I think it says a lot about my strength that I’m able to get over my Post-Bill Hader Leaving SNL depression enough to wipe away my tears and make this post. I love Bill Hader. He was easily my favorite cast member of Saturday Night Live in a long time. I had been prepared to say goodbye to other cast members like Jason Sudeikis, Seth Meyers, and possibly Nasim Pedrad, but Bill’s announcement of his departure from the show took me a bit off guard. Perhaps I was in denial. I know he’ll go off to do amazing things but I will forever be bitter I didn’t have the opportunity to camp out and see him live, on stage.
Last night’s finale served more as a farewell to him and his buddies than a showcase of Ben Affleck. In fact, I barely remember him hosting. Last night, it was all about Stefon and Seth. And if their happily ever after didn’t do it for you, maybe the touching musical number at the end that seemingly revealed both Jason and Fred Armisen were also leaving the show. Personally, when the cast, minus Kanye, all shed some tears as NBC finally showed the group hugs and goodbyes, was when I truly shed tears of my own.
Check out the video of Stefon’s farewell, featuring cameos by Anderson Cooper and every weird club goer Stefon warned us about throughout the years, and Fred’s musical goodbye here:
Anderson Cooper is one of the most respected journalists around today. He just so happens to be gay. Anderson has never spoken publicly about his sexuality, preferring to keep his personal life personal, and it was more of a not-so-secret- secret to fans that follow his career.
He recently wrote a letter to Andrew Sullivan explaining his decision to finally speak publicly about it.
Check out his statement here:
Andrew, as you know, the issue you raise is one that I’ve thought about for years. Even though my job puts me in the public eye, I have tried to maintain some level of privacy in my life. Part of that has been for purely personal reasons. I think most people want some privacy for themselves and the people they are close to.
But I’ve also wanted to retain some privacy for professional reasons. Since I started as a reporter in war zones 20 years ago, I’ve often found myself in some very dangerous places. For my safety and the safety of those I work with, I try to blend in as much as possible, and prefer to stick to my job of telling other people’s stories, and not my own. I have found that sometimes the less an interview subject knows about me, the better I can safely and effectively do my job as a journalist.
I’ve always believed that who a reporter votes for, what religion they are, who they love, should not be something they have to discuss publicly. As long as a journalist shows fairness and honesty in his or her work, their private life shouldn’t matter. I’ve stuck to those principles for my entire professional career, even when I’ve been directly asked “the gay question,” which happens occasionally. I did not address my sexual orientation in the memoir I wrote several years ago because it was a book focused on war, disasters, loss and survival. I didn’t set out to write about other aspects of my life.
Recently, however, I’ve begun to consider whether the unintended outcomes of maintaining my privacy outweigh personal and professional principle. It’s become clear to me that by remaining silent on certain aspects of my personal life for so long, I have given some the mistaken impression that I am trying to hide something – something that makes me uncomfortable, ashamed or even afraid. This is distressing because it is simply not true.
I’ve also been reminded recently that while as a society we are moving toward greater inclusion and equality for all people, the tide of history only advances when people make themselves fully visible. There continue to be far too many incidences of bullying of young people, as well as discrimination and violence against people of all ages, based on their sexual orientation, and I believe there is value in making clear where I stand.
The fact is, I’m gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud.
I have always been very open and honest about this part of my life with my friends, my family, and my colleagues. In a perfect world, I don’t think it’s anyone else’s business, but I do think there is value in standing up and being counted. I’m not an activist, but I am a human being and I don’t give that up by being a journalist.
Since my early days as a reporter, I have worked hard to accurately and fairly portray gay and lesbian people in the media – and to fairly and accurately portray those who for whatever reason disapprove of them. It is not part of my job to push an agenda, but rather to be relentlessly honest in everything I see, say and do. I’ve never wanted to be any kind of reporter other than a good one, and I do not desire to promote any cause other than the truth.
Being a journalist, traveling to remote places, trying to understand people from all walks of life, telling their stories, has been the greatest joy of my professional career, and I hope to continue doing it for a long time to come. But while I feel very blessed to have had so many opportunities as a journalist, I am also blessed far beyond having a great career.
I love, and I am loved.
In my opinion, the ability to love another person is one of God’s greatest gifts, and I thank God every day for enabling me to give and share love with the people in my life. I appreciate your asking me to weigh in on this, and I would be happy for you to share my thoughts with your readers. I still consider myself a reserved person and I hope this doesn’t mean an end to a small amount of personal space. But I do think visibility is important, more important than preserving my reporter’s shield of privacy.
Anderson Cooper has the best giggle in the history of giggles. I love when he gets his giggle fits. While nothing may top the original video, watching Andy erupt into laughter while reporting on Dyngus Day is pretty darn close. I also love listening to the crew behind the camera laughing at him laughing. He must really brighten up a day at CNN.
Check out the video of Anderson losing it here:
I just love him. He doesn’t crack up over funny t shirts or a bad joke. He loses it over the words Pussy Willow and Dyngus Day.
Oh my goodness. I have never seen Anderson Cooper lose it like this live on his show. And we love it! This is so adorable and so precious. Talking about Gerard Depardieu will cause Andy Coop to be so overcome with giggles that tears come out of his eyes.
Video: