Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade
Episode: Tim Meadows RETURNS: Sandler Text Chains & Farley Memories
Date: March 5, 2026
Guest: Tim Meadows

Episode Overview

This episode welcomes back veteran SNL alum Tim Meadows for a lively, nostalgic, and heartfelt conversation with hosts Dana Carvey and David Spade. The trio catches up on Tim's current projects, trade war stories from their decades in comedy, share candid thoughts on working in Hollywood (and sitcoms), and reminisce about their mutual friends—most notably Chris Farley. The episode—real, funny, and unfiltered—dives into the creative process, text chain antics with Sandler and the SNL crew, mentorship in showbiz, and the evolution of their comedic styles.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tim’s New Show “DMV”

[01:02, 17:06, 18:08]

• Tim stars in a new CBS single-camera sitcom called "DMV," about a group of unhappy employees at a Department of Motor Vehicles. It's shot in Montreal and created by Dana Klein.
• Tim’s character Greg is a burned-out former teacher now working as a driving instructor, the oldest in the crew—leading to running jokes about his age.
• Tim discusses the creative process:
  “They listen to what I think about the writing and my character... That’s not always the case.” [21:14]
• The cast includes Molly Kearney, another SNL alum, whom Tim praises for their spontaneity:
  “The thing I love about Molly... they really approach the lines differently every time we do a take. Always do the crazy ideas.” [41:41]
• Dana and David joke about how universal DMV experiences make it a ripe subject for comedy:
  “Immediately I know what it is... should have been a show at this point about it because everyone talks about it and everyone complains about it.” [20:12]

2. Hollywood Survival & “Movie Jail”

[05:00 - 06:40]

• Tim candidly reveals that "Mean Girls" saved his career after a series of short-lived projects.
• Dana and Spade discuss the stints in “movie jail” when a project flops and how hard it is to recover reputation.
• David: “If you’re in a shitty show or movie, suddenly they think you produced it, wrote it, directed it...” [05:40]
• Dana: “You get a little stink on you... I got out of Lost and Found jail—that took four years.” [05:50]

3. The Art (and Angst) of Sitcoms

[24:00 - 26:14]

• The trio laments the shift away from traditional multi-camera sitcoms (with studio audiences) to single-cam, cinematic styles.
• Tim: “I personally don’t like doing [multi-cam]... It never felt satisfying, comedically or creatively.” [24:50]
• Dana jokes about being out of touch with TV terms and reminisces about shows like “Wings” running for years without anyone really watching:
  Tim: “I want to be on a show like Wings... It was on NBC for like seven, eight years. Nobody ever watched it.” [48:52]

4. Style, Aging & Playing the “Old Guy”

[02:22, 19:10]

• Banter on graying hair, playing “the old guy” roles, and their shifting senses of self as the years pass:
  • “Now they ask me to take it [grey] out. ‘Can you just shave that out Timmy?’” – Tim [03:34]
• Dana shares a moment when he was cast as the father-in-law instead of the groom: “I go, oh, oh, wait, I’m not the kid getting married? That guy’s like 35. Wait a second...” [03:41]

5. SNL, Talent, and Watching Others Shine

[07:36 - 10:49]

• Tim reflects on maturing past showbiz competitiveness and simply enjoying other performers:
  “Now... I really enjoy watching other actors. I know there’s been a change.” [09:46]
• Dana and David reminisce about being surrounded by heavyweights at SNL—Mike Myers, Chris Farley, Conan O’Brien, Bob Odenkirk—and feeling the pressure and awe.
  “Everywhere you turn, Odenkirk’s a writer and he’s funnier than me. Lauren’s kind of funny—he just doesn’t talk much.” – Dana [10:27]

6. The Sandler Text Chains

[27:08 - 30:14]

• Hilarious and exhausting SNL alumni group texts—especially when on the road with Adam Sandler:
  • “It would be two in the morning and I’d be... ‘We’re going for steaks’... My phone, how do I get off this texting?” – Tim [27:27]
  • “I took myself off and somebody put me back on.” – Tim [27:53]
• The text chain is both competitive and cathartic, with everyone vying for laughs and validation:
  “Every time Swartzen puts something on, I hit a thumbs down immediately. It’s so humiliating. I’m looking for a hahas on that thing.” – Dana [28:44]

7. Chris Farley Memories

[31:10 - 38:21]

• Deep, bittersweet recollections of Chris Farley, his unique energy, and his final days:
  • “When he was out there, there was just that look in his eyes... asking you to forgive him... He wanted your pity.” – Tim [32:05]
• The difficulty of watching friends struggle, and feeling powerless:
  “I threatened to, like, not be friends... But that didn’t, you know... nothing really works.” – Tim [35:25]
• On the impossibility of recreating Farley’s characters, especially Matt Foley:
  “Other actors... tried to do Farley and could not do it. We just took it out of the show. Even though it killed every night when Farley was doing it.” – Tim [37:34]
• On Farley’s iconic style:
  “He gets down like he’s a lineman or something doing the Super Bowl... Subtle moves within his broadness.” – David [38:43]

8. The Craft of Comedy: Keeping it Fresh

[43:16 - 47:37]

• Discussion on improv, spontaneity, and the challenges of keeping performances fresh, particularly when shooting TV:
  “I save my improv and ideas for when they’re comfortable with what we got. Then I’ll do things. I don’t ask anymore—I just do it now.” – Tim [43:36]
• Dana and David explain how stand-up instincts help spot and tighten up scripts that are “too wordy” or full of “chuffer” (meaningless filler):
  “Repetition kills us comedians... the same thing verbatim, you just start going ‘Ugh.’” – Dana [44:36]
  • “You do like, you lose the spontaneity. It’s easier like doing standup because it’s your ideas and your words.” – Tim [44:50]
• “The word of the day, or at least I’ve heard it, is slop. How was the show? Sloppy. So many shows are just slop.” – David [46:44]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On playing the principal in Mean Girls:
  “This guy is either... this is going to be his last year working as a principal or he’s going to commit suicide.” – Tim Meadows [00:00, 26:14]

• On navigating ‘movie jail’:
  “If you’re in a shitty show or movie, suddenly they think you produced it, wrote it, directed it...” – David Spade [05:40]

• The group text chain chaos:
  “I took myself off and then somebody put me back on.” – Tim Meadows [27:53]

• Why you can’t just recreate Matt Foley:
  “Other actors... tried to do Farley and could not do it... We just took it out of the show.” – Tim Meadows [37:34]

• On shooting the DMV show:
  “Yeah, it’s shot like a movie. And I feel like I’m talking to my grandma right now...” – Tim Meadows [17:21]

• On performing with unpredictable peers:
  “The thing I love about Molly... they really approach the lines differently every time...” – Tim Meadows [41:41]

Timestamps of Important Segments

• [01:02] Tim’s new show “DMV” (show intro, premise)
• [05:00] Tim on “Mean Girls” saving his career
• [07:36] SNL talent, competitiveness, and ensemble memories
• [18:08] More on “DMV”: character, setting, jokes about aging
• [24:00] The state of multi-cam vs single-cam sitcoms
• [27:08] Sandler/SNL alumni text chain stories
• [31:10] Chris Farley memories and the emotional weight of his last SNL appearance
• [41:41] Working with Molly Kearney and the value of unpredictability in comedy
• [43:16] The struggle to keep performances fresh, improv in scripted TV
• [47:59] Tim promoting the DMV show (Mondays, 8pm CBS), comedy tour with Colin Quinn

Final Highlights

• Tim speaks warmly about continuing to work, staying creative, and touring stand-up with Colin Quinn. [50:31]
• All three reflect on the luck, resilience, and community that has carried them through decades of showbiz. Dana: “You’re always busy since SNL.” [49:55]

For Fans:
If you love behind-the-scenes comedy, inside baseball about Hollywood, and especially SNL lore—this episode is loaded with laughs, truth, and real affection among old friends.

Key message: “Comedy—and friendship—is best when it’s messy, honest, and shared.”