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Stefon Meyers (''
The birth name is the name of the person given upon their birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name or to the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a births registe ...
'' Zolesky) is a fictional character portrayed by
Bill Hader William Thomas Hader Jr.''Finding Your Roots'', January 26, 2016, PBS. (born June 7, 1978) is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, producer, and director. He was a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series ''Saturday Night Live'' from 20 ...
on the American sketch-comedy television show ''
Saturday Night Live ''Saturday Night Live'' (''SNL'') is an American Late night television in the United States, late-night live television, live sketch comedy variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Michaels and Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC. The ...
'' (''SNL''). Created by Hader and writer
John Mulaney John Edmund Mulaney (born August 26, 1982) is an American Stand up comedian, stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Mulaney first rose to prominence for his work as a writer for the NBC sketch comedy ...
, Stefon is based on people Hader and Mulaney encountered in their daily lives, including a club promoter and a
barista A barista ( , ; ) is a person, usually a coffeehouse employee, who prepares and serves espresso-based coffee drinks and other beverages. Etymology and inflection The word comes from Italian, where it means a "bartender" who typically works be ...
. Stefon first appeared in the sketch "Movie Pitch with Stefon" on the November 1, 2008, episode hosted by
Ben Affleck Benjamin Géza Affleck (born August 15, 1972) is an American actor and filmmaker. His accolades include two Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, and three Golden Globes. Affleck began his career as a child when he starred in the PBS educatio ...
, later becoming a recurring character on ''
Weekend Update ''Weekend Update'' is a ''Saturday Night Live'' sketch and satirical news program that comments on and parodies current events. It is the show's longest-running recurring sketch, having been on since the show's first broadcast and been featu ...
'' from 2010 until 2013. Stefon is described as a "city correspondent"; when asked about recommendations for events and destinations in
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
, Stefon suggests unusual
nightclubs A nightclub or dance club is a club that is open at night, usually for drinking, dancing and other entertainment. Nightclubs often have a bar and discotheque (usually simply known as disco) with a dance floor, laser lighting displays, and ...
and parties with bizarre characters and themes. The character is also shown to be infatuated with the ''Weekend Update'' anchor,
Seth Meyers Seth Adam Meyers (born December 28, 1973) is an American comedian, television host, writer, actor, and producer. He hosts ''Late Night with Seth Meyers'', a late-night talk show on NBC. Prior to hosting Late Night, he was a cast member on NBC's ...
, 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 card Cue cards, also known as note cards, are cards with words written on them that help actors and speakers remember what they have to say. They are typically used in television productions where they can be held off-camera and are unseen by the a ...
s, Mulaney constantly changed the script prior to the live broadcast to make Hader
break character Break or Breaks or The Break may refer to: Time off from duties * Recess (break), time in which a group of people is temporarily dismissed from its duties * Break (work), time off during a shift/recess ** Coffee break, a short mid-morning rest ...
. 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 ''Saturday Night Live'' (''SNL'') is an American Late night television in the United States, late-night live television, live sketch comedy variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Michaels and Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC. The ...
'' (''SNL'') cast member
Bill Hader William Thomas Hader Jr.''Finding Your Roots'', January 26, 2016, PBS. (born June 7, 1978) is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, producer, and director. He was a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series ''Saturday Night Live'' from 20 ...
and writer
John Mulaney John Edmund Mulaney (born August 26, 1982) is an American Stand up comedian, stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Mulaney first rose to prominence for his work as a writer for the NBC sketch comedy ...
. 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. His voice and mannerisms are based on those of a barista at a
Chelsea, Manhattan Chelsea is a neighborhood on the West Side (Manhattan), West Side of the Boroughs of New York City, borough of Manhattan in New York City. The area's boundaries are roughly 14th Street (Manhattan), 14th Street to the south, the Hudson River an ...
, coffee shop Hader frequented. 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. Stefon was originally written for a sketch for the November 1, 2008, ''SNL'' episode hosted by
Ben Affleck Benjamin Géza Affleck (born August 15, 1972) is an American actor and filmmaker. His accolades include two Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, and three Golden Globes. Affleck began his career as a child when he starred in the PBS educatio ...
. In the sketch, Stefon and Affleck's character, David Zolesky, were pitching a film to a studio. It was well received, leading Hader and Mulaney to write a similar sketch featuring Stefon when
Bradley Cooper Bradley Charles Cooper (born January 5, 1975) is an American actor and filmmaker. He is the recipient of various accolades, including a British Academy Film Award and three Grammy Awards. In addition, he has been nominated for twelve Acade ...
hosted the show. The reception for the new sketch was more adverse when it played at
dress rehearsal The dress rehearsal is a full-scale rehearsal shortly before the first performance where the actors and/or musicians perform every detail of the performance. Dress rehearsal is often the final rehearsal before the premiere A premiere, also ...
. This made them feel that the character was not working, with Mulaney remarking that there were too many individuals for a skit centered on a single character. Doug Abeles, the head writer of ''Saturday Night Live'' satirical news segment ''
Weekend Update ''Weekend Update'' is a ''Saturday Night Live'' sketch and satirical news program that comments on and parodies current events. It is the show's longest-running recurring sketch, having been on since the show's first broadcast and been featu ...
'', suggested that the character should be introduced as a correspondent on the feature instead. 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. 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 Seth Adam Meyers (born December 28, 1973) is an American comedian, television host, writer, actor, and producer. He hosts ''Late Night with Seth Meyers'', a late-night talk show on NBC. Prior to hosting Late Night, he was a cast member on NBC's ...
could pick which jokes to include. 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. Hader described his role in the writing process for the character as an "editor" and would pitch parts that included odd voices. 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 card Cue cards, also known as note cards, are cards with words written on them that help actors and speakers remember what they have to say. They are typically used in television productions where they can be held off-camera and are unseen by the a ...
s, 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. To make sure Hader did not stumble on his lines, Mulaney would tell him the new jokes shortly before he entered the set. Mulaney characterized getting Hader to crack as a "group effort", adding that cast member
Andy Samberg Andy Samberg (born David A. J. Samberg; August 18, 1978) is an American comedian, actor, musician, writer and producer. He is a member of the comedy music group the Lonely Island, along with childhood friends Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone. ...
would stand near the camera, cross his hands, and look at Hader, tempting him to laugh. 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. Despite Stefon's popularity among fans, Hader felt pressure while portraying the role, as he often struggled to stay in character. 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 Anderson Hays Cooper (born June 3, 1967) is an American broadcast journalist and political commentator who anchors the CNN news broadcast show ''Anderson Cooper 360°''. In addition to his duties at CNN, Cooper serves as a correspondent for ''6 ...
, similar to the 1967 film ''
The Graduate ''The Graduate'' is a 1967 American independent romantic comedy-drama film directed by Mike Nichols and written by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham, based on the 1963 novella by Charles Webb. It stars Dustin Hoffman as Benjamin Braddoc ...
''. The idea was not enthusiastically received by the staff, including ''SNL'' creator and producer
Lorne Michaels Lorne Michaels (born Lorne David Lipowitz; November 17, 1944) is a Canadian and American television writer and film producer. He created and produced ''Saturday Night Live'' (1975–1980, 1985–present) and produced the ''Late Night (franchise) ...
, 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 New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...
. He starts the recommendations with the phrase "New York's hottest club" and continues with the description of the club, usually containing odd personalities such as "leprechauns that look like
Farrah Fawcett Farrah Fawcett (born Ferrah Leni Fawcett; February 2, 1947 – June 25, 2009) was an American actress. A four-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee and six-time Golden Globe Award nominee, Fawcett rose to international fame when she played a ...
", "a doorman who always high-fives children of divorce", or various types of
midget Midget (from ''midge'', a tiny biting insect) is a term for a person of unusually short stature that is considered by some to be pejorative due to its etymology. While not a Medical terminology, medical term like ''dwarf'' (for a person with d ...
s described as human objects, such as "human DVRs" or "human
piñata A piñata (, ) is a container, often made of papier-mâché, pottery, or cloth, that is decorated, filled with candy, and then broken as part of a celebration. Piñatas are commonly associated with Mexico. The idea of breaking a container fill ...
s". Stefon wears long-sleeved Ed Hardy shirts and has an asymmetrical, highlighted haircut. In his appearances on ''Weekend Update'', Stefon claims that his mother goes by the name Ms. Stefon, his father is English musician
David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer, songwriter and actor. Regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Bowie was acclaimed by critics and musicians, pa ...
, he lives in a trash can outside a
RadioShack RadioShack (formerly written as Radio Shack) is an American electronics retailer that was established in 1921 as an amateur radio mail-order business. Its parent company was purchased by Tandy Corporation in 1962, which shifted its focus from ma ...
store at the corner of 23rd Street and 7th Avenue in Manhattan, and he has a dog named Bark Ruffalo. Stefon has a nervous and palpable personality and often touches his face. Tess Lynch, writing for ''
Grantland ''Grantland'' was a sports and pop-culture blog owned and operated by ESPN. The blog was started in 2011 by veteran writer and sports journalist Bill Simmons, who remained as editor-in-chief until May 2015. ''Grantland'' was named after famed ...
'', characterized Stefon's persona as intriguingly relatable. She noted his eagerness to suggest offbeat clubs, juxtaposed with an underlying apprehension. 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. 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 eyers and Seth wouldn't like him, so it was just organic that this relationship happened." 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 Technocracy is a form of government in which decision-makers appoint knowledge experts in specific domains to provide them with advice and guidance in various areas of their policy-making responsibilities. Technocracy follows largely in the tra ...
elite. They stated that " r 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." According to
anthropologist An anthropologist is a scientist engaged in the practice of anthropology. Anthropologists study aspects of humans within past and present societies. Social anthropology, cultural anthropology and philosophical anthropology study the norms, values ...
s 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. Additionally, they describe the sketch as fitting a form of
homonationalism Homonationalism is the selective acceptance of LGBTQ+ people in order to promote a nationalist ideology. It describes a phenomenon in which some nations strategically show increased support for LGBTQ+ rights as a means of reinforcing racial, r ...
, which is characterized by the inclusion of queer subjects through racial and national differences.


Appearances


''Saturday Night Live''

Stefon debuted in a sketch in 2008 as the brother of Ben Affleck's more serious character, David Zolesky; the character was then introduced as a correspondent on ''Weekend Update'' the following season in 2010. Stefon returned during the season 35 finale of ''SNL'', two episodes after his initial appearance, and the fourth episode of season 36 hosted by
Emma Stone Emily Jean "Emma" Stone (born November 6, 1988) is an American actress and film producer. Her accolades include two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards. In 2017, she was the world's highest-paid actr ...
. Stefon appeared on ''Weekend Update'' again during an episode hosted by
Paul Rudd Paul Stephen Rudd (born April 6, 1969) is an American actor. Rudd studied theatre at the University of Kansas and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts before making his acting debut in 1991. He was included on the ''Forbes'' Celebrity 100 li ...
in December 2010, where the character performed an altered version of " The Twelve Days of Christmas" as part of his appearance, and the next episode, where he performed " O Christmas Tree" with other recurring characters,
David Paterson David Alexander Paterson (born May 20, 1954) is an American politician and attorney who served as the 55th governor of New York, succeeding Eliot Spitzer, who resigned, and serving out nearly three years of Spitzer's term from March 2008 to ...
(
Fred Armisen Fereydun Robert Armisen (born December 4, 1966) is an American actor, comedian, musician, and writer. With his comedy partner Carrie Brownstein, he co-created and co-starred in the IFC sketch comedy series '' Portlandia''. He also co-created ...
) and
Snooki Nicole Elizabeth LaValle (née Polizzi; born November 23, 1987), best known by her nickname Snooki ( ), is an American reality television personality. She is best known for being a cast member of the MTV reality show ''Jersey Shore (TV series ...
(
Bobby Moynihan Robert Michael Moynihan Jr. (born January 31, 1977) is an American actor and comedian. He was a cast member and writer for the NBC sketch comedy series ''Saturday Night Live'' from 2008 to 2017. Outside of ''SNL'', he has also voiced Louie Duc ...
). The next year, Stefon showed up in an episode hosted by
Russell Brand Russell Edward Brand (born 4 June 1975) is an English comedian, actor, podcaster and media personality. He established himself as a stand-up comedian and radio host before becoming a film actor. After beginning his career as a comedian and la ...
, when he recommended
Valentine's Day Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a Christian feast day honoring a Christian martyrs, martyr named Saint Valentine, Valentine, and ...
destinations, as well as another episode presented by
Tina Fey Elizabeth Stamatina "Tina" Fey (; born May 18, 1970) is an American actress, comedian, writer, and producer. Known for her comedic roles in sketch comedy, television and film, Fey has received List of awards and nominations received by Tina Fe ...
. Stefon made a short appearance in the season 36 finale of ''SNL'', where he and Meyers sign off ''Weekend Update''. On the third episode of season 37, Stefon appeared with the character Derek Zoolander (
Ben Stiller Benjamin Edward Meara Stiller (born November 30, 1965) is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. Known for his blend of slapstick humor and sharp wit, Stiller rose to fame through comedies such as ''There's Something About Mary'' (1998), ' ...
) from the eponymous film. He also made an appearance in the
Katy Perry Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson (born October 25, 1984), known professionally as Katy Perry, is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. She is one of the List of best-selling music artists, best-selling music artists in hist ...
episode as well as its promos. Stefon made a short cameo appearance with singer-songwriter
Paul Simon Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter known for his solo work and his collaborations with Art Garfunkel. He and Garfunkel, whom he met in elementary school in 1953, came to prominence in the 1960s as Sim ...
in the monologue of the 2012 episode hosted by
Maya Rudolph Maya Khabira Rudolph (born July 27, 1972) is an American actress and comedian. In 2000, she became a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show ''Saturday Night Live'' (''SNL''). During her tenure on the show, she appeared in supporting roles in ...
, and in the ''Weekend Update'' segment of the
Jonah Hill Jonah Hill (born Jonah Hill Feldstein; December 20, 1983) is an American actor. List of awards and nominations received by Jonah Hill, The accolades he has received include nominations for two Academy Awards, a British Academy Film Award, BAFTA ...
episode, Stefon kissed Meyers for the first time. The character made another appearance in the season 37 finale, the
Bruno Mars Peter Gene Hernandez (born October 8, 1985), known professionally as Bruno Mars, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. Regarded as a pop icon, he is known for his three-octave tenor vocal range, live performances, R ...
episode of season 38, where he suggested
Halloween Halloween, or Hallowe'en (less commonly known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve), is a celebration geography of Halloween, observed in many countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christianity, Western Christian f ...
-related activities in New York City, and in the episode hosted by
Justin Timberlake Justin Randall Timberlake (born January 31, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, and dancer. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Prince of Pop", ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' honored him as the b ...
. 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 Amy Meredith Poehler ( ; born September 16, 1971) is an American actress and comedian. Known for her roles in sketch comedy, sitcoms and comedy films, she has earned acclaim and several accolades including a Primetime Emmy Award (out of 26 nom ...
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 Fifth Avenue is a major thoroughfare in the borough (New York City), borough of Manhattan in New York City. The avenue runs south from 143rd Street (Manhattan), West 143rd Street in Harlem to Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village. The se ...
but found Stefon was marrying journalist Anderson Cooper. Seth enters the church, finds Stefon, and takes him back to
Studio 8H Studio 8H is a television studio located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, United States. The studio is a part of NBC Studios (New York City), NBC Studios, the home of the NBC television network, located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. It is most not ...
, where they proclaim their love for each other. 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. After Seth and Stefon return to the studio, characters from ''Weekend Update'' gather to congratulate them. The wedding segment is a reference to the 1967 film ''
The Graduate ''The Graduate'' is a 1967 American independent romantic comedy-drama film directed by Mike Nichols and written by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham, based on the 1963 novella by Charles Webb. It stars Dustin Hoffman as Benjamin Braddoc ...
''. 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''. During Hader's first time hosting of ''SNL'' the same year, Stefon returned to ''Weekend Update'', hosted by
Colin Jost Colin Kelly Jost (; born June 29, 1982) is an American comedian, writer, and actor. Jost has been a staff writer for the NBC sketch comedy series ''Saturday Night Live'' since 2005, and co-anchor of '' Weekend Update'' since 2014. He also serv ...
and
Michael Che Michael Che Campbell (; born May 19, 1983) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and writer. Che is best known for his work on the NBC sketch comedy series ''Saturday Night Live'', where he has served as co-anchor on '' Weekend Update'' al ...
, to recommend New York clubs for tourists interested in autumn activities and ended the sketch by announcing his pregnancy. As part of the ''Weekend Update'' segment of the ''Saturday Night Live'' 40th Anniversary Special in 2015,
Edward Norton Edward Harrison Norton (born August 18, 1969) is an American actor, producer, director, and screenwriter. After graduating from Yale College in 1991 with a degree in history, he worked for a few months in Japan before moving to New York City ...
portrayed Stefon but was confronted by the real Stefon portrayed by Hader and Meyers. On Hader's second time hosting in 2018, Stefon returned to ''Weekend Update'' for a
St. Patrick's Day Saint Patrick's Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick (), is a religious and cultural holiday held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick (), the foremost patron saint of Ireland. Saint Patrick's Day was made an official Chri ...
-themed segment of New York City recommendations. 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". During an interview with ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
'' 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. In an interview with ''
The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
'' 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.


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. The pair also made an appearance on the 2012 edition of ''
Night of Too Many Stars ''Night of Too Many Stars'' is a fundraising telethon for autism. It has been held every two or three years since 2003. The event was founded by Robert Smigel after learning that his son was diagnosed with autism.Late Night with Seth Meyers ''Late Night with Seth Meyers'' is an American late-night news and political satire variety talk show hosted by Seth Meyers on NBC. The show premiered on February 24, 2014, and is produced by Broadway Video and Universal Television. Airing w ...
'' premiered on February 24, 2014, a Stefon
matryoshka doll Matryoshka dolls (), also known as stacking dolls, nesting dolls, Russian tea dolls, or Russian dolls, are a set of wooden dolls of decreasing size placed one inside another. The name ''Matryoshka'' is a diminutive form of ''Matryosha'' (), i ...
was unveiled as part of the decor of Meyers's desk.


Unproduced movie

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the flagship namesake subsidiary of Paramount ...
began discussions for a feature film featuring Stefon. The film was intended to be a
mockumentary A mockumentary (a portmanteau of ''mock'' and ''documentary'') is a type of film or television show depicting fictional events, but presented as a Documentary film, documentary. Mockumentaries are often used to analyze or comment on current event ...
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, and Mulaney wanted director
Garry Marshall Garry Kent Marshall (November 13, 1934 – July 19, 2016) was an American screenwriter, director, producer and actor. Marshall began his career in the 1960s as a writer for ''The Lucy Show'' and ''The Dick Van Dyke Show'' until he developed the T ...
to portray ''SNL'' creator and producer Lorne Michaels. Hader and Mulaney later rejected the offer because, according to Hader, "in
heir Inheritance is the practice of receiving private property, titles, debts, entitlements, privileges, rights, and obligations upon the death of an individual. The rules of inheritance differ among societies and have changed over time. Offi ...
mind, it never worked as a sketch".


Reception

Stefon has had a generally positive reception, with James Poniewozik of ''
Time Time is the continuous progression of existence that occurs in an apparently irreversible process, irreversible succession from the past, through the present, and into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequ ...
'' describing it as one of the best contemporary ''SNL'' skits. David Reddish of ''
Queerty ''Queerty'' is an online magazine and newspaper covering gay- and LGBTQ-oriented entertainment and news, founded in 2005 by David Hauslaib. As of June 2015, the site had more than five million monthly unique visitors. History ''Queerty'' was ...
'' 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". David Sims of ''
The A.V. Club ''The A.V. Club'' is an online newspaper and entertainment website featuring reviews, interviews, and other articles that examine films, music, television, books, games, and other elements of pop-culture media. ''The A.V. Club'' was created in ...
'' and Daniel Holloway of ''
Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'' said Stefon was one of the few recurring characters they never grew tired of. Tess Lynch of ''
Grantland ''Grantland'' was a sports and pop-culture blog owned and operated by ESPN. The blog was started in 2011 by veteran writer and sports journalist Bill Simmons, who remained as editor-in-chief until May 2015. ''Grantland'' was named after famed ...
'' and Laura Bennett of ''
The New Republic ''The New Republic'' (often abbreviated as ''TNR'') is an American magazine focused on domestic politics, news, culture, and the arts from a left-wing perspective. It publishes ten print magazines a year and a daily online platform. ''The New Y ...
'' said Meyers and Stefon's chemistry made the character stand out. According to Jordan Crucchiola of ''
Wired Wired may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * ''Wired'' (Jeff Beck album), 1976 * ''Wired'' (Hugh Cornwell album), 1993 * ''Wired'' (Mallory Knox album), 2017 * "Wired", a song by Prism from their album '' Beat Street'' * "Wired ...
'', Stefon was "too funny to let go of", and Brian Welk of ''
TheWrap ''TheWrap'' is an American online news organization that covers the business of entertainment and media. It was founded by journalist Sharon Waxman in 2009 and is based in Los Angeles. The site features original reporting, analysis, and editor ...
'' said that although Stefon often covers his face with his hands due to Hader breaking, it has made the character "forever endearing". 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", while Erik Voss of ''
Vulture A vulture is a bird of prey that scavenges on carrion. There are 23 extant species of vulture (including condors). Old World vultures include 16 living species native to Europe, Africa, and Asia; New World vultures are restricted to Nort ...
'' 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 ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American online magazine, digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, ...
'' 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 ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. The magazine was first known fo ...
'' as well as ''
TVLine ''TVLine'' is a website devoted to information, news, and spoilers of television programs. It covers various topics including the latest news on television, reviews, latest releases, and more. History In late 2010, ''Entertainment Weekly''s ...
'', second on ''
MovieWeb Valnet, Inc. is a Canadian media company established in August 2012 by Hassan and Sam Youssef in Montreal, Quebec. It operates primarily in the entertainment media industry, where it has sought to acquire producers of content in this space. In ...
'', and third on ''Entertainment Weekly''. Hader has frequently been approached by fans who claim to know someone who acts like Stefon. Due to the character's popularity, numerous online users have quoted him and written
fan fiction Fan fiction or fanfiction, also known as fan fic, fanfic, fic or FF, is fiction typically written in an amateur capacity by fans as a form of fan labor, unauthorized by, but based on, an existing work of fiction. The author uses copyrighted ...
about him. Joe Reid of ''
Polygon In geometry, a polygon () is a plane figure made up of line segments connected to form a closed polygonal chain. The segments of a closed polygonal chain are called its '' edges'' or ''sides''. The points where two edges meet are the 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. Joanna Campbell, the former executive director of
Little People of America Little People of America (LPA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which provides support, resources, and information to individuals with dwarfism and their families. Founding LPA was founded in 1957 by actor Billy Barty when he informally ca ...
, has criticized the character's derogatory use of the term "midget". Hader has since expressed his regret for using the word.


See also

* List of recurring ''Saturday Night Live'' characters and sketches (introduced 2008–2009)


References


Notes


Citations


Works cited

* * * ** * {{John Mulaney Television characters introduced in 2008 Fictional gay men Saturday Night Live characters Fictional LGBTQ characters in television Saturday Night Live in the 2000s Saturday Night Live in the 2010s