https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWdu7o7xWJA
The always lovable Norm Macdonald made a surprising and very welcome return to his web series Norm Macdonald Live last week with a delightful Stephen Merchant interview. It was the show’s first installment after two years of depriving us of his unique talk show format. Why the triumphant return? It possibly has something to do with his new book, Based on a True Story, being released last week, but maybe he just feels like talking. Either way, we’re all better off for it.
On Monday, he kept the fun going with the also-always-lovable and “deeply funny” (Macdonald’s words, but we co-sign) Bill Hader, who stopped by to swap Saturday Night Live stories, and obviously that is guaranteed to be a very good time. They also talked about season two of Hader’s series Documentary Now!, which is somehow just as good as, if not better than, the wonderful first season. (So you better be watching, or else!)
There’s a lot happening in this one-hour interview, which touches on everything from Hader’s original SNL audition to John Mulaney setting him up to break during his Stefon bits. But what’s truly fun for any SNL fan is hearing their then-and-now(ish) behind-the-scenes tales. Also, fans of South Park will be happy to hear Hader talk about how he ended up as a writer on the series. Turns out he did it because he wanted to learn how to write movies, but even more interesting is his perspective on the creative process of Matt Stone and Trey Parker, and how they treat each episode as if their reputations depend on it. You should watch the whole interview is what I’m trying to say.
