you just see a shoulder hopping into frame or whatever. But it's so funny how people read into that. Like, oh, look, they're angry they didn't hug.

[David Spade]

They're angry. Yeah, they skipped. The host walks right by you to hu. Someone next to you.

[Dana Carvey]

Oof.

[David Spade]

On camera.

[Taran Killam]

Burn shame.

[Dana Carvey]

So you would go to the back and then snake your way toward the lens or would you snake?

[Taran Killam]

I, I, it depends. I wish, I wish like a regret is I wish I'd stayed in costume more because those are my favorite good nights to see. Yeah.

[David Spade]

Oh yeah.

[Taran Killam]

Especially when the 10 to 1 got cut and you're just like, oh yeah, you're drinking. Why you're, why is there some like robot clown on, on holding a hot dog?

[Dana Carvey]

And it doesn't make what did that,

[David Spade]

what was that dress like a llama? The is, yeah. When you're still in your costume, you're like barely made it to good nights.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah.

[David Spade]

Live folks.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah, I, I do, I love it. Yeah. But in terms of like any who hugged me, who didn't like so much of just speaking for myself, like I'm in my own head about my week. Like I literally don't care about anybody else.

[David Spade]

Who did you hug the most though? Was it the host or was it.

[Taran Killam]

That's a good question. Kristen and I overlap. Kristen. Kristen and I knew each other before the show too. So she was always very kind. Yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

Big Garlings are the coolest because they just come in loaded. They've already done sketch comedy.

[Taran Killam]

Nice.

[Dana Carvey]

We're stand ups. We're playing greasy spoons and boxes.

[David Spade]

It's literally cheating when you go to read through the first day and I go this guy will suck. And then they gotta fucking perfectly buffed out Grounding.

[Dana Carvey]

Like a perfect sketch. You can take from Groundlings and put it on 8H and Old Jed's a millionaire.

[Taran Killam]

You know, it is the best training in terms of like the structure. Like there is no other comedy platform. You know, Second City is, is pretty close and similar but Groundlings, especially the Sunday company is like new show every Sunday pitching ideas. But I love, I love what Chris Rock says about it and that like stand up people come in and they know how to write jokes. That is the difference. That's the difference. Is that like the joke. I, I, that was something I structured, I struggled with. Groundlings are character based. So it's behavioral comedy. Right. Like, like to pair it down. But and the standups, I was always so envious and covetous of the, of

[Dana Carvey]

just knowing you had to get laughs.

[Taran Killam]

How to get laugh. That's helpful.

[Dana Carvey]

I don't know how to write jokes. Spade's a great joke writer, monologue writer, but he's telling a story and then he has all these laugh points. You call him but, but yeah.

[David Spade]

Little tiny tent poles.

[Dana Carvey]

You but are My sketches are tougher.

[David Spade]

Go ahead.

[Dana Carvey]

Well, the way. What, Tara, what you lean in on is what I still find my. My favorite. Where it's like, I did see one I went through, because that's the cool thing. YouTube, best of Taren, you know, So I will go into a lot of them, but the one with Justin Bieber where he says gleis, and you're. You're totally carrying this sketch with attitude of the asshole brother who's really with the data of his sister aggressively and played all the beats and committed so hard that it was just so much fun to watch.

[Taran Killam]

Oh, thanks, man. Yeah, that. That was a grounding sketch for sure.

[Dana Carvey]

It was.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah.

[David Spade]

And tell me about it, because I didn't see it, but it was.

[Dana Carvey]

Explain it. Do a little bit of the attitude so he would know.

[Taran Killam]

Yes. So the premise is that Nasim brings home a boyfriend from college, Justin Bieber, and he has to meet her older, like, way past his prime, still living at home, brother who, like, tries to act intimidating, but is pretty pathetic. And Justin's first line is like, it's glice to meet. Sorry, it's nice to meet you. I meant to say, I'm glad to meet you and it's nice, but I said gleiss. And then my guy's like, glice. What the hell is Glice? You sound so stupid. And then throughout the sketch, all these

[Dana Carvey]

details, it always comes back to Clyde with the what?

[Taran Killam]

And then he can't let go of it. He can't let go of the one thing he has against this beautiful, charming young man who's come home of a jerk.

[Dana Carvey]

And the rhythm in there, it's like a joke in a way, that you're going lies and all that, and then you kind of break it down again. Oh, I'll get me wrong, man. You're a cool brother.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

And then you.

[Taran Killam]

There's like a big laugh in it. That was just me saying, remember. Yeah, Like, I said glice. And I say, remember, and it happened 30 seconds ago.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah.

[David Spade]

He seems pretty cool, though. Was he fun that week?

[Taran Killam]

He was, yeah. He was young. He was young and he was. He's entering a fate. But I had.

[Dana Carvey]

I had.

[David Spade]

Whatever that means. That's a good cloaked.

[Taran Killam]

He's. Yeah, he's. It was. It was like. I feel like it was pre roast post, you know, post Belieber documentary.

[David Spade]

Right.

[Taran Killam]

But. Yeah, but, but, but, you know, it's so interesting. Like the currency in SNL where I'm so desperate for last. Speaking of laughs. But in many ways, it's better to get like a whoop. Like a. To get like the girls screaming, you know, that was like a big, big part of, like Timberlake's currency and stuff is like, they're not necessarily howling or side splitting, but they're just like, when

[David Spade]

they would scream for justice. Did you wave also, like.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah, exactly. Some of it's for me.

[David Spade]

Yeah. Some of it's for me. It's a kind of a split crowd.

[Taran Killam]

I won't point to which ones because I'm humble, but part of this is for me for sure.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah. All right, well, did you and be.

[Taran Killam]

No, no, I just don't.

[Dana Carvey]

Oh.

[Taran Killam]

Oh, sorry.

[Dana Carvey]

I got all these lists.

[David Spade]

We've been on a commercial for the last 12 minutes.

[Dana Carvey]

We're gonna record. We're gonna start recording. This is called our warm up.

[David Spade]

Now, you should have talked to Bieber about what it's like. You understand the quick fame.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah, yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

Let me.

[David Spade]

Let me lay sketch about him. Like, man, I've been there, dude. I just want to give you some advice.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah. I mean, I started on the show a little bit older. Like, I was 28 when I started, which is. I know that Pete and he. Pete Davidson and Bieber connected and were like, we're friendly for a while. But I was. I was already a dad when I started on the show. So.

[Dana Carvey]

Weird.

[Taran Killam]

I wasn't very good at, like, the hat. The post hours hat.

[David Spade]

Weird. Yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

Weird, man.

[David Spade]

I just moved Dana and.

[Dana Carvey]

I know. Let me tell us.

[David Spade]

You don't realize how bad your bedding has gotten until you. Until you try to put it to the next spot and falling apart. You gotta replace it. I used to wrestle with the sheets. They completely slipped off the corners, pillows. I thought I need a new mattress. But the fix was upgrading what actually touches my skin. I switched to bowl and branch. Difference is immediate. Their signature organic cotton bedding is completely breathable and remarkably soft. Started with the sheets, but quickly added their pillows and waffle blanket to complete the setup.

[Dana Carvey]

Now I get the feeling crawling into bed is the best part of my day because the fabric actually get softer every time I wash it. It completely transformed how I upgrade your

[David Spade]

sleep with bowl and Branch. Get 15 off your first order plus free [e-mail] fly with code fly. That's Boland Branch. B O L L A N D B r a n c-h.com fly code fly to unlock 15 off. Exclusions apply.

[Dana Carvey]

So who did you overlap? Like you went in in 2010? So Hayter was still there?

[Taran Killam]

Yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

And. Yeah, Sudeikis.

[Taran Killam]

Yep.

[Dana Carvey]

So when did they lose?

[Taran Killam]

I was there for. I was there for two seasons with Wig and Samberg, and then they left after my second season, and then Bill, Jason, and Fred stayed one more season.

[Dana Carvey]

Right.

[Taran Killam]

And then.

[David Spade]

And then not long ago, Kristen Wiig was 212. You're saying 2012. Yeah, that was when she left.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

Hey, time flies, man.

[David Spade]

I mean, my God, I left in 1888, so I guess it's all relative.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah. I can see the musket on your wall.

[David Spade]

Right after the Constitution came out, we had one bit of a About that, and then I split, so.

[Taran Killam]

And live from New York, it's Saturday Night Reload.

[David Spade]

I like when people quit the show for, like, they got a commercial, and they're like, I'm out.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah.

[David Spade]

I hit the big time. And you're like, well, that's it.

[Dana Carvey]

Now they do commercials of sketches while you're watching the show. And I'm only California, the Californian sketch.

[Taran Killam]

I go, right, we will.

[Dana Carvey]

We had to. Kevin Neal and I were forced to turn down a Nike campaign. Just do it. In 1988, it was gonna be jazz. Do it. So now they're, like, doing. I mean, I'm so just. I'm jealous, but I'm happy.

[Taran Killam]

Can you ask him again? Can you hit up Phil Knight and

[Dana Carvey]

be like, hey, hey, man, we're still pissed. Still funny. Yeah.

[Taran Killam]

Let me tell you, we still have the sweatshirts.

[Dana Carvey]

They still fit. Hey, man, those guys are evergreen. I wanted to go on the 50th before I got the flu as Hans and Franz, and. And I just.

[Taran Killam]

It would have been awesome. Oh, you were so missed.

[David Spade]

Great.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah, you were so.

[Dana Carvey]

I think you guys were fully loaded, but thank you. Taryn. I thought you.

[Taran Killam]

No, dude. I mean, you are. You are a legend, and I don't know about that. So it was felt. It was felt. It certainly was.

[Dana Carvey]

Did I host the show when you were there and you did a Harrison Ford at read through, which kind of impressed me. The attempt. I go, who is this? Who is this kid?

[Taran Killam]

We got it on. We got it on. You did host, and I got to be in a church, lady. Which was. Which a highlight for me. And as Ted Cruz, less of a highlight for me, but. But then I got Harrison Ford on, and I'm such. I'm a really big Star wars nerd. J.J. abrams reached out, and he was editing the first new Star wars, like the one that they brought back, and he said, hey, will you do me a favor? I need a line of dialogue off camera. From Harrison.

[David Spade]

Oh, my God.

[Taran Killam]

And I can't get him for two months. So we just want it for the real so that it doesn't take you out of it. It's like a special effects thing where you do it.

[Dana Carvey]

Get it.

[Taran Killam]

So I got to report. You take care of Chewie, you get to the Falcon and, like, you got it.

[Dana Carvey]

That's great.

[Taran Killam]

And he used. He said he used it up to literally the final mix. That was really cool.

[Dana Carvey]

And Harrison went, who the is this?

[Taran Killam]

Who the is this? My house.

[Dana Carvey]

Get out of my house.

[Taran Killam]

He's the coolest man. He's the freaking. He is the movie star.

[Dana Carvey]

He goes, get off my plane. Then he goes, get out of my ship. And he goes, leave my coffee shop.

[Taran Killam]

Give me back my wi.

[Dana Carvey]

Stop sharing my parachute. Don't even share my password.

[Taran Killam]

Stop being a working girl.

[David Spade]

That was a God.

[Dana Carvey]

Oh, I. You are a. And milk money. Yeah.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah.

[David Spade]

Why?

[Taran Killam]

Stop being such a witness. Can I get a witness?

[Dana Carvey]

And of course, the. The iconic. Chewy. Get me out of here.

[Taran Killam]

Chewy. Chewy. Take care of Chewy.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah, Chewy, your fleas are getting on me.

[Taran Killam]

But you were great, Danny. You were a great host. And Spade, you've always been so, so kind to me. First time we met was like the day that the Sandman and I. I haven't earned saying that, but I like to say it because that's what everybody calls it. I love that on Grown Ups. We came out for a day.

[Dana Carvey]

Oh, with it.

[David Spade]

With the car wash.

[Taran Killam]

The car wash scene.

[David Spade]

One of the best scenes.

[Taran Killam]

That was such a fun day. And you were so nice to all of us. And. And Schneider was sitting that one out. He was sort of filling us in on why. And he was city Grown Ups too.

[Dana Carvey]

Out.

[Taran Killam]

He sat that one out.

[Dana Carvey]

Oh, yeah, I know.

[Taran Killam]

And then. And then. I don't know if you remember this, David, but at the 40th, you were in the end of the Californian schedule, and it was Saturday rehearsal, and you and I got to talking, and you and I walked up to, like, the Rainbow Room to the party together, and you were telling me, like, beat for beat, the Eddie Murphy exchange.

[David Spade]

Oh, yeah. Did I?

[Taran Killam]

And you're telling me that. And you're like, yeah, and I. You know, it was stressful, and. And we're sitting at Top of the Rock. I don't know if you remember this, but I couldn't believe it. It was like, we live in a scenario. We live in a universe. Like, we live in a matrix. Like a matrix. Like, made up. Yeah. You're Telling me the story. You're telling me basically the end of the story. Like, Eddie came and he walks in with Brett Ratner. He walks in over your shoulder and made a beeline for you and shook your hand and you were so gracious to each other and it was such a cool moment that like, clearly you made peace and, and it was all good, but I couldn't believe it. I was like, I'm watching. Yeah, like the made for TV movie.

[David Spade]

I love it.

[Taran Killam]

Simulation.

[David Spade]

And he was nice again. So, yeah, I'm sure he's annoyed by that story. It's so dumb. But it's, it's, it's kind of a good little juicy one. Even though it's too far back.

[Dana Carvey]

Is it done now? Is it really done or is it still 100? Came up like a few months ago.

[David Spade]

Don't be surprised if you see the two of us in a space. A spaceship going somewhere.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah. Flying in the rocket together. It was so cool in that moment, like at the 40th, like he, like you were the first person he walked up to and shook your hand. He was so cool and it felt good. And it was like, oh, Brett Ratner's here too.

[David Spade]

You got excited about Brett Radio. Not quite as excited, but you know,

[Taran Killam]

Tell me everything about Rush Hour.

[David Spade]

Oh, yeah. Rush Hour. God, he had it made. Rush Hour.

[Dana Carvey]

He's got back end Chris Tucker to stand up.

[David Spade]

I just saw Chris Tucker was going to be like yamav thing in Palm Springs. I'm like, I. I would love to watch Chris Tucker new stand up. I don't even know what his standup is. Like.

[Dana Carvey]

Let's, let's have him on this podcast because he's interest.

[Taran Killam]

He.

[Dana Carvey]

He did three Jackie Chan movies, 20 million each for the last two. And then he's been a little mysterious in his own lane. But then he came out recently, is doing something. Yeah.

[David Spade]

Kind of an interesting move to turn down 20 million for something for literally anything. And then my only fans. When it hit 20, I thought I'd stop, but I'm addicted.

[Dana Carvey]

You get.

[Taran Killam]

Now you just do it for the passion.

[David Spade]

No, I just do it. Oh, you know who's on? Amanda Bynes. You know Amanda Bynes.

[Taran Killam]

I was on the Amanda show back.

[David Spade]

I know that was a trick question. I'm only telling you this because she announced it yesterday. But she said, which is smart up front. It's not going to be sleazy stuff. Sure, it'll be my day and stuff like that. Which is still interesting because she's very interesting. But it's 50. So I did, I did a little stutter step. Yeah.

[Taran Killam]

Is that a lot or. I don't know. Only fans.

[David Spade]

I would say that seems high now. You wonder why they're all making $20 million a year. I don't know how. Yeah, but it must be a volume thing. But.

[Dana Carvey]

Oh, yeah.

[David Spade]

Amanda, who you worked with, with Wayne, how old were you guys then?

[Taran Killam]

Yeah, I, it was my first job. Literally the last week of high school. I got, I got cast on her show and so I, we worked together for like three weeks then. And then I went away to college and like, I didn't have an agent anymore. I was focused on school and they called me back to do more and they helped me get an agent. Like being on the Amanda show kind of like started my, my grown up acting career and we were friends and then we did a movie together, Big Fat Liar. And she was the best. She was. It was a very important relationship to me in my life. And, and yeah, she's. I was she.

[David Spade]

Like, how old were you when you start what's the Amanda show? Is she like 11 or like really young?

[Taran Killam]

She's. She's 14, 15. When she, when she was.

[David Spade]

And then she got movies and that was one of the movies she did where like she's the man was one. Of course I remember. Is that what it's called? She's the man, the soccer one?

[Taran Killam]

Yes. Yeah, exactly. Channing Tatum.

[David Spade]

Hilarious. And I always thought she's so great.

[Taran Killam]

So she's one of the most talented people.

[David Spade]

I think she's one of those people everyone pulls for, like Brittany, like. Yeah, it's a very tough world out here in showbiz, whatever level. And they are. They were at a high level end up.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah, she seems like that age too, like to be a full like Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett dynamic and, and, and had the good. You know, she's truly one of the best. Right?

[David Spade]

Is she good at it? Good at it? Funny. Very cute.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah.

[David Spade]

And it's just such a weird world out here that where. And when they're young. You're right. You just don't know Ariana.

[Dana Carvey]

They deal with Timberlake.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah.

[David Spade]

Oh, yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

Talent. Well, I was going to ask you because you think, okay, high school senior. And then you go do that like in the, in the sort of neurosis, fear, paranoia, whatever. How are you mentally navigating show business? Like, were you super scared getting on SNL or you'd done so much that you maybe were more confident? I'm just curious.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah. Like, I, I started auditioning very young. Like, I think I was 5 years old when I did my first commercial audition, and fortunately was not successful at all.

[David Spade]

I'm Terrence.

[Taran Killam]

I love milkshakes. Yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

And your mom took you here.

[Taran Killam]

Or six. Sag Aftra Slightly. Buckwald and Associates.

[David Spade]

That was buckled.

[Dana Carvey]

Is that really what it was?

[David Spade]

Sutton Barth and Venary.

[Taran Killam]

But. But so like, was always adjacent and enough exposure, but. But without any of the trappings of success. Thank goodness. And then all the hassle. No worries. Yeah. All that 20 million. Yeah. Still working. Yeah. And then in high school, I went to the performing arts high school here in La Locsa, and so started doing theater and really loved musical theater in particular, and was going to college for musical theater. And then in that sort of, like, reconnection with the Amanda show and getting representation, I started auditioning again and on a fluke, got mad TV when I was 19.

[David Spade]

Oh, that's right.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah. Like. Like, just, like, doing lots of impressions of WB stars and stuff like that. And then my characters were just impressions of my teachers, you know, that I didn't like.

[Dana Carvey]

Now who's on with you?

[David Spade]

That we would know right around then.

[Taran Killam]

I was there for Sassos last year and Alex Borstein, and then I was with Mo COLLINS and Michael McDonald and Stephanie Weir, Artie. Andrew Daly. Artie had come and gone already. I was like the seventh season, so I was kind of deeper in and was just in way over my head. And like, what is this? And SketchCon. I'm a theater actor. And then loved it so much. And so many of the people, particularly on the writing side that I love, like Michael Hitchcock and Jennifer Joyce were Groundlings people. So I left Mad TV and started taking classes at Groundlings and. And kind of then had my eye on the prize for snl.

[David Spade]

Did that help you knowing a little bit about. Was it similar.

[Taran Killam]

Yes. SNL and MADtv in that they're like. Yeah, just in that they're sketch comedy shows. But I think, you know, where Mad TV probably had a lot more chefs at the top level, SNL has Lauren Ye. You know, and I think that that's probably the biggest chef of all.

[Dana Carvey]

He's got an aura. I just have to back up for a second. So you're going to high school. You tell your parents, well, yeah, I'm gonna go to high school. And you were living in Big Bear, right?

[Taran Killam]

That's right.

[Dana Carvey]

So, okay, great. Where do you want to go? I want to go to a performing arts high school, and I want to pursue musical theater. And you knew this at 17, 18. And they went, yeah. I mean.

[Taran Killam]

And they were in support of it. No, if anything, my mom was encouraging of it.

[David Spade]

She.

[Taran Killam]

She kind of, you know, her, her great uncle was Robert Stack and her cousin David Bo is an Albert like that. So she knew. She did. If you can't do the Yamaha Studios, Chris tucker turns down 20 million. No one knows why.

[Dana Carvey]

But I love anyone who does an impression not, not well and just says the name I'm Rubber Stack, you know, and you kind of hypnotize people. I guess it does help. I guess it's good.

[David Spade]

You know, why are we saying that's the first thing?

[Dana Carvey]

I think I'm Robert Stack.

[Taran Killam]

He did that in his audition. He said one of his audition moments for SNL was, hello, I'm Martin Sheen, and if I don't sound like myself, it's because I have a cold. But if you do think I sound like him, great. And that was the whole bit.

[Dana Carvey]

Well, that's. Will Forte has his own lane. And at snl, man, he's the, the potato chip sketch. He was surprised how big a fan I was of, of, of that sketch where him and Sudan go over a bowl of potato chips and just full tilt commitment to drama and crying because he thought he took one of his potato chips. It's. Anyway, it's just Bill Ford.

[Taran Killam]

The best perk of the job is going on the server and seeing like, Cut for Time sketches. And he had a sketch called Finders Keepers. It was a season finale and Alec Baldwin was the host and Baldwin is coming back from the beach and he's like, like, where's my car? I just parked my car here. And. And Forte has a metal detector at the beach and he's sitting on the hood of his car that's covered in sand and he's like, sorry, buddy, find your skeepers. And Alec goes, what are you talking about? That's my car. Get off the hood. And I think there's three lines of dialogue in the full exchange. And then Forte launches into a full song called Find Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers. It's the Law of the Beach. And the whole, the whole sketch is just this song explaining the rules of Finders Keepers at the beach.

[Dana Carvey]

And is.

[Taran Killam]

He gives me so much joy. And it was. It was pretty quiet, I think. Thank goodness. The nice thing about a musical sketch is the music's playing, so at least it seems loud.

[David Spade]

Like things are happening.

[Taran Killam]

There's some decibels being achieved.

[David Spade]

Some decibels happening. Yeah. How sickening when it doesn't work.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah.

[David Spade]

The worst is when you go in there, like, that's for a sure cut. But you still walk in the room like this, huh?

[Taran Killam]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[David Spade]

1%. Do they think it was so funny that no one.

[Dana Carvey]

They should do it. It was short film of people coming in. Because now they're back on into Lauren's office and. And they glance over and you can tell by their attitude that their sketch is to the right camera in the wall.

[David Spade]

Dana.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah.

[David Spade]

When we walked in and my first time they opened Lauren's off. I don't know how they do it now, but we wait outside and. So thirsty and gross.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah.

[David Spade]

And I had my Yakov Smirnoff outfit on. My first. My first update. And Dennis was in there. For some reason, Dennis was in there. And they opened the door and I see, like, downing them all pouring out. And Dennis puts his hand on me. He goes, you can take off the beard, spud. And I was like, what? And I walk in there, my knees moved over.

[Taran Killam]

Is that helpful? Is that a nice thing?

[David Spade]

No, I would have found out in three more seconds. Seconds. You. Yeah, yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

You can lose the facial hair at this point.

[David Spade]

Just no one connecting eyes tells you something.

[Taran Killam]

I never housed more handfuls of popcorn than with a. A cut sketch and small talk.

[David Spade]

So who's the host next week?

[Taran Killam]

Yeah, yeah, exactly. Yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

Act like you're not hurt and kind of clap on the sketches. Great.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah. Part of the process. Not personal.

[Dana Carvey]

Part of the process.

[David Spade]

Wayne's world. Cold open, stayed in.

[Taran Killam]

Oh, good, good, good. No, I wanted to see it again. Good, good, good, good, good.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah, I got caught. If my stuff was cut, I just walk slowly over to Lauren, get right up into Schnoz and go, seriously, dude, I don't think so. Come on, man, let's move it back over.

[David Spade]

Or no, worst mistake. You know, that reminds me when I tried to get a manager. Reminds me of that scenario. And I got Gervitz. But back then, Dana, we have the same manager. And back then it was between him and someone else. And he goes and do the right thing. Just call him. You know, it's always, do the right thing. By the way, I never want to do the right thing again, because the right thing never is like the fun thing. And he goes, I wish I could have texted him. But now he goes, just call him. He's a big boy, you know, and just. Hey, went another way. Because you never know, you know. I said, hey, man. I. You know, it didn't work out. I. I'm going to try with this other guy, who knows he might suck. And, you know, whenever the guy goes, you just made the worst mistake of your life. And I was like, God dang. And that scarred me forever. I was not ready for it. And I was new in showbiz, going, I don't want to make any enemies. He goes, he's a big boy. He was not a big boy. He's a small boy.

[Dana Carvey]

I still feel guilty about that reaction I have with you.

[David Spade]

Manager was Dana Carvey.

[Dana Carvey]

It was. It was.

[Taran Killam]

Those breakups are hard. I had one of those, too. And I got. What I got was like, well, yeah, hey, you know, like. Like, I'm like, I had to break up with someone I'd been with. And he's like, you know, listen, people gate jobs and. And they like to move on and shake it up. And some people stay loyal. And that's okay that you didn't want to go, oh,

[Dana Carvey]

we just had a kid.

[Taran Killam]

I have children.

[David Spade]

Am I gonna be here?

[Dana Carvey]

Have you seen a picture of my baby? My responsibility, my house?

[David Spade]

Here's my child.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah. And here's my chart from my doctor.

[David Spade]

I'm gonna put him on. Yeah, Tell him. You tell him I can't break his heart.

[Taran Killam]

Hello, Mr. Spade. I love you.

[David Spade]

Oh, thank you. Listen, I'm out.

[Taran Killam]

Never miss an episode of lights out.

[Dana Carvey]

I would just say, oh, you like lights out? Everyone loves lights out. But I said, never. Name a show that makes it easy to cancel. Hey, lights out.

[David Spade]

Sure.

[Dana Carvey]

You know, yeah, lights out for good. You want to do a show that's like seventh season,

[David Spade]

falls right around the corner.

[Dana Carvey]

Is it? Yeah, it is. Yeah.

[David Spade]

Yeah. My living room was completely trashed after a busy summer. Oh, I heard that. And I desperately needed a home refresh, you know, jumped on. Wayfair found the Haven Stone leather section.

[Dana Carvey]

Oh, nice.

[David Spade]

Which I like that. Kind of judged up the place. I'll admit I was nervous about buying a major piece of furniture online. But seeing the real customer photos and reading through the millions of verified 5 star reviews gave me total confidence before ordering. When it arrived, quality blew me away. It's durable, comfortable, exactly what I need. Built to handle real life.

[Dana Carvey]

That's right. And if you want extra peace of mind, you can shop Wayfair verified pieces which are hand fitted by product specialists using a 10 point inspection. Testing material, quality and build time.

[David Spade]

And help me create a space I love without overspending, giving me top tier style on a realistic budget. Join Wayfair Rewards today to get 5% back on every purchase and start saving on Your next home Upgrade, head to Wayfair.com and shop all things home. That's W-A-Y-F-A-I-R.com Wayfair Every style, every home.

[Taran Killam]

Wayfair Every style, Every home.

[David Spade]

Hey, before we jump back into the show, you all right? Let's take a quick break. All right. Not just any break. This is a refreshing break with Snapple. We all know about Snapple's iconic real facts, so let's take a minute to go over some of my faves.

[Dana Carvey]

Snapple Real fact. 455 movie trailers used to come on at the end of the movies, but no one stuck around to watch them.

[David Spade]

I've heard that. Snapple Real Fact 831 adults laugh only about 15 to 100 times a day while preschoolers laugh an average of 300 times a day.

[Dana Carvey]

Snapple Real Fact 1983. The first player drafted to play pro football never played in the league.

[David Spade]

That's interesting. Snapple Real fact 1274. Kickball is referred to as soccer baseball in some parts of Canada. Hmm.

[Dana Carvey]

So grab a Snapple, take a second, enjoy the moment.

[David Spade]

Because let's be honest, this might be the most refreshing part of your day. Snapple, make your break more interesting.

[Taran Killam]

Are there, are there versions that have worked of like a negative sounding title that's been successful?

[David Spade]

No. Dana's positive Dead wood is good. There should be one called Dead on Arrival. That's a good one to critique.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah, yeah.

[David Spade]

DOA got resuscitated. Dana's got critics choice.

[Dana Carvey]

Critics choice. My, my. From the 90s. I just called it critics choice. There was no, no online nothing. And so my sister would call me and be in the TV guide or whatever. You got critics choice again, man. Congratulations.

[Taran Killam]

Awesome.

[Dana Carvey]

Critics choice four stars. Yeah.

[Taran Killam]

Me and my siblings know, know the, the Ross Perot scat like can I finish? Can I finish? Can I finish? Can I finish? That's funny. We knew that we.

[Dana Carvey]

Can I get a tuna fish?

[David Spade]

No.

[Dana Carvey]

What you one time if you want to make it. I distilled it to Ross Pero's James Brown. Can I come in on the one? Can I come in on the one? Can I come in on the one?

[Taran Killam]

Yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

It is just a song but you know, to that one of my favorite impressions all time is your Matthew McConaughey and I felt the first time he saw it, then the sec, I saw it a second time. And then you were so blessed in the well, because.

[David Spade]

Did you audition with it?

[Taran Killam]

Praise from Caesar.

[David Spade]

Sorry.

[Dana Carvey]

No, it's better than even A great impression. It's like a character. It's an extrapolation into a character. And you had so many hooks. And I wish we could just play it right now because.

[Taran Killam]

Oh, thanks.

[Dana Carvey]

Don't you get reaction to that? I don't. I haven't seen anyone.

[Taran Killam]

People like that. Yeah, people like that one a lot that. That came out of. Because Everybody has a McConaughey, like, it's pretty like yours.

[Dana Carvey]

You. You kind of. You.

[Taran Killam]

I mean, it was, it was watching True Detective. I was obsessed with that first season of True Detective, and he was so indulgent out there in the stars, celestial. Bing, bang, shoot round. What do we do when we're Cosmic light? You know, it's just like him. Just like.

[Dana Carvey]

That's a riffing on. Yeah, that is. All these hippie references and all these little sound effects.

[Taran Killam]

Yes. And it's. And when he won the. When he won the Oscar, maybe for Dallas Buyers or whatever, he's like, like talking out there to my wolf pack. Yeah. Hunting groups of us primal. Getting the meat roasting on the spit on the fire. But there's plenty of spots for people to come around. What's saying. What are you saying? It's fun, but it, but like, it. He's always so positive, too. I always like doing like, like positive energy ones because, like, I, I would struggle if it was a criticism, you

[Dana Carvey]

know, or if you were like, no, it's.

[Taran Killam]

If it was a takedown, it's a little bit harder. And that was so fun because he was just being full, uncut, authentic McConaughey. And I remember writing that one. That's one that, like, you know, you sat down for 30 minutes and improvised 50 different wild lines. And, like, people responded to it and then spent six hours and didn't go home and slept on the floor for my grape stomping sketch or whatever. And of course, that tanks at the table.

[David Spade]

Yeah, I heard about that, people.

[Taran Killam]

It was a bad one.

[Dana Carvey]

It was.

[Taran Killam]

It was infamous.

[David Spade]

It got out here. All right.

[Taran Killam]

I was terrible at pitching, too. I, I, I was really bad at the pitch, and I actually did because I have, like, a small role in 12 Years a Slave, which doesn't make sense.

[Dana Carvey]

I remember you pop up in that movie. I remember that. It was like, hi, I'm Cameo. Hey, did you had it all right,

[Taran Killam]

what are we doing here? We're stealing liberty. We're entrapping people, regressing, making America great again. No, but I. So I did a bit for almost an entire season where I would start to pitch the Host on an idea. I was like, well, you know, I know you're in a movie with a plane, so that's great. And I thought we could play pilots because, you know, when I was in 12 Years a Slave, what I found about the process, that was most rewarding. And then I'd go really indulgent. And it got some chuckles at first, and then it was terrible. And then Brian Tucker had to tell me. He's like, like, don't do that anymore. Don't do that. Lauren has said something. Don't do that anymore.

[David Spade]

Why is he doing funny?

[Dana Carvey]

I mean, I don't understand all that. That place, that place can be a little.

[David Spade]

It made Chrissy Tegan uncomfortable, by the

[Dana Carvey]

way, when you did Ted Cruz. I don't think I, I don't think I was hosting that time. I think I, I, I was doing Fallon. And then Lauren said, you'll do church Lady. You know, he tells you it's a Thursday. Thought I, I thought I was flying. You'll be in the outfit. You'll wear the church lady wig, you wear the dress. You, you'll do clever put downs. And Lauren, I know how to do it. But then the interesting thing about that was that Daryl came on and did the Trump that we all knew before. The new Trump.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

Which was great.

[Taran Killam]

I love.

[Dana Carvey]

And Daryl was Trump. Looked like Trump. Incredible Trump. But then Trump in 2016 just came in with all these different hooks, you know, and all the stuff we see today. And so that's why he didn't, he sort of felt bad. What was Darrell's like Trump? Well, it was old. It was Trump from the 90s. You know, it was just very here. It was none of the, we're gonna do this at all. These different hooks and we're gonna, we're gonna do it. We're gonna do the bragging. You know, it was all kind of new.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah. My favorite Daryl one was the Domino's Pizza commercial. He would do this commercial one.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah.

[Taran Killam]

Like, here's what we're gonna do. I'm gonna tell you a thing and they say, oh, Mr. Trump, can you focus the camera? I think I'm gonna focus the camera. I think that was, had, like, it was all that bluster and James, which I just, I just like, I think James Austin Johnson is just a full genius. Like, it's a, Yeah. I would watch his videos before he was hired and stuff.

[Dana Carvey]

I would say for people might get the reference. He's the Miles Davis of that impression. It, it's better than an impression. It's got so many. It's like jazz that you're missing all the hooks. But Daryl's.

[Taran Killam]

We did a charity event together where. Where he did karaoke as Trump and is just so hard styling in between verse and it's amazing.

[David Spade]

He's good at improving with as Trump.

[Taran Killam]

He's so good.

[David Spade]

Very hard to do.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah. You can give him any TV show from the seven when he was on our podcast live in. In Texas. They just any. Any the Brady Bunch. And then he's right on Trump. He knows that so well.

[Taran Killam]

Peter Brady. Peter Brady likes to criticize himself. He's doing it to get friends. I don't need to do that. That no one wants to criticize Trump. Yeah. Yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

But Daryl's feelings were hurt because they went with Alec Baldwin. But I said that's just a totally different idea and choice and it. So it wouldn't be. It wouldn't be a competitive thing. It's just like that was just, you know, I think.

[David Spade]

All right, we. But what a weird thing. Start off with a cast member or start off with a big star. I think that's what Lauren finally was like. That a cold opening with a big star. Guaranteed that's not the host. Is helps.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah. Yeah.

[David Spade]

Is it fair? We don't know, but it helps.

[Taran Killam]

Well, did that.

[Dana Carvey]

Did that start? Because I just went and did Biden and before I did it, I made sure it was Steve Hook and this. I swear to God, I would have backed out. I said, does anyone want to do Biden on the cast? And be honest with me because Mikey Davis doing whatever. And he, he said no, no one wants to do it. Trust me. So then I did it. But then this, this thing, this thing of like, you know, older cast members and movie stars coming in. Did you. Did you have some of that? When did that start?

[Taran Killam]

It's gone below. It's gone beyond a launching platform. It's. It's now an institution and you have to maintain an institution. And there's a quality to that. Right.

[Dana Carvey]

I, I can have Bob Ly do. Do the. The state attorney general or I can have the like Matt Damon.

[Taran Killam]

Listen, I mean I, there's. There's so much to. To speak to. To the, the brilliance of Lauren, you know, having just celebrated the 50th, which was like such a joyful weekend other than your absence, that was definitely the biggest blemish.

[Dana Carvey]

Hey, man, I'll just say it. I'll just going to say it. 60th. That's all I'm going to say.

[David Spade]

You already Booked a hotel, tickets.

[Dana Carvey]

We'll use, we'll use filters. You'll get, you'll get your neck whoopy tape back.

[Taran Killam]

You have to use real glass that,

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah, I, I, I maintain just to start the conversation, that no one else could have done what Lauren's done. And there were so many episodes of Saturday Night Live, intrigue or whatever where the, the masters in charge basically would say you got to do an hour, you got to pre tape it, you got to change the theme. So Lorne stayed with the brand, but also was very flexible with the brand. You know, as it changed, the culture changed. So go ahead, what were you going to say?

[Taran Killam]

No, I, I completely agree with that. I, I think that's right and I agree with you. I, I think that one of the many aspects of his, of his insightfulness as a producer is, you know, you gotta get people talking about you and if they're not talking about it, then it's wasted air a little bit. You know what I mean? So I think like a Baldwin hire gets people talking about it. Gets eyeballs.

[David Spade]

Now you get it.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah. Too late, Way too late.

[Dana Carvey]

We were in the analog stage, early analog, that it was just a small bulletin board with a few letters on it on it. And now it's blasted on YouTube. So yeah, the, the paradigm shifted. Will evolve with the moment.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah. Well, I mean, something I love about your podcast and, and any sort of like SNL focused podcast is it's this free therapy, you know what I mean? To be like, was I a weirdo? Was I okay, no, there's at least five more people that had a similar feeling or experience. And then, and then also inversely like, oh no, I was probably a weirdo about that aspect of the show, but I'm really enjoying the Lonely Island Seth Meyers podcast too, because I, I, for the same reason. But I also feel that those guys, the Lonely island will never get as much credit as they really deserve for, for adapting the format for a new generation.

[David Spade]

Right.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah, that's probably the biggest change. Speaking to what you, you were talking about, Dana, of like, you know, maintaining quality, maintaining its brand identity. And yet now there are four guaranteed pre tapes per episode.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah, there's a full studio and get, the hosts will do pre tapes on all day Friday, get them up at 6am and do a whole pre tape all day. It is hard sketch, but so that is, yeah. And Andy and, and his, his lazy

[David Spade]

Sunday was the beginning of going, wait, what is this? And then, and, and you realize right away, oh my God, this is What? Plus he's a good looking dude. Everything hit it was like cool, good looking video. Then people start watching it. You're like, they're watching it where? Like that was beginning of YouTube, I think.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah, no, I think you're exactly right in terms of like an injection of relevancy. No one has had a more direct effect.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah, I, I'm with the show and I got to get to know Andy better. Just doing the.

[David Spade]

It was like a Pete, you know, you need a good looking dude in there that younger people kind of go, oh, why would I watch snl? Oh, okay.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[David Spade]

They need a reason.

[Dana Carvey]

It's just.

[David Spade]

I got a question.

[Dana Carvey]

It's really smart. I do love musical. I would love to be in one. I just do love when Andy's. Even the stuff he did recently, not even the stuff he did recently was fantastic. And it is something fun. Were you in one of those pretty tape?

[Taran Killam]

The anxiety video is so smart. And he did it for the 40th. It was great too. The breaking video about, about people who break. They're, they're, they're incredibly smart, but and joyful. I, I love those guys. I, I respect them so much. And I got to, I think like my first week, it was like I'm going to be in a digital short. I have made it. I have arrived. And I had like one off camera line in a video called Boogerman.

[Dana Carvey]

There you go. That's snl, you know. Yeah, yeah.

[Taran Killam]

It's like, okay, all right. They're not all, they're not all lazy Sundayers.

[David Spade]

But I'd read for B Man. Taran. When you. When I left snl, it was sort of decided toward the end of the season when Adam and Farley left, it was a little weirder, like vague. Where I had heard later they were fired. I didn't even hear it from them. I heard it like two years ago. And when you left the show, what is the way you get information? Is it direct from Lauren? Is it an agent calls an agent or business affairs? How does it work?

[Taran Killam]

Yeah, my manager at the time called me, but they were doing the Marty and Maya variety show during the summer and I was directing a film that summer, so I was in Canada. And I was wisely or unwisely like ready to move back to la, ready to be with my family, ready to kind of be done with the schedule of the show and I think probably have made it known, not always in the most gracious of ways. And they asked for like an extension that summer. They said, hey, we need more time. We're producing Marty Maya before we made our decision, and I pushed back. I said, like, no, tell me now or let's be done. And through people, it was like, no, no, no, no, no, no. They're. It's. They're doing it for everybody. They're doing it. And. And so we said, okay, with some caveats of other jobs and like clearing my post schedule for editing the film and blah, blah, blah. And they. So we said, okay, two week extension and then three weeks goes by and you don't hear anything. And then. And then like in the fourth week, my manager calls and goes like, I think I've got good news. And they've decided not to pick up.

[David Spade]

You're not going. Yeah.

[Taran Killam]

How it was phrased to me, I

[David Spade]

mean, at least you're ready to go and you're not totally blindsided. Like, moving back. Like, I would move home every summer. Back to la.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah.

[David Spade]

Lose the apartment, everything. Because they just would not tell you. And they wouldn't say, of course. But it's a technicality. They're like, we have no idea. And they wouldn't, you know, encourage you to say you're coming back. Just let us, you know, know. So. But that is a weird process because Dana, I mean, I don't think Dana had this exactly, but they.

[Taran Killam]

Dana still has rose petals stuck to the bottom.

[David Spade]

Oh, my God.

[Taran Killam]

Hey.

[Dana Carvey]

Once the came out, you know, it anchors the show. I mean, you know. But anyway, I just wanted to say that we've talked to people recently who just auditioned two or three times, and these are great comedians to get on SNL and really feeling such regret that either they pushed at their audition, and so then when you look at you, you with a baby and a movie, and you'd already. You're already in the hall of fame on In My Money six seasons, you know, so it was just odd because you probably would have maybe. Maybe done one more or not. But it sounds like six is a good run on the fence. And so.

[Taran Killam]

So six was enough for me. I mean, everything you just said, Dana, means a lot to me and I'm very grateful to you for saying it. I've done the work, I've made peace. And I've also really been able to take more responsibility for my participation in that. I got what I asked for, quite honestly. And it's not fair of me to go like. Yeah, but I didn't want it in that way.

[David Spade]

No. Because the truth is, if it's between two cast members and they're like, like, you know, this would kill the one guy and you have one foot out the door. They're like, I think he'd be fine with it.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah.

[David Spade]

And we just move on. It makes it easier, I do think.

[Dana Carvey]

I think so. There is sort of. Well, it's a very, it's such a bizarre psychosocial dynamic, just for every reason. And Lawrence said that part of his aloofness was to protect himself, you know, because everyone would want to go in. And what about this and that and so forth and so on. So, so. But I, I just see it run as a total success, obviously. I mean, it's like, I don't even. I mean, how many people really got on there, really landed and had reoccurring characters? And it's hard.

[David Spade]

Do you take, you know, I would imagine kind of happened with me where you're so burned out, but after a month or two, when the show's back on, you get your legs back and you're like, it would be fun to go in. But you also, you realize, don't think like that because it's a day to day new host. What are you writing? What do you got? If you could pick and choose when you came on, that's different. But man, every week is just such a stressful morning.

[Dana Carvey]

Well, I would put this in the ether because you were just there and I think you should come on and do Matthew McConaughey for, for a reason that he, you know, whatever lit off a firecracker or something. You know, I think that, Yeah, I,

[Taran Killam]

I mean, I, I being back for the 50th was, was truly like healing and joyful. Like it was, it was really positive. And I, I have to assume almost everyone like me went in with your defenses up, like your dukes up a little bit. And from word one, it was just like appreciation and reflection and gratitude and, you know, swapping stories. And then Mulaney put me in his musical piece for, for one line, which I was not expecting. And that felt.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah. What was the costume? Yeah, yeah.

[Taran Killam]

His pizza rat.

[David Spade]

Were you pizza rat?

[Taran Killam]

That's great. I was pizza.

[David Spade]

We were there.

[Taran Killam]

That's history now, man.

[David Spade]

I think I went as Halloween is pizza rat.

[Taran Killam]

One year, Spade had. And, and I've heard multiple people say this now, and it was true. From the first blocking rehearsal, Spade had the laugh of the entire show.

[David Spade]

Oh, I love you saying that.

[Dana Carvey]

We've heard this.

[Taran Killam]

That's.

[Dana Carvey]

And people.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah, it's factual. It is factual because I was in that sketch. So I watched it. When we're like like rehearsing downstairs, not even for cameras. And I got a feel for it. Everybody laughs. We do it in front of camera. I got it. Every crew member laughs. And that's always the best indicator if something's going to work. Of America just seen it all. And they're so. Yeah. And every. There was not a time you delivered that line that it did not get a full voice laugh from everybody in the room. It was.

[Dana Carvey]

And I watched it. I watched the show live, and I remember how funny that was. And then I didn't know if Mulaney could quite hear it, but there was this other secondary laugh that's on the soundtrack. You know, the arms is. Because it's. It's so dry and weird and quirky and so unexpected because the musical is so effusive. And there's one guy which is.

[David Spade]

And it goes on forever.

[Dana Carvey]

We got. We got it.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah. So many setups. Every part of the stage.

[Dana Carvey]

Yes. So you're not the only one who said that. And writers. Higgins told us, all the writers, that was their favorite line of the whole 50s. So there you go, David, listen.

[David Spade]

To even get a line, like you said, to even be in that sketch because you're in nothing when you land. And I said, higgins, don't worry about me. I'm coming. I'm not. And then Mulaney goes, hey, Mulaney, might want to throw you in something. I'm like, done. Whatever it is. Same thing. So to get one that actually, like, that was super fun. And to be weird enough to go in the audience and.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah, but. But also. So tailor made, like. Like, there isn't a cast member. Past, present, future, it's perfect. That could have landed it as good as you like. It was tailor to the point where people ask me after the fact, like, I'm telling you in my own life, they're like, so what happened? Did he actually leave? Like, during rehearsal? And they came up with. I was like, no, that was by design from David.

[Dana Carvey]

His specialty that, you know, not pushing.

[David Spade]

It's very lucky to have something like that where it would fit me.

[Dana Carvey]

Me.

[David Spade]

Because.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah, I.

[David Spade]

You know, also the pressure of going. One line. They go. And Wally goes, you need a cue card for this. And he's like, rolling his eyes. I go, I guess I don't. He's like, you don't. And I'm like, all right.

[Taran Killam]

I don't like. And to over dissect it, like it's true to your voice. No, I Like, this is what we do professionally, but it's True to your voice. It also. It also breaks the fourth wall. So it speaks to it being live.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah.

[Taran Killam]

It also speaks to the generate. We're celebrating the generations. And, like, this is your thing. This is different from my time. Like, it just was, like, perfectly constructed and layered.

[David Spade]

I appreciate it.

[Taran Killam]

And always got the biggest laugh.

[David Spade]

I love it.

[Dana Carvey]

There you go. That's a pretty. Pretty nice feather in your.

[David Spade]

Thank you.

[Dana Carvey]

It was only the same with that,

[David Spade]

because that's the best.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah, it is. In the end of the day, you know, it just. When we look back at our time there, you know, we never, ever want to do a military analogy. It's like being in the Marines. Forget that. But it is some kind of spree decor because you can get humiliated on that show. You can crush. You can get any kind of emotion you can imagine, and it's hard to get on, and everyone wants to be on it in the comedy world. And so I think. I'm sure that was the vibe of the 50th. Like, anyone who did it and did it well, it's just respect, you know,

[David Spade]

I think the 50th, for us, the camaraderie is more akin to like we were in and the Blue Origin together. The space thing.

[Taran Killam]

We've been in space for 12 minutes. That's.

[David Spade]

That's how tight we were. The bond.

[Taran Killam]

Yep, yep.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah.

[David Spade]

So it's not the army.

[Taran Killam]

We were all Katy Perry that night. Yeah, we were all Katy Perry.

[David Spade]

The stress, the ups, the downs.

[Taran Killam]

You have to buckle, you have to unbuckle.

[David Spade]

We had the training. Well, thank you, buddy.

[Dana Carvey]

Thank you.

[David Spade]

Had a great time.

[Taran Killam]

Thank you. Thanks for having me. Me. Hey, are they gonna pick up that animated pilot we did together or what?

[Dana Carvey]

Oh, yeah. Tara and I did. What was it called? We were in a booth somewhere doing this animated thing, and I guess it just didn't go.

[David Spade]

But it was not the Tina Fey one, is it?

[Dana Carvey]

No, no. It goes back before that.

[Taran Killam]

You were like an evil billionaire.

[Dana Carvey]

I was an evil billionaire. Yeah.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah. It was precious. There's so much I was hoping that's what this was about, was you telling

[David Spade]

me the picture up.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

Well, you're.

[Taran Killam]

But this has been great, too.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah. Just one last thing. You're going to be in a show on ABC for the second season. I mean, there's so much show business, obviously. Understatement of the year. But, yeah, everybody works. Everyone's doing an animated thing or whatever thing, and no one knows what anyone's doing unless it's some massive gigantic whatever, you know, so totally Totally.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah. No, high potential, abc.

[David Spade]

Oh, high potential. Okay.

[Dana Carvey]

And you got to do Spam a lot.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah. Dude. Dude, that was. That was Monty Python the best. Well, and Eric was there. Eric was there. And like, when we first started rehearsing, they're like, well, he may not be around much and stuff. And then we do like a first dress rehearsal and he's backstage, he's like, I think we can beat that joke. Okay. Okay. Python. Yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

Just to be anything.

[Taran Killam]

Anything you want.

[Dana Carvey]

And you are perfect for that. You are. You are. You. That is your lane. You can do that whenever you feel like it. Musical. Broadway.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah. It was a beautiful marriage of love.

[Dana Carvey]

Like, it.

[Taran Killam]

Like, I don't. I think the first movie I ever quoted, you know, was. Was. Was Holy Grail and.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah.

[Taran Killam]

It's only a flesh W. Yes.

[David Spade]

Oh, yeah.

[Dana Carvey]

Was that legs off?

[David Spade]

Yeah, that's Holy Grail.

[Dana Carvey]

Yeah. Yeah.

[David Spade]

Oh, great.

[Taran Killam]

And then, yeah, having started want. Wanting to pursue musical theater, it was really this perfect marriage.

[Dana Carvey]

All right, well, in New York, you're still incredibly young, so you're going to have to do this for a long, long time. But great, great. All. David, do you have a final joke or something?

[David Spade]

No. I appreciate talking to him and I had a good time today.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah. I. I admire you both. I respect you so much. I've been a fan my whole life, so thank you. Rubbed elbows is. Is a great honor.

[David Spade]

Dana. We should be playing the good music right now.

[Taran Killam]

Yeah.

[David Spade]

While we say this.

[Taran Killam]

Zoom hug special. Thank you, Tony McCartney.

[David Spade]

All right, see you, bud.

[Dana Carvey]

Peace out.

[David Spade]

All right, listen, if you're enjoying the Fly on the Wall, of course, hopefully you are. Click, follow. We don't want to be desperate, but obviously smash that goddamn button on your favorite podcast app, leave a review, a good one, leave a five star rating, nothing else, and maybe even share an episode with a friend. If you're watching this episode on YouTube, please subscribe. Dana, what do you think I'm gonna

[Dana Carvey]

tell you this right now? Hear me now, believe me later. Fly on the Wall, Believe it or not, is presented by Odyssey and executive produced by, hold for it, Dana Carvey and David Spade. Or David Spade and Dana Carvey. We don't write this stuff. Heather Tyler Santoro, Greg Holtzman and Leah Rees Dennis. The show is edited by Evan Cox with production support from Phil Sweettech Talent production and booking by Sophia Lepore.