Bill Hader Had Anxiety Attacks at ‘SNL,’ Says Lorne Michaels Came to His Dressing Room to Tell Him to ‘Calm the F— Down. Just Have Fun. Jesus Christ.’

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The creator of ‘Saturday Night Live’, Lorne Michaels, is the focus of Susan Morrison’s upcoming biography titled ‘Lorne: The Man Who Created Saturday Night Live’. An extended preview of this book was recently published in The New Yorker, shedding light on Michaels’ complex relationship with the constantly evolving cast throughout the years. Contrary to his current role as the head of ‘SNL’, Michaels didn’t always embody a nurturing, fatherly figure.

17 times host Alec Baldwin, who briefly portrayed Donald Trump on SNL, described Lorne Michaels as having a “Darwinian” approach to management by allowing cast members to compete or even undermine each other. However, according to Morrison, Michaels is adaptable when it comes to managing talent, believing that various personalities necessitate distinct strategies.

Michaels may tell some people, ‘Be careful not to mess it up,'” Morrison adds. “Bill Hader, who tends to have panic attacks, recalls Michaels entering his dressing room when he was hosting and exclaiming, ‘Calm down. Just enjoy yourself. Goodness gracious.’ With others, he is more affectionate. Molly Shannon cherishes the moment when, before she went on stage, Michaels would reassure her with a look.

However, expressing appreciation towards his cast members wasn’t something common for Michaels. For instance, Kevin Nealon, a cast member on “SNL” from 1986 to 1995, shared with Morrison that he advised Michaels to offer some support to co-star Jan Hooks when she was going through hard times following her mother’s passing. Nealon recalled Michaels refusing and saying, “I see what you’re suggesting, but you’ll discover it’s never enough.

Michael’s words of encouragement sometimes failed to help Hader during his anxiety attacks backstage, a struggle he has openly discussed throughout the years as something exacerbated by his time on “SNL.

In an interview with EbMaster, Hader admitted that during his time on ‘SNL’, he was quite overwhelmed and anxious. His workload and worries likely put a strain on his wife at the time. He sometimes felt people might think he was seeking attention or something more, but he was genuinely distressed. He would often think, “I’m not doing this for attention; I’m really struggling right now.

Numerous actors have often shared their experiences about how the intense atmosphere at “SNL” can negatively impact the mental well-being of performers over time. Last year, Andy Samberg disclosed that he departed the sketch comedy show after spending seven years there due to personal issues arising behind the scenes, and he simply couldn’t handle it anymore.

In my experience, the constant grind of working late into the night for our live show, followed by long writing sessions for digital shorts, left me utterly exhausted and sleep-deprived. For nearly seven years, I’d find myself working four days a week without rest, resulting in a significant decline in my physical health. Eventually, I reached a point where I felt like I hadn’t slept in years, and my body simply couldn’t take it anymore.

Swing by The New Yorker’s online platform to delve into an extended snippet from “Lorne: The Man Who Created Saturday Night Live”. Pre-orders are now being accepted, with the book set for release on February 18th. Enjoy the read as a fellow film aficionado!

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2025-01-15 01:46