Stefon
{{short description|Saturday Night Live character portrayed by Bill Hader}}
{{About|the Saturday Night Live character||Stefon (disambiguation)}}
{{good article}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox character
| name =
| series = Saturday Night Live
| caption = Stefon, portrayed by Bill Hader
| first = November 1, 2008
| last = {{plainlist|
- May 18, 2013 (regular)
- March 17, 2018 (guest)
}}
| creator = {{plainlist|
}}
| portrayer = {{plainlist|
- Bill Hader
- Edward Norton (SNL40)
}}
| gender = Male
| occupation = {{plainlist|
- Filmmaker
- Correspondent for SNL{{'}}s Weekend Update}}
| title = City Correspondent
| family = {{plainlist|
- David Zolesky (brother)
}}
| spouse = {{marriage|Seth Meyers|May 18, 2013}}
|significant_other = {{plainlist|
- Derek Zoolander (2011)
- Anderson Cooper (2013)
}}
| children = {{plainlist|
- 1 (unnamed son)
}}
| relatives =
| religion =
| nationality = American
| image = Stefon SNL.png
| alt = The character Stefon, portrayed by Bill Hader, with brown side-swept hair and a tattoo patterned Ed Hardy shirt, on Weekend Update
}}
Stefon Meyers (né Zolesky{{Efn|In his debut appearance, Stefon and his brother David were referred to as the Zolesky Brothers.}}) is a fictional character portrayed by Bill Hader on the American sketch-comedy television show Saturday Night Live (SNL). Created by Hader and writer John Mulaney, Stefon is based on people Hader and Mulaney encountered in their daily lives, including a club promoter and a barista. Stefon first appeared in the sketch "Movie Pitch with Stefon" on the November 1, 2008, episode hosted by Ben Affleck, later becoming a recurring character on Weekend Update from 2010 until 2013.
Stefon is described as a "city correspondent"; when asked about recommendations for events and destinations in New York City, Stefon suggests unusual nightclubs and parties with bizarre characters and themes. The character is also shown to be infatuated with the Weekend Update anchor, Seth Meyers, and in his final appearance as a recurring character, the two proclaimed their love for each other. Because lines for Weekend Update are read from cue cards, Mulaney constantly changed the script prior to the live broadcast to make Hader break character.
Widely regarded as Hader's most memorable character on Saturday Night Live, Stefon has become a fan favorite and has made multiple guest appearances since Hader left the show; however, the character has also been criticized due to his stereotypical nature.
Development and production
Stefon was created by American sketch-comedy television show Saturday Night Live (SNL) cast member Bill Hader and writer John Mulaney.{{sfn|Miller|Shales|2015|p=608}} The character was inspired by people Hader and Mulaney had encountered in their daily lives; these include a club promoter who sent Mulaney an e-mail about a club that "had everything", including "rooms full of broken glass" as a highlight.{{Cite magazine |date=2014-10-21 |title=Stefon, from "S.N.L.," Is Real and Works in a New York Coffee Shop |url=https://www.newyorker.com/video/watch/the-new-yorker-festival-stefon-from-s-n-l-is-real-and-works-in-a-new-york-coffee-shop |access-date=2023-02-15 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US |archive-date=February 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215051529/https://www.newyorker.com/video/watch/the-new-yorker-festival-stefon-from-s-n-l-is-real-and-works-in-a-new-york-coffee-shop |url-status=live }} His voice and mannerisms are based on those of a barista at a Chelsea, Manhattan, coffee shop Hader frequented.{{Cite web |last=Potts |first=Kim |date=2010-09-24 |title='SNL' Star Bill Hader Talks the New Season, Jon Hamm's Return and His 'Surreal Life' Experience with Corey Feldman |url=http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/09/24/snl-star-bill-hader-talks-the-new-season-jon-hamms-return-an/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101207141448/http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/09/24/snl-star-bill-hader-talks-the-new-season-jon-hamms-return-an/ |archive-date=2010-12-07 |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=TV Squad}}{{cite news |last1=Vineyard |first1=Jennifer |date=2012-03-16 |title=Bill Hader Would Totally Do a Stefon Bit at the CFDA Awards |url=https://www.thecut.com/2012/03/bill-hader-would-totally-do-a-stefon-bit-at-the-cfdas.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216092511/https://www.thecut.com/2012/03/bill-hader-would-totally-do-a-stefon-bit-at-the-cfdas.html |archive-date=February 16, 2023 |access-date=2015-04-17 |work=The Cut |publisher=New York}}{{Sfn|Miller|Shales|2015|p=613}} Mulaney took inspiration for Stefon's look from 2000s club fashion and the 2003 film Party Monster. He chose an Ed Hardy shirt because he assumed it would look like the fashion from the film.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C14eXiZQWo |title=Behind the Sketch: Stefon with John Mulaney – SNL |date=2018-04-14 |type=Television production |publisher=Saturday Night Live |access-date=2023-02-18 |via=YouTube |archive-date=April 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415002717/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C14eXiZQWo&gl=US&hl=en |url-status=live }}
Stefon was originally written for a sketch for the November 1, 2008, SNL episode hosted by Ben Affleck.{{Cite web |last=Maas |first=Jennifer |date=2019-11-10 |title='SNL': Watch Every Single One of Bill Hader's Stefon Sketches (Videos) |url=https://www.thewrap.com/snl-stefon-bill-hader-sketches-saturday-night-live-videos/ |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US |archive-date=February 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215043410/https://www.thewrap.com/snl-stefon-bill-hader-sketches-saturday-night-live-videos/ |url-status=live }} In the sketch, Stefon and Affleck's character, David Zolesky,{{Cite magazine |last=Busis |first=Hillary |date=2013-05-18 |title='Saturday Night Live' finale with Ben Affleck, Kanye West: Discuss |url=https://ew.com/article/2013/05/18/saturday-night-live-season-finale-ben-affleck/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104014157/http://popwatch.ew.com/2013/05/18/saturday-night-live-season-finale-ben-affleck/ |archive-date=January 4, 2014 |access-date=2024-02-17 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en}} were pitching a film to a studio.{{sfn|Miller|Shales|2015|p=609–610}}{{Cite web |last1=Wright |first1=Megh |last2=Kurp |first2=Josh |date=2012-02-23 |title=Stefon's Illustrated Guide to New York's Hottest Nightclubs |url=https://www.vulture.com/2012/02/stefons-illustrated-guide-to-new-yorks-hottest-nightclubs.html |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=Vulture |language=en |archive-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608014930/https://www.vulture.com/2012/02/stefons-illustrated-guide-to-new-yorks-hottest-nightclubs.html |url-status=live }} It was well received, leading Hader and Mulaney to write a similar sketch featuring Stefon when Bradley Cooper hosted the show. The reception for the new sketch was more adverse when it played at dress rehearsal.{{Cite web |last=Barshad |first=Amos |date=2014-08-25 |title=Bill Hader's Day Off |url=https://grantland.com/features/bill-hader-saturday-night-live-snl-week/ |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=Grantland |language=en-US |archive-date=February 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240205211053/https://grantland.com/features/bill-hader-saturday-night-live-snl-week/ |url-status=live }} This made them feel that the character was not working,{{Cite magazine |last=Jue |first=Teresa |date=2014-09-16 |title=Bill Hader discusses the origins of Stefon on 'Seth Meyers' |url=https://ew.com/article/2014/09/16/bill-hader-discusses-the-origins-of-stefon-on-late-night-with-seth-meyers/ |access-date=2023-11-19 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en |archive-date=June 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609004655/https://ew.com/article/2014/09/16/bill-hader-discusses-the-origins-of-stefon-on-late-night-with-seth-meyers/ |url-status=live }} with Mulaney remarking that there were too many individuals for a skit centered on a single character.{{sfn|Miller|Shales|2015|p=609–610}} Doug Abeles, the head writer of Saturday Night Live{{'s}} satirical news segment Weekend Update, suggested that the character should be introduced as a correspondent on the feature instead.{{sfn|Miller|Shales|2015|p=610}} During production of the character's first appearance on Weekend Update, Mulaney assumed the character would be cut after rehearsal, but Stefon was positively received and was invited to reappear two shows later.{{sfn|Miller|Shales|2015|p=611}}
Hader and Mulaney together created the character's idiosyncratic manner, including his exuberant descriptions of fictional nightclubs. They wrote long scripts so SNL head writer and Weekend Update anchor Seth Meyers could pick which jokes to include.{{cite news |last=Valinsky |first=Jordan |date=2012-11-20 |title=How SNL's Bill Hader creates New York's weirdest nightclubs |work=The Daily Dot |url=https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/snl-bill-hader-stefon-clubs-interview/ |access-date=2023-02-15 |archive-date=March 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330083923/https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/snl-bill-hader-stefon-clubs-interview/ |url-status=live }} Mulaney said that the eventual format of Stefon's club recommendations was inspired by how the character proposed his ideas in the initial 2008 skit.{{sfn|Miller|Shales|2015|p=609–610}} Hader described his role in the writing process for the character as an "editor" and would pitch parts that included odd voices.{{sfn|Miller|Shales|2015|p=609}} Mulaney left SNL in 2012 but periodically returned to write the character's lines.
After the dress rehearsal for Stefon's first appearance on Weekend Update, a line from the script had to be changed because it received no response. As the lines for Weekend Update are read from cue cards, Hader, who was unaware of the change during the show, broke character. Mulaney was amused by this and decided to continue to change the script before the live broadcast to make Hader laugh.{{sfn|Miller|Shales|2015|p=610–611}}{{cite news |author=Fallon |first=Kevin |date=2013-09-05 |title=Bill Hader Is Sad to Leave 'Saturday Night Live' (and Stefon) Behind |work=The Daily Beast |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/09/05/bill-hader-is-sad-to-leave-saturday-night-live-and-stefon-behind.html |url-status=live |access-date=2013-09-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130905215547/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/09/05/bill-hader-is-sad-to-leave-saturday-night-live-and-stefon-behind.html |archive-date=September 5, 2013}} To make sure Hader did not stumble on his lines, Mulaney would tell him the new jokes shortly before he entered the set.{{Cite web |last=Sennett |first=Shae |date=2023-06-17 |title=How John Mulaney Made Bill Hader Break During Every Stefon Appearance On SNL |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/1311828/john-mulaney-made-bill-hader-break-during-every-stefon-appearance-snl/ |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=SlashFilm |language=en-US |archive-date=June 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619144709/https://www.slashfilm.com/1311828/john-mulaney-made-bill-hader-break-during-every-stefon-appearance-snl/ |url-status=live }} Mulaney characterized getting Hader to crack as a "group effort", adding that cast member Andy Samberg would stand near the camera, cross his hands, and look at Hader, tempting him to laugh.{{sfn|Miller|Shales|2015|p=610–611}} Hader also attributed his frequent corpsing as Stefon to the character's animated personality, which made him immerse himself in the role and lose his composure.{{sfn|Miller|Shales|2015|p=612–613}} Despite Stefon's popularity among fans, Hader felt pressure while portraying the role, as he often struggled to stay in character.{{sfn|Miller|Shales|2015|p=613}}
Due to Hader leaving SNL at the end of the 2012–2013 season, he and Mulaney arranged plans for Stefon's final appearance. Hader had written notes the year prior for it to be a prerecorded sketch where Meyers interrupts Stefon's wedding with journalist Anderson Cooper, similar to the 1967 film The Graduate. The idea was not enthusiastically received by the staff, including SNL creator and producer Lorne Michaels, due to them believing that Stefon worked better as a live sketch. Meyers instead recommended that Stefon appear on Weekend Update as usual before the character flees, followed by the original skit for a sense of surprise. Another suggestion for Stefon's final appearance was for him to board a spaceship and return to his home planet with his boyfriend, but this was abandoned in favor of the initial idea. Rhys Thomas directed the taped sketch, which was filmed on Tuesday before the show.
Character
Introduced as a "city correspondent", Stefon appears on Weekend Update to recommend unusual destinations for tourists travelling to New York.{{sfn|Kaplan|2014|p=30}} He starts the recommendations with the phrase "New York's hottest club"{{sfn|Kaplan|2014|p=30}}{{Sfn|Sudnick|Garrett|2020|p=181}} and continues with the description of the club, usually containing odd personalities such as "leprechauns that look like Farrah Fawcett",{{Cite news |last=Izadi |first=Elahe |date=2018-03-18 |title=SNL brings back Stefon and his delightfully bonkers nightlife recommendations |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2018/03/18/snl-brings-back-stefon-and-his-delightfully-bonkers-night-life-recommendations/ |access-date=2023-09-29 |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-date=June 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610125853/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2018/03/18/snl-brings-back-stefon-and-his-delightfully-bonkers-night-life-recommendations/ |url-status=live }} "a doorman who always high-fives children of divorce",{{Cite web |last=Perkins |first=Dennis |date=2014-10-12 |title=Saturday Night Live: "Bill Hader/Hozier" |url=https://www.avclub.com/saturday-night-live-bill-hader-hozier-1798182280 |access-date=2023-09-30 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en |archive-date=June 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603221118/https://www.avclub.com/saturday-night-live-bill-hader-hozier-1798182280 |url-status=live }} or various types of midgets{{sfn|Miller|Shales|2015|p=608}}{{Cite web |last=Sims |first=David |date=2012-05-20 |title=Saturday Night Live: "Mick Jagger" |url=https://www.avclub.com/saturday-night-live-mick-jagger-1798172876 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523012839/https://www.avclub.com/saturday-night-live-mick-jagger-1798172876 |archive-date=May 23, 2023 |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en}} described as human objects, such as "human DVRs" or "human piñatas".{{Cite magazine |last=Fowler |first=Tara |date=2012-10-21 |title='Saturday Night Live' recap: Bruno Mars hosts with help from Tom Hanks |url=https://ew.com/article/2012/10/21/saturday-night-live-recap-bruno-mars-we-like-you-just-the-way-you-are/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en |archive-date=June 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604135016/https://ew.com/article/2012/10/21/saturday-night-live-recap-bruno-mars-we-like-you-just-the-way-you-are/ |url-status=live }} Stefon wears long-sleeved Ed Hardy shirts{{Sfn|Miller|Shales|2015|p=612}} and has an asymmetrical, highlighted haircut.{{Cite web |last=Lindert |first=Hattie |date=2023-04-26 |title=Bill Hader has changed his tune on returning to the role of Stefon |url=https://www.avclub.com/bill-hader-stefon-return-saturday-night-live-quote-1850374862 |access-date=2023-09-01 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en |archive-date=September 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901043140/https://www.avclub.com/bill-hader-stefon-return-saturday-night-live-quote-1850374862 |url-status=live }} In his appearances on Weekend Update, Stefon claims that his mother goes by the name Ms. Stefon, his father is English musician David Bowie, he lives in a trash can outside a RadioShack store at the corner of 23rd Street and 7th Avenue in Manhattan, and he has a dog named Bark Ruffalo.{{Cite magazine |last=Busis |first=Hillary |date=2017-08-04 |title='Saturday Night Live': All of Stefon's clubs |url=https://ew.com/article/2013/05/17/saturday-night-live-stefon-clubs-everything/ |access-date=2023-02-25 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en |archive-date=February 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216141550/https://ew.com/article/2013/05/17/saturday-night-live-stefon-clubs-everything/ |url-status=live }}
Stefon has a nervous and palpable personality and often touches his face.{{sfn|Miller|Shales|2015|p=612–613}} Tess Lynch, writing for Grantland, characterized Stefon's persona as intriguingly relatable. She noted his eagerness to suggest offbeat clubs, juxtaposed with an underlying apprehension.{{Cite web |last=Lynch |first=Tess |date=2013-05-15 |title=Another Salute to the Genius of Bill Hader |url=https://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/another-salute-to-the-genius-of-bill-hader/ |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=Grantland |language=en-US |archive-date=February 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240217114337/https://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/another-salute-to-the-genius-of-bill-hader/ |url-status=live }} Stefon is shown to be infatuated with Meyers; he expresses disappointment when Meyers mentions his girlfriend and calls for the audience's pity. According to Mulaney, he thought it was reasonable that Stefon would be attracted to Meyers, so he and Hader created Stefon's romance one joke at a time.{{sfn|Miller|Shales|2015|p=615}} Hader also expressed that the character's sexuality did not matter to the sketch, stating, "He was just bad at his job and did a lot of drugs, [...]. And then of course he would be into Seth [Meyers], and Seth wouldn't like him, so it was just organic that this relationship happened."{{sfn|Miller|Shales|2015|p=614}}
In the book Saturday Night Live and Philosophy: Deep Thoughts Through the Decades, Kati Sudnick and Erik Garrett mention Stefon as an example of the issues of a technocratic elite. They stated that "[o]ur inability to understand most of Stefon's terms illustrates how the public is at the mercy of these experts. For example, when we hear from economic forecasters predicting an economic slump, we trust them even when we don't understand them."{{Sfn|Sudnick|Garrett|2020|p=182}} According to anthropologists Britt E. Halvorson and Joshua O. Reno in their book Imagining the Heartland: White Supremacy and the American Midwest, the character's absurdity highlights the divide between open-minded and narrow-minded perspectives.{{Sfn|Halvorson|Reno|2022|p=66}} Additionally, they describe the sketch as fitting a form of homonationalism, which is characterized by the inclusion of queer subjects through racial and national differences.{{Sfn|Halvorson|Reno|2022|p=183}}
Appearances
= ''Saturday Night Live'' =
Stefon debuted in a sketch in 2008 as the brother of Ben Affleck's more serious character, David Zolesky;{{sfn|Miller|Shales|2015|p=610}} the character was then introduced as a correspondent on Weekend Update the following season in 2010.{{Cite magazine |last=Tucker |first=Ken |date=2010-04-25 |title='Saturday Night Live' recap with host Gabourey Sidibe: Funny, not precious |url=https://ew.com/article/2010/04/25/saturday-night-live-gabourey-sidibe-2/ |access-date=2024-02-17 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en |archive-date=February 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240217114338/https://ew.com/article/2010/04/25/saturday-night-live-gabourey-sidibe-2/ |url-status=live }} Stefon returned during the season 35 finale of SNL,{{Cite magazine |last=Tucker |first=Ken |date=2010-05-16 |title='Saturday Night Live' Alec Baldwin season-finale recap. Plus: rating the best of SNL's season |url=https://ew.com/article/2010/05/16/saturday-night-live-alec-baldwin-petty/ |access-date=2024-02-17 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en |archive-date=February 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240217133806/https://ew.com/article/2010/05/16/saturday-night-live-alec-baldwin-petty/ |url-status=live }} two episodes after his initial appearance, and the fourth episode of season 36 hosted by Emma Stone.{{Cite magazine |last=Tucker |first=Ken |date=2010-10-24 |title='Saturday Night Live' review: Emma Stone was rock-solid, and flexible |url=https://ew.com/article/2010/10/24/saturday-night-live-emma-stone-snl/ |access-date=2024-02-17 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en |archive-date=May 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508091912/http://watching-tv.ew.com/2010/10/24/saturday-night-live-emma-stone-snl/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Vilensky |first=Mike |date=2010-10-24 |title=Saturday Night Live Recap: Emma Stone's Lindsay Lohan, Kenan Thompson's Jimmy McMillan - TV |url=https://www.vulture.com/2010/10/saturday_night_live_recap_1.html |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=Vulture |language=en |archive-date=December 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222152605/https://www.vulture.com/2010/10/saturday_night_live_recap_1.html |url-status=live }} Stefon appeared on Weekend Update again during an episode hosted by Paul Rudd in December 2010, where the character performed an altered version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" as part of his appearance,{{Cite web |last=Sims |first=David |date=2010-12-12 |title=Saturday Night Live: "Paul Rudd/Paul McCartney" |url=https://www.avclub.com/saturday-night-live-paul-rudd-paul-mccartney-1798166762 |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en |archive-date=February 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218031204/https://www.avclub.com/saturday-night-live-paul-rudd-paul-mccartney-1798166762 |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine |last=Tucker |first=Ken |date=2010-10-12 |title='Saturday Night Live' recap: Paul Rudd and Paul McCartney made the little moments count |url=https://ew.com/article/2010/12/12/saturday-night-live-paul-rudd-paul-mccartney/ |access-date=2024-02-18 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en |archive-date=February 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218031204/https://ew.com/article/2010/12/12/saturday-night-live-paul-rudd-paul-mccartney/ |url-status=live }} and the next episode, where he performed "O Christmas Tree" with other recurring characters, David Paterson (Fred Armisen) and Snooki (Bobby Moynihan).{{Cite magazine |last=Tucker |first=Ken |date=2010-12-19 |title='Saturday Night Live' recap: Jeff Bridges, Eminem, Lil Wayne, and Cookie Monster bring good cheer |url=https://ew.com/article/2010/12/19/saturday-night-live-jeff-bridges-eminem-lil-wayne/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240217114339/https://ew.com/article/2010/12/19/saturday-night-live-jeff-bridges-eminem-lil-wayne/ |archive-date=February 17, 2024 |access-date=2024-02-18 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en}} The next year, Stefon showed up in an episode hosted by Russell Brand, when he recommended Valentine's Day destinations,{{Cite magazine |last=Tucker |first=Ken |date=2011-02-13 |title='Saturday Night Live' recap: Russell Brand bled for us, but 'SNL' had a pretty bad night |url=https://ew.com/article/2011/02/13/saturday-night-live-russell-brand-chris-brown/ |access-date=2024-02-18 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en |archive-date=February 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208112014/https://ew.com/article/2011/02/13/saturday-night-live-russell-brand-chris-brown/ |url-status=live }} as well as another episode presented by Tina Fey.{{Cite web |last=Sims |first=David |date=2011-05-08 |title=Saturday Night Live: "Tina Fey/Ellie Goulding" |url=https://www.avclub.com/saturday-night-live-tina-fey-ellie-goulding-1798168192 |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en |archive-date=February 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225072120/https://www.avclub.com/saturday-night-live-tina-fey-ellie-goulding-1798168192 |url-status=live }} Stefon made a short appearance in the season 36 finale of SNL, where he and Meyers sign off Weekend Update.{{Cite web |last=McNutt |first=Myles |date=2011-05-22 |title=Saturday Night Live: "Justin Timberlake/Lady Gaga" |url=https://www.avclub.com/saturday-night-live-justin-timberlake-lady-gaga-1798168355 |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en |archive-date=February 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223085627/https://www.avclub.com/saturday-night-live-justin-timberlake-lady-gaga-1798168355 |url-status=live }}
On the third episode of season 37, Stefon appeared with the character Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) from the eponymous film.{{Cite magazine |last=Semigran |first=Aly |date=2011-10-09 |title=Ben Stiller hosts 'Saturday Night Live': Eddie Murphy is a no-show, but hey, there's Hugh Jackman, Stefon and...Kenny G!?! |url=https://ew.com/article/2011/10/09/ben-stiller-saturday-night-live-recap/ |access-date=2023-09-04 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en |archive-date=September 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230904032904/https://ew.com/article/2011/10/09/ben-stiller-saturday-night-live-recap/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Sims |first=David |date=2011-10-09 |title=Saturday Night Live: "Ben Stiller/Foster The People" |url=https://www.avclub.com/saturday-night-live-ben-stiller-foster-the-people-1798169927 |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en |archive-date=September 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230904032902/https://www.avclub.com/saturday-night-live-ben-stiller-foster-the-people-1798169927 |url-status=live }} He also made an appearance in the Katy Perry episode{{Cite magazine |last=Collis |first=Clark |date=2011-12-11 |title='SNL' recap: Katy Perry, Alec Baldwin, and Val Kilmer! |url=https://ew.com/article/2011/12/11/saturday-night-live-recap-katy-perry-robyn/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en |archive-date=February 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240217133806/https://ew.com/article/2011/12/11/saturday-night-live-recap-katy-perry-robyn/ |url-status=live }} as well as its promos.{{Cite magazine |last=Semigran |first=Aly |date=2011-12-10 |title=Katy Perry hosts 'SNL' tonight: Discuss here! |url=https://ew.com/article/2011/12/10/katy-perry-snl-discuss/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en |archive-date=April 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415021856/https://ew.com/article/2011/12/10/katy-perry-snl-discuss/ |url-status=live }} Stefon made a short cameo appearance with singer-songwriter Paul Simon in the monologue of the 2012 episode hosted by Maya Rudolph,{{Cite web |last=Sims |first=David |date=2012-02-19 |title=Saturday Night Live: "Maya Rudolph/Sleigh Bells" |url=https://www.avclub.com/saturday-night-live-maya-rudolph-sleigh-bells-1798171613 |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en |archive-date=August 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802162007/https://www.avclub.com/saturday-night-live-maya-rudolph-sleigh-bells-1798171613 |url-status=live }} and in the Weekend Update segment of the Jonah Hill episode, Stefon kissed Meyers for the first time.{{Cite magazine |last=Semigran |first=Aly |date=March 11, 2012 |title='SNL' recap: the Shins, Jonah Hill on rocky episode |url=https://ew.com/article/2012/03/11/saturday-night-live-recap-jonah-hill-the-shins/ |url-status=live |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927125911/https://ew.com/article/2012/03/11/saturday-night-live-recap-jonah-hill-the-shins/ |archive-date=September 27, 2023 |access-date=2023-05-25}}{{Cite web |last=Sims |first=David |date=2012-03-11 |title=Saturday Night Live: "Jonah Hill/The Shins" |url=https://www.avclub.com/saturday-night-live-jonah-hill-the-shins-1798171910 |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en |archive-date=February 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218113359/https://www.avclub.com/saturday-night-live-jonah-hill-the-shins-1798171910 |url-status=live }} The character made another appearance in the season 37 finale,{{Cite web |last=McGee |first=Ryan |date=2012-05-19 |title=Recap: 'Saturday Night Live' – Mick Jagger |url=https://uproxx.com/hitfix/recap-saturday-night-live-mick-jagger/ |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=HitFix |language=en-US |archive-date=February 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218113410/https://uproxx.com/hitfix/recap-saturday-night-live-mick-jagger/ |url-status=live }} the Bruno Mars episode of season 38, where he suggested Halloween-related activities in New York City,{{Cite web |last=Sims |first=David |date=2012-10-21 |title=Saturday Night Live: "Bruno Mars" |url=https://www.avclub.com/saturday-night-live-bruno-mars-1798174681 |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en |archive-date=January 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123063527/https://www.avclub.com/saturday-night-live-bruno-mars-1798174681 |url-status=live }} and in the episode hosted by Justin Timberlake.{{Cite web |last=Reid |first=Joe |date=2013-03-10 |title=Saturday Night Live Recap: Justin Timberlake Dons His Suit & Tie & Tofu Cube |url=https://www.vulture.com/2013/03/saturday-night-live-recap-season-38-episode-16.html |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=Vulture |language=en |archive-date=September 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230903142836/https://www.vulture.com/2013/03/saturday-night-live-recap-season-38-episode-16.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine |last=Busis |first=Hillary |date=2013-03-10 |title='Saturday Night Live' recap: Justin Timberlake |url=https://ew.com/article/2013/03/10/justin-timberlake-snl-recap/ |access-date=2024-02-18 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en |archive-date=November 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109231702/https://ew.com/article/2013/03/10/justin-timberlake-snl-recap/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Sims |first=David |date=2013-03-10 |title=Saturday Night Live: "Justin Timberlake" |url=https://www.avclub.com/saturday-night-live-justin-timberlake-1798176071 |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en |archive-date=August 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809021251/https://www.avclub.com/saturday-night-live-justin-timberlake-1798176071 |url-status=live }}
The character made his last recurring appearance on Weekend Update at the end of season 38 because Hader was leaving SNL. Former Weekend Update co-anchor Amy Poehler made a guest appearance for a "Really?!?" segment with Meyers before Stefon emerged, expressing disapproval of Poehler. After Stefon's usual comment on "New York's hottest club", Meyers criticized his recommendations, making Stefon flee NBC Studios to get married. After Poehler advised Meyers to follow Stefon, Meyers pursued Stefon to the wedding at the Marble Collegiate Church on Fifth Avenue but found Stefon was marrying journalist Anderson Cooper.{{Cite web |last=Duke |first=Alan |date=2013-05-19 |title=Anderson Cooper jilted at the aisle in 'SNL' wedding |url=https://www.cnn.com/2013/05/19/showbiz/snl-stefon-anderson-cooper/index.html |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=July 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713184910/https://www.cnn.com/2013/05/19/showbiz/snl-stefon-anderson-cooper/index.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Couch |first=Aaron |date=2013-05-19 |title=Bill Hader steals the show in star-packed 'Saturday Night Live' sendoff |url=http://www.today.com/popculture/bill-hader-steals-show-star-packed-saturday-night-live-sendoff-1C9984549 |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=Today |language=en |archive-date=December 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204162659/https://www.today.com/popculture/bill-hader-steals-show-star-packed-saturday-night-live-sendoff-1c9984549 |url-status=live }} Seth enters the church, finds Stefon, and takes him back to Studio 8H, where they proclaim their love for each other.{{Cite magazine |last=Busis |first=Hillary |date=2013-05-19 |title=Saturday Night Live finale recap: Ben Affleck, Kanye West, Bill Hader |url=https://ew.com/article/2013/05/19/snl-finale-recap-stefon-fred-armisen/ |access-date=2023-02-16 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en |archive-date=August 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814094343/https://ew.com/article/2013/05/19/snl-finale-recap-stefon-fred-armisen/ |url-status=live }} The guests at the wedding include many of the idiosyncratic people Stefon has mentioned during his Weekend Update segments. Ben Affleck made a cameo appearance, reprising his role as David Zolesky from Stefon's debut sketch.{{Cite magazine |last=Busis |first=Hillary |date=2017-08-04 |title='Saturday Night Live': All of Stefon's wedding guests |url=https://ew.com/article/2013/05/20/saturday-night-live-your-guide-to-the-guests-at-stefons-cameo-stuffed-wedding/ |url-status=live |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508015254/https://ew.com/article/2013/05/20/saturday-night-live-your-guide-to-the-guests-at-stefons-cameo-stuffed-wedding/ |archive-date=May 8, 2021 |access-date=2023-02-16}} After Seth and Stefon return to the studio, characters from Weekend Update gather to congratulate them.{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Bradford |date=2013-05-20 |title=Here's Everyone Who Was at Stefon's Wedding |url=https://www.vulture.com/2013/05/heres-everyone-who-was-at-stefons-wedding.html |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=Vulture |publisher=New York |language=en-us |archive-date=February 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216095909/https://www.vulture.com/2013/05/heres-everyone-who-was-at-stefons-wedding.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Reid |first=Joe |date=2013-05-19 |title=SNL Recap: Welcome Home, Ben Who-Fleck |url=https://www.vulture.com/2013/05/saturday-night-live-recap-season-28-episode-21.html |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Vulture |publisher=New York |language=en |archive-date=July 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706160233/https://www.vulture.com/2013/05/saturday-night-live-recap-season-28-episode-21.html |url-status=live }} The wedding segment is a reference to the 1967 film The Graduate.{{Cite magazine |last=Busis |first=Hillary |date=2013-12-05 |title=Bill Hader on saying goodbye to Stefon – and 'Saturday Night Live' |url=https://ew.com/article/2013/12/04/bill-hader-stefon-goodbye-making-of/ |access-date=2023-09-03 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en |archive-date=September 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927125912/https://ew.com/article/2013/12/04/bill-hader-stefon-goodbye-making-of/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Voss |first=Erik |date=2013-05-20 |title='SNL' Review: Ben Affleck and the End of an Era |url=https://www.vulture.com/2013/05/snl-review-ben-affleck-and-the-end-of-an-era.html |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=Vulture |publisher=New York |language=en-us |archive-date=June 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602041857/https://www.vulture.com/2013/05/snl-review-ben-affleck-and-the-end-of-an-era.html |url-status=live }}{{Efn|CNN said the segment is a parody of Wayne's World 2 (1993), which references The Graduate.}}
In February 2014, Stefon returned to Weekend Update as a guest along with Amy Poehler to bid farewell to Meyers in his final Weekend Update as Meyers prepared to become the new host of Late Night.{{Cite web |last=Voss |first=Erik |date=2014-02-03 |title='SNL' Review: Melissa McCarthy and a Farewell to Seth Meyers |url=https://www.vulture.com/2014/02/snl-review-melissa-mccarthy-and-a-farewell-to-seth-meyers.html |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=Vulture |publisher=New York |language=en-us |archive-date=February 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224112840/https://www.vulture.com/2014/02/snl-review-melissa-mccarthy-and-a-farewell-to-seth-meyers.html |url-status=live }} During Hader's first time hosting of SNL the same year, Stefon returned to Weekend Update, hosted by Colin Jost and Michael Che, to recommend New York clubs for tourists interested in autumn activities and ended the sketch by announcing his pregnancy.{{Cite web |last=Gajewski |first=Ryan |date=2014-10-11 |title='SNL' Recap: Bill Hader's Stefon Is Pregnant |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/saturday-night-live-recap-bill-740179/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215043408/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/saturday-night-live-recap-bill-740179/ |archive-date=February 15, 2023 |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} As part of the Weekend Update segment of the Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special in 2015, Edward Norton portrayed Stefon but was confronted by the real Stefon portrayed by Hader and Meyers.{{Cite magazine |last=Locker |first=Melissa |date=2015-02-16 |title=Watch Tina Fey Get Eaten by a Land Shark |url=https://time.com/3710696/snl-40-saturday-night-live-tina-fey-land-shark-40s-weekend-update/ |access-date=2023-06-08 |magazine=Time |language=en |archive-date=September 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927125910/https://time.com/3710696/snl-40-saturday-night-live-tina-fey-land-shark-40s-weekend-update/ |url-status=live }} On Hader's second time hosting in 2018, Stefon returned to Weekend Update for a St. Patrick's Day-themed segment of New York City recommendations.{{Cite web |last=Love |first=Matthew |date=2018-03-18 |title=Saturday Night Live Recap: Welcome Back, Stefon! |url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/03/snl-recap-season-43-episode-16-bill-hader.html |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=Vulture |publisher=New York |language=en-us |archive-date=February 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216092517/https://www.vulture.com/2018/03/snl-recap-season-43-episode-16-bill-hader.html |url-status=live }} Stefon, who usually uses the term "midget" to describe his bizarre recommendations, did not use the term to avoid being insensitive; he consulted his attorney and "conceptual piss artist" Shy (John Mulaney) for a better term, ultimately using "little people".{{Cite magazine |last=Schwartz |first=Dana |date=2018-03-18 |title='SNL': Bill Hader's Stefon makes triumphant return to Weekend Update |url=https://ew.com/tv/2018/03/18/snl-bill-hader-stefon-return/ |access-date=2023-02-16 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en |archive-date=January 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128070711/https://ew.com/tv/2018/03/18/snl-bill-hader-stefon-return/ |url-status=live }}
During an interview with The Guardian in 2022, Hader said SNL had suggested he reprise the role, but he declined due to the political climate at the time and fearing that the character could be seen as stereotypical.{{Cite news |last=Freeman |first=Hadley |date=2022-04-25 |title='What's this disease that keeps us making bad choices?': Bill Hader on murder, misery and his hit comedy Barry |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/apr/25/bill-hader-hitman-comedy-barry-disease-keeps-us-making-bad-choices |access-date=2023-02-16 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=February 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216021523/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/apr/25/bill-hader-hitman-comedy-barry-disease-keeps-us-making-bad-choices |url-status=live }} In an interview with The Independent the following year, Hader stated he was open to playing Stefon again, saying that he had not met anyone who was offended by the character.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Patrick |date=2022-04-22 |title=Bill Hader: 'My girlfriend and I realised that I haven't had a vacation in 10 years' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/bill-hader-interview-barry-b2324327.html |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=The Independent |language=en |archive-date=May 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505140904/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/bill-hader-interview-barry-b2324327.html |url-status=live }}
= Outside ''Saturday Night Live'' =
In December 2011, Hader (as Stefon) and Seth Meyers made an appearance at the benefit concert A Funny Affair for Autism, where Stefon gave club recommendations for Christmas.{{cite web |last=Cantor |first=Hallie |date=2011-12-07 |title=Stefon Offers Nightlife Advice to Autism Charity Eventgoers |url=https://www.vulture.com/2011/12/stefon-offers-nightlife-advice-to-autism-charity-eventgoers.html |access-date=2014-10-14 |website=Vulture |publisher=New York |archive-date=February 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215043411/https://www.vulture.com/2011/12/stefon-offers-nightlife-advice-to-autism-charity-eventgoers.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Schreiber |first=Abby |date=December 6, 2011 |title=Bill Hader's Stefon Has Some Christmas Recommendations for You |url=http://www.vulture.com/2011/12/bill-hader-stefon-saturday-night-live.html |access-date=2014-10-14 |work=Vulture |publisher=New York |archive-date=October 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018145743/http://www.vulture.com/2011/12/bill-hader-stefon-saturday-night-live.html |url-status=live }} The pair also made an appearance on the 2012 edition of Night of Too Many Stars.{{Cite web |date=2012-10-22 |title=Stefon Drenches Paul Rudd With 'Vodka' At 'Night Of Too Many Stars' (PHOTO) |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/stefon-drenches-paul-rudd_n_2001858 |access-date=2023-08-02 |website=HuffPost |language=en |archive-date=August 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230802023332/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/stefon-drenches-paul-rudd_n_2001858 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2012-10-17 |title=Jon Stewart Hosts Comedy Central's(R) On-Air Charity Special "Night of Too Many Stars: America Comes Together for Autism Programs" with Live Wrap-arounds from "The Daily Show" Studio on Sunday, October 21 at 8:00 p.m. ET {{!}} TheFutonCritic.com |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2012/10/17/jon-stewart-hosts-comedy-centrals-on-air-charity-special-night-of-too-many-stars-america-comes-together-for-autism-programs-with-live-wrap-arounds-from-the-daily-show-studio-on-sunday-october-21-at-800-pm-et-437412/20121017comedycentral01/ |access-date=2023-08-02 |website=The Futon Critic |archive-date=September 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902040124/http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2012/10/17/jon-stewart-hosts-comedy-centrals-on-air-charity-special-night-of-too-many-stars-america-comes-together-for-autism-programs-with-live-wrap-arounds-from-the-daily-show-studio-on-sunday-october-21-at-800-pm-et-437412/20121017comedycentral01/ |url-status=live }}
When Late Night with Seth Meyers premiered on February 24, 2014, a Stefon matryoshka doll was unveiled as part of the decor of Meyers's desk.{{cite magazine |last=Angelo |first=Megan |date=2014-02-25 |title=The Late Night With Seth Meyers Premiere: Fred Armisen, Amy Poehler, and a Tiny Stefon |url=https://www.glamour.com/story/the-late-night-with-seth-meyer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412035733/https://www.glamour.com/story/the-late-night-with-seth-meyer |archive-date=April 12, 2023 |access-date=2014-03-09 |magazine=Glamour}}{{Cite web |last1=Muther |first1=Christopher |last2=Rodman |first2=Sarah |date=2014-03-01 |title=Grading late night's newest hosts: Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/television/2014/03/01/grading-late-night-newest-hosts-jimmy-fallon-seth-meyers/JtRm4AADMuXBIzBaKGtmoN/story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007094908/https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/television/2014/03/01/grading-late-night-newest-hosts-jimmy-fallon-seth-meyers/JtRm4AADMuXBIzBaKGtmoN/story.html |archive-date=October 7, 2023 |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=The Boston Globe |language=en-US}}
= Unproduced movie =
Paramount Pictures began discussions for a feature film featuring Stefon. The film was intended to be a mockumentary in which Stefon would visit New York hotspots as a correspondent for Weekend Update. Meyers had pitched that the movie would start with his character dead since he assumed he would not be starring in the film,{{Cite web |last=Shanfeld |first=Ethan |date=2023-11-22 |title=Seth Meyers Details 'Stefon' Movie That Never Got Made: 'SNL' Spinoff Pitch Started With Him 'In a Body Bag' After a Night Out With Bill Hader |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/seth-meyers-stefon-movie-pitch-bill-hader-snl-1235806164/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=November 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128143811/https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/seth-meyers-stefon-movie-pitch-bill-hader-snl-1235806164/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Pedersen |first=Erik |date=2023-11-24 |title=Stefon Movie Based On Bill Hader's 'SNL' Character Was Discussed, Seth Meyers Says |url=https://deadline.com/2023/11/stefon-movie-bill-hader-seth-meyers-snl-1235635851/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US |archive-date=November 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128084257/https://deadline.com/2023/11/stefon-movie-bill-hader-seth-meyers-snl-1235635851/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine |last=Lenker |first=Maureen Lee |date=2023-11-24 |title=Hollywood's hottest unmade film is 'Stefon: The Movie' |url=https://ew.com/seth-meyers-on-unmade-stefon-movie-character-death-8406553 |access-date=2023-11-28 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en |archive-date=November 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231127083138/https://ew.com/seth-meyers-on-unmade-stefon-movie-character-death-8406553 |url-status=live }} and Mulaney wanted director Garry Marshall to portray SNL creator and producer Lorne Michaels.{{Cite web |last=Chitwood |first=Adam |date=2019-03-08 |title=Stefon Movie Details Teased by John Mulaney and Seth Meyers |url=https://collider.com/stefon-movie-plot/ |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=Collider |language=en |archive-date=March 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323133753/https://collider.com/stefon-movie-plot/ |url-status=live }} Hader and Mulaney later rejected the offer because, according to Hader, "in [their] mind, it never worked as a sketch".{{cite news |last1=Wright |first1=Megh |date=2019-03-01 |title=John Mulaney and Seth Meyers Talk About the Stefon Movie That Never Got Made |work=Vulture |publisher=New York |url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/03/snl-john-mulaney-seth-meyers-stefon-movie.html |access-date=2023-02-15 |archive-date=March 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043050/https://www.vulture.com/2019/03/snl-john-mulaney-seth-meyers-stefon-movie.html |url-status=live }}
Reception
File:Bill Hader, 2013 San Diego Comic Con-cropped-2.jpg
Stefon has had a generally positive reception, with James Poniewozik of Time describing it as one of the best contemporary SNL skits.{{Cite magazine |last=Poniewozik |first=James |author-link=James Poniewozik |date=2014-01-03 |title=We'll Do It Late |url=https://time.com/95/well-do-it-late/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240217100146/https://time.com/95/well-do-it-late/ |archive-date=February 17, 2024 |access-date=2023-09-02 |magazine=Time |language=en}} David Reddish of Queerty wrote that he loved Stefon "in all his messy, gay glory" and that "even though Hader is straight, he made the character vulnerable and lovable".{{Cite web |last=Reddish |first=David |date=2022-04-25 |title=Don't expect to see Stefon anytime soon on 'SNL' |url=https://www.queerty.com/dont-expect-see-stefon-anytime-soon-snl-20220425 |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=Queerty |archive-date=February 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224112838/https://www.queerty.com/dont-expect-see-stefon-anytime-soon-snl-20220425 |url-status=live }} David Sims of The A.V. Club and Daniel Holloway of Variety said Stefon was one of the few recurring characters they never grew tired of.{{Cite web |last=Sims |first=David |date=2013-05-19 |title=Saturday Night Live: "Ben Affleck; Kanye West" |url=https://www.avclub.com/saturday-night-live-ben-affleck-kayne-west-1798176857 |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en |archive-date=May 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502020444/https://www.avclub.com/saturday-night-live-ben-affleck-kayne-west-1798176857 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Holloway |first=Daniel |date=2019-01-02 |title=Bill Hader's Winding Road From Stefon to the Dark Laughs of 'Barry' |url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/features/bill-hader-barry-hbo-saturday-night-live-1203097040/ |access-date=2023-09-02 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607102408/https://variety.com/2019/tv/features/bill-hader-barry-hbo-saturday-night-live-1203097040/ |url-status=live }} Tess Lynch of Grantland and Laura Bennett of The New Republic said Meyers and Stefon's chemistry made the character stand out.{{Cite web |last=Lynch |first=Tess |date=January 31, 2014 |title=Anchor, Aweigh: A Good-bye to (and the Best of) Seth Meyers |url=https://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/anchor-aweigh-a-good-bye-to-and-the-best-of-seth-meyers/ |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=Grantland |language=en-US |archive-date=June 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609123823/https://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/anchor-aweigh-a-good-bye-to-and-the-best-of-seth-meyers/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine |last=Bennett |first=Laura |date=2014-01-30 |title=This Was The Best Thing About Seth Meyers's Weekend Update |url=https://newrepublic.com/article/116403/was-best-thing-about-seth-meyerss-weekend-update |access-date=2024-01-25 |magazine=The New Republic |issn=0028-6583 |archive-date=January 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125063304/https://newrepublic.com/article/116403/was-best-thing-about-seth-meyerss-weekend-update |url-status=live }} According to Jordan Crucchiola of Wired, Stefon was "too funny to let go of",{{Cite magazine |last=Crucchiola |first=Jordan |title=Stefon Returns to SNL and Brad Pitt Goes B-Boy in the Best TV This Week |language=en-US |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/2014/10/best-week-tv-32/ |access-date=2023-06-18 |issn=1059-1028 |archive-date=September 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927125911/https://www.wired.com/2014/10/best-week-tv-32/ |url-status=live }} and Brian Welk of TheWrap said that although Stefon often covers his face with his hands due to Hader breaking, it has made the character "forever endearing".{{Cite web |last=Welk |first=Brian |date=March 25, 2018 |title=Bill Hader's 12 Best Characters Ranked, From Stefon to Vincent Price (Photos) |url=https://www.thewrap.com/bill-haders-12-best-characters-ranked-from-stefon-to-vincent-price-photos/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528025106/https://www.thewrap.com/bill-haders-12-best-characters-ranked-from-stefon-to-vincent-price-photos/ |archive-date=May 28, 2023 |access-date=2023-05-28 |website=TheWrap}} Stefon's final appearance as a recurring character on Weekend Update also received praise. Zack Sharf of IndieWire considered it "one of the best sketches in recent SNL history",{{Cite web |last=Sharf |first=Zack |date=2014-10-13 |title=Who's the Best 'SNL' Cast Member? Week 3 MVPs (and Bill Hader) |url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/whos-the-best-snl-cast-member-week-3-mvps-and-bill-hader-69144/ |access-date=2023-06-09 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US |archive-date=September 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902040040/https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/whos-the-best-snl-cast-member-week-3-mvps-and-bill-hader-69144/ |url-status=live }} while Erik Voss of Vulture said there was "no better sendoff than a gay wedding between Stefon and Seth Meyers".
Stefon has become a fan favorite and has been considered to be Hader's most memorable character on Saturday Night Live. During one of the character's earlier appearances, Ken Tucker from Entertainment Weekly observed that the character had quickly garnered widespread adoration. The character has been included in many lists of the best Saturday Night Live characters, ranking first in Rolling Stone{{'s}}{{Cite magazine |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |date=2015-02-16 |title=40 Best 'Saturday Night Live' Characters of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-lists/40-best-saturday-night-live-characters-of-all-time-143593/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |access-date=2023-05-28 |archive-date=November 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119022543/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-lists/40-best-saturday-night-live-characters-of-all-time-143593/ |url-status=live }} as well as TVLine{{'s}},{{Cite web |last1=Franken |first1=Claire |last2=Mitovich |first2=Matt Webb |last3=Roots |first3=Kimberly |last4=Iannucci |first4=Rebecca |last5=Schwartz |first5=Ryan |date=2023-03-25 |title=SNL Weekend Update: The 25 Best Characters of the Last Decade, Ranked |url=https://tvline.com/lists/snl-weekend-update-best-characters/ |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=TVLine |language=en-US |archive-date=June 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602064208/https://tvline.com/lists/snl-weekend-update-best-characters/ |url-status=live }} second on MovieWeb{{'s}},{{Cite web |last=Wenzel |first=Zac |date=2022-11-23 |title=The 10 Best Saturday Night Live Characters, Ranked |url=https://movieweb.com/best-snl-characters-ranked/ |access-date=2023-06-05 |website=MovieWeb |language=en |archive-date=December 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221217213119/https://movieweb.com/best-snl-characters-ranked/ |url-status=live }} and third on Entertainment Weekly{{'s}}.{{Cite magazine |date=2015-02-13 |title=25 all-time best 'SNL' characters |url=https://ew.com/gallery/snl-all-time-best-characters/ |access-date=2023-09-01 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en |archive-date=September 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901101740/https://ew.com/gallery/snl-all-time-best-characters/ |url-status=live }} Hader has frequently been approached by fans who claim to know someone who acts like Stefon.{{sfn|Kaplan|2014|p=31}} Due to the character's popularity, numerous online users have quoted him and written fan fiction about him.{{Cite web |last=Ray |first=Austin L. |date=2012-03-06 |title=John Mulaney: SNL, Stefon & Self-Punchlines |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/article/john-mulaney-snl-stefon-self-punchlines |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=Paste |language=en-US |archive-date=February 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226034041/https://www.pastemagazine.com/article/john-mulaney-snl-stefon-self-punchlines |url-status=live }}
Joe Reid of Polygon thought that the character being written by Mulaney, who is a straight man, might be the reason why the gay community never embraced him.{{Cite web |last=Reid |first=Joe |date=2019-05-29 |title=The Saturday Night Live queer canon |url=https://www.polygon.com/tv/2019/5/29/18643023/snl-skits-gay-lesbian-queer-lgbtq-sketches-nbc-saturday-night-live |access-date=2023-02-26 |website=Polygon |language=en-US |archive-date=November 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117163238/https://www.polygon.com/tv/2019/5/29/18643023/snl-skits-gay-lesbian-queer-lgbtq-sketches-nbc-saturday-night-live |url-status=live }} Joanna Campbell, the former executive director of Little People of America, has criticized the character's derogatory use of the term "midget".{{Cite web |last=Abramovitch |first=Seth |date=2016-08-25 |title=Little People, Big Woes in Hollywood: Low Pay, Degrading Jobs and a Tragic Death |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/little-people-actors-actresses-low-pay-degrading-jobs-tragedy-922261/ |access-date=2023-09-03 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=August 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822181234/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/little-people-actors-actresses-low-pay-degrading-jobs-tragedy-922261/ |url-status=live }} Hader has since expressed his regret for using the word.{{Cite web |last=Sullivan |first=Eric |date=2019-09-12 |title=Bill Hader Says He Would Rethink Some of Those Stefon Sketches Today |url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a28989903/bill-hader-barry-hbo-donald-trump-comedy-interview-2019/ |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=Esquire |language=en-US |archive-date=September 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230904025545/https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a28989903/bill-hader-barry-hbo-donald-trump-comedy-interview-2019/ |url-status=live }}
See also
References
=Notes=
{{notelist}}
= Citations =
{{reflist|30em}}
= Works cited =
- {{Cite book |last1=Miller |first1=James Andrew |url=http://archive.org/details/livefromnewyorkc0000mill_o6z4 |title=Live From New York: The Complete, Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live as Told by Its Stars, Writers, and Guests |last2=Shales |first2=Tom |date=6 October 2015 |publisher=Back Bay Books |isbn=978-0-316-29506-2 |edition=2 |language=en |lccn=2014943177 |author-link=James Andrew Miller |author-link2=Tom Shales}}
- {{Cite book |last=Kaplan |first=Arie |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4-USBAAAQBAJ |title=Saturday Night Live: Shaping TV Comedy and American Culture |date=2014-08-01 |publisher=Twenty-First Century Books |isbn=978-1-4677-4795-0 |language=en |author-link=Arie Kaplan |access-date=March 9, 2023 |archive-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412035721/https://books.google.com/books?id=4-USBAAAQBAJ |url-status=live}}
- {{Cite book |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781119538714 |title=Saturday Night Live and Philosophy: Deep Thoughts Through the Decades |date=2020-01-24 |publisher=Wiley |isbn=978-1-119-53855-4 |editor-last=Southworth |editor-first=Jason |edition=1 |language=en |doi=10.1002/9781119538714 |s2cid=242328538 |access-date=2023-09-01 |editor-last2=Tallman |editor-first2=Ruth}}
- {{Harvc |last1=Sudnick |first1=Kati |last2=Garrett |first2=Erik |c=Saturday Night Live’s Citizen Journalists and the Nature of Democracy |in=Southworth |in2=Tallman |year=2020}}
- {{cite book |last1=Halvorson |first1=Britt E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b75bEAAAQBAJ |title=Imagining the Heartland: White Supremacy and the American Midwest |last2=Reno |first2=Joshua O. |date=2022-05-18 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=9780520387607}}
{{Saturday Night Live}}
{{John Mulaney}}
Category:Television characters introduced in 2008
Category:Saturday Night Live characters
Category:Fictional LGBTQ characters in television