Live From New York- Part III

Secret backstage ice cream

My life in New York revolved around comedy. I’d gotten into the Improv scene at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, shot videos for College Humor and Above Average, I’d played characters on Letterman, Conan, and appeared as the NBC Page alongside Jimmy Fallon when he took over Late Night. Still, my favorite place to be was on the eighth floor of 30 Rock at Saturday Night Live.

And the award goes to Meryl Streep.

The casting director, Matt, called me in for nearly every show for years. I learned to always make myself available on show weeks because one time, I flew down to Florida to see my family for a few days, and sure enough, when I landed, Matt had left me a voicemail to see if I was around the following day to shoot a Digital Short with The Lonely Island. I exited the airport and got into my Dad’s truck, where he waited for me. We drove a few loops around the terminal, smoking cigarettes and drinking sips of Jack Daniels. Then, he dropped me back off in front of Jet Blue, and I flew back to New York. It remains the furthest distance I’ve ever flown to have a few cigarettes.