David Schwimmer is opening up about his less-than-stellar experience as a guest host on Saturday Night Live during its 1995 season. Reflecting on the gig during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on January 13, the Friends star shared how the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity turned into a stressful ordeal amid the height of his career.
However, the excitement was short-lived. At the time, Friends was one of the biggest hits on television, and Schwimmer’s grueling schedule made preparation for SNL a challenge.
It was a huge honor… I couldn’t be more excited. Friends at that time was shooting on Tuesday nights and we were shooting until sometimes one in the morning, and so I’d fly from L.A. to New York on Wednesday to get there. I really didn’t get to arrive at SNL until Thursday, two days before the Saturday show.
Schwimmer, 58, told Colbert
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Schwimmer, who was the first cast member of Friends to host the iconic sketch show, admitted his arrival at the SNL writers’ room wasn’t exactly warmly received.
When I walked into the writers’ room, the entire writing staff looked at me as if I had just slept with their mom or something. They were not happy to see me and I had no idea [why].
he recalled
The cold reception left the actor “kind of traumatized,” but he managed to get through the intense schedule.
Looking back, Schwimmer realized what went wrong years later.
I was talking to somebody else who had hosted the show and they said, no, no, no, you’re supposed to show up on a Monday. No one told me and for years, I had no idea why.
he said
When Colbert asked how the live episode turned out, Schwimmer admitted, “I don’t remember how it went, to be honest.”
Despite the rocky history, Schwimmer revealed that he’s been invited to SNL’s upcoming 50th-anniversary celebration, set to air as a three-hour primetime special on February 16. The milestone event will feature five decades of beloved cast members and fan-favorite guest hosts.
It’s been 30 years and I’m thinking, well, maybe they forgot that they don’t like me? Or, it’s just some intern that’s tasked with emailing everyone that’s ever hosted, but I don’t know what to do, Yeah, but I don’t want to be like Charlie Brown with the football, you know, you show up all eager again and, nope, we don’t want you here. You want to be my plus one?
Schwimmer joked. When Colbert suggested he attend, Schwimmer quipped
The conversation ended on a lighthearted note, with Colbert accepting Schwimmer’s invitation, sealing the deal with a handshake. Fans can look forward to the celebration next month and wonder if Schwimmer and Colbert will make an appearance together.
Source: US Weekly