During a recent episode of Conan O’Brien‘s talk show, musician John Mayer opened up about his experiences with individuals related to “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) who have left him feeling hurt. The conversation delved into the dynamics and culture of SNL and explored why some performers from the show seem uninterested or cold when interacting with Mayer.
Mayer began by expressing his curiosity as to why the largest community of people who have hurt his feelings at parties over the years have been associated with SNL. He acknowledged that not everyone at SNL is like this, but he couldn’t help but wonder about the common pattern he’s noticed. He described feeling a coldness and a lack of interest from SNL performers when he interacts with them at social gatherings.
Conan O’Brien, always eager to delve deeper into topics, engaged Mayer in an exploration of the SNL experience. O’Brien suggested that perhaps there is a two-way street of difficulty when it comes to pretending to be interested if an SNL performer isn’t genuinely interested. Mayer agreed and mentioned that there might be a unique “too cool for school” philosophy that thrives at SNL due to the competitive nature of getting sketches on the show.
Mayer emphasized that he had great respect and admiration for SNL and acknowledged that it changed his life and helped him grow as a performer. However, he couldn’t help but feel a certain coldness from some individuals associated with the show. O’Brien connected this experience to the idea that certain people are nourishers, who give energy and make others feel lifted, while others defend their own energy and may not reciprocate the same level of engagement.
The conversation between O’Brien and Mayer touched on the concept of nourishers and defenders not only in the show business but in everyday interactions. They discussed how some people leave you feeling nourished, while others take a bit of your energy and leave you feeling deflated. O’Brien drew comparisons to his own experiences and shared that he himself is a nourisher. He acknowledged that not everyone shares the same mindset and it’s essential to understand and accept different approaches to social interactions.
Throughout the conversation, O’Brien and Mayer injected their signature humor, providing a lively and entertaining exchange for viewers. They shared anecdotes, including a humorous interaction with actor Tom Hanks, who, according to Mayer, always leaves him feeling better after their encounters.
The discussion concluded with O’Brien asking Mayer whether he would give less to certain people as a form of self-protection. Mayer admitted that he would give less and even choose not to engage with individuals who consistently leave him feeling deflated. Both O’Brien and Mayer agreed that life is too short to unnecessarily subject oneself to such interactions.
While this conversation focused on the dynamics of SNL-related individuals, it sparked a broader discussion about human interaction and the different ways people approach social exchanges. O’Brien and Mayer’s lively banter and relatable anecdotes made for an engaging segment on Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend.
