Stefon

Stefon Meyers, simply referred to as Stefon, is a fictional character portrayed by Bill Hader on Saturday Night Live. Originally appearing in a 2008 sketch with Ben Affleck, the character went on to become a correspondent on Weekend Update, SNL's recurring satirical news segment, in 2010. When asked about recommendations for events and destinations to visit for tourists and others in New York City, Stefon would suggest unusual nightclubs and parties with bizarre characters and themes. As the lines for Weekend Update are read from cue cards, Mulaney would change the script before the live broadcast to make Hader break character.

This article is about the Saturday Night Live character. For other uses, see Stefon.

Stefon Meyers
Saturday Night Live character
Stefon on Weekend Update
First appearance
  • November 1, 2008[1]
Last appearance
  • May 18, 2013 (regular)
  • March 17, 2018 (guest)
Created by
Portrayed by
In-universe information
GenderMale
TitleCity Correspondent
OccupationCorrespondent for SNL's Weekend Update
Family
  • Ms. Stefon (mother)
  • David Bowie (father)
  • David Zolesky (brother)
Spouse
​
(m. 2013)​
Children
  • Unnamed son (mentioned once)
  • Unnamed children (with Meyers; mentioned during SNL40)
NationalityAmerican

Development

The character was created by Hader and former SNL writer John Mulaney. Stefon was inspired by real people Hader and Mulaney had encountered; one was a club promoter who sent Mulaney an e-mail about a club that "had everything," including "rooms full of broken glass" as one of the highlights.[2] The character's mannerisms were based on a barista at a Chelsea, Manhattan coffee shop that Hader frequented.[3][4]

Mulaney took inspiration from 2000s club fashion for the character's look and chose an Ed Hardy shirt because he thought it would look like the fashion in the 2003 film Party Monster.[5]

Hader and Mulaney worked together to create Stefon's idiosyncratic manner, especially his over-the-top descriptions of nonexistent nightclubs. They lengthened the script so Weekend Update anchor Seth Meyers could comment on which jokes to cut.[6]

The lines for Weekend Update are read from cue cards. Mulaney habitually changed the script just before the live broadcast to see if he could make Hader laugh during the sketch. Hader, forced to adapt in the moment to brand-new jokes, frequently broke character by hiding his face in his hands or laughing.[7]

According to Hader, it is "completely ironic" that he played a character like Stefon, because he avoids loud places such as clubs.[7]

Character

Stefon is a flamboyantly gay "city correspondent" for Weekend Update who is knowledgeable about parties and nightclubs featuring bizarre themes and characters, which he recommends when the Weekend Update anchor asks for suggestions for tourists. He appears to be always nervous, as indicated by how he can never keep his hands still and constantly rubs them together. A possible explanation for this is his excessive consumption of recreational drugs.[3] Stefon is apparently infatuated with Meyers; he expresses disappointment when Meyers mentions his girlfriend, and has stated that he envies Meyers' mother for changing his diapers as a child.[8]

Stefon wears gaudy Ed Hardy shirts, multiple rings, and has an asymmetrical, highlighted haircut.[4] His mother is named Ms. Stefon and his father is David Bowie. He lives in a trash can outside the RadioShack at 23rd Street and 7th Avenue and has a dog named Bark Ruffalo.[9]

Appearances

Saturday Night Live

Stefon first appeared in a 2008 sketch with Ben Affleck titled "Movie Pitch with Stefon," with Stefon portraying the outrageous brother of Affleck's more serious character, David Zolesky;[1] however, the idea "barely worked as a sketch," said Bill Hader. "It was a long walk to get to what the sketch was about."[10]

The character was instead introduced as a correspondent on Weekend Update the following season, after an invitation from the head of the segment. During the production for his first appearance on Weekend Update on the April 24, 2010 episode, Mulaney assumed it would be cut after rehearsal. He stated, "It was so weird that I so assumed it would be cut, and I said, 'When you cut this, can we try it again?' We just thought it was not going to be liked by anyone."[5]

After being unable to perform the character without breaking for two and a half years, Hader successfully remained in character as Stefon during the season finale of the show's 36th season, with host Justin Timberlake. However, this appearance was much briefer than his others, with his appearance only lasting about 30 seconds.[11]

Stefon made his last recurring Weekend Update appearance on May 18, 2013, due to Bill Hader leaving the show. After Stefon's usual comment on "New York's hottest club", Meyers again criticized his recommendations, making Stefon flee out of NBC Studios to get married. Seeing the error of his ways, Seth goes after him to the wedding at the Marble Collegiate Church on Fifth Avenue only to find out that Stefon is marrying Anderson Cooper.[12] Seth goes in after Stefon and takes him away from the wedding back to Studio 8H, where they proclaim their love for each other.[13]

The guests at the wedding included many of the weird types of people Stefon has mentioned during his Weekend Update segments.[14] Ben Affleck makes a cameo appearance reprising his role as Stefon's brother, David Zolefsky.[14] After Seth and Stefon return to the studio, various Weekend Update characters gathered to congratulate them.[15] Seth refers to them as Seth and Stefon Meyers and closes out Weekend Update.

Guest appearances

In his first guest appearance, Stefon returned to Weekend Update in a guest appearance along with Amy Poehler to bid Meyers adieu in his final Weekend Update, as Meyers prepared to become the new host of Late Night. Before Seth's final Weekend Update goodbye, he acknowledged Stefon as his husband.[16]

During Hader's first time hosting SNL on October 11, 2014, Stefon recommended clubs for tourists interested in autumn in New York. Hader had particular trouble staying in character due to each club Stefon recommended including at the end of its list of features Dan Cortese.[17][lower-alpha 1] Stefon referenced his now-husband Meyers by explaining that he was at home "practicing sitting behind a desk," and ended the sketch by announcing he was pregnant.[19]

As part of Saturday Night Live's 40th Anniversary Special, Edward Norton appeared as Stefon during the special's 40th anniversary-themed Weekend Update. Feeling like Norton was failing his impression, Stefon appeared to try to guide him into doing the correct hand gestures. After that, Meyers appeared behind both Norton and Stefon and briefly mentioned their unnamed children.[20]

During Hader's second time hosting on March 17, 2018, Stefon returned to Weekend Update for a St. Patrick's Day-themed segment of his New York City recommendations.[21] Stefon, who usually uses the term "midget" to describe his bizarre recommendations, chose not to use it in order to not be insensitive and consulted his attorney and conceptual piss artist named Shy (John Mulaney) for a better term, ultimately using "little people".[22] Mulaney caused Hader to break character yet again by whispering into his ear during his brief appearance, "My girlfriend works at Yoshinoya Beef Bowl."[23] Stefon also made a reference to spouse Seth Meyers' A Closer Look segment at Late Night.[22]

Future appearances

Hader commented on coming back to SNL to play Stefon during an interview with The Guardian on April 25, 2022. He said that SNL "floated" the idea of him reprising the role, but he declined, believing that playing the character now would be a bad idea because the character could be perceived as stereotypical, but he does not rule out playing the character in the future.[24]

Outside Saturday Night Live

In December 2011, Hader (as Stefon) and Seth Meyers made an appearance at A Funny Affair for Autism benefit.[25][26]

When Late Night with Seth Meyers premiered on February 24, 2014, a Stefon matryoshka doll with a veil embellishment, originally hand-crafted by matryoshka artist Irene Hwang and commissioned for a crew holiday gift, was unveiled as part of the decor of Meyers' desk.[27]

Unproduced movie

Mulaney began writing a Stefon feature film before he left SNL. The film was intended to be a mockumentary, showing Stefon visiting different New York hotspots as a correspondent for Weekend Update. Mulaney wanted director Garry Marshall to play Lorne Michaels.[28] However, the film never moved beyond an initial writing stage.[29][30]

Reception

Reception for Stefon has been generally positive. 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."[31]

The character has become a fan-favorite and has been considered to be Hader's most memorable character on Saturday Night Live.[32] Hader has been frequently approached by fans who claim to know someone who acts like Stefon.[33]

Despite being perceived as queer-coded, Stefon is not regarded as a gay icon. Joe Reid of Polygon suggests this is because he is written by a straight man (Mulaney).[34]

See also

Notes
  1. Mispronounced "Dan Cortez" due to a misspelling on Mulaney's part.[18]

References
  1. Maas, Jennifer (November 9, 2019). "'SNL': Watch Every Single One of Bill Hader's Stefon Sketches (Videos)". TheWrap. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  2. "Stefon, from "S.N.L.," Is Real and Works in a New York Coffee Shop". The New Yorker. October 21, 2014. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  3. Potts, Kim (September 24, 2010). "'SNL' Star Bill Hader Talks the New Season, Jon Hamm's Return and His 'Surreal Life' Experience with Corey Feldman". TV Squad. Archived from the original on December 7, 2010. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  4. Vineyard, Jennifer (March 16, 2012). "Bill Hader Would Totally Do a Stefon Bit at the CFDA Awards". The Cut. New York. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  5. Behind the Sketch: Stefon with John Mulaney - SNL (Television production). Saturday Night Live. April 14, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2023 – via YouTube.
  6. Valinsky, Jordan (November 20, 2012). "How SNL's Bill Hader creates New York's weirdest nightclubs". The Daily Dot. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  7. Fallon, Kevin (September 5, 2013). "Bill Hader Is Sad to Leave 'Saturday Night Live' (and Stefon) Behind". The Daily Beast. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  8. Sims, David (May 8, 2011). "Saturday Night Live: "Tina Fey/Ellie Goulding"". The A.V. Club. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  9. Busis, Hillary (August 4, 2017). "'Saturday Night Live': All of Stefon's clubs". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  10. Bill Hader on the Origin of Stefon - Late Night with Seth Meyers (Television production). Late Night with Seth Meyers. September 15, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2023 – via YouTube.
  11. Tucket, Ken (May 22, 2011). "'Saturday Night Live' season finale recap: Justin Timberlake and Lady Gaga, a formidable team". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  12. Duke, Alan (May 19, 2013). "Anderson Cooper jilted at the aisle in 'SNL' wedding". CNN. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  13. Busis, Hillary (May 19, 2013). "Saturday Night Live finale recap: Ben Affleck, Kanye West, Bill Hader". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  14. Busis, Hillary (August 4, 2017). "'Saturday Night Live': All of Stefon's wedding guests". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  15. Evans, Bradford (May 20, 2013). "Here's Everyone Who Was at Stefon's Wedding". Vulture. New York. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  16. Voss, Erik (February 3, 2014). "'SNL' Review: Melissa McCarthy and a Farewell to Seth Meyers". Vulture. New York. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  17. Gupta, Prachi (October 13, 2014). "John Mulaney's Dan Cortese line made Bill Hader break character". Salon.com. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  18. Mulaney, John [@mulaney] (October 12, 2014). "Sent to Rob Klein last night. Apologies for misspelling Cortese. They didn't tell Bill about any of it before air" (Tweet). Retrieved April 15, 2018 – via Twitter.
  19. Gajewski, Ryan (October 11, 2014). "'SNL' Recap: Bill Hader's Stefon Is Pregnant". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  20. Orley, Emily (February 16, 2015). "There Were Two Stefons On The "SNL" 40th Anniversary Show And The World Almost Exploded". BuzzFeed. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
  21. Love, Matthew (March 18, 2018). "Saturday Night Live Recap: Welcome Back, Stefon!". Vulture. New York. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  22. Schwartz, Dana (March 18, 2018). "'SNL': Bill Hader's Stefon makes triumphant return to Weekend Update". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  23. Colburn, Randall (March 20, 2018). "Here's what John Mulaney said to make Bill Hader break character on SNL". The A.V. Club. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  24. Freeman, Hadley (April 25, 2022). "'What's this disease that keeps us making bad choices?': Bill Hader on murder, misery and his hit comedy Barry". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  25. Cantor, Hallie (December 7, 2011). "Stefon Offers Nightlife Advice to Autism Charity Eventgoers". Vulture. New York. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  26. Schreiber, Abby (December 6, 2011). "Bill Hader's Stefon Has Some Christmas Recommendations for You". Vulture. New York. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  27. Angelo, Megan (February 25, 2014). "The Late Night With Seth Meyers Premiere: Fred Armisen, Amy Poehler, and a Tiny Stefon". Glamour. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  28. Morrow, George (May 26, 2022). "How Bill Hader's Stefon Came Full Circle - Thanks to Ben Affleck". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  29. Fox, Jesse David (November 8, 2015). "John Mulaney Opens Up About Show's Cancellation". Vulture. New York. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  30. Wright, Megh (March 1, 2019). "John Mulaney and Seth Meyers Talk About the Stefon Movie That Never Got Made". Vulture. New York. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  31. Reddish, David (April 25, 2022). "Don't expect to see Stefon anytime soon on 'SNL'". Queerty. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  32. Williamson, Michael (January 9, 2023). "Bill Hader's Backstage Fear Makes His Best SNL Character Even Better". Screen Rant. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  33. Kaplan, Arie (August 1, 2014). Saturday Night Live: Shaping TV Comedy and American Culture. Twenty-First Century Books. p. 31. ISBN 978-1-4677-4795-0.
  34. Reid, Joe (May 29, 2019). "The Saturday Night Live queer canon". Polygon. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
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