Why David Schwimmer is still traumatized by his 1995 hosting of ‘SNL’

David Schwimmer reflected on his unpleasant experience as a guest host at Saturday Night Live.

During the an an interview with Stephen Colbert on Late show on Monday, Jan. 13, Schwimmer, 58, recalled a time when he was preparing for a concert in 1995 in the midst of Friends‘ success. (Schwimmer played the role of Ross Heller in the 1994 comedy series.)

Schwimmer, who went to college with Colbert, 60, and studied with the TV host as a theater student, said he made “one big mistake” the first time. Friends a cast member will be invited to host SNL at that time.

“It was a great honor … I couldn’t be more excited,” Schwimmer explained. “Friends at the time, it was a Tuesday night shoot, and we’d shoot until 1 a.m. sometimes, so I’d fly from LA to New York on a Wednesday to get there. I really didn’t have time to come SNL by Thursday, two days before Saturday’s show.”

Schwimmer, who currently appears in the Hulu/Disney+ series Goosebumps: Disappearancecontinued, “When I walked into the writers’ room, the entire writing staff looked at me like I’d just slept with their mom or something. They weren’t happy to see me and I had no idea (why).”

The actor told how he “somehow survived” the next two days, despite the “some trauma” received by his colleagues.

When asked by Colbert how hosting came about, Schwimmer noted, “I don’t remember how it was, to be honest.”

Schwimmer added that the writers’ cryptic reaction crystallized “years later.” He explained how he “talked to somebody else who was running the show and they said, no, no, no, you have to come on Monday.”

“Nobody told me, and for years I didn’t know why,” he added.

Although the confusion has never been resolved, Schwimmer said he was recently invited to 50th anniversary of the exhibition event that will take place next month.

On the subject: Ants cast praises David Schwimmer for being a ‘generous working dad’

The cast of Goosebumps: The Vanishing will take every opportunity to praise David Schwimmer for being a great actor on and off screen. During an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, Ana Ortiz, Elijah M. Cooper, Galileo La Salvia, Francesca Noel, Stoney Blyden, Sam McCarthy and Jayden Bartels talked about using the screen with Schwimmer (…)

“It’s been 30 years, and I think, well, maybe they forgot that they don’t like me? Or it’s just an intern tasked with emailing everyone who’s ever posted, but I don’t know what to do,” Schwimmer said.

Colbert then urged his friend to “go” to the event, telling Schwimmer that he “worked there a little bit” and didn’t get his own invite.

“Yeah, but I don’t want to be like Charlie Brown with the football, you know, you’re looking forward to it again, and, no, we don’t want you here,” Schwimmer said. “Do you want to be my plus?” (SNL is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary on February 16 with a three-hour prime-time special featuring five decades of popular cast members and fan-favorite guest hosts.)

A visibly amused Colbert accepted Schwimmer’s invitation, securing him with a firm handshake on his desk.