Seth Meyers, a comedic powerhouse known for his work on Saturday Night Live and Late Night, shares his journey through 24 years at 30 Rock. He opens up about balancing fatherhood and comedy, reflecting on lessons from his formative years. Meyers recalls memorable SNL characters, the process of getting sketches on air, and his notorious 2004 performance with Donald Trump. He also revisits his unforgettable White House Correspondents Dinner monologue, and emphasizes the importance of family influence on his comedic voice.
01:00:43
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Private Venting with Producer
Seth Meyers vents his frustrations by yelling in his producer Michael Shoemaker's office.
This private release valve helps him manage his temper without showing it publicly on the show.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Pen Throwing Out of Frustration
Seth once threw a ballpoint pen across the room out of frustration during Shoemaker's absence.
The ink splatter remains as a reminder and will be memorialized with a plaque.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Father's High Expectations
Seth's father was highly funny but temperamental, showing mostly disappointment when Seth didn't apply himself.
This high expectation motivated Seth profoundly, blending humor with seriousness.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
In 'Dead Man Walking,' Sister Helen Prejean recounts her personal experiences with death-row inmates, particularly her relationship with Patrick Sonnier, who was convicted of the murder of two teenagers. The book delves into the moral and philosophical implications of capital punishment, detailing Prejean's efforts to help Sonnier and another inmate, Robert Willie, find redemption and peace before their executions. It also explores the broader context of the criminal justice system, the impact on the families of both the victims and the perpetrators, and Prejean's own spiritual journey and activism against the death penalty.
For the past twenty-four years, Seth Meyers has built a comedy career inside the walls of 30 Rock. We join him there today for our Father’s Day special, reflecting on the past decade of Late Night.
At the top, we talk about making the show four nights a week (3:35), his approach to parenting as seen in his HBO specialDad Man Walking (10:38), and the formative lessons that shaped his comedic voice (14:25). Then, we unpack the characters he brought to his SNL audition (18:45), what it takes to get a sketch from read-through to air (25:09), and an infamous 2004 scene Seth performed opposite Donald Trump (30:40).
On the back-half, Meyers revisits his legendary White House Correspondents Dinner monologue (38:09), how that night unexpectedly set him on the path to Late Night (44:00), and how his singular approach to the talk show was born (45:10). To close, we take A Closer Look at hisStrike Force Five co-hosts (46:30), the future of SNL (52:40), and an early memory of Seth’s father that inspired his creativity (55:12).
Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso 
