Fred Armisen recalls feeling a ‘direct connection’ to Mike Myers on SNL

Fred Armisen has reflected on the early influences that shaped his connection to Saturday Night Live — revealing that Mike Myers played a pivotal role in making him feel like he belonged.

Speaking on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast, the 59-year-old comedian shared that his bond with the iconic sketch show began long before he officially joined its cast in 2002.

Armisen explained that his connection to SNL was shaped not only by its comedy but also by its musical identity.

He recalled being particularly drawn to appearances by bands like The B-52's, Devo, and Talking Heads, artists whose presence on mainstream television made him feel understood.

He credited the show’s creator, Lorne Michaels, with curating a creative space that seemed to “communicate” directly with him.

According to Armisen, the blend of offbeat humor and alternative music made the show stand out in a way few others did at the time.

While sketches like the classic “Mr. Bill” left an impression, it was Myers’ arrival on the show that deepened that connection.

Armisen said he felt an immediate creative alignment with the comedian, describing it as if they were “speaking the same language.”

He pointed to the iconic “Sprockets” sketch in which Myers portrayed the eccentric German host Dieter as a defining example of the quirky, stylized humor that resonated with him even before he had seen it.

Myers, who rose to prominence on SNL in the late 1980s and early 1990s, became known for his distinctive characters and unconventional comedic tone qualities that clearly left a lasting mark on Armisen.

Years later, Armisen would go on to join the long-running NBC series himself, becoming a cast member in 2002 and remaining on the show for 11 seasons — a full-circle moment rooted in the influences that first made him feel at home.