Yes, Bill Hader Was a Writer on South Park – How He Got the Job, Explained

Noted funnyman Bill Hader has had an incredible career in film and television as an actor, director and writer, although even his biggest fans may not know that he was also a member of the South Park writing team. Most people probably know Bill Hader best from the years following SNLan eight-season run that resulted in some of the series’ most iconic characters, including Stefon and Anthony Peter Coleman. Hader’s postSNL career has undoubtedly been more impressive, with his shows Barry and Documentary now! earning rave reviews.

Even during his time in SNLHader was expanding his horizons, dabbling in movies and TV shows outside of NBC’s reach. During his time on the show, he also consulted on the hit animated series South Park. South Park needs little introduction. The Comedy Central show debuted in 1997 and has remained one of America’s most important cultural touchstones and satirical looks ever since. An insular and small team, as evidenced by 6 days to go live, It’s a shame for Hader that he was allowed into the writing room.

South Park Co-Creator Matt Stone Asked Bill Hader to Write for Season 17

Stone and Hader met in Los Angeles while Hader was filming, forgetting about Sarah Marshall

Bill Hader met South Park co-creator Matt Stone while he was in Los Angeles filming Forgetting Sarah Marshall (through Vulture). The pair struck up a friendship, and a year later, Hader was in Vancouver filming another movie. When he informed Stone, Stone invited him to a writers’ retreat that was taking place simultaneously in the Canadian city,

“I was telling Matt, ‘I’m in Vancouver’ and he said, ‘We’ll be in Seattle for a South Park retreat where we’ll spend a week in a nice hotel and in the morning we’ll talk. Watch episodes of South Park and then have lunch and maybe go on a little excursion or something – go to a museum, walk around, see the city – and then we met up again later in the afternoon and then we had dinner. I was like, ‘Wow, that sounds great.’ He says, ‘Yes, do you want to come?'”

So Hader began working as a consultant for the show in a limited capacity. Then 2013 came and Hader left SNL forever. When Stone and co-creator Trey Parker learned that Hader would be moving to Los Angeles, they invited him to work full time South Park season 17. Hader said of the opportunity,

“I think one of their writers went to another show or something, so it was just Matt, Trey and Vernon. [South Park‘s longtime producer, Vernon Chatman]. It would be the four of us. I said, ‘Oh my God, that would be amazing.’

Hader was extremely pleased with his new job after the hectic hours at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York,

“It’s really great. You get there at 9 a.m. and we’re usually done by noon. I don’t actually physically write any episodes. You sit in the writers’ room with Trey and Matt, brainstorming an idea, and then Trey goes and writes it. “

Notable Episodes of Bill Hader’s South Park

Hader is credited as a consulting writer on many episodes

Hader may not have physically written any episodes of South Parkbut he is credited as a consulting writer on several prior to season 17. Season 13, Episode 5, “Fishsticks,” is one of its notable achievements. Often cited as one of the South ParkOf the best episodes of ‘Fishsticks’, Cartman and Jimmy create a joke so funny that it makes whoever hears it vomit with joy. Everyone loves it, except Kanye West, who becomes increasingly frustrated by it.

Writing in South Park It’s a true collaboration and it can be assumed that even if Hader is not credited in an episode of a season he worked on, he was likely important to its creation. Hader’s love of hyper-absurd humor can best be seen in episodes like Season 15, Episode 5, “Crack Baby Athletic Association”, where Hader pushed for Cartman to actually dress up as a plantation owner to drive home the analogy dark and funny between the NCAA and slavery.

Hader also served as a voice actor on South Park

Hader voiced a handful of secondary characters

Hader has voiced several characters over the years South Parkfrom the 15th to the 19th season. Sometimes he uses “South Park“voice for characters like the Farmer, but other times he goes into Bill Hader-SNL voice he used for newsroom and game show host characters in SNL. He also made a great impression on Alec Baldwin in season 17, episode 1, “Let Go, Let Gov”. Whether he’s writing, voicing, or just sitting in the room laughing, Bill Hader brings something indelible to your South Park episodes.