Bill Hader — who is leaving Saturday Night Live after eight years this weekend — on his audition for the show:

I remember getting in the elevator for my audition and there was a guy next to me who had a backpack full of props and wigs and things, and I went, ‘Oh, my God, that guy is so prepared, I have nothing, I have no props.’ And that was Andy Samberg. And Andy Samberg said he was looking at me going, ‘Oh, that guy has no props. He doesn’t need props.’ And that was the first time we met, was in that elevator.

Justin Timberlake talks to Terry Gross about doing comedy:

I’ve always thought that there was humor everywhere. As a kid, I grew up an only child, and nothing made me happier than to make my parents laugh. … I had a Jackson 5 wig that I would wear around, and I would do the dances from the Jackson 5, and my mother thought that was hysterical. Of course, that seed got planted very early, the physicality of comedy. When I was a kid, I would impersonate anything that I would hear. [That’s] why I was able to become a musician and a singer. What I was more talented at, more than anything — because I don’t think I’m a great singer — I grew up imitating different voices that I heard, and when I was young my mother used to listen to a lot of a Southern rock station in Memphis, and I grew up imitating all of those voices that I heard when I was young.”

Since he gives a shout out to his mom here it’s a good excuse to revisit the Timberlake-Samberg modern classic, “Motherlover.”

I remember getting in the elevator for my audition and there was a guy next to me who had a backpack full of props, and wigs and things and I went, ‘Oh my god, that guy is so prepared, I have nothing, I have no props.’ And that was Andy Samberg. And Andy Samberg said he was looking at me going, ‘Oh, that guy has no props. He doesn’t need props.’ And that was the first time we met, was in that elevator.

- Bill Hader on his Audition for Saturday Night Live

Tomorrow: Maya Rudolph. Related: Amy Poehler on Fresh Air

From the archives: Tracy Morgan

From the archives: Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog

Audio is now up for Terry’s interview with Darrell Hammond. [book excerpt here]

I remember it was my fault. I remember my hand slammed in the door. My fault. Also electric socket, my fault. All my fault, isn’t it? Can you imagine the desperation of a child who chooses to believe that it was all his fault just so he doesn’t have to consider the idea that his mother did it? Or that his parents did it? Because Terry, I’ll tell you something, I don’t know anything about you, but I think it’s completely barbaric to shake hands with and seek help from the person who caused your injury. That will make you sick.

— Darrell Hammond, on today’s Fresh Air. [complete interview here]

Years later, when I began trauma therapy, I called [my mother] on the phone and I said, ‘I’m being treated for the symptoms that prisoners of war [get], Mom, but all I did was grow up in your house. Can you talk to me about that?’ There was a pause and then a husky-throaty thing where she said, ‘Don’t ever call us again.’ Click. And I didn’t talk to them until their deathbed.

— On today’s Fresh Air, SNL master impressionist Darrell Hammond opens up about years of self-mutilation and childhood abuse. 

npr:

In honor of the classic SNL skit poking fun at NPR, Ben & Jerry’s has released a new flavor: Schweddy Balls Ice Cream.

Mmm…. Good times.

I won a bakeoff my first year at NPR (back in 2006) by making Schweddy Balls (actually chocolate-dipped-and-sprinkle-covered rum balls.) The prize? Some pancake mix and a spatula.

Today’s guest on the right (Jimmy Fallon.) On the left, Justin Timberlake, who was already on Fresh Air.

Next week: Natalie Portman

Jon Hamm’s John Ham (via SNL)