Bill Hader has finally shared the reason behind his absence from Saturday Night Live. Earlier this year, during the celebration of the show’s 50th anniversary, he was noticeably missing, which initially led to his spokesperson citing scheduling conflicts.
However, Hader has now opened up about a long-standing battle with anxiety that impacted his ability to attend the event.
In a recent conversation, he recalled that Andy Samberg reached out, suggesting a skit about anxiety. Hader hesitated, saying he wasn’t sure he wanted to participate. “I mean, why would I?” he thought. “Because I just don’t want to do that.”
Trying to mimic Samberg’s reaction, he added, “He was like, ‘Come on! What do you mean no?'”
Interestingly, Bowen Yang ended up taking his spot in the skit about anxiety, with Hader noting Yang did a great job.
During the discussion, Hader also praised Seth Meyers for his calm demeanor while they were at NBC’s Sketch Show together. He remarked that while he felt anxious and shaky, Meyers and Amy Poehler appeared composed. “Were you just able to do that?” he wondered.
This isn’t the first time Hader has talked about his anxiety. Back in 2018, he mentioned feeling as if he was always on the verge of being dismissed from SNL. “The first four seasons felt like I was always on shaky ground,” he explained, recalling moments when he’d get a tap on the shoulder, leading to a surge of anxiety.
He described the daunting feeling when the show went live, emphasizing how that heightened his anxiety. “When they said ‘we’re live,’ it was a level of anxiety I’d never experienced before,” he reflected.
In 2022, Hader elaborated further, sharing a vivid memory of having a panic attack before the show while trying to get ready. He recalled feeling overwhelmed and emotional before putting on his costume for a skit.
In Susan Morrison’s biography, “Lone: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live,” there’s a recount of how Lorne Michaels approached Hader regarding his anxiety. Michaels reportedly told Hader that managing talent requires different approaches for different personalities.
Michaels’s ability to provide support was evident to peers, as Molly Shannon reminisced about how comforting it was when Michaels offered her reassurance right before going on stage.
