Digital and analog worlds collide! Again! Hear more great behind-the-scences stories from Cue Card Wally in Part 2, including commercials with Ryan Reynolds, writing jokes for Norm MacDonald and great interactions from the likes of Tom Cruise and Jon Hamm. Also learn more about how Wally built a multi-faceted cue card empire, for companies and direct to consumers. Don’t miss how Brian goes BIG for his Hopelessly Unattainable Guest.

Key topics & chapter markers 

(00:21) Making guests comfortable

(02:13) Commercial with Ryan Reynolds

(05:05) A cue card empire

(07:14) Wally’s side hustle

(11:49) Being on camera

(16:53) Unpleasant guests

(17:57) Wally’s favorite SNL cast era

(19:03) Starting as a writer/Wally’s shot at sketch writing

(25:26) Life is like a box of Hopelessly Unattainable Guests

Background content

Cue Cards by Wally

Connect with Brian and John on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianmarks13/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-l-young/

Hey, welcome back to snap decisions.

2

This is part two of our

conversation with Wally Farrison.

3

AKA cue card Wiley coming up.

4

We're going to hear from Wally more

stories behind the scenes on the set

5

of Saturday night live and Seth Myers.

6

Here we go.

7

John: You talked about making , some of

the guests and the hosts comfortable.

8

Clearly that works because man,

reading about you and just listening

9

to I don't want to promote another

podcast, but they're already number one.

10

So what the hell, you know, the guys on

smart list, Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes

11

and Will Arnett often reference you.

12

And it's clear that some really

big talent of all stripes.

13

just rely on you when they

come on that show and have

14

developed a comfort with you.

15

Obviously there's some experience there.

16

There's some chemistry there to

what do you attribute your ability

17

to kind of make those connections

and make them feel comfortable?

18

Wally: It's, you know, I mean, I

guess doing it so long, I think, you

19

know, one of your questions, which

was interesting, was how long did it

20

take to get good at what what you did.

21

So I was naturally really good at

holding the cards when I first started.

22

I wasn't running anything.

23

I was just a worker and within 3

years, the guy that was running it.

24

Left and there were three or four people

that had four years more experience

25

than me and they picked me to run

the show because I was the coolest

26

under pressure and I could handle

those pressure situations, making snap

27

decisions very quickly without panicking.

28

Can we get the changes done in time?

29

Can we only do these amount of changes?

30

Something like that.

31

It probably took me three years to

get comfortable running that show.

32

Because I didn't trust anybody to do it

because now I'm, now I'm responsible.

33

So I think you guys may be

in those situations where

34

you're in charge and you're doing all

the work or you're doing supervising

35

everything and you won't do it

something without being involved

36

with it, and then you get comfortable

with your workers and you say, oh,

37

they can do it, they're trained well,

and then I can relax a little bit.

38

So it took me about three

years to get really good.

39

And then when I got comfortable,

then I could make the hosts.

40

Comfortable.

41

I think just by showing, Hey, this

is where I'm going to be on Saturday.

42

And there's going to be a set over here

and you want to run cards, you know, if

43

it's a sketch that really hard, I'll come

in your dressing room and cards, anything

44

they want to make the experience, better.

45

So I had a good experience this summer.

46

With Ryan Reynolds.

47

I did a commercial.

48

They hired me to do a commercial

with him in Toronto, and he didn't

49

know I was coming so that their

director flew me out, put me up, flew

50

me on first class was really nice.

51

And I got on set, and he

walks by me doesn't see me.

52

And, and then I see him talking to the

director and then he runs over to me

53

and he was like, what the hell are you

doing here and I was like, I'm here.

54

Brian: Okay.

55

Wally: And he was like, Brian, the

director, told me they had cue cards

56

and they, he was like, they told me,

he's like, you won't believe who we got.

57

And he told me, and he's like,

when he said your name, he

58

was like, I instantly relaxed.

59

My body relaxed.

60

I, I was, he's like, I was, I'm at ease

and I'm not worrying about anything

61

for the rest of the shoot today.

62

It's just hearing my name made him relax

63

and say, Oh, Oh, this is

going to be, this is great.

64

So yeah, I guess I have that appeal

because I proved myself over the years,

65

proving yourself and doing that right.

66

But it was really nice to hear him say

that and instantly relaxing people.

67

That's why I did cards for

Seth when Seth started.

68

I was only working three days a

week, 21 weeks out of the year.

69

I had a really nice,

70

nice life,

71

Brian: good gig there,

72

Wally: time on it.

73

But when Seth started, I wanted him to

relax and not worry about cue cards.

74

I wanted to worry about the writing.

75

That's why I took on that.

76

John: So, obviously you're

putting people at ease.

77

Do you think you're, you've

done a bunch of writing?

78

Do you think some of your writing

chops have helped you with, you

79

know, timing and kind of being on

the same page with a performer?

80

Wally: I think so.

81

I think that's a really good,

that's a really good point.

82

I grew up in comedy.

83

My brother writes, my

brother writes comedy.

84

My dad wanted to be a comedian.

85

I really wanted to write comedy.

86

I wanted to write funny movies.

87

Yes, I think having a good sense of

humor helped me understand the sketch

88

and maybe write it differently and, and,

you know, just, yeah, help them out.

89

So yes, I think, I think that

having that sense of humor

90

comes into play a lot, you know?

91

Brian: So yeah, so when you're filming

both, both shows during a week, are

92

you, are you going up and down 30 Rock,

like back and forth the whole time, or

93

Wally: Thursday is the only day of

Seth tapes Monday through Thursday

94

and SNL is Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

95

So Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, I'm

there from 2 to 5 nice cushy 3 hour

96

day, you know, drive in our drive

home our Thursday is the tougher one

97

where I have set that from 4 to 5.

98

Well, SNL starts rehearsing at three.

99

And the studios are right next

to each other on the same floor.

100

So I'm just so it's really easy.

101

So I'm just going back and forth wherever,

you know, Seth gets the preference

102

because they're taping that day and I

said, well, it's just rehearsal, but

103

I'm going in there and if it's a host,

I haven't met, I try to go talk to them

104

and say, Hey, this is, I'm doing Seth.

105

I'll be here, you know,

out in an hour or two.

106

And they're like, okay, fine.

107

You know, go ahead.

108

The ones that are nervous would

be like, Oh, you're coming back.

109

I say, yeah, I'll be back.

110

I'm just.

111

So yeah, it's a little bit of juggling

on thursday, but then friday I'm

112

there all day and saturday there.

113

I'm all day doing, you know, doing stuff

when amber, I don't know, amber ruffin,

114

if you guys ever watched that show,

that used to take friday mornings, a

115

rehearsal would start friday morning.

116

So that was a tougher one.

117

I have to be in at like 8 30,

which I hate mornings being 30.

118

We tape at one and then we finished

around three and then I'd have to

119

go over and press it down rehearsal.

120

So it was a long,

121

it was a lot.

122

Brian: a long day.

123

Wally: It was between two

shows on Thursday, two shows

124

on Friday, and then Saturday.

125

Yeah, it was long, but she's

not taping any shows right

126

now, right now, so it's good.

127

Brian: And then you, so you, you, you

mentioned around Reynolds special,

128

you do pick up occasional things

here and there too, just to kind

129

of stay busy in the off season, I

130

Wally: Well, yeah, I mean, when

the strike was going, I was a

131

commercial, so I could still do that.

132

I mean, I used to do that a lot when I was

first starting out or when I was starting

133

out with my company and I was younger

and I was like, yeah, they, I'm the only

134

cue card company in town, basically.

135

So if someone comes to town and

they need cue cards, they're

136

thinking about getting cue cards.

137

They have to come to me.

138

So I get, you know, I would get a

lot of offers like, yeah, in the

139

summer when I was off, I was off in

the summer when there was no Seth.

140

And yeah, I'd get like, we do the parade.

141

We do the Macy's parade.

142

We, we do shows

143

on New Year's Eve.

144

We were in the, in Times Square.

145

We don't do them anymore.

146

We did the ones in Miami this lately.

147

Cause Lauren produces

the one, the Miley Cyrus

148

ones with Lauren produced those.

149

So I did those.

150

Yeah.

151

It's things like that, you know

152

John: So my big takeaway from all

that is that there's a, there's a cue

153

card cartel that you're in charge of.

154

Wally: pretty much

155

John: No, no one else

can come in and do it.

156

Huh?

157

Wally: I mean, they could try, but

I own all the cue card workers.

158

So, you know, good luck, good luck with

159

that.

160

It was like,

161

John: you, you've got a full staff, right?

162

You've got a full staff

at any time doing a bunch

163

Wally: got 15 15 workers, 15 people,

guys and girls working for me.

164

And yeah, I mean, it's just

it's something that, again, I

165

didn't set out to have a company.

166

It's just something that

turned into this opportunity.

167

And I was really good at it.

168

And know, it's my career now, you

know, it's what I'm known for.

169

Brian: that.

170

I love that.

171

Cause you, you just, never know

where, where life's going to take you.

172

And here you are.

173

Yeah.

174

Wally: I know people like this, people,

I tell them what I do, like that's a job.

175

That's a thing.

176

It's

177

John: It's not just a

job, it's a whole business

178

Wally: I say it's the, I, I say it's

the, it's the, I have the card company

179

in the, in the, in the world, in

the, in the country, because cue card

180

company in the country and people

are like, well, you couldn't say

181

the world because there's not really

big cue card companies in the world.

182

And I was like, yeah, that seems, even

for my ego, that seems really hard.

183

I'm not going to,

184

John: we'll say it for you.

185

Wally: you guys can say it.

186

John: Maybe, we'll redo the intro and

introduce you as the world's, running

187

the world's largest cue card company.

188

You also run a side business,

a cue card business.

189

So Brian mentioned this, that

during, during COVID, you started

190

selling cue cards directly

191

Wally: Yeah.

192

personalized cue cards.

193

Now, these are, there's a two really

good snap decisions in this story.

194

And it's not ones that I made.

195

It's one that my business wife

made that you guys know, Deborah

196

Feresten, a year before that 2019.

197

Brian: Brilliant, brilliant woman.

198

John: Brilliant

199

Wally: up with this idea.

200

I had the idea to do personalized

cue cards for people.

201

I can't, I was thinking about it one

night and I remember walking into the

202

kitchen and she was, she was sitting

doing something, probably work.

203

And I told her, I go, I get this

idea for this, for this company.

204

What do you think?

205

And I told her the idea and within

three seconds, she said, nope.

206

Nope, not the time for it.

207

It's not going to work.

208

You know, you'll go away.

209

It was like that.

210

I swear it was that quick.

211

And I, and whether it was, I don't

know what she based her decision

212

on probably based it on that.

213

I was already working a

lot, and she knows me.

214

I don't like to do work.

215

She made she made me that was part

of the decision whatever it was,

216

it was, it was quick and I didn't

challenge her on it because she's

217

she knows her she knows her stuff.

218

Year later, COVID's here.

219

It's probably three months in the COVID.

220

I think it was like May and

I've been doing nothing.

221

I'm, and I'm sitting on a couch

gaining weight, not doing anything.

222

And she's, she's watching a

show and she said, I think I

223

need to start a new company.

224

And I was like, Hey, what about that?

225

Cue cards by Wally.

226

We think that personalized cue card.

227

And again, snap decision.

228

Yes.

229

How's the time

230

to do it?

231

Brian: Just as fast as that now.

232

Right.

233

Wally: Yeah, it was really fast again.

234

And she was like, yes,

now's the time to do it.

235

You can't, people can't go to weddings.

236

They can't go to birthdays.

237

This is, this is perfect.

238

So again, even though I wasn't working,

I didn't want to do a lot of work.

239

So it took a couple of

weeks for her to figure out.

240

And she came up with, I know you

guys have done this MVP, minimal

241

viable

242

John: Mm

243

hmm.

244

Wally: It was like, she's like,

get a Venmo account and get

245

an Instagram account and go.

246

And that's what I did.

247

That was easy.

248

And then it, it took off.

249

I got some press within like two weeks

of opening and it was on its way.

250

And she,

251

again, was right again.

252

So really smart snap decisions by her from

253

her business, all the stuff

she learned in business.

254

You know,

255

John: So I, I hadn't thought of

this before, but now I know I'm

256

going to get Brian for his birthday.

257

I'm going to get him a, a, a

personal handwritten cue card by

258

Wally: yeah.

259

Brian: fantastic.

260

John: going to say something

nasty, but it will be from you.

261

Wally: So yeah, so, so she, she

used her business acumen and, and

262

knowing her husband to say no.

263

And then to say, yes, that

264

Brian: now's the time.

265

Timing's

266

everything.

267

John: true marketer, assessing

the market predicting when

268

things are ripe for opportunity.

269

That's great.

270

Wally: Yeah.

271

Yeah.

272

Yeah.

273

Yeah.

274

It was really, really smart.

275

And I, and that, that was something.

276

That I didn't expect to

bring me so much joy.

277

I thought it was just something to keep

me busy, but it was the feedback I was

278

getting from people that they couldn't

go to a birthday party or an anniversary

279

and that they were giving this original

gift that went over really well.

280

And everyone was like, Oh my God,

this is fantastic was, was kept money

281

coming in and just kept me happy.

282

You know, and it made me, made me

feel like I was doing something to,

283

to bring joy to people during this.

284

Pandemic that we all suffered

through, you know, is it was

285

it was really, really fun, fun.

286

And it just felt, made me feel really

good about what I do, you know?

287

John: Very cool.

288

Does anyone ever pay

you to come do an event?

289

Like that's not like a recorded, not

a professionally produced thing, but

290

Wally: that's the, that's the

next business we're launching.

291

Now, no, no, we were, we're doing

research, I'm very, very slowly, but

292

doing research on like, I speak at a

lot of colleges, like for free, I'll

293

go to like the colleges that my kids

went to, but also local colleges like

294

Montclair State I've been to with,

with friends of my sons that go there.

295

And I'll go and speak to

classes or groups of people.

296

And I get a lot of really,

really good feedback from that.

297

I get a lot of good stories and I give

out cue cards and they have a great time.

298

So, yeah, so we're looking into that

down the road as another income stream.

299

When I get closer to maybe not doing as

much cue cards, but going and speaking

300

to colleges or you know, she thinks

I would do well with at businesses.

301

I don't know if I would do as well

with the, with the, you guys would

302

know, like, like a company thing.

303

I just don't know if, if that's

my audience, you know, maybe some

304

of them would be my audience,

but not all of them, you know,

305

Brian: think you can figure it out.

306

John: Yeah, I think you

307

Brian: there's

308

something there.

309

Wally: There's definitely something there.

310

and I, you know, going to I think

colleges would be really fun.

311

And yeah, I don't know, you know, there's,

there's, that's going to be the next step.

312

The next thing, you know,

speaking, speaking things with a

313

whole presentation and one thing.

314

Yeah.

315

Brian: was your what was your

reaction to being on camera?

316

You know, I know that it started year

or two into when you were in SNL,

317

but like, is that, I mean, that's

gotta be like icing on the cake.

318

But were you, nervous were you

in those types of situations?

319

And it's gotta be so much fun.

320

Wally: it's, you know,

I was, I was an actor.

321

I did acting in high school.

322

I always wanted to be a writer.

323

I did.

324

I didn't, I got, I liked being on

camera, but it wasn't my focus.

325

So anytime SNL said, Hey,

we put you in the monologue,

326

we put you in the cold open.

327

It was fantastic.

328

It was really fun.

329

And I get to, you know, you have

enough time to rehearse, even though

330

it's SNL, you have time to rehearse.

331

And then when Seth started doing

it more and more and more Yeah.

332

I think I was, you know, I was nervous

at first and I don't think I was great,

333

but the more and more I did it, the

more and more I would relax about it.

334

Because the thing is sometimes

I won't know I'm on camera until

335

an hour before the show starts.

336

We'll get a closer look.

337

At two 30, I start printing it.

338

I see I'm in it.

339

So as I'm printing it, I'm

trying to learn my lines

340

John: So wait, they write you

into it and you don't even know?

341

Wally: No, I have no idea.

342

And so I get the script, you know,

an hour and a half before the show

343

while I have to print the script.

344

So I don't really have time to be nervous.

345

I just kind of like, take

it like, and it's fun.

346

Like they don't set that Seth has

the confidence to put me in it and

347

keep on putting me in, into it.

348

And let me add, I'm Mike every

day, whether I'm in the show

349

or not, we had a mistake.

350

We had a misspelled word, Pennsylvania.

351

We misspelled on a, on a monologue joke.

352

And he called me out on it

and then called himself on it.

353

Cause I was like, I read this.

354

During rehearsal and I didn't see it and

we just started talking about it in the

355

process of what happened and it was really

funny and it was, you know, really good.

356

So they feel free with letting

me ad lib something like that.

357

And I feel it feels fun, you know?

358

Brian: I love when they had

you look like George Santos.

359

That

360

Wally: Oh, yes.

361

I'm very upset.

362

I didn't, I was going to text the writer

to see if I could, you know, have a

363

reference to me or at least play him

one more time, you know, when he was

364

ousted, but it didn't, it didn't happen.

365

Brian: was a good one

366

Wally: that was, that was fun.

367

John: So as you, as you get more and

more on camera time, especially on Seth,

368

like you just said, and you're, you've

got kind of some celebrity status.

369

Wally: Yeah.

370

John: Do you feel like you have

to make decisions like how to walk

371

that line between being behind the

camera and in front of the camera?

372

What is that?

373

Or is it just like kind of thrust

upon you and you just go with it?

374

Wally: It's trying to keep my ego,

you know, so that smaller so that I

375

don't annoy my coworkers, my wife.

376

John: Well, that's what your

wife is for to keep your

377

Wally: Any anybody around me and it's

harder and harder like, you know, like I

378

said, I did that Ryan Reynolds commercial

He put me in instagram post last week.

379

I don't know if you guys if you saw

it there were there were leaked photos

380

from the set of his superhero movie

381

so the shooting deadpool 3 and I guess

a cameraman Big lens got shots of

382

set and leaked them to some websites.

383

So he, two days after, leaked his

own on set photos, but they were

384

photoshopped, really bad photoshopped,

like Mickey Mouse was in one and Urkel

385

was in the background of another one.

386

And then he put me in one holding

a card that said, Wally put the

387

cards down that he got from,

that he photoshopped in from SNL.

388

Now I think he did it because the

commercial we worked on released

389

the day before this happened.

390

That is crazy.

391

Mike, Seth Meyers was calling me.

392

He was like, did you see what

Ryan Reynolds just posted?

393

My brother was calling me from Hollywood

saying, what, what's going on with this?

394

You know, like it was, it was really, so

when things like that start happening.

395

That's crazy.

396

You know, that's really,

397

John: I, I love that your brother

who wrote for Seinfeld is now, is

398

now jealous of your celebrity status.

399

Wally: Oh, no doubt.

400

I can tell you the stories of hanging out

with my brother at a cast party early on

401

in my career and Nicole Kidman hosted me.

402

She was still married to Tom Cruise.

403

And we were hanging at the bar and

Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise walk in and

404

they're trying to get to the table and

Tom Cruise is like, hold on a second.

405

And he did a beeline for me and came up.

406

Shook my hand.

407

He's like, thanks so

much for helping her out.

408

You are fantastic

409

tonight.

410

And my brother's there with his

mouth open going, what is going on?

411

Brian: Right.

412

And so he was a, he was a

receptionist first at saturday night

413

live, right?

414

Before he

415

became a

416

Wally: He worked.

417

Yep.

418

Yep.

419

He worked his way up.

420

I try to keep

421

John: Not Tom Cruise, your brother,

422

just to be clear.

423

Wally: No, my brother.

424

I try to keep that stuff in check.

425

Like I said, it's really

cool to hear that stuff.

426

And I have celebrities coming up and

telling me they watch me on the show.

427

And I think I'm really funny.

428

Like Jon Hamm.

429

I know who I know from SNL, but he

was like, you're so funny in the show.

430

That kind of blows me away when I,

when I have celebrities that will be

431

that, but like I said, I try to keep

it in check and I try to say, okay,

432

it's the fun part of the job, but

it's still, I'm still doing cue cards.

433

I'm still going to focus

on that and not that.

434

Brian: Well, you know, it's good.

435

Cause you have.

436

You, you know, when you look at your

team, you know how they need to be acting.

437

So you, you are able to be

able to, you know, see it

438

Wally: I have to balance.

439

It is a balance, though.

440

I do have to balance it.

441

I can think about it when the show's

over, but when the show's going on,

442

I'm focused on doing cue cards, unless

I'm in something, you know, for that,

443

for that moment, because you have to

be focused to do that job, you know?

444

John: Well, you've had some nice moments

to shine in the spotlight, but it

445

sounds like also from your description

that sometimes you're kind of working

446

in the bowels of Studio 8 H you know,

writing for hours, so I get that that

447

could be kind of the non glamorous side.

448

Curious to hear you don't have to

name names, but, you know, please do.

449

Like any of like really unpleasant

cast members or guests, like

450

any stories around, like just

a, just a crappy situation

451

regarding talent.

452

Wally: cast members know, and, you

know, it's the people that you would

453

imagine were not, were not nice.

454

You know, like George Steinbrenner,

when, you know, he comes to host.

455

He's

456

John: Okay.

457

Name names.

458

Wally: going to be a pleasant, he's not

going to be a pleasant guy, you know, it's

459

people like that.

460

I will say, you know, Donald Trump

wasn't the, wasn't the worst when

461

he was, this was before politics.

462

He was just a reality

host and a state guy.

463

And he was, he was fine.

464

He wasn't good, but he

was, you know, he was fine.

465

Usually it's not the non actors, you

know, that come in, the Elon musks

466

will come in and people like that,

that aren't used to this kind of thing.

467

So they don't know how to act,

468

Brian: different environment for them.

469

Wally: you know, they're

not an act on camera.

470

They don't know how to act off camera

kind of thing, you know, but most

471

of, I would say 97 percent of people

are really nice because they need me.

472

I'm, I'm helping them out, you know, so

not going to be mean to me or a jerk to me

473

because I'm there to help them, you know?

474

Brian: absolutely.

475

Wally: Yeah.

476

Brian: What was your what's

your favorite cast era?

477

Wally: Well, they say it's when

you started watching, right?

478

That's what they say.

479

Whatever you were watching,

or when you were a teenager, I

480

think when you were a teenager, that's,

481

that's that's probably your favorite.

482

So, I mean, I started watching when

I was 10, when the show started.

483

So, I mean, the original cast really

is what, how I grew to love the show.

484

I don't remember a lot when they left,

so I think I stopped watching that Eddie

485

Murphy, Eddie Murphy years, Billy Crystal.

486

I don't remember watching a lot,

but I was Probably in high school,

487

probably going out a lot on Saturdays.

488

And this was, did we have

VCRs in, in the early

489

eighties?

490

right.

491

John: Yeah.

492

Not everyone had them, but you know,

493

Wally: Yeah.

494

So, so it's the first cast.

495

And then when I started working, you

know, I started working with Adam Sandler

496

and Chris Farley and, you know, and

you know, those guys and David Spade.

497

So, you know, those, that's

my second favorite when I

498

started with those guys, you

499

John: Really putting him

on the spot there, Brian.

500

He's got, he's got to work with

these people, you know, not,

501

Wally: they know,

502

John: and I, and I'm guessing

the cast is listening,

503

Wally: maybe

504

John: cast.

505

Yeah,

506

Wally: they're not here,

they're not here right now,

507

John: no, no, but they will

be listening eventually,

508

Brian: when you came in when you

started SNL did you always see that as

509

kind of like uh, going to be here for

a couple of years and I'm going to do

510

something else and see that as, you

know, what point did you realize that

511

like, know, this is where I'm going

512

to

513

Wally: there.

514

I was gonna be stuck there for 33 years.

515

Yeah, I wanted to be a writer.

516

So I don't know if we covered that.

517

I

518

went to school, went to

Syracuse for writing.

519

. And I wanted to be a writer.

520

So I took the job to

get my foot in the door.

521

And I did.

522

I made contacts.

523

I was writing.

524

I started writing jokes for Norm

Macdonald on Weekend Update immediately.

525

And then.

526

I got hired to do some stuff for

Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network and MTV.

527

And I was writing episodes of things

here and there, nothing, you know, to

528

keep, nothing to pay the bills, you know,

it was just like 500 here, 800 there.

529

John: but you were actually,

you were actually a writer.

530

Wally: Yeah, oh yeah, I was hired to

write, I was doing that, so I was doing

531

the cue cards to keep, you know, the

money coming in, but I really, really

532

wanted to write, so I took, I took six,

four months off, I, I, I left the show

533

one year, my buddy took over, and I

think I had just got married, so I think

534

my wife was maybe a little bit of that,

I was like, well, you should, if you

535

want to write, why don't you, you know,

536

Brian: I mean, just go and do it.

537

Yeah.

538

Wally: I went out to LA with my brother.

539

My brother set me up with an agent and

I took like a bunch of meetings, you

540

know, people at production companies

and I pitched them ideas and, you

541

know, introduced myself kind of thing.

542

I did that for like three months,

like going out, flying out and

543

doing that and nothing came of it.

544

And she said, okay, you know,

don't have to give it up, but

545

we need to, we need some money.

546

We need somebody coming in my, her,

her city bank salary was not going

547

to pay for us living in the city.

548

So I went back to help out.

549

And in the meantime, while I was gone in

those four months, my buddy who I knew.

550

He was good at doing cue cards, but again,

like I said, it took me three years to

551

get the hang of , running the thing.

552

He was nowhere close to

knowing how to run it.

553

And they were missing me big time.

554

At the end of the season, he

decided to move to LA and the show

555

said we want Wally back to run it.

556

And I was, and I was

like, well, I don't know.

557

And they were like,

whatever you want, whatever

558

Brian: leverage, right?

559

Wally: I had serious leverage

560

because they saw what life was like

without me and they didn't like it.

561

So I went back.

562

I named my salary.

563

I said, I want to make this.

564

I want to do this.

565

And I want to write, I

wanted to write sketches.

566

And they said, okay,

we'll agree to all that.

567

They paid me what I wanted.

568

it was the first year of the

Will Ferrell all those guys.

569

It was a whole cast came in at the

same time and write all writers too.

570

They said, let us have the first three

months to get like our feel and then

571

we'll let you start submitting sketches.

572

And they did in January, they

went to me and said, okay, you can

573

submit a sketch to every show, you

know, one sketch to every show.

574

Brian: Wow.

575

Wally: I started writing sketches

576

and I almost got the first one I submitted

almost got on it was in the it was in the

577

show like four or five times it was out

it was in it was out it was in and word

578

came back from Lorne, Lorne loved it.

579

He was like you're you're you could

keep on writing, and that was like

580

a good boost I was like this is

really nice, and they were trying

581

to figure out if I did get one on.

582

I'm not in the Writer's Guild.

583

How are they going to pay me?

584

What am I going to do?

585

There was all this talk about that.

586

And I did it for three weeks.

587

I didn't get a sketch on, but

I was really close, and they

588

were really liking my stuff.

589

And then a guy in props, who'd been

there for 20 years, you know, longer

590

than me, went up to them and said,

Hey, why is Wally allowed to write

591

Brian: Oh yeah.

592

Wally: I want to write a sketch too.

593

And then they were like, all right, we

can't let Wally write sketches anymore.

594

And that guy is my mortal enemy.

595

I, he doesn't work on the show

anymore, but he ruined it.

596

Yeah.

597

He's like, okay, you can't do

598

it.

599

I know it did, but it was,

it was a good feeling.

600

And then again, I was getting to

the point where I think I started

601

the company in 2004 because we

were being treated pretty badly.

602

And again, Deb making the decision.

603

I got her the, I got her the number.

604

She ran a number, she did a business

plan, which I didn't know what that was.

605

And she was like, yeah,

we can make some money.

606

We can move to a better

town, bigger, bigger house.

607

I go, I just bought a sports car.

608

You can have a sports car.

609

I'm like, okay, let's do it.

610

So we started the, and it's

19 and we've had it for 19

611

years now running pretty well.

612

So

613

John: Fantastic.

614

So, so you had a couple

of decisions there.

615

One was to not stay in L.

616

A.

617

and keep writing, and then

to start your own company.

618

Those are big decisions that kind of

got you to be the king of cue cards.

619

Wally: yeah, yeah.

620

John: What if you, what if those

decisions had been different and you'd

621

kind of gone down the writing track?

622

Do you think that would

have been as fulfilling?

623

Wally: I say, I talk

about it all the time.

624

No, I think, cause I see my

brother who's doing that.

625

My brother's a very

successful writer , but.

626

I think the experiences I have and

continue to have as a cue card guy would

627

far outweigh anything that I would have

had as a writer, even if I was writing

628

great movies or really funny movies.

629

I'm meeting these people and getting this

relationship with them and this thing

630

that no one else has, you

know, and it's fantastic.

631

Brian: maybe you would have

got five good years and then,

632

Wally: Yeah, maybe hit movies and

maybe, you know, I've been able to

633

live off that, but this is so much fun.

634

And I've got a, I've got

a really cool reputation.

635

A friend of mine like two

years ago said I Googled cue

636

cards and your picture came up.

637

I was like,

638

Oh,

639

that's that's, that's kind of cool.

640

John: Well, well, hearing you talk

about those connections and those

641

relationships and hearing the people

you're, you're connecting with talk

642

about their relationship with you,

, clearly you're doing something right.

643

So

644

Wally: Yes.

645

Well, thank you, I, I, I try, I try.

646

Yeah.

647

It's really fun.

648

And yes, when I get that feedback

from people like Alec Baldwin and

649

stuff, it's really, really, really

meaningful, you know, really great.

650

Brian: Awesome.

651

Awesome.

652

Well know, we really appreciate you

taking some time and talking to us.

653

We'd love hearing your story.

654

We'd love.

655

John: Great stuff.

656

Brian: Everything about it and,

you know, it's not marketing,

657

but it is, you know, and

658

it's uh, there's a lot of

crossovers here and it's great.

659

So

660

thank

661

Wally: No, I appreciate

you guys having me.

662

No, I've done, I've done some talks.

663

I have a friend that's in

the business world and I've

664

gone and talked to his group.

665

And they've asked me

questions, stuff like that.

666

And it's a lot of it's really

relatable to, to what you guys do.

667

I'm managing employees, but

it's a different kind of

668

thing, but it's the same.

669

It's the same kind of things.

670

It's communication and it's trust and

it's, you know, the communication thing

671

I think is probably one of the most

672

important things.

673

Right.

674

You guys, You

675

know, it's all, it really is all this.

676

John: Huge.

677

Yeah.

678

And when stuff isn't going,

going well, a lot of times

679

it's a communication breakdown,

680

Wally: Yeah.

681

I appreciate you guys having me.

682

John: no matter what

683

you're, what you're, doing.

684

Yeah.

685

Thank you so much.

686

It was great to see you.

687

Great talking to you.

688

And thanks so much for

sharing your stories.

689

Wally: guys too.

690

Thanks a lot.

691

Brian: you.

692

Wow, John, that was a great guest.

693

It's great talking to Wally.

694

John: Yeah.

695

What cool stories he has.

696

audioBrianMarks11605016190:

Yeah, second to none really.

697

audioJohnYoung21605016190: It's

fascinating to hear, not only the

698

stories, that he has from these iconic

TV shows, but, and you think about it's

699

him because he's on camera an awful

lot, but the fact that there's a whole

700

team that he is just orchestrating to

bring all this content to life, live,

701

every single week is just really cool.

702

audioBrianMarks11605016190:

yeah, and it seems like he, it

703

doesn't get old for him either.

704

He just loves it.

705

Good stuff.

706

Good stuff.

707

All right.

708

audioJohnYoung21605016190: right, well, to

close this out here, do you have a dear,

709

hopelessly unattainable guest for us?

710

audioBrianMarks11605016190: yes,

I got one to wrap it up here.

711

And, uh, you know, I was thinking

long and hard about, how we're

712

going to get somebody on here

that is, uh, one of our moonshots.

713

And so I decided to take a little bit

of a different approach on this one.

714

And so, who I am trying to attract this

time is, uh, none other than Tom Hanks.

715

audioJohnYoung21605016190: Ooh

716

audioBrianMarks11605016190: Yeah, so,

717

audioJohnYoung21605016190: Big name.

718

That's a true A lister.

719

audioBrianMarks11605016190: true A

lister, top actor of our generation.

720

so here we go, alright?

721

Let's get after it.

722

audioJohnYoung21605016190:

Moon shoot away.

723

audioBrianMarks11605016190: Dear

Tom, we are a new ish podcast that

724

really focuses on the hard and tough

choices professionals make that

725

lead to their inevitable success.

726

While we love to hear about the

highest of the highs and occasionally

727

talk about the lowest of the lows,

I'd love for you to join our show

728

to only talk about your lows.

729

You have a magnificent career

parallel to almost no one, including

730

giant consecutive hits in the 90s in

Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, and Apollo 13.

731

Your sweethearted rom coms with Meg Ryan.

732

Your portrayal of legends

like Walt Disney, Mr.

733

Rogers, Colonel Tom

Parker, and Ben Bradley.

734

I want to hear about whether you

have a floor piano like you danced on

735

in Big, or what it was like to work

with, and know, Steven Spielberg.

736

But I'm willing to give it all up and

sacrifice all those fun conversations

737

to dig into your rock bottom.

738

Moves like Joe vs.

739

The Volcano and the

Bonfire of the Vanities.

740

You're my favorite guest

ever on Saturday Night Live.

741

You're so likable and

make it look all too easy.

742

, especially in the legendary

skits like David S.

743

Pumpkins and the Mr.

744

Belvedere fan club.

745

But what the heck happened

with the movie Larry Brown?

746

Let's focus on those struggles.

747

I'm sure there's others I can't think of.

748

And the agony and stress it

brought upon your career.

749

And so much more on an

episode of Snap Decisions.

750

It's the thing that we do.

751

Behind the curtain with Tom Hanks.

752

I can't wait, and I have a

feeling you can't either.

753

Sincerely, Brian and John.

754

audioJohnYoung21605016190: I'm not

sure what you put my name on that one.

755

audioBrianMarks11605016190:

We're in this together, man.

756

We're in this together.

757

audioJohnYoung21605016190: I feel like you

really embraced the unattainable portion

758

of the dear, hopelessly unattainable

guest who we are offering an unattainably

759

impossible collection of questions for.

760

Tell us about how horrible things

have been for you at some time.

761

audioBrianMarks11605016190: I mean, I

think that it could be a short episode.

762

So maybe that'll track him, you know?

763

We only want to talk to you

for 45 seconds, because there's

764

not very many lows for you.

765

audioJohnYoung21605016190:

That's a good point.

766

There's not a lot of conversation

around things that haven't gone

767

well for Tom Hanks cause that guy

seems to spin most things into gold.

768

audioBrianMarks11605016190: He sure does.

769

He sure does.

770

audioJohnYoung21605016190: All right.

771

Well, you know, we.

772

know somebody who knows him, uh, you

know, I, I don't know what kind of

773

relationship Wally has with him, but.

774

We can start there.

775

audioBrianMarks11605016190: we should

have, we should have said something.

776

audioJohnYoung21605016190:

Let's call him back.

777

All right.

778

Well, let's call it a wrap.

779

Shall we?

780

audioBrianMarks11605016190: let's do it.

781

Let's close it up.

782

audioJohnYoung21605016190: All right.

783

Well, thank you all for joining next time.

784

We will, uh, we'll be even

better prepared because we'll

785

have cue cards in front of us.

786

audioBrianMarks11605016190:

One more thing, John.

787

Happy new year

788

audioJohnYoung21605016190: Oh yeah.

789

Happy new year.

790

audioBrianMarks11605016190: 2024.

791

audioJohnYoung21605016190: I'm going

to go work on my resolutions now.

792

audioBrianMarks11605016190: Come on.

793

I'm already done mine.

794

Goodbye.

795

audioJohnYoung21605016190: See ya.