MacGruber: Remembering Val Kilmer

Summary

Podcast Summary: "MacGruber: Remembering Val Kilmer"

The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast
Episode: MacGruber: Remembering Val Kilmer
Release Date: April 15, 2025

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Introduction

In this heartfelt episode of The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast, hosts Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone, along with special guests John Solomon and Will Forte, come together to honor the memory of their dear friend and cherished colleague, Val Kilmer. The episode serves as a tribute to Val's significant contributions to the iconic Saturday Night Live Digital Shorts, particularly his role in MacGruber, as well as his broader legacy in the entertainment industry.

The Casting of Val Kilmer in MacGruber

The discussion begins with the remarkable casting of Val Kilmer as Dieter von Kanth in MacGruber. The hosts reflect on the initial skepticism surrounding Val's involvement due to the unconventional character name and the challenges it presented in finding the right actor.

Akiva Schaffer (01:23):

"Can we just start with the casting of Val Kilmer in MacGruber as a character? Dieter von Kanth."

Andy Samberg (03:02):

"He admitted to us afterwards that he read it cold and he nailed it. Like, just absolutely nailed the part."

Val's determination and innate talent overcame the initial casting hurdles, showcasing his ability to bring depth and authenticity to a role that many would have found daunting.

Val Kilmer's Interaction with the Team

Val Kilmer's interactions with the MacGruber team were nothing short of extraordinary. His dedication and genuine enthusiasm left a lasting impression on everyone involved.

Will Forte (03:50):

"He was just doing a favor, and we were so excited that he was even just doing the table read."

Val's commitment was evident from the first table read, where he immediately impressed the team with his performance, setting the tone for the project.

Andy Samberg (04:23):

"Dirvan Kant. I will say this, though he did do the movie. There was one joke, though, that he refused to do..."

Val's professionalism was matched by his willingness to maintain certain boundaries, ensuring that the humor remained respectful and within his comfort zone.

Personal Memories and Anecdotes

The hosts and guests share a wealth of personal stories that highlight Val Kilmer's multifaceted personality, his sense of humor, and his unwavering kindness.

Andy Samberg (09:15):

"I drove out to Malibu to meet him and his door was open... he was throwing these little chips... It was just the leaps of logic."

Val's playful nature was evident from the moment Andy first met him, engaging in whimsical interactions that showcased his unique charm.

Will Forte (18:40):

"He showed up in a white linen suit... took off his shirt... just sitting out there, naked on the couch."

Will recounts Val's carefree demeanor, emphasizing his ability to be both relaxed and intensely focused, whether on set or in personal interactions.

John Solomon (24:23):

"He gave me a $50 Paragon Sports gift certificate card. And I still have it. Like, I'll probably frame it."

John reflects on Val's generosity, illustrating how he would go out of his way to give thoughtful gifts without any occasion, embodying his selfless nature.

Val Kilmer’s Broader Acting Career and Legacy

Beyond MacGruber, Val Kilmer's diverse acting portfolio is celebrated, highlighting his versatility as an actor and his dedication to his craft.

Akiva Schaffer (34:56):

"There's a very cool movie called Cinema Twain that captures Val playing Mark Twain."

Val's passion for theater and his portrayal of literary figures like Mark Twain demonstrate his commitment to exploring different facets of performance art.

Andy Samberg (35:34):

"He was such a sweet dude... fascinating to look at as well."

Andy emphasizes Val's innate ability to mesmerize audiences, both through his performances and his genuine personality.

SNL Memories and Sketches Involving Val Kilmer

Val Kilmer's contributions to Saturday Night Live are fondly remembered, with particular attention to his memorable sketches and the dynamic energy he brought to the show.

Mike Schur's Voice Mail (47:25):

"Val Kilmer did his Jim Morrison impression, which was, you know, incredible, and it was wonderful."

Mike Schur shares insights into the creative sketches Val was involved in, underscoring his talent for impersonation and improvisation.

Will Forte (51:08):

"He was so cool about it... we missed a Tom Cruise walk-on into the sketch, which would have just, like, you know, 30 Rock would have crumbled to the ground."

Will reminisces about the energy on set, particularly during live performances, and how Val's presence elevated the entire production.

Final Tributes and Reflections

As the episode draws to a close, the hosts express their deep gratitude and sorrow over Val Kilmer's passing. They reflect on his enduring impact on their lives and the entertainment industry.

Andy Samberg (54:47):

"He was such a special guy, you know, What a... What a."

Their collective voices echo a profound sense of loss, underscoring the bond they shared with Val and the void his absence creates.

Will Forte (55:20):

"Rest in peace."

The heartfelt farewell encapsulates the respect and affection the team held for Val, celebrating his legacy and the indelible mark he left behind.

Notable Quotes

Throughout the episode, several poignant and humorous quotes stand out, illustrating the multifaceted relationship between Val Kilmer and the podcast hosts.

• Andy Samberg (04:23):

  "He could play the absolute opposite poles of what you think someone is capable of doing, like, so deeply funny and so, like, heartbreakingly cool."

• Will Forte (06:10):

  "I was chatting with Val Kilmer after lunch, and he just wanted to mess with me. He was such an interesting mind."

• John Solomon (09:03):

  "He just, you know, was appreciating this knife. It just shows how he found joy in the simplest things."

• Andy Samberg (17:42):

  "He was just living and breathing this character. It was such a cool thing."

• Will Forte (39:55):

  "I remembered Val being such a sweetheart and knowing all these super fancy people, but also a bunch of amazing ordinary folks."

Conclusion

This episode serves as a touching homage to Val Kilmer, weaving together professional anecdotes with personal memories to paint a comprehensive picture of a man who was not only a talented actor but also a beloved friend and collaborator. Through laughter, stories, and heartfelt tributes, The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast ensures that Val Kilmer's legacy continues to inspire and entertain audiences for years to come.

Transcript

[Seth Meyers]

This episode of the Lonely island podcast is brought to you by our friends at Maker's Mark. We are celebrating Women's History Month by recognizing the spirited women in our lives and remembering Maker's Mark co founder Margie Samuels. You too can celebrate the spirited women in your life with a free personalized label. To go with a bottle of Maker's mark. Head to makersmarkpersonalize.com and fill in the details in order to create and mail your custom label. Maker's Mark makes their bourbon carefully. Please enjoy it that Maker's Mark Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, 45% alcohol per volume. Copyright 2025 makers Mark Distillery Incorporated. Loretto, Kentucky.

[Andy Samberg]

It's the lonely island and Seth Meyers podcast.

[Akiva Schaffer]

All right, I'm gonna jump in. Hey, everybody.

[Will Forte]

Yes, I'm Andy.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Oh, no. So, Yoram, just to clarify, I said I'm gonna jump in, and you took that as your opportunity to just start screaming in the microp.

[Andy Samberg]

I'm so jacked up for this episode.

[Akiva Schaffer]

All right, so yhorm is today's Andy, but he's also today's Yorm. And he's also today's Akiva. But we're joined by a couple other people. We're having a special episode of the Lonely island of Seth Meyers podcast. We have reinvited back previous guests John Solomon and Will Forte. Hello, gentlemen.

[Andy Samberg]

Hello.

[Will Forte]

Hello. Johnny. Will. Johnny.

[Akiva Schaffer]

We had always wanted you guys to come back on to talk about more MacGruber stuff, including the movie. And then, very sadly, we had a reason to speed that process up. Our dear friend Val Kilmer passed away. I highly recommend everybody go and read a beautiful piece that Will had published in New York Magazine. It was very lovely the way you talked about Val, and I thought maybe we could talk about him some more on this here podcast today.

[Andy Samberg]

We could talk about him for a year, and it wouldn't cover even a dent of who he was. Loaded up.

[Will Forte]

He's the world's deadliest villain, sir. He's ruthless, don't speak Russian yet. And br.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Brilliant.

[Andy Samberg]

Straight flush.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Damn it.

[Andy Samberg]

I'm gonna turn Washington D.C. into a pile of ash.

[Will Forte]

He's known only as Dieter, and until now, he's been unstoppable. What the world needs is a hero who's so top secret we don't even know his full name. Hello, MacGruber.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Can we just start with the casting of val Kilmer in MacGruber as a character? Dieter von Kanth.

[Will Forte]

Dieter von.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Yes, Dieter von Kanth. So in the very writing of the script, you have eliminated probably 85% of actors who just are gonna hard.

[Andy Samberg]

No, I think it's a testament to. Either he didn't read the name of the character because he did. He was at the table read. And I don't know if we talked about this, that he admitted to us afterwards that he read it cold and he nailed it. Like, just absolutely nailed the part.

[Will Forte]

Yes.

[Akiva Schaffer]

I think not only would 85% of actors not want to play a character named Dieter Von Kunth, I think probably 99% of agents don't want to call their clients and say, hey, there's a part I think you're perfect for, for.

[Will Forte]

People who don't know the process. We went into the table read not having the role cast. He was just coming to the table read as a favor. Like, not even to any of. I don't know who. Who he was doing the favor for because none of us knew him. So we were so excited to have him at this table read.

[Andy Samberg]

It had to be Laure.

[Will Forte]

Yeah, he was just doing a favor, and we were so excited that he was even just doing the table read. But I don't think at any point we were like, oh, Val Kilmer would ever be a part of this movie just because of him. I mean, obviously, I think we were pretty excited he was doing it.

[Andy Samberg]

It was shocking. Like, honestly, just for all of us being just such massive fans of Top Secret, to me was the first movie that I saw where I watched it and, like, was doubled over most of the time. I can't remember how old I was watching it, but thinking, like, I didn't know that adults could be this funny was my first thing. And so, like, so just to have this man who, like, was such a part of our childhoods and that movie across from us and then finding out that he was reading it entirely cold and just crushing.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Yeah.

[Andy Samberg]

Dirvan Kant. I will say this, though he did do the movie. There was one joke, though, that he refused to do, which was that we did want to cut his penis off and shove it in his mouth. That was the one joke that he did not want to do.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Yeah. I think now it's especially a good decision on his part. Like, I don't think anybody. It'd be even harder to talk about him now had you guys made this poor person do this. I missed Top Secret and I definitely saw Top Gun first. So to know him as Iceman first and then retroactively see Top Secret, I mean, those are like two of his first, what, three movies, and he does the absolute opposite polls of what you think someone is capable of doing, like, so deeply funny and so, like, heartbreakingly cool.

[Will Forte]

But those his first three. So it was Top Secret, Real Genius, and then Top Gun. Top Gun, Yeah.

[Akiva Schaffer]

At the time, he was telling his agent he would only do movies with Top in the title, right?

[Will Forte]

Yeah.

[Akiva Schaffer]

And then Real Genius, it was like two for me, one for you.

[Will Forte]

Well, it was originally called Top Genius.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Did he want you to change the name of McGruber?

[Andy Samberg]

He did.

[Will Forte]

Yeah. We sucked him in by calling it Top Gruber. Top.

[Akiva Schaffer]

You know, you say, how do you get him at your table read? Like, that is one of the things Lauren delivers on as he gets people. You know, valid hosted SNL in 2000. I'm sure, like a lot of people, he had an incredible experience and then felt indebted to Lauren. And so Lauren sort of probably pulled the strings to get him there. And then will. Knowing you, I would imagine during the read of MacGruber at the table, you're having a million other thoughts. You're performing. You're probably overanalyzing how the script is playing, what's good, what's bad. Did you also give yourself space to be like, holy shit, Val Kilmer's crushing.

[Will Forte]

I usually am in too much of a state of focus. Like, I'll focus on maybe things that aren't working, but I maybe won't be giving credit to the things that are. It's like all the worry space in my head goes to the parts that are. And from what I remember, the table read went pretty well. But, like, he was fantastic. Yes. It was hard not to acknowledge how great he was doing for me.

[Andy Samberg]

Just cause the nervousness that you have for how much energy we put into the script and how much we wanted this to work, obviously, for, like, this is our chance to show that it can work, that it's gonna be funny in front of an audience or a small audience. And I remember that nervousness of, like, for everyone, is it going to work? And the moment he said his first, I was just like, oh, my God.

[Will Forte]

Like.

[Andy Samberg]

Like, it's him. It's like, it's absolutely him. Like, we were iffy on other people. Like, it took us a second to, like, even figure out Ryan's character and blah, blah, like, and Ryan crushes it. And then to know that you're like, he's just reading it for the first time.

[Akiva Schaffer]

But that is what you learn from anybody who's in Top Secret, which is the comedy MacGruber is to play it like it's not comedy.

[Andy Samberg]

Yeah.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Which is. I Think very few people. You know, I think it's always the risk when people, even when people who are known as serious actors get invited to host snl, sometimes they push it too far as to what they think comedy is. But he really understood the game, which is. Oh, I'll just play it super. What did he. I feel like he screamed something in the last scene, which is one of my favorite moments in MacGruber. Do you know what I'm talking about? There's some.

[Will Forte]

Yeah, he screams something, but every single take he would do, he would scream and then keep his mouth open as if he was continuing to scream. But he stopped the sound part of it. So he'd go like Magruba.

[Akiva Schaffer]

He screams McGruber and then keeps his mouth open. What a funny take.

[Will Forte]

Yeah. It's even a harder cut, sound wise. It's so awesome.

[Andy Samberg]

He doesn't complete the word. He goes, magoooba.

[Akiva Schaffer]

I've seen magruber so many times. And yet there's something so off the wall about the way he does that. It catches me by surprise every time.

[Will Forte]

Oh, God.

[Akiva Schaffer]

You know what I mean? I always forget that he made that choice. Solomon, you probably were maybe more able to at the table read, be judging how people were doing. Do you remember your bounce on what Val was like at the table?

[John Solomon]

It was just the same thing that yhorm was saying. Just complete shock at how fantastically villainous he was and just also how hard to figure out what was going on in his brain, which was so fascinating and funny. Every choice he made was just fascinating.

[Andy Samberg]

His first line is, open it. And I remember being like, wow, that was really good.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Yeah.

[Andy Samberg]

Those two words.

[Will Forte]

Yeah. Just so much gravitas.

[John Solomon]

Yeah.

[Will Forte]

With all of it. And just like everything was deadly serious. He just, like, played it so real. All of it.

[Andy Samberg]

Can we. Can we just talk, like, just for a second? Because I know we each probably have our favorite foul stories.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Oh, yeah. Well, I can't wait to get into the behind the scenes.

[Andy Samberg]

Oh, my God. Well, just let me just tell you this. So in meeting him for the first time, I drove out to Malibu to meet him and his door was open. He just wanted me to walk in. The door was open to his house on the Malibu coast, looking out over this beautiful. You know, it's the beautiful sea, whatever Pacific. And I go in the house and he's on the balcony and he's throwing something into the ocean. He's throwing these little chips or something into the ocean. And he's going, are you a king? Are you A king. And I was like, what? And he comes back into the room. He's turned away from me, and he comes back into the room, and he starts tossing these little paper chips at me, these little chips. And I'm like, what are these? And I started looking at them, and it takes me, like, a couple minutes to figure out that he was invited to Mardi Gras that year to play King Baucus or whatever, the guy who, like, leads the float. And these are little paper chips that he's supposed to be throwing out to the crowd with his face on it. And he was saying that he was a king, but it was just the leaps of logic.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Was he practicing?

[Andy Samberg]

No, he was just messing with me. I think it was just like this wonderful. Like, this is how I'm meeting the director of this film that I'm gonna work on from jump. I was like, oh, God, this guy. Like, he was such. This wonderful. We went to lunch, and I was just like, right after the lunch, I remember driving home with Mari, my wife, and was texting. I was texting Val after this lunch, and I was like, can I say this to. It seemed like logically what I should be responding to. What he just said was I was writing back, my friends will kill your friends for. I don't remember how we got to that part in the conversation, me texting him. I was like, can I write this to Val Kilmer? Like, it seems like that's what I should be saying to this man right now. Like, he was such this wonderful ball buster of a human being, like, just fucking with life and just. Just. He was such a. On every level, the most interesting mind. And yeah, I. He will. I will forever remember that particular meeting.

[Will Forte]

And so fun and, like, silly. Like, he'd have this way of, like, talking very seriously to you, but very silly, but with no wink at all. And it was so disarming and fun and. And then he'd kind of. Then just a te. Tiniest bit of a wink would come in at a certain point. So you're like, okay, good. He's fucking around.

[Akiva Schaffer]

This episode of the Lonely island podcast is brought to you by our friends at Maker's Mark. And I'm with some of my friends right now. Hi, guys.

[Will Forte]

Hello.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Hi. You know, Margie Samuels was a spirited woman. She was also the co founder of Maker's Mark. I don't have to tell you guys this stuff.

[Andy Samberg]

No, no, we know it, but our listeners might not. So continue.

[Akiva Schaffer]

All right, well, in honor of Women's History Month, we wanted to Toast some of the spirited women in our lives.

[Andy Samberg]

That was my idea, actually. These guys were thinking about not doing it. I was like, we should.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Yeah. You are in many ways as trailblazing as Margie Samuels Yoram and I often said that.

[Andy Samberg]

Well, I kept saying, I want to mark this day with Maker's Mark. And you guys kept saying, what does that mean? I was like, it means a toast, guys.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Way to land the plane, buddy.

[Andy Samberg]

Thank you.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Thank you. I want to tell a story about a spirited woman I saw during the 50th. And I was a little bit lucky because I was there on Friday for some rehearsal action. And I got to watch the Close Encounters rehearsal with Kate McKinnon. And I feel it's the most I've ever watched an actor's process. Guys, I'm gonna wrap this up. You too can celebrate the spirit of women in your life with a free personalized label to go with the bottle of Maker's mark. Head to makersmarkpersonalized.com and fill in the details in order to create and mail your custom label. Don't forget to grab a bottle of Maker's Mark to go with it.

[Seth Meyers]

Maker's Mark makes their bourbon carefully. Please enjoy it that way. Maker's Mark Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, 45% alcohol per volume. Copyright 2025, Maker's Mark Distillery Incorporated. Loretto, Kentucky.

[Andy Samberg]

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[Akiva Schaffer]

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[Andy Samberg]

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[Akiva Schaffer]

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[Andy Samberg]

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[Akiva Schaffer]

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[Andy Samberg]

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[Andy Samberg]

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[Akiva Schaffer]

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[Andy Samberg]

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[Akiva Schaffer]

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[Andy Samberg]

Do you guys remember when he first showed up on set and was just visiting and he was dressed in this, like, all white linen suit with like, a BO polo tie. And I can't remember what he was wearing, but I was just like, this man is amazing. Like, it was just his day off and he, like, wanted to come visit us. Just the level of dedication and fun and there was a million of those stories.

[Akiva Schaffer]

I reached out to my friend Dave Stassen, who's a really talented writer in LA. And when we first moved in LA, late 90s, it was just so exciting. Anytime anyone saw a famous person, none of us were in show business yet, but he was working at the Chateau Marmont and basically the kind of guy who would go out and help you unload your luggage. And I remember he came home and said Val Kilmer and his assistant pulled up in like a Volvo station wagon, and he was staying in the farthest away bungalow. So it was a long walk for anybody who was carrying his luggage. And he said it was just filled with like, so many bags and so much junk. And he said, what do you need out of the car? And Val said, I guess bring it all. And then he said there was like 100 loose tennis balls too. And so as a joke, Dave said, you want the tennis balls? And Val goes, yeah, I might need those. And so. So Dave said he had to make like multiple trips, like holding his shirt open with just loose tennis balls. And he said by the time he got to the bungalow Val had taken, there was a. It was a two bedroom bungalow. He had taken the mattresses off the bed and built like a mattress for it in front of the fireplace. He was like the speed in which this guy was crazier and, like, more memorable than anybody else.

[Andy Samberg]

Oh, oh, he was, yes, he was nothing but memorable. Oh, my God.

[Akiva Schaffer]

I also. There's a place called. I think it's called the Artichoke Cafe in Albuquerque. I don't know if you guys remember that restaurant.

[Will Forte]

Yeah, yeah. Oh, yeah, I remember that place.

[Akiva Schaffer]

We went there a lot, but we went to dinner there with. I remember Lauren and Val, and I remember it because my wife's from Albuquerque, and so we go back, and so I've eaten at that restaurant since with, like, my in laws and people I love. But I'm always acutely aware that this is a thousand times more boring than the time I was here with Val Kilmer, who brought all these photos of his ranch in New Mexico and was just. With, like, these beautiful photos. He's like, yeah, it's like, 75 acres. IRS, I think might be taking it away tomorrow. Like, he kept like. He was like. The amount of, like, incredible land and deep tax trouble he had, and he was talking about it didn't seem like his heart rate went up at all when he discussed it.

[Andy Samberg]

No, I think that that was like.

[Will Forte]

Like, Norma, you've been there, right?

[Akiva Schaffer]

Yeah.

[Andy Samberg]

Wait, did you guys. Did you guys come with me to. To visit?

[Will Forte]

I didn't get to go. You were there before we got out.

[Andy Samberg]

Maybe just. Just me and Mari went, and it was this awesome, awesome place. Like, it had buffalo on it. Like, it was so cool, but it was 6,000 acres.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Oh, there you go.

[Andy Samberg]

There was a six mile river running through it. Like, it was just this crazy. So, yeah, it was unfortunate that he had a. Because I think he wanted to, like, you know, really make it into an artist's compound.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Usually when you have that much land and you want to turn into an artist compound, that's usually a dead giveaway that the IRS is about to show us now. Now, you wrote about this will, but I do remember that you thought he was maybe gonna stay with you for a couple days.

[Will Forte]

Yes.

[Akiva Schaffer]

This is after MacGruber.

[Will Forte]

It was after MacGruber. He was about to sell his place in New Mexico, and he was having a dispute with his landlord. And so he said, looking for a new place in Malibu. Can I stay with you? I was at a party at his place, the place he was leaving probably on a Saturday, and he said, yeah, can I stay with you till I get this place? I think it's, you know, probably Thursday or something. I'm pretty sure he set a date, because I had in my head, this is just a couple days.

[Andy Samberg]

There was an end date, which wasn't.

[Will Forte]

It wouldn't have been a deal breaker anyway, but it was very easy to just say, oh, yeah, of course. And then he shows up, and the first or second day that he was there, his assistant Jamie showed up with two huge duffel bags filled with books. And I was like, ooh, this is. This is books.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Is the funniest thing a bad sign?

[Andy Samberg]

Maybe Thursday is not gonna be the end of this.

[Will Forte]

Yeah. And it ended up being two and a half months, and we weren't there together at the same time the whole time. Like, he'd be in and out, I'd be in and out. But, I mean, we were there for a good chunk together, and it was just so much fun coming back and.

[Andy Samberg]

Okay, well, there's. There's a couple things I want to ask you about.

[Will Forte]

Okay.

[Andy Samberg]

Because I remember you saying that I felt like he, like, pulled up in, like, a purple Porsche. I feel like that was, like, the car that he was driving at the time. I don't remember if that's true, but it certainly was. He was driving when I first met him, which is great to then stay at your house. And then also that Jamie would, like, make smoothies for him in the kitchen, which is really funny, to stay at a guy's house and then have their assistant be making smoothies in the morning for them. It's great.

[Will Forte]

I don't remember the Porsche, and I do kind of remember the smoothies. I do remember the smoothies. The main thing I remember he was watching a ton of 30 rock. And so I'd go in all the time, and all the lights would be out whenever I'd get back. No outside lights would be on. Nothing. It was just, like, completely dark house. And I'd go in, and there'd be, like, a little. Little hum of light under the door. And I'd be going up, and I'd just hear him say, hey. And I'd say, oh, hey, what are you doing? He's like, I'm watching 30 Rocks. And this show's so great. And I'm like, oh, my God, this is awesome. And then the other source of light that would come in, I had gone to Burning man and had one of those, like, minor lights, you know, those headlamp things? And so he would just be reading some of those books that had come in the duffel bag. He'd just be reading with that light on. No lights in the entire house on. It's just, like, that light, and it was so funny.

[Andy Samberg]

Wait, Forte in the article, because I haven't been able to read it, did you tell the story about the jogging.

[Will Forte]

Or No, I did tell the story about the jogging.

[Andy Samberg]

Oh, my God, it's so good. Can you just tell it again? Just because it's verbally you.

[Will Forte]

So I was gonna go for a jog and he said, hey, maybe I'll go for a jog with you. And I said, okay, great, yeah, gonna go pretty soon. So, yeah, let's get ready and we'll meet up in five minutes. And so I'm, you know, getting ready, putting my shoes on. I'm waiting. He's sitting there in this, like, white linen su suit, and I'm like, okay, I'm pretty much ready to go. You know, I'm. I'm backed up again, schedule wise. I. I only have a certain amount of time to run, so I really kind of have to go now. And he's like, oh, yeah, I'm ready. And I'm like, what, you're gonna. You're gonna jog and what you're wearing? And he's like, yeah, let's do it. And so we go out. He's even got like this little. I don't remember what kind of hat, but it was like a, you know, a hat that would go with the white linen suit. Like, it might have been a straw hat.

[Andy Samberg]

Isn't he wearing loafers too?

[Will Forte]

He was, yeah, like loafers or topsiders, something like that. Probably loafers, but like, yeah. We walked down, started jogging a little bit, and there's like a public restroom down by the beach. And so we'd go by that and he's like, hey, I'm going to peel off and go to the bathroom real quick. So I said, all right, so I'll keep going. So I jogged down to the end of this stretch, which is kind of by shutters restaurant for anybody who knows Santa Monica. And then I turned around, I was going to go back down, which would mean that I would pass him. And that was one of the greatest feasts for my eyes of all time. Was just coming down and then catching sight of him jogging in that suit, just alone towards me. And then he caught up and I, you know, we started jogging a little bit. That was just like a million things like that.

[Akiva Schaffer]

I am glad, I was glad to read that you have regret about it Forte because Buzz got out. I mean, again, we were all so happy to know that Val Kilmer was living with you. That was deeply funny to anybody. I mean, it just was so wonderful. Again, you're a particular guy, you like things a certain way. Val Kilmer is the loosest of cannons. It was the comedy of it. I mean, anytime somebody said, have you heard the latest about Will and Val? It was just a feast. But you guys dabbled with the idea of doing the Amazing Race together.

[Will Forte]

Yes, and yes. So I was in a period where I was watching a lot of Amazing Race, and he came back and said, gave me shit for watching it. Oh, that's gonna rot your brain. And I said, it's a pretty good show. I think you would enjoy it if you watched it. So he sat down and he got kind of into it, and then we would from time to time be watching more Amazing Race. And eventually he just said, we gotta do the Amazing Race. We got, let's do it. I'm like, I would love to do it. And we both called our agents and they. It was a resounding no. I don't know why, because I talked to them. Now I told my agents that story, and they're like, oh, you should have done that. I'm like, you fuckers were the ones who told us not to.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Mike White did it. It's going great for him.

[Will Forte]

Yeah.

[Andy Samberg]

Oh, my God, that's such a shame. That's such a shame.

[Akiva Schaffer]

I would have loved Solomon. Do you remember those days? And did you go over to Will's often when Val was living there?

[John Solomon]

Yeah, and I lived pretty close to Will, and I would go over his place pretty often. And just. Even though I had worked with Val, like, the context of walking into a house and looking over on the couch and seeing Val Kilmer laying under a blanket at 1:30pm Reading a book, even though I knew him, I just could not compute.

[Andy Samberg]

Do you guys remember the party? Like. Like, it was this moment of feeling so in awe of all of the people he knew. Because I remember meeting, like, the Harmony Korins of the world. I met a woman who had survived the bombing in Hiroshima in, like, a bank vault, who was, like, 90 years old, he found these people that he connected to, like, spiritually or creatively or, like, emotionally. Like, whatever it was that, like, drew him to. To people. And it made you genuinely feel so special to be like, oh, we're included in this group of, like, awesome mitzvahs. And, like, people that he relates to for whatever reason.

[Will Forte]

One time he called us up and he said, hey, I'm in New York. Are you guys in New York? And we were. I think it might have been the year, like, right after we had made MacGruber, but we were still editing it, and he was, like, staying at this super rich guy's house. And we went over there. And it was like a place that had, I don't know, would you say $40 million worth of art?

[Andy Samberg]

It was over $100 million worth of art in this one apartment.

[Will Forte]

Like some Warhol piss paintings and huge Warhols.

[Andy Samberg]

There was a Basquiat in the kitchen that was probably, like, a $5 million paint. And, like, I have no idea what it would have cost. And with, like, sun drenching on it, like, whoa.

[Akiva Schaffer]

I will tell you that John Lutz, who we all know, who's a writer at Late Night Today, told me that story because he went with you guys. Dan had breakfast at this house, and he said that you guys were all taking pictures. And then Val reached out, like, a day later and was like, hey, maybe delete all those pictures of the art. I think Val was constantly living in a world where, like, the biggest villain for him was the irs.

[Will Forte]

Yes.

[Akiva Schaffer]

And every friend, he knew the villain was the irs.

[Will Forte]

Yes.

[John Solomon]

Yes. I don't know if it was that trip or a later trip, but, like, I would text with him sometimes, and he was in New York, and he said, hey, what are you doing? And I was like, just hanging out. What do you. What's going on? He's like, let's go take a walk. And I was like, sure, I'll go take a walk with you. So we started walking, and we got to Paragon Sports, which is a sports.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Store just north of Union Square. Yeah, yeah.

[John Solomon]

We go inside. He goes, come on up here.

[Will Forte]

I want to show you something.

[John Solomon]

We walk up these stairs. He walks me over to the knife counter where you have all the hunting knives laid out. The salesman looks at him, obviously knows him and is like, hey, Val. Clearly he's a regular customer coming in here, looking at the knife. He points out a knife. It's like a pearl handled, you know, flip open hunting knife. He goes, let me see that one. And the guy pulls it out, kind of makes small talk with him. They're obviously buds. And he just gives it to me. He goes, feel that? Feel how heavy that is?

[Will Forte]

Is.

[John Solomon]

He just, you know, is appreciating this knife.

[Will Forte]

And then.

[John Solomon]

And then we put it away, and he just loved hunting knives. And then we kept walking. And after we got to the end of the walk, he's like, okay, I gotta go. Here, take this.

[Akiva Schaffer]

I don't want it.

[John Solomon]

And he gave me a $50 Paragon Sports gift certificate card. And I still have it. Like, I'll probably frame it.

[Andy Samberg]

Support comes from acorns, right, Seth?

[Akiva Schaffer]

Yeah. And hey, Joram, you know, what each month is. So if I what month is April? You would immediately say it's January. Financial literacy month. You thought April was January?

[Andy Samberg]

You know what? Actually, can I tell you something funny? My brother recently was like, this is like five years ago. Was like, I don't even know the months in order, dude. And I was like, what?

[Akiva Schaffer]

Your brother doesn't know the months in order?

[Andy Samberg]

I don't feel like I'm salting him out too much. He was like. He was like, I know most of them. And then I get to like September. And then I'm like, November. I'm like, oh, I don't know, man. I don't think this is something you should be proud of.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Well, this is actually going to tie in nicely with the ad because here's the thing about Acorns. Acorns early is a very helpful way to teach your kids about money or money lessons you learn too late in life. Now, obviously, you know, with the Taconis, they needed one of these for the months of the year.

[Andy Samberg]

Yeah, that's just a calendar. You know what I mean? There's already an app for that. But this Acorns app is something special.

[Will Forte]

Special.

[Akiva Schaffer]

It's a perfect time to start teaching kids value money. Acorns early makes it easy with their smart money app and debit cards for kids. I know in your house it's probably the same as ours yourn. But you can't just like hand your kids money. You have to, you know, make em earn it.

[Andy Samberg]

You can try. You can try to make em earn it, but they still get allowance regardless. So it's like. It's really like, how do you do that?

[Akiva Schaffer]

Acorns Early's chores tracker teaches kids that hard work pays off. Yoram, real quick, just cause now I have my doubts. What comes after October?

[Andy Samberg]

November.

[Akiva Schaffer]

All right, so there you go.

[Andy Samberg]

No, I didn't say I had that problem.

[Akiva Schaffer]

But then I kind of thought maybe you were projecting. Sometimes when people are embarrassed about something about them, they pretend like it's about a different person.

[Andy Samberg]

There's no one I can think of that does that.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Okay. If you're ready to help your kids grow money skills that will last a lifetime, just head to acornserly.com island or download the Acorns early app to get started. Sign up now and your first month is on us. Acorns early card is issued by community Federal Savings bank member FDIC pursuant to license by MasterCard International. Terms and conditions apply. Monthly subscription fees starting from $5 per.

[Andy Samberg]

Month unless canceled support comes from Express VPN, right, Seth?

[Akiva Schaffer]

Yeah. All right, so here's the thing, Yoram. Going online without ExpressVPN is like not having a passcode on your phone.

[Andy Samberg]

It's psychotic. It's psychotic.

[Akiva Schaffer]

You're psychotic. You're being psychotic.

[Andy Samberg]

Yeah, big time.

[Akiva Schaffer]

You're making it insanely easy for anyone who steals your phone to also steal your whole digital life. It's almost like you want that to happen. That's psychotic. Every time you connect to an unencrypted network, cafes, hotels, airports. Your online data is not secure. Any hacker on the same network can gain access to and steal your personal data. Passwords, bank logins, credit card details. Yorm, I bet you're the guy. Don't take this wrong way, Yorm. I bet you have the same password for every account.

[Andy Samberg]

No, I switch slightly every time and then I forget what the password is.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Gotcha. So here's the thing. It doesn't take much technical knowledge to hack someone. Just some cheap hardware is needed. A smart 12 year old could do it. Your data is valuable. So I like using ExpressVPN because look, there's a lot of times where I'm in my local cafe because, you know, I like to hobnob. Yeah, you get out there and my cafe, I'm not going to name names, is populated with smart 12 year olds. And as we've established earlier in the ad, they can't be trusted.

[Andy Samberg]

Oh, very true.

[Akiva Schaffer]

So I see a smart 12 year old. I'm using ExpressVPN. It's easy to use. You fire up the app, you click one button to get protected. Works on all devices, phones, laptops, tablets and more. So you can stay secure on the go. Secure your online data today by visiting ExpressVPN.com island that's E X P-R-E-S-S VPN.com island to find a house, you can get up to four extra months free. ExpressVPN.com Island.

[Will Forte]

Island.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Island.

[Will Forte]

He was such a sweet dude. This is another story I told in that article. But while we were making MacGruber, I showed up one day, John and I drove in together and he had this red plaid shirt on, like this kind of a hunter type shirt. And I was like, really? Especially back in that day, that was was just exactly the shirts I was wearing. And I was like, oh, that's a great shirt. I love that. John, isn't that. That's exactly my style of shirt. And John said, yeah, yeah. And VAL just like took it off just immediately without even hesitating. Took it off. It was the only shirt he was wearing. Then he's just sitting out there, you know, naked on the.

[Andy Samberg]

Wait, he's naked.

[Will Forte]

Wait, not naked from the waist up. That's how people describe it. Just in pants, just hanging. And then we just. Just continued talking. You know, it was like, just so him. He was such a sweetheart and, you know, knew all these super fancy people, but also knew just a bunch of people who weren't fancy and who were just like the most interesting guy with the most interesting connections. He could meet people anywhere and just like, he was fascinating to talk to and fascinated in people, and he would lock in on you and just bore into you for information. Just was fascinating. He was fascinated by people. I think that's why he was such a good actor, because he would, like, study people.

[Akiva Schaffer]

He was fascinating to look at as well. I mean, Val Kilmer is one of those genuine movie stars where in the way that you said, you just can't get used to him, no matter how sweet and human he is. I mean, intermittently over the years, he would send me very nice texts. And, you know, again, we've all been lucky enough to meet people who are incredibly well known and incredibly accomplished. But I always sort of felt like I wanted to gasp when I got a text from Val Kilmer. He was so magnetic. And then to also be the kind of guy who was game to do MacGruber, you know, I mean, he did great stuff after as well, but like, that to me was like, oh, my God, this is everything you could possibly want.

[Andy Samberg]

Do you guys. Everyone saw the Mark Twain theater experience, right?

[Akiva Schaffer]

Yeah.

[Andy Samberg]

Yeah. So amazing. My dad actually worked with him too, on trying to figure out the One man show and like, turn the Twain thing into something else for a while and then didn't quite work out with them. But, like, my dad got to work with him too, and who's a theater director. But I do remember one of the two times that I saw. The first time I saw the Mark Twain show, there was a moment where there was teleprompters going. And I don't know if you guys are at this show, but at one point he's doing this crazy, complicated, cool monologues and like, stuff from the original books, but then also things he's written. And I look over and I see the teleprompter just start to go, like, just desperately trying to find out where he is. And it goes on for like seven minutes of like, like desperately going back and forth, trying to figure out what is. And then finally it settles down and figures out where he. But he was just doing, like. I don't know if it was off the cuff, but he was, like, living and breathing, this character. It was such a cool thing.

[Akiva Schaffer]

There's a very cool movie called Cinema Twain that captures Val playing Mark Twain, which is really, really special. Can I shout out a couple of, I think, lesser known Val movies that I really love? There's a David Mamet movie called Spartan that I love Valen so much. It's that great David Mamet where everybody's just. He's so flat throughout the whole thing, but you can't take your eyes off him. And then he was in Port a Call, New Orleans, with Nicolas Cage, which is a movie we've talked about, a great Werner Herzog movie. And I believe that it kind of opens the two of them together, and you're just so happy those two lunatics were in a cast together.

[Andy Samberg]

I just realized when you said that, that Val was the one who. He was like, hey, have you ever seen Bernard talk about chickens? And I was like, what? And he was like, yeah, just look up Brenner hurts August Chickens. And it's him talking about how much he hates chickens.

[Akiva Schaffer]

He hates chickens.

[Andy Samberg]

He fucking hates chickens. But look it up. And it's great. It's about how you can hypnotize a chicken, but. And how. How unbelievably stupid they are.

[Mike Schur]

But it's.

[Will Forte]

It's a really funny video, by the way. When he was living at my place, it was right when he was kind of forming that Mark Twain show. So he would be constantly going through stuff, and he'd just come in and just in character doing Mark Twain stuff. And it was so fun. And I actually got to go see the very first performance that he did, which was in Bismarck, North Dakota.

[Andy Samberg]

Wow.

[Will Forte]

And it was not ready. I mean, it was just like. It was filled with. It was just like our first MacGruber Pass, just sprawling, you know. Our first MacGruber Draft was 180 pages long, which for people who don't know how long they're supposed to be usually a hundred pages. It was so long. And he had the confidence to know that it was a little too long, and he was just going to try it out. And it was so awesome because then I went there and people loved it. And it definitely was, like, long in parts, and he was able to work his way through it. And there would be parts they liked more than others, but they were listening the whole time and responding. Even during the parts where you're like, oh, I hope he hasn't lost him. Cause they got kind of quiet. Then they would just roar approval. So deep into it. He's just a mesmerizing performer and pretty fearless, you know, it was really impressive to watch.

[Andy Samberg]

I think that's what it was about him. But I've never seen someone so confident in like an emotional way too. But it was just this sort of bravery to be himself at all. And that's sort of what made it unnervingly captivating to me, was just like, oh, he's just fearless. And you see it in that movie Val, that amazing documentary they made with Jack doing the Voice. You just rarely get to see somebody that is that confident on so many levels. But it's just his own being was out there and on display.

[Will Forte]

Yeah. And then to get to see every step of that way, you know, as he chiseled that into what it became, which he filmed for cinema. Twain.

[Andy Samberg]

Why did he do Bismarck? Like, is that where Mark Twain's from or.

[Will Forte]

No, there was a convention. It felt a real connection to his Native American roots. And there was some kind of convention. I forget if it was a specific tribe, but he was out there to be a part of that. And I think it was also just being somewhere away from a major media center. It felt like probably a safe place to try stuff out. Yeah, I don't know the answer to that, but that would be my guess.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Speaking of that, Thunderheart, another movie of Val's that I love a great deal. And we talked about this a little bit. Of course, he and Powers Booth were both in Tombstone. And I just remember once watching the two of them have a conversation. They were talking about it the way you used to talk about if you had worked at a shirt factory together. It was just like they were being so matter of fact about it. And it was just. You couldn't believe. You got to sort of stand next to it. And again, not to give away too much, MacGruber was not a big budget movie. And one of the cool things about when you have a Val, when you have a Powers Booth, guys who had been on those big things, like, they just brought the same integrity day in and day out. They never had any errors about him. They never acted like big shots. They just wanted to be a part of it. And that, I feel like, says so much about him as well.

[Andy Samberg]

Yeah, that's really true.

[Will Forte]

And they could have freaking just done it and bailed, but they kept in touch and wanted to stay in our lives. And I mean, what a Thrill for us, who were such huge fans, like to get to be buds with him. That's a. He's a special, special guy, you know, What a. What a.

[Andy Samberg]

He really was. He was just next level special man. It was. Yeah. I'll miss him so much.

[Will Forte]

Can't wait. I just thought. I thought of the other story.

[Andy Samberg]

I got one more too. Go ahead.

[Will Forte]

Do you remember the pillow story?

[Andy Samberg]

Yeah, yeah, tell that one.

[Will Forte]

Okay. So while he was living with me, there was this stretch where I was kind of working during the week and I kept coming back. My kitchen was just like freaking. Smelled funky. I was like, what is going on here? Is there something in the. And I would open the fridge and there's nothing in there. I couldn't figure it out, but I was coming home late and I'd have to go to bed and wake up early and go to a job or something like that. And finally over the weekend, this smell had been going for like five days over the weekend. I get in, I'm finally going to do a load of laundry, and I open up the washer and there's just this pooled water. It's just a significant amount of water that just reeked. And so I closed the door, ran the wash, went all the way through, and then I ran an empty cycle with detergent in it just to. To wash the washing machine out. Then I put my stuff in. When that was finally finished, I opened up the dryer and there was this completely mildewed, still soggy down pillow that had clearly been so heavy that it just was thrown around the dryer and just disconnected the circuit breaker or whatever and just stopped. And then the pillow sat in there for like six days. And that was the thing that like, reeking up the whole kitchen. So I grabbed this pillow by one of the few places that didn't have a bunch of mold on it, and I brought it in and Val was on the couch. And like, Val, do you know anything about this? And he's like, that's my pillow. And I'm like, yeah, I thought so. I thought I might be. Well, it was in the. In the dryer. Didn't quite make it through. He's like, yeah, okay, that's just a bunch of things like that. And then we just kind of moved on. Well, I don't think we really talked about it more. I didn't even know people washed. I guess people do wash pillows, so.

[Akiva Schaffer]

God, it's so funny though, that, you know, there was so little aggression to him, like to push against him. Was to just sort of, like, push air.

[Andy Samberg]

Yeah.

[Will Forte]

Yeah.

[Akiva Schaffer]

He wasn't gonna fight you back?

[Will Forte]

Oh, yeah. The whole time he's saying, yeah, that's my pillow. He's, like, smiling like, yeah.

[Akiva Schaffer]

You said you had another one, Yoram.

[Andy Samberg]

Well, when he first got sick and he came over and it affected his vocal cords, and I don't think he could swallow, so he had to have this pump in his stomach. But he just fought through, and he would speak in this prairie with raspy. Like, he fucking powered through. It was almost like it didn't matter to him. He just was going to communicate. But I remember he went over to his place that he was staying at. I think it was either his house or. I'm not sure where it was, but. But he cooked us this whole taco meal. And I remember being like. Like, just like, he can't eat this. And he, like, made us this whole meal. And it meant. And it just meant so it, like, shocked me with the selflessness of that. He just wanted to make a meal for people, one that he can't eat. And it was just. I don't know, like, it was. It makes me tear up thinking about just. But he. He was just this really generous dude.

[Will Forte]

Yeah.

[Andy Samberg]

You know, there's just so many levels to him.

[Will Forte]

Constantly giving gifts. You know, he was constantly making art and would gift art to. You know, he was just giving art out all over the place or just little gifts just because, you know, no occasion. Just, like, to give people things, to share things with people.

[Andy Samberg]

Yeah.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Support for the Lonely Island. Seth Meyers podcast comes from Airbnb. Hey, everybody. Obviously, this podcast is about four friends hanging out, talking about old times. And all four of us are parents, and sometimes we go home vacations with our kids. I just recently took a trip with my kids, and they're very loud, and I want them to have the freedom to be the children they are and not always be shushing them because we are in a hotel. And that was one of the many benefits of taking our spring break in an Airbnb. You could hang out in a living room, not in a hotel lobby. And you know what? I kind of feel like a meal is better shared around a table than a bed. I feel like eating in a bed is a sign that things aren't going great. So it was fantastic. We had a great time. They did not wake us up early because they had their own rooms, and it was just so much better. And maybe you're someone who's thinking, you know what? My home could be a great get together for old friends who are not looking to meet new people. You've put a lot of time, effort, and work into your home, and someone out there would probably love to experience it while they're traveling. And then they would rave about how it was the highlight of their trip.

[Will Forte]

Trip.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how [e-mail] Host support comes from Rocket Money.

[Andy Samberg]

Right, Seth.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Hey. It does. Yoram, how are you, buddy?

[Andy Samberg]

Thanks for Rocket Money. I'm good.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Well, Yoram, I think if there was a sort of through line of the podcast, it's that you don't have the best memory. And sometimes people without the best memory forget that they've signed up for maybe a trial period for something, and then they forget to cancel and they're charged month after month after month. The subscriptions are there, Yorin, but you're just not using them. Guess what percentage of people have at least one paid subscription going unused each month?

[Andy Samberg]

A thousand percent? 1,001%. That's my guess.

[Akiva Schaffer]

85. So you went higher, which for an ad read is not ideal, but sorry, you know, we want people to gasp when they hear it's 85%.

[Andy Samberg]

I'm shocked. It's 85. That's so. I thought it was going to be 2%.

[Akiva Schaffer]

So here's the thing, Yorm. Rocket Money is a personal finance app that helps find and cancel your unwanted subscriptions, monitors your spending, and helps lower your bills so you can grow your savings. And right now, we're both watching Andy in the zoom box just furiously using his Rocket Money to cancel apps.

[Andy Samberg]

Oh, my God. Andy's really going to town. Look at him go.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Look at him go. Rocket Money has over 5 million users. It has saved a total of $500 million in canceled subscriptions, saving members up to $740 a year when using all of the app's premium features. Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster with Rocket Money. Go to RocketMoney.com island today. That's RocketMoney.com Island. RocketMoney.com Island he hosted SNL in 2000, and U2 is the musical guest. And it was before I was on the show, but I was in the audience. I had sort of begun my process of being someone that was on the radar of snl. And Ayala Cohen, who worked in the talent department, invited me to come to New York to see the show. So I got to be in the audience, and I was just so excited to see Val Kilmer live, which you know, it was more than just SNL and obviously to see you two as well. But I was at the after party as well. And I remember just sort of going into the bathroom as he was coming out and talking way more than I had any right to as somebody who had been invited to the show and just saying, hey, I'm just a huge fan. You were so great. And I just remember how sweet and patient he was. Was then at, you know, two in the morning at an SNL after party. But he was in a sketch that episode that took place on, like, a commuter airline, where he is playing Iceman From Top Gun 30 years later with a bit of a paunch and thinning hair. And our friend Mike Schur wrote that sketch. So I reached out to Schur to ask if he had any memories. And so he left us a voice note. So here is Mike's memory of the top gun 30 years later.

[Mike Schur]

Hey, fellas, it's Mike Shore. I have some Val Kilmer memories. He hosted in December of, I think, 2000. I remember it was a holiday show. I think the monologue was like a Ghost of Christmas Future kind of a deal. And I remember him being very intense but very nice and sort of down for anything. Scott Wayo wrote an incredible sketch. It was a Behind the Music parody, which was like, the biggest show at the time. And it was based on the old saying that if there's a heaven, they must have a hell of a band, which is what people used to sort of, in a cliched way say about the deaths of Janice Joplin and Jimi Hendrix and people like that. So the idea was it was the band that those people had all formed in heaven. And Val Kilmer did his Jim Morrison impression, which was, you know, incredible, and it was wonderful. And they got the real guy from behind the Music to narrate it. And side note, Wayneo got that guy to record the outgoing message on Wainio's answering machine. So for a while, when you called Wainio and you got his machine, the guy from behind the music would say, scott is not here right now because his life is falling apart due to drugs and infighting. And it was great. Anyway, Robert Carlock had a great idea for a sketch which was it was like 25 years after the events of Top Gun, and Iceman had retired from the Navy and was now flying very boring commercial flights for Delta. And so I wrote it with him. And Parnell played the pilot, and Iceman was the co pilot. And so Parnell would get on the PA system and be like, oh, good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Our flight time from Cincinnati to Hartford will be 2 hours and 20 minutes. And then Val Kilmer would get on the thing and go like, there's bogeys. Bogies, nine o'clock.

[Andy Samberg]

We got bogies on our tail.

[Mike Schur]

And then Parnell would grab it back and go, that is incorrect. There are no bogeys. There will not be any bogeys on this flight from Cincinnati to Hartford. It was a very funny, silly sketch, but very fun. So at the show, we went to the floor to watch it live. And Tom Cruise came to the show, and Marcy walked him down, and he was on the floor, like, standing eight feet away from me watching this sketch and just enjoying it a great deal. And Marcy came over to me while the sketch was airing and was like, tom Cruise is here. Should we get him to, like, walk on? And I was like, yes, of course we should. And she was like, what should he do? And I was like, okay, just tell him. Like, at the end of the sketch, like, I remember I told her what the last line of the sketch was. And I was like, at the end of the sketch, just have him walk on and grab Val Kilmer and just say, like, hey, Iceman, let's get you out of here, bud. Come on. Or something like that. And she was like, okay, okay. So she went over to him and she was whispering into his ear on the floor. And I saw Tom Cruise nodding. Like, I remember very clearly. He was nodding like, yeah, yeah, yeah, okay, yeah, I get it, I get it. And I was like, oh, my God, this is going to be incredible. And literally, I'm not joking. Tom Cruise took a step toward the set, like, heading over to walk on. And the sketch ended and the applause was cued, and Val got whisked away to run and do a change. And we, like, we missed it by, like, I would say, eight seconds. We missed a Tom Cruise walk on into the sketch, which would have just, like, you know, 30 Rock would have, like, crumbled to the ground. Anyway, RIP Val Kilmer. Ms. You guys. Love you guys. Bye.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Thank you very much, Mike. The other thing that Val kept saying in that sketch to the co pilot and the navigator was, you're dangerous.

[Will Forte]

Yeah, there's a problem. You. Cause you're dangerous. You're dangerous and foolish, and that makes you dangerous.

[Mike Schur]

Now let's cut the crap.

[Akiva Schaffer]

And he was a real delight every time. You're dangerous. Really, really fun. Just because I have you guys and I know you have to go, but, you know, we didn't Talk about all the MacGruber sketches last time you're on. And maybe to me, the perfect MacGruber 3 parter ever is the Charles Barkley MacGruber, which I don't believe we talked about. Did we?

[Andy Samberg]

I don't know. Did we?

[Will Forte]

I don't remember.

[Andy Samberg]

You know, my brain.

[Akiva Schaffer]

It was like later in the run.

[Will Forte]

I mean, no disrespect to the other MacGrubers, but that is for sure my favorite.

[Akiva Schaffer]

I'm glad to hear that.

[Andy Samberg]

That one is.

[Will Forte]

Yeah.

[Andy Samberg]

I feel like nut and financial ruin are maybe my two faves.

[Will Forte]

I just. I love Barclay. I love him.

[Akiva Schaffer]

I mean, Barclay's great.

[Will Forte]

He's so funny.

[Akiva Schaffer]

He was so funny in it because he's like a very patient person putting up with your sort of like latent racist tendencies of MacGruber, but you keep calling him Darrell.

[Will Forte]

Yes, MacGruber.

[Akiva Schaffer]

This door is magnet locked. We're trapped.

[Will Forte]

That's not our only problem.

[Akiva Schaffer]

MacGruber. From the looks of that nitrogen bomb.

[Will Forte]

We'Ve only got 20 seconds. Don't worry, Vicky. Chill, Darrell. We'll have plenty of time to relax. Time to chill, Darrell, once we get out of here. Once we scram, Darrell. It's pronounced Darrell, like a white to.

[Akiva Schaffer]

To which you say, oh, like white Daryl. Which I'll never forget.

[Andy Samberg]

Yeah. And then my favorite line of his is when he says, gruber, I don't think this is going to work out.

[Akiva Schaffer]

He hands you a pen and you scream, he's got a gun.

[Will Forte]

That was the night of God. I feel like it was some kind of championship game. It couldn't have been the NBA Finals, because that would be. But there was a huge game. I remember, like, oh, my God, I cannot believe that we're making. I think it was the college football play or the national championship game. And he was so cool about it. They did bring down a tv. I don't think he even asked. I think we. I wanted to watch it, too, but, like, he just was just. I love that guy. I love him. I think he's one of the funniest people around, and I love him.

[Andy Samberg]

My favorite moment making that was.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Yeah.

[Andy Samberg]

Him looking over and a play going bad and him going, come on, man. And then getting straight back into the scene and immediately filming.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Maybe my favorite. But you're giving a big speech about tolerance and how you're enlightened. And during the speech, Wiig has told you there's 20 seconds. Vicky has told you there's 20 seconds. And you give a very long speech. And then she goes, 15 seconds. And then under her breath says, take your time. Like she appreciates what you're. Your moment of enlightenment is more important than the bomb. And then maybe one of my favorite, just the tightest writing that I announce.

[Will Forte]

That in two Mondays, for the first time ever, we will be taking the day off. Off to celebrate the life of a man that I consider to be my personal hero, Dr. Martin Rufus King. That's Luther, right? Luther. You're Rufus. I'm Daryl. Whatever. Look, 15 seconds. I know I have a ways to go, Darrell, but I'm headed in the right direction, so put her there.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Hey, he's got a gun.

[Andy Samberg]

So Dark McGruber's a horrible person, but it's.

[Akiva Schaffer]

You know, what I will say, like, it's what saves it from being dark is the. Just the sweetness of Barkley.

[Andy Samberg]

Oh, totally.

[Akiva Schaffer]

The Daryl he is in this sketch. Really does believe that MacGruber's gonna turn it around.

[Will Forte]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Andy Samberg]

And he seems rather earnest. Yeah. Just a bad person.

[Akiva Schaffer]

It's a perfect three beat. I mean, all McGrubers were. But that one, I never get tired of watching.

[Will Forte]

Thank you, Seth.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Well, it was really nice to have you guys join us for this one.

[Will Forte]

Yeah, it's nice talking about him. He was a great guy. Loved his kids.

[Andy Samberg]

Yeah, his kids are really phenomenal people.

[Will Forte]

You know, I got to spend a lot of time with. Not a ton of time, but, you know, Jack would come over, his son, and they had a really, really special relationship. And I didn't get to know Mercedes well, but I know the way he would talk about them was. He was a sweet dad. Yeah.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Rest in peace, Val.

[Will Forte]

Rest in peace.

[Akiva Schaffer]

He will definitely be missed. Thank you, guys, for making. I mean, again, the guy had one hell of a career, but you guys know where I stand. I'm a Gruber. And I'm really glad you made it with him.

[Andy Samberg]

Yeah, same here.

[Will Forte]

Same here. We're very lucky honor for us.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Love you, guys.

[John Solomon]

Love you.

[Will Forte]

Love you.

[Andy Samberg]

Love you, Seth.

[Akiva Schaffer]

Love you, Val.

[John Solomon]

Love you, Val.

[Andy Samberg]

Love you, Val.

[Will Forte]

Love you, Val.

[Andy Samberg]

Oh, look at me.

[Will Forte]

I'm a Gruber. Pound some cat. Ooh, you want to go?

[Andy Samberg]

Fuck you.

[Will Forte]

Fuck.