SNL’s Bobby Moynihan: ‘I try not to listen to Trump any more’
This SNL regular is now channeling his amazing voice talents into movies
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Bobby Moynihan spent nine years on American comedy institution Saturday Night Live, so was his departure in 2017 the reason President Donald Trump said the show was “no longer funny”?
“I hope not!” Moynihan says with a short laugh. “I hope he never thinks about me — ever!”
Since leaving SNL, Moynihan has been using his amazing ability to do different voices in such shows as Duck Tales, Star Wars Resistance and as Mel the Pug in Secret Life Of Pets and its sequel, Secret Life Of Pets 2.
SNL, as it is known, helped launch the careers of great comedians, from Chevy Chase and Bill Murray to Eddie Murphy, Mike Myers, Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.
“In the first two years after you get out, when people see you on the street, they’re like” ‘Hey, it’s SNL’!” Moynihan says. “The show is the star.”
But it has been dragged into the American political scene due to Alec Baldwin’s parodies of Donald Trump — and the President’s ferocious attacks on the show.
Moynihan’s final year on the show was the first of the Trump presidency and he has previously said it was “the hardest year easily”.
“You get so used to never sleeping and writing all night long, and I made it through eight years of this, thinking this can’t get any worse. And then, all of a sudden Trump happens … With Trump you would come in on Friday and he did something nuts, and we’d have to re-do everything. But I’m so thankful I was there for that year. My first episode was the first time Tina (Fey) did Sarah Palin. And I was in the audience for Sean Spicer, when Melissa (McCarthy) did that,” he said.
Now Moynihan says he is “just super-happy I did it and survived”.
He admits he does sometime think of going back to the show. “I would love to go back because it’s like going home — but then I think I’m too tired!”
He still watches every episode and says it is “just as important as it always was”.
So does hearing Trump call the show a “total Republican hit job” and “no longer funny, no talent or charm” make him feel sad?
“Yes, it always does,” he says. “I try not to listen to Trump any more.”
So what would a world that couldn’t laugh at our politicians be like?
“Awful!” he says. “Everyone would just be angry. I’m glad there’s still a place that can make fun of them.”
Moynihan has a young daughter and is looking forward to showing her some of his sketches and impressions from SNL.
“There’s nothing I’ve done that I’m too ashamed of,” he says with a laugh.
Before then she gets to see him voice Mel the Pug in Pets 1 and 2.
“She hasn’t seen it yet — she’s still a little freaked out by stuffed animals,” he says.
“And when she’s watching Duck Tales, she hears me and gets confused why Dad’s voice is on the TV!”
Tom Hanks has said that voicing animated characters such as Woody from Toy Story is hard work but Moynihan has a different view.
“Tom Hanks is a liar,” he says. “Just kidding! No, the more you do it, the better you get. If it’s not getting easier then you’re not getting better.”
Secret Life Of Pets 2 is out on digital download and from the Foxtel Box Office from October 23 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-Ray and DVD from November 6; Star Wars Resistance and Duck Tales are also screening on Foxtel
Originally published as SNL’s Bobby Moynihan: ‘I try not to listen to Trump any more’