Taran Killam Reveals the One 'SNL' Bit He Was Told Not to Do
It turns out that not everyone is as impressed with Taran Killam’s film career as he is. On an episode of David Spade and Dana Carvey’s podcast Fly on the Wall, the former Saturday Night Live star revealed that he was asked to stop telling celebrity hosts that he had starred in the brutal Oscar-winning drama 12 Years a Slave.
In Steve McQueen’s 2013 film, Killam plays Abram Hamilton, one of the nefarious businessmen who kidnaps Solomon Northrup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and sells him into slavery. Killam’s role is confined to the film’s first act, but that didn’t stop him from sharing his accomplishments with anyone who would listen. The film went on to win three Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
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Killam explained to Spade and Carvey that because he “was terrible at pitching” sketches, he would often try to relate to the hosts by mentioning his Hollywood credentials. “I did a bit for almost an entire season, where I would start to pitch the host on an idea,” Killam recalled. “I was like, ‘Well, I know you’re in a movie with a plane, so that’s great, and I thought we could play pilots because, you know, when I was in 12 Years a Slave, what I found about the process that was most rewarding…’ and then I would go real indulgent.”
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Killam admitted that the bit “got some chuckles at first,” but soon it turned “terrible.” Eventually, SNL writer Bryan Tucker pulled Killam aside and told him, “Don’t do that anymore. Lorne has said something. Don’t do that.”
Killam served as a cast member on SNL from 2010 until 2016. He’s now starring on the ABC series High Potential. 12 Years a Slave is available to rent on all major rental platforms.
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