Bill Hader reveals why he turned down 'SNL50' appearance
Where was Bill Hader at "SNL50"? The comedian is getting real about his absence.
In an appearance on "Late Night With Seth Meyers," Hader revealed he was invited to participate in the 50th anniversary special of "Saturday Night Live," which aired in February, but he turned it down.
According to Hader, who starred on "SNL" from 2005 to 2013, Andy Samberg asked him to star in a pre-recorded digital short about how everyone suffers from anxiety while working at "SNL." Ironically, he declined because of his anxiety.
"When he told me about it, I was like, 'I don't know if I want to do that,' " Hader said. "He's like, 'Why?' I'm like, 'Because I'm anxious! I don't want to do it.' He was like, 'Come on, man! What do you mean?' "
Hader's role in the short wound up being played by "SNL" star Bowen Yang instead. "He was great," Hader told Meyers. "But, no, that was true. I was really shaky and everything. I was really anxious."
The digital short began with Samberg calling Yang, who says he's not going to go to the "SNL" 50th anniversary special because the show gives him anxiety. Samberg then launches into a song about how "everyone who ever worked at 'SNL' had anxiety."
Hader's absence on "SNL50" was notable, given that the special brought back many of its most famous performers throughout the years, from Bill Murray to Eddie Murphy.
A representative for the "Barry" star previously told Variety that he did not attend the live show because of a "long-standing scheduling conflict."
Hader has opened up about his struggles with anxiety in the past.
Speaking to GQ in 2018, he said that "doing that show was really hard for me," and the outlet reported that Hader used to "stand backstage hyperventilating and staring at the floor."
"It was this funny thing of being trapped by this thing that was hurting you," he told GQ. "I had to go to a therapist and do meditation − all these things to try to calm my nerves. It was becoming really detrimental for my performing."
In his Aug. 5 "Late Night" appearance, Hader recalled how he would be "trembling" and "anxious" when going out on stage at "SNL" − in contrast to Meyers, who would be calm and collected even if something went wrong.
Hader wasn't the only "SNL" alum who skipped the 50th anniversary special. After fans wondered why Dan Aykroyd didn't make an appearance, the comedian recently told Entertainment Weekly he preferred to watch the show at home.
"I knew if I was there, I'd be in a dressing room, I'd be working," he said. "I wanted to see it live. I'm a fan of the show today, and I watch it all the time. I love these new players; I think they’re just great. I just wanted to see and live nostalgically with my family in my own home, eating my own popcorn."