18 Times Bill Hader Broke People On Set

It’s generally agreed that Bill Hader has a great sense of humor, given that he was part of “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) for eight seasons and is recognized as one of the best SNL cast members ever. However, the most convincing evidence of his comedic talent lies in how frequently he can make other actors laugh – something he does quite regularly.

Bill Hader consistently outwits established comedians such as Fred Armisen, Kristen Wiig, and Seth Meyers. Occasionally, he might inadvertently reveal a scene’s punchline on set, while at other times he’d cause his fellow “SNL” cast members to burst into laughter during live broadcasts. Regardless of the method, Bill Hader is an undeniable comedic powerhouse, often leaving his colleagues in stitches just as effectively as he does audiences.

His James Carville impression left Seth Meyers in hysterics

Bill Hader consistently manages to make his “SNL” colleagues laugh out loud, as demonstrated in the skit “Weekend Update: James Carville on Gun Control.” With his unique mannerisms and Cajun accent, Hader delivers an unforgettable impersonation of political consultant James Carville. While he offers insightful political commentary, it’s a random joke that steals the show in this routine, leaving Seth Meyers in stitches.

Midway through the drawing, Hader reveals that his “Grammy Carville” is a ghost – and she’s sitting beside him. Maintaining a poker face, he starts conversing with the empty space next to him. When Hader leans in close to his imaginary grandmother and asks for a kiss, you can hear Meyers chuckling audibly. For the remainder of the performance, Hader frequently looks to the side at his grandma, while Meyers tries hard to conceal his smile.

Hader couldn’t keep a straight face with McLovin in Superbad

Occasionally, a comedic moment demands an actor to maintain a deadpan expression, even for a skilled funnyman such as Bill Hader. This is certainly the case in the scene from “Superbad,” where Hader’s character Officer Slater expresses regret for hindering Fogell, or “McLovin” (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), from his romantic pursuits.

In a heartfelt and sincere manner, Hader attempted to say “I’m really sorry I blocked your phone number,” but found himself unable to continue without bursting into laughter. Each time he tried, he triggered a wave of laughter, causing both Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Seth Rogen to laugh uncontrollably. In the end, Hader had to record multiple takes before successfully delivering this straightforward line. It’s understandable that Mintz-Plasse found humor in it after filming one of his most awkward acting scenes.

His on-air kiss with Seth Meyers was iconic

One character developed by Hader for “SNL” swiftly became a fan favorite on “Weekend Update.” The extravagant Stefon won over audiences and often outshone “Weekend Update” host Seth Meyers. Despite Hader portraying a character and Meyers playing a fictionalized version of himself, their dynamic felt authentic. It wasn’t long before Stefon began to disrupt the composure of his scene partner – later even (fictitiously) becoming Stefon’s romantic interest.

Towards the close of a Stefon skit, Hader attempts to clarify to viewers what a Human Roomba is, causing him to shed tears from laughter. Seth Meyers isn’t doing much better; he has to turn away from Hader to regain his composure. However, the most amusing moment comes when Stefon convinces Meyers to wear a “Kiss Me, I’m Irish” pin, and then Stefon himself gives him a kiss. Afterward, Meyers inquires, “How long have you been carrying that button around?” To which Hader replies, “All year.” At this point, Meyers can no longer contain his laughter, and honestly, we wouldn’t either.

Hader threw his drink at Kristen Wiig

Occasionally, even seasoned “SNL” performers can be thrown off balance with an unexpected surprise like a faceful of water. In the sketch titled “Hollywood Dish with Scarlett Johansson,” Hader and Kristen Wiig play overexcited tabloid journalists interviewing Scarlett Johansson. When Johansson confesses she’s never watched “The Jersey Shore,” Hader reacts with a dramatic gulp of water — followed by flinging his drink in Wiig’s direction, leaving her momentarily stunned. However, the best part comes when Hader places a colander on his fellow actor’s head.

Amidst a slushie streaming down her visage, Wiig perseveres through the remainder of the skit, struggling to maintain her role (and faltering). To be honest, Hader also finds it hard to suppress his laughter. Even Johansson lets out a small chuckle. This incident might not be the top instance where Kristen Wiig broke character on “SNL,” but it’s certainly near the top of the list.

His improv in Pineapple Express made the general smile

In the movie “Pineapple Express,” Hader, despite having a minor role, steals the show with his performance as Private Miller, who is part of a clandestine military project investigating marijuana’s effects. Since Miller is constantly stoned, he delivers numerous whacky lines during this scene, but none are more outlandish than one impromptu line Hader added in an outtake. In the scene, Hader begins by saying, “Sir, this is going to catch you off guard,” as if it could ever prepare us for what comes next: “I want to touch that monkey.” Even though he maintains a straight face while delivering this line, he can’t help but burst into laughter a moment later.

Hader isn’t the only one chuckling off-camera. While Jonathan Spencer, the chief scientist, isn’t physically present, you can sense his laughter mirrored in the glass. On the other hand, the general with an eyepatch, portrayed by James Remar, also reveals a small, hidden smile.

Hader stole the scene with his wheelchair

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but rephrase a scene from the “SNL” skit titled “Girlfriends Game Night.” In this sketch, Cecily Strong portrays Jeannie, a young woman who invites her elderly boyfriend (played by Hader) to game night with her friends. Jeannie playfully remarks, “You’re chuckling at your jokes more than anyone else, as is customary for you.” This might be a subtle wink to Hader’s propensity to laugh at his own jokes on “SNL.” However, the joke is really on Jeannie because Hader ends up making everyone else in the skit crack up and break character.

While navigating Hader on his electric wheelchair, Cecily Strong struggles to maintain composure, particularly when Hader expresses delightful sounds. Notably, when Hader guides his wheelchair towards the table, causing it to move across the stage, Aidy Bryant and Heidi Gardner can’t help but chuckle. Later, during a second appearance of Hader on his wheelchair, he manages to disrupt Melissa Villaseñor’s performance. Even Hader succumbs to the pressure; his attempts to conceal his face are unsuccessful as his trembling shoulders remain visible. By the conclusion of the skit, not a single actor has been able to suppress their laughter.

Seth Meyers stumbled after Stefon described his prom date

Stefon Shares More Scorching Summer Advice” is essentially a classic Stefon bit, meaning Bill Hader is so hilarious that Seth Meyers finds it tough to maintain composure. This May 2012 skit abounds with knee-slapping jokes that leave Meyers flustered, from Stefon’s description of Jewish Fireworks to his naughty reference to one of America’s forefathers.

As a gamer, let me tell you, during the show, Hader takes Meyers by surprise when he shouts out to this incredible female bodybuilder named “JackedBeth” who does Shakespearean burlesque. Stefon tosses in a casual remark, “I went to prom with her.” This throws Meyers off so much that he’s left giggling uncontrollably, unable to continue his next line.

Hader utterly destroyed Fred Armisen in the Renaldo and Alexi skit

During their rehearsal of the unproduced sketch “Renaldo and Alexi,” Bill Hader and Fred Armisen worried it wouldn’t be humorous to the audience. Indeed, the initial moments were met with an eerie silence from the spectators. However, laughter ensued once Bill Hader managed to elicit chuckles from his co-stars.

In a thick Eastern European accent, Hader manages to elicit a smile from Aidy Bryant as he says “Santy Claus.” What makes it even more amusing is the way he delivers the line, “It’s going to blow your mind.” It seems that Armisen is still taken aback by what Hader has said, as he struggles to keep a straight face and eventually breaks down in laughter, turning red-faced.

His joke about bodily fluids in Superbad tickled Seth Rogen

In another scene, Bill Hader once more poked fun at his “Superbad” co-star, Seth Rogen. According to the script, Officer Michaels (played by Rogen) expresses disillusionment about police work as it doesn’t match his earlier expectations. He thought that apprehending criminals would be straightforward because they would always leave behind a specific kind of evidence at crime scenes. However, Officer Michaels was dismayed to find out that most crime sites were not smeared with this type of evidence. [Hint: It’s a bodily fluid, but it’s not blood.]

So far, it’s quite offensive. However, Hader manages to take things a step further in an extended scene by improvising some lines that are too explicit to repeat. It’s not the words themselves, but rather Hader’s casual delivery, as if he were discussing bureaucratic paperwork at a police station, that causes Seth Rogen to laugh during the scene. The two then exchange more jokes on the same topic until Hader comments, “I believe we’ve reached the limit,” prompting Rogen to burst out laughing with his distinctive belly laugh.

He made Pete Davidson snicker in Trainwreck

In case it slipped your mind, Pete Davidson made a brief, almost unnoticeable appearance in the movie “Trainwreck”. Interestingly, this small role was facilitated by Amy Schumer, who played a significant part in launching Davidson’s career on “SNL”. Despite his limited screen time of barely a minute, that was more than enough for Bill Hader to crack through Davidson’s defenses.

In the given scene, Bill Hader portrays a sports physician inspecting Pete Davidson’s character’s knee. During an amusing mishap, Davidson mentions, “My dad’s Patrick Ewing,” referring to the renowned basketball player. It becomes apparent that Davidson’s character (who hurt his knee not due to a sports accident but by stumbling over his bong) is being dishonest. Hader expresses doubt with a prolonged gaze at Davidson and inquires, “Who led you to believe that?” Without control, Pete Davidson chuckles audibly. It’s only Bill Hader who can elicit laughter from extras like that.

His co-stars lost it after Stefon made a very special announcement

When Michael Che and Colin Jost assumed the “Weekend Update” desk, they found it challenging to maintain their composure around Stefon. A specific skit titled “Weekend Update: Stefon on Autumn’s Hottest Tips” showcases just how easily they succumb to laughter in the presence of Bill Hader.

Upon discovering that Meyers was replaced by not just one, but two good-looking anchors, Stefon casually comments, “Oh, a pick-a-side situation.” This left Che momentarily bewildered, causing him to stumble with his next line. Later, when Stefon referred to people as “human defibrillators,” Che attempted to shake his head, but his attempt was met with a subtle smile. The skit reaches its peak whenever Hader’s character seriously declares that she is pregnant. This prompts Stefon to quip, “I’ll let you know if we’re keeping it,” at which point neither of his fellow performers could suppress their laughter any longer.

Stefon’s St. Patrick Day tips broke both of Hader’s co-stars

After discovering a weak spot in the performance of the new “Weekend Update” hosts, Hader took advantage of it when he reappeared as Stefon. In “Weekend Update: Stefon’s Saint Patrick’s Day Special,” all Hader had to do to make Colin Jost laugh was say a shy “hello.” For the rest of the segment, Hader was unstoppable, eliciting smiles from both his co-stars almost every time they appeared on camera.

When Hader unexpectedly brings up the topic of #OscarsSoWhite, it has his co-stars rolling with laughter. Even Hader himself needs a moment to collect himself. In the end, Hader’s suggestive closing remark leaves both Jost and Che in fits of giggles.

His Australian accent made his Barry co-star flub her line

Even actors known for their roles on popular television shows can’t resist Hader’s allure. In an episode of “Barry” Season 2, Bill Hader was required to awkwardly portray an Australian accent, with Kirby Howell-Baptiste pleading for leniency. However, during one take, a simple word in this exaggerated accent from Hader left his co-star cracking up.

As Hader begins to speak, it seems like he’s going to say something about a kangaroo on the barbecue or pudding, but his atrocious accent is so amusing that Howell-Baptiste can’t keep her composure and breaks character. Forgetting the name of Hader’s character, she exclaims “Stop it, Bill!” They both laugh uproariously once they realize her blunder.

Hader broke Seth Meyers in his final SNL episode

In his farewell appearance at the “Weekend Update” desk, Seth Meyers invites back an exceptionally beloved guest – none other than Stefon. As expected, it’s hard for Seth Meyers to maintain composure in Stefon’s company.

When Cecily Strong expresses, “We’re really going to miss [Seth],” a slightly envious Stefon retorts, “You don’t even know him well!” At this remark, Meyers can’t help but smile. The rapid-fire flirtatious comments from Hader are unyielding, and at one point they make Seth Meyers laugh so hard that he exclaims, “Oh, Stefon.

His dance in The Californians was too much for Fred Armisen

In the popular sketch show “SNL”, the cast members often find themselves in fits of laughter while portraying the soap opera parody “The Californians”. This is particularly evident in the sketch titled “The Californians: Karina Returns”. When Stuart (played by Fred Armisen) reunites with his wife Karina (Kristen Wiig), who had faked her death, he asks Devin (Bill Hader) to leave so he and Karina can spend some private time. However, Devin, clearly smitten with Karina, hesitates and suggests, “What if I’m just quiet?” This joke seems to tickle Armisen, as he can’t help but smile broadly in response.

In a surprising turn of events following the scripted commercial pause, Hader once more steals the show. As the scene resumes, he starts grooving to the bubbly music that fills the background. Neither Armisen nor Wiig are ready for this – they struggle to keep a straight face and complete their lines amidst their laughter.

Hader didn’t bat an eye after Fred Armisen accidentally hit him

The “Kissing Family: Brecken Brings His Boyfriend Home” sketch on “SNL” was already side-splittingly funny, but it elicited an unanticipated burst of laughter from the cast, courtesy of Bill Hader. During a scene where Fred Armisen was about to deliver a monologue, he made a grand gesture by spreading his arms wide, only to accidentally swipe Hader (who was off-camera at the time).

In this scenario, Armisen falters but Hader maintains his performance flawlessly, staying true to his character. This, in turn, causes Armisen to burst into laughter even more, and he struggles to compose himself for the remainder of the sketch. It’s hilarious to witness Hader subtly outshine his co-star during their act.

His improv in The Skeleton Twins left Kristen Wiig in stitches

The Skeleton Twins” is a movie with a somewhat somber tone that doesn’t provide Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig much room to display their comic talents. Yet, a behind-the-scenes clip showing them having fun on set makes up for this lack.

In this video segment, Wiig plays along as if talking on a phone, while Hader humorously mimics using a handheld vacuum cleaner as a phone. For three entertaining minutes, they engage in quick-witted banter. Notably, the spontaneous characters that Hader creates, such as Old Lady Frida and Ron from the Burger Joint, are hilarious. Kristen Wiig struggles to keep up with Hader’s improvisation, collapsing in laughter several times, often unable to speak due to her intense amusement. This scene showcases Bill Hader’s incredible talent when given creative freedom.

Hader left a mark in Stefon’s farewell episode

The prolonged romantic dance between Bill Hader as Stefon and Seth Meyers’ “Weekend Update” character reached its climax in the May 2013 sketch titled “Weekend Update: Stefon’s Farewell.” During this comedy bit, Amy Poehler was seated at the “Weekend Update” desk alongside Meyers. Hader effectively cracked both of them up. Stefon brought the audience to roaring laughter with his description of Human Magic 8-Balls, causing Meyers to lose control once more. If you observe closely, you’ll see that Poehler is grinning in delight at the impending Magic 8-Ball joke and can’t suppress her smile for about 10 seconds following the punchline.

In an unexpected twist, Stefon appears set to wed Anderson Cooper, but just when it seems like he’s walking down the aisle with someone else, Seth Meyers interrupts the ceremony and declares his love for him instead. As the sketch concludes, both Hader and Meyers can be seen becoming emotional as they reflect on how this beloved “SNL” character is finally finding happiness. This time around, Hader’s emotional breakdown is different – it’s heartfelt rather than comic. It’s enjoyable to witness an “SNL” scene that shakes things up a bit and leaves us teary-eyed instead.

2025-07-18 23:32