Comedy is claimed to be tougher to sort out than drama for actors in showbiz, and one longtime NBC comedy staple had an unforgettably troublesome expertise one night time attempting to ship laughs. In truth, the unfunny incident with the Saturday Evening Dwell vet and present Late Evening with Seth Meyers host befell greater than ten years in the past from the 2025 TV schedule, and Meyers may recall the story – which additionally includes Chris Rock, Bobby Moynihan, and music legends – in sufficient element that it appears to have left fairly an impression on him.
Seth Meyers has rather a lot to have fun professionally in recent times, with the Seth Meyers: Dad Man Strolling obtainable streaming now with an HBO Max subscription and the late night time TV format not but operating out of steam regardless of dire predictions from Jimmy Kimmel. He could not have felt so celebratory again in December 2012, when he was nonetheless a author and solid member for SNL, and… effectively, he discovered that his standard model of sketch comedy is greatest saved to the levels of 30 Rock. Talking with THR, Meyers stated:
Hardest I’ve ever bombed was at Madison Sq. Backyard. It was that live performance for Hurricane Sandy, they usually’d requested me and Invoice Hader to do a Stefon factor [from Saturday Night Live], and Invoice correctly stated, ‘I’m not going to do it.’ Then they stated, ‘What about Bobby Moynihan as Drunk Uncle?’ So, we’d written this factor, and Chris Rock noticed us backstage in costume and he goes, ‘You’re going to observe The Who with sketches?!’ All the confidence drained out of our faces, and positive sufficient, we went out they usually have been so indignant.
For context, the SNL stars weren’t sharing the occasion with simply Chris Rock and The Who, though these have been already sufficiently big names to overshadow Seth Meyers in his Weekend Replace persona and Bobby Moynihan as Drunk Uncle. The 12-12-12: The Live performance for Sandy Reduction befell at Madison Sq. Backyard in December 2012, for the aim of elevating cash for victims of the devastating Hurricane Sandy.
Musicians performing included (however weren’t restricted to) Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, Billy Joel, Alicia Keys, Chris Martin, Eddie Vedder, Kanye West, and Roger Waters, plus, the surviving members of Nirvana for the primary time in almost twenty years with none aside from Paul McCartney. Throw in appearances from Billy Crystal, Jamie Foxx, and sure, Chris Rock, and… effectively, having gone again and watched the sketch from 2012, I can see why Seth Meyers considers it the toughest he is ever bombed. There is a time and place for sketch comedy, and that simply wasn’t it.
Considerably hilariously, Jamie Foxx was a part of THR’s interview as effectively, and he could not keep in mind if he’d even been there aside from recalling the efficiency from The Who. Meyers laughed and responded, saying, “The Who, Arcade Hearth … it’s bizarre that you simply don’t keep in mind us.” It is clearly all in good enjoyable wanting again from 2025, however I perceive why Meyers credited Invoice Hader’s determination to not play Stefon as a sensible alternative.
Happily, after greater than ten years at SNL and one flopped occasion, Meyers has solely gone onward and upward from the toughest he “ever” bombed. Regardless of NBC’s cuts to Late Evening in addition to The Tonight Present Starring Jimmy Fallon, Meyers renewed his take care of the community via 2028. Plus, the ill-advised sketch was lengthy sufficient in the past that few individuals doubtless keep in mind it if he would not carry it up… besides maybe for Bobby Moynihan.