Joe, Shari, and jD gather around the water cooler to discuss this week's SNL Hall of Fame episode. What does this trio think of Adam Driver as a nominee?

Transcript:

Track 1:

[1:40] Hey it's JD here and welcome to the SNL Hall of Fame water cooler. It's a pleasure to be here with you. I'm parched so let's head down to the water cooler area where I'm going to meet Joe and Shari. There they are. Joe how are you doing this week buddy?

Track 3:

[2:00] I'm good I'm good. Shari how are you?

Track 2:

[2:03] I'm doing great. I got my water bottle right here that I just filled up at the water cooler nice and cold well.

Track 1:

[2:09] Let's talk some snl hall of fame this week we had uh an excellent episode where ashley bauer came on to present her case for adam driver um shari do you want to take us through the episode sure.

Track 2:

[2:30] I would love to uh very happy to get to hear from ashley again. This was her second time, I believe. Her first time I wrote down, let me see. I, well, we'll skip that because it'll take me a while to find it.

Track 1:

[2:46] Kate McKinnon. Kate McKinnon.

Track 2:

[2:48] Thank you, J.D. Your memory, you and Joe's memory far surpasses mine. Yes, that's right. Kate McKinnon. And of course, Kate is very close to getting in. So we'll see how Ashley does with Adam. She took us, she and Thomas did an excellent job of taking us through some of Adam's best sketches. And there are too many to list. And he, of course, has been a host four times. Who knows, could be number five this season. I know they talked about it on the Saturday Night Network. The chances of him coming back possibly look pretty good. Other hosts have done back-to-back seasons. So we'll see how that goes. And Ashley made an excellent case. She and Thomas both reminded us that his serious acting chops really add to his comedic talent. It really makes him an even better comedian when he comes to something like SNL. So I think that's pretty much the rough run through right there.

Track 1:

[3:47] Nice. Joe, what do you have to say about the episode this week?

Track 3:

[3:51] I mean, I agree with Shari. I agree with the episode. Adam is an intense, dramatic actor. And if you look in SNL's history, I mean, I'm just kind of going off of, if you look at like, you know, because that also applies to other great hosts like Tom Hanks, John Goodman, Alec Baldwin. Baldwin so uh if to go back to what uh everyone else was saying could he host again John Goodman did Alec Baldwin did I mean all these other intense dramatic actors did who've also done great jobs so will he be back next year I mean more than most likely uh it you know depends on who else they want you know but if there is an open spot I could see them you know calling him in.

Track 1:

[4:39] I'd be all for that. I'm a big fan of Adam Driver as a host on SNL. Do you guys have a favorite moment or, you know, a moment that will be on his plaque, perhaps, if he were to be enshrined in the SNL Hall of Fame?

Track 3:

[4:56] I mean, I got one that I think everyone just goes to. To me, when I heard he was eligible, the first one, the first sketch that popped into mind was Undercover Boss.

Track 2:

[5:10] Me too.

Track 1:

[5:11] Right. Right. Of course.

Track 2:

[5:14] 100%.

Track 3:

[5:15] Because it does two things. It takes a role that he was known for at the time. So it's kind of like, well, why should this guy host? And it's like, well, we'll take his Star Wars character and apply it into the world or framework of Saturday Night Live. And then he just scores, scores and scores. He's like playing both the Kylo Ren character as well as like a Saturday Night Live character. So basically Kylo Ren in a Saturday Night Live context and to see, you know, the big heavy of the Star Wars universe as someone getting picked on that and then and have him be just as great as everyone else in the sketch. I mean, that's just like a great way to initially like to meet him, you know, because it was probably because I think they said in the other show that was the first sketch after the monologue on his first show. So it's like, yeah, you see the sketch and you're like, yes, okay, this guy, he belongs. Let's do this. And then he hosted four more times. And like, you're just constantly thinking of like, why should he host? You think of that? And then you're like, yeah, they even sequelized it, like they said.

Track 1:

[6:38] Yeah, I think, you know, one of the things that made that so successful as well was it is a bang on parody of Undercover Boss. I, a guilty pleasure, have spent a lot of time watching Undercover Boss and they really freaking nail the conceit and the delivery of the show. So I think that that enhances it as well. What do you think, Shari?

Track 2:

[7:05] I agree with what both of you J's have just thrown down. It is a remarkable parody. I am not as big a fan, JD, of Undercover Boss, but I know a lot of people who are. And I have watched it at least once or twice to kind of know what the conceit is and how it kind of moves along. And they do nail it. They absolutely nail it. And the thing I want to mention that you two hadn't, but that Thomas and Ashley both mentioned, is how well he plays with or plays off of or others play off of him. Because Bobby and Taryn and Leslie, just he works so well with all of them. And they're all coming into a universe that he already inhabits. And somehow it all works. I know Bobby is a huge Star Wars fan, so I love that he was able to get involved in that and become a part of the universe. I could tell he's having a ball. And they just all mesh so beautifully, and they tell such a great story.

Track 3:

[8:13] And to add to everyone's point everything comes together in the end where they're taking undercover boss putting it in the Star Wars universe and then Adam Driver the writing and the performance of Adam Driver giving, I forget who it is but giving him the card that says after a rain comes a rainbow sorry I killed your son And it's like every part of that sketch, like just in that one line, it's like the writing, the performance. I mean, everything is shown off in that brief five seconds.

Track 1:

[8:54] Did you just clap at us?

Track 3:

[8:57] Well, I mean, I didn't mean to, but I was trying to signify the moment. I mean, even though I'm doing a podcast, I talk with my hands. So if you can't, I know you can't see me, but I'm conducting my, this is how I am.

Track 3:

[9:14] But here's something else I just want to go off of, especially what Shari said. Said uh adam blends in with the cast when he hosts that was a big note i wrote when i was listening to the podcast and watching his sketches uh he can either be the center point the fall guy he could you know like in um the oil time tycoon and career day or i mean we'll get back to that But or he could be the straight man.

Track 3:

[9:49] Which is usually a thankless role in the sleepover sketch where he's the dad who's telling everyone about what happened to his house. You know, usually like I could see like if it was Kate McKinnon or like a female host, they would have the little girl saying, oh, man, that's weird. And then you would have someone else tear and kill him or someone being the dad saying what happened but to have adam do it in such a you know and to see like um him do that and sleep over and then you know be the same guy in oil tycoon that's range i just and then like the fact that he could do any role like any uh any you know that uh that calls for him in a sketch he could do it he could be big he could be subtle he could be you know whatever they need him to be he could be he's.

Track 1:

[10:44] Probably a dream to write for yeah.

Track 3:

[10:47] Because like he could do accents he could be angry he could be you know and then like in the kitten skit uh he could be playful and happy and so he just has that range that usually cast members have yeah.

Track 2:

[11:06] Agreed shari.

Track 1:

[11:08] Is there a sketch there's uh joe said undercover boss you said you weren't as down with that did you give us a sketch that you appreciate.

Track 2:

[11:17] Oh no i definitely agree with undercover boss that would have been my choice actually yeah totally uh both both the original and the sequel i just think because that's the character that everybody knows him as. I mean, he's Kylo Ren. He will be Kylo Ren for the rest of his career. And what I like about him is he's okay with that. He's not one of those actors, I'm looking at you, Harrison Ford, who like, I don't want to talk about Han Solo. Adam and...

Track 2:

[11:49] Adam embraces the fame that Kylo Ren brought him and has ran with that. And I really admire that about him. And he brings that to us now. I do too. Every character he gives 100%, just like he did with Kylo Ren. Just like he's, I know he's done a million roles. I can't even think of all of them. I believe I've seen most of his movies, but he's in so much. And he's fairly young, so he's got a robust career. Career so i see him being a john goodman or as steve martin i think he's going to come back, many many times in the future at least that's my opinion i think i'm right because i just see him being around for a long time because he's so versatile as far as another favorite sketch i have so many uh i agree with joe the one with pete davidson where he plays the crazy oil tycoon i just watched that yesterday yeah unbelievable and i had somehow missed the one he did with bowen where there's a couple expecting the or trying to have the baby rather the gay couple me.

Track 1:

[12:56] Too when i heard that in the in the podcast i was like wow i don't recall that.

Track 2:

[13:01] Somehow we have to watch on a sketch by sketch off of youtube now and somehow we missed it and i never I never went back and watched it. And I was so happy that Ashley and Thomas talked about it because I made sure to watch it this time. And again, Adam and Bowen, who would put them together, right? But they are completely believable as a couple. I just loved it.

Track 3:

[13:27] Again, another ensemble sketch where Adam blends in.

Track 2:

[13:32] Agreed.

Track 1:

[13:33] Yeah, it's funny. You know, from a comparison perspective, does he end up being a Goodman, Hanks, Baldwin, or does he end up being a Timberlake where, you know, he's works with one sort of generation. It'll be interesting to see in the years that move forward. If he doesn't show up this year, uh, you know, will the cast change dramatically after 50? I don't, I don't know. No, it could be interesting to see what 51 brings us in those terms. So, yeah.

Track 3:

[14:15] To go off of that, to answer your question, will he blend in with future casts? It's worth mentioning that he doesn't have a specific sketch that he does with a specific cast member. You know like how timberlake did um well you know you know bring it on down the rappingville or you know dick in a box so he's able to say like i'll come back and he doesn't have to do that sketch with that cast member and that cast member has to do a cameo like he could just show up and do whatever you know and then you know do a kit you know do something innocent do something intense You know, he's not tied down.

Track 1:

[15:01] Yeah, that's true.

Track 2:

[15:02] I want to add to what...

Track 1:

[15:04] Sorry, Sharon.

Track 2:

[15:05] I want to add to what... No problem. I want to add to what Joe was saying, because that was exactly how I was thinking. JT was very tied to Jimmy Fallon. He was very tied to the Lonely Island. And when they left, they were like his besties. When they left, I think he was no longer as interested. Whereas Adam doesn't have that. He's not tied to any one cast member, just like what Joe says. And I think his career is not stalling out. Sorry, JT, but he kind of disappeared for a while, which I get because he had young kids. He had young kids. I get it. But he walked away. I don't see Adam walking away. I don't know if he has young children as well, but I see him balancing things and I see him being a movie star and in possibly another streaming series. I don't think it's going to stop for him I think he's going to keep going Even if it's just one project a year If he slows down a little Kind of like Tom Hanks is doing right now in his career.

Track 3:

[16:07] I mean, it's worth mentioning that his character in Star Wars is done. Now, theoretically, it hasn't stopped Disney from...

Track 1:

[16:14] I'm joking. The movie's been years old.

Track 3:

[16:16] Your character, whatever, in the Star Wars universe, they'll still use it. But I'm just saying that the Star Wars sequel series has stopped, but Adam's career has kept going. And he's worked with many different directors. And I could see him doing something silly, like a silly comedy. Like he was in that Logan Lucky movie, but then he was also in, I think it was, uh, he was in a movie with Pacino. So, you know, he's able to just keep going. And if his career is going, then, you know, he has something to promote.

Track 2:

[16:52] Why can't he help?

Track 3:

[16:53] Yeah. Why can't, exactly.

Track 1:

[16:54] You know, is there anyone currently in the hall that is a comparison that is like a comparable? I know there's not really from a host perspective, I don't think. Is there any other role that you can see him following? Or let me ask it more simply. Is he a first ballot Hall of Famer?

Track 2:

[17:18] I don't think so. Right. Only because he's so current. And sometimes people have trouble with recency bias. But I think he's going to be like Will and Kate. hey, I think he's going to get like 63%, 64%. I think he's going to get really, really close. Because I think the recency bias is going to work for and against him, just like it did for Kate and Will.

Track 1:

[17:43] Yeah, I still think Kate was a, that's a travesty.

Track 2:

[17:47] She'll be in this year.

Track 1:

[17:48] She should have been first ballot. She should have been first ballot.

Track 3:

[17:51] Yeah.

Track 1:

[17:54] Okay, I would be remiss to lose this opportunity while we're around the water cooler to talk about my favorite sketch. And that is Del Taco. So I'm real curious what Shari and Joe, you think about the Del Taco sketch by Mooney and Bennett?

Track 3:

[18:16] I mean, I mean, that is something where the host could have been like a director and then you could have had three cast members doing that, the bulk of that sketch. But because Adam is so awesome at being a cast member, he's able to just blend in, you know, and have the same rhythm as the other two.

Track 1:

[18:39] And that's Beck Bennett and Kyle Mooney, which it's, you know, if you're looking at cast members, you can't look much further than those two when it comes to keeping up. Because they are, you know, banana pants sketches, typically speaking.

Track 2:

[18:56] Yes. and.

Track 3:

[18:58] It's almost like they're bringing him into their world because they have that rhythm.

Track 2:

[19:03] They have.

Track 3:

[19:04] With each other and then it's like okay why don't we have the host come in and try and do what we do and then he's able to do it i mean almost to the point where you don't even know which one's speaking.

Track 2:

[19:15] Yeah to a degree and i almost i almost feel like this was a rare moment where kyle's almost like the straight man or the the uh one that they sort of play off of kyle's sort of the play-doh and they're you know beckon and adam are the ones who are like trying to mold him into this perfect yes taco yeah and it's so it's so great it's almost like a sandwich right yeah we got the bread on both ends and then here's poor little kyle in the middle and it's i thought you were talking.

Track 1:

[19:50] About tacos at first i was going to say you're going to create controversy.

Track 2:

[19:53] Here um but they they're they're just a not a trio again not a trio i would have put together in my head but worked so beautifully and then a little bit of is that cecily who plays the female, i think it um no um chloe is it one of the chloe chloe chloe chloe chloe Yeah, Chloe Feynman. She puts her little touch in there too. And it's just a really nice melange of talent kind of coming together from all different angles.

Track 3:

[20:28] Yes.

Track 1:

[20:30] Yeah. Yeah. I, I, I couldn't agree more. Uh, I, it's going to be interesting to watch. Uh, if he does get 60, it's going to be like, well, why the heck doesn't he get 66? But, uh, we shall see. Let's wrap things up here with the taking a look at the previous three nominees, Beck Bennett, Sherry O'Terry, Garrett Morse. If you were to rank the four in likelihood of getting in, in order, adding in this week we're adding in Adam Driver, what does that ranking look like in likelihood of getting in? Joe, we can start with you.

Track 3:

[21:13] I would say I would go Sherry first. Actually, no, I changed my mind. Garrett Morris first. Then Sherry. Then because I know this is going to sound bad then Beck and then Driver because I just feel like the other three have done more overall you know that being the case and I know Adams is the host that's right yeah.

Track 1:

[21:49] So, of course, he can't have done as much as a cast member. And that's why it's important to, you know, like, you wouldn't say a director at the Oscars, well, he didn't act well enough because he's a director. You know what I mean? Like, they're rewarding him for being the best director rather than being the best actor. So, you know, you're falling into the trap, Joe, is what I'm trying to say.

Track 3:

[22:13] I guess. And maybe it's also because he's recent. I mean, again, how about this? It's only because it's those three. I mean, if we were doing this earlier in the season or something, if I had to rank Adam Driver to Beck Bennett, then maybe I would do Driver over Beck. But it's just, I don't know. It's just, and I guess I'm ranking them in the order that they all appeared in, too. So maybe it's a subliminal thing. I mean, but it's just how I feel. I mean, I'm sorry, but.

Track 1:

[22:47] No, don't apologize. Shari, how about you?

Track 2:

[22:50] Okay, so I'm giving what I think is going to happen, not necessarily what I agree with. But I think it's going to be Adam first. I think he has the best likelihood of getting in because he was so recently on the show and he blew the roof off the place. His episode was really good, one of the best of the season. I think that back, because again, I think recency helps. And then Garrett and Sherry are going to be neck and neck, but I think it's going to be Garrett and then Sherry. And they're going to be very close.

Track 1:

[23:24] Yeah. I think you're right. Sherry, to me, has a similar path to Molly Shannon.

Track 3:

[23:30] I can see that.

Track 1:

[23:31] Whether or not she makes it, we shall see. But similar path in my eyes. And I believe Molly started in the 20s. So...

Track 2:

[23:41] I i don't even think sherry has the following that molly has and sherry hasn't been in the public eye molly's been on stuff and doing stuff molly hosted within.

Track 1:

[23:51] The last four years right.

Track 2:

[23:53] Yes and she and he's on that tv show with vanessa bayer that was yes not a huge hit but plenty of people watched it so she had some she had some things going on where sherry has stepped away from yeah the screen and i'm not blaming her from that no no no i'm just saying that people People have, we all know, we're super fans. So, yes, we have longer memories. But a lot of the voters are casual fans, I believe. And they're barely going to know who Sherry is, let alone Garrett. So it'll be interesting to see. But Garrett's been in Two Broke Girls and stuff, so that may help him.

Track 3:

[24:30] That's a good point.

Track 1:

[24:31] Yeah, it'll be interesting to watch. 50 is going to be very interesting.

Track 2:

[24:34] Yes, I can't wait.

Track 1:

[24:36] Looking forward to it. Well, I'm also looking forward to next week. And next week we are going to be talking with our friend Ryan McNeil, who typically comes on the show to talk about music, and he's making no exception this year. He will be on to nominate Ireland's own U2.

Track 1:

[24:58] We won't go further than that. Because we don't want to give away anything for next week's episode. But we'll be back next week talking about the episode that appears on Monday. And again, that is Ryan McNeil and, um, Thomas, Matt, and myself. We're going to have a great time. And then we're going to meet around the water cooler and talk some more on behalf of Joe and Shari. This is JD saying, stay thirsty.

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