Seth Meyers Calls SNL Departure 'Heartbreaking'

Credit: NBC

Seth Meyers is inheriting Jimmy Fallon's role as the host of Late Night when the fellow SNL alum ascends to The Tonight Show mantle on Feb. 17. But in moving up to Late Night, Seth Meyers must leave Saturday Night Live, where he served as cast member (primarily as anchor for Weekend Update) and head writer.

At the Television Critics Association Winter press tour, Meyers held a panel to discuss his impending exit from Saturday Night Live, revealing that Feb. 1 will be his farewell episode as he prepares for his debut as host of Late Night on Feb. 24. Meyers reflected on his situation with a bittersweet mindset.

“It’s heartbreaking, but I’m really happy I came back and did this first half of the year,” said Meyers. “There was talks when this came up — because I found out before my last show last year — and I knew I wanted to come back, and I’m really glad I did. The nice thing about SNL is that you’re busy that you don’t have much time to reminisce.”

Although he's yet to say goodbye to SNL, Meyers is already looking ahead to the premiere of Late Night: the actor/comedian confirmed that the show's theme song was just sent out to composers this week, and adds that the show is currently in the process of finding a band. But that's not all. Meyers stated that the writers are looking to create some new characters, in the mold of Bill Hader's Stefon or Taran Killam's 18th century reporter Jebediah Atkinson, exclusively for Late Night. The writing team already has an SNL-infused pedigree. In addition to Meyers himself, the writing staff includes former head Weekend Update writer Alex Bays. Along with the rest of the writing staff, Meyers states he hopes to create characters ”who belong on our show as opposed to SNL.”

As for the show's first guest, Meyers has lined up fellow SNL alum Amy Poehler. Yet those worrying that the show will simply become a poor man's SNL shouldn't worry: Meyers reiterated his intention to retain the ideology that has come to embody Late Night's list of guests: the funnyman intends to mix it up with a variety of well-known figures and newsmakers of varying interest, irrespective of whether they're necessarily all that famous or not. It's an ideology similar to that of Conan O'Brien when he hosted Late Night, as his guests weren't always people the audience had necessarily heard of before (Missy Giove, anyone?).

However, despite getting a vote of confidence from NBC, Meyers isn't 100% confident in his own abilities as Late Night host just yet.

"I think I’m most nervous about…the fast turn around and also the interviewing. I just think it’s a thing where you won’t know how good you’re at it until you do it. And you just have to try to get better," said Meyers.

I suppose we'll find out how well Meyers handles his duties when Late Night With Seth Meyers premieres February 24 on NBC.

Via: Entertainment Weekly