Back in 2000, while part of the cast for NBC’s short-lived ‘The Michael Richards Show,’ Tim Meadows crossed paths with seasoned character actor Bill Erwin. Erwin, recognizable for his roles in classics like ‘Home Alone’ and ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles,’ along with countless sitcom appearances, shared a pivotal piece of wisdom with Meadows during their time on the ultimately forgettable series.
Though ‘The Michael Richards Show’ quickly faded from memory, Erwin’s advice left a lasting impression on Meadows.
Meadows recounted their conversation: “I told him, ‘You’ve had an incredible career; I’ve seen you everywhere.” Erwin’s response was simple yet profound: ‘Yep, I’ve been around for a long time. My secret to success? I always aim to be the neighbor who pops in, delivers a funny line, and then exits.'”
In a recent photo, Tim Meadows, dressed in a black puffer jacket, is seen crossing a bustling New York City intersection, a subtle reflection of his low-key approach to fame. He remarked, ‘When I watch the Emmys and the Academy Awards, I feel like I’m in a different business,’ highlighting his consistent, yet unpretentious, career path.
Meadows, with a chuckle, confessed, “That’s my hero. I aspire to be that guy when I’m in my seventies.”
Indeed, he’s well on his way. In the twenty-five years since his departure from ‘Saturday Night Live,’ Meadows has carved out a distinct niche, consistently proving himself as a pivotal force in comedic ensembles. He may not always headline, but his contributions are undeniably essential, delivering unforgettable lines and expressions every time he graces the screen.
Tina Fey, a frequent collaborator, praised his style, writing, ‘Tim possesses a flawless dry delivery, much like Bob Newhart.’ Having worked together on ‘SNL’ and later in films like ‘Mean Girls,’ where he played the perpetually frustrated principal, Fey noted that Meadows embodies the ‘perfect, put-upon ‘voice of reason.'”
At 64, Meadows has maintained a steady presence in film and television since his ‘SNL’ debut in 1991. This past fall proved especially busy, as he recently concluded his role in Season 2 of the HBO Max superhero series ‘Peacemaker,’ where he portrayed a government agent afflicted with a peculiar inability to differentiate birds. Additionally, CBS launched ‘DMV’ this month, a workplace comedy centered around a Los Angeles Department of Motor Vehicles office. Despite varying critical reception for the show, Meadows’s darkly humorous performance has garnered widespread acclaim.
As seen in a still from the CBS sitcom ‘DMV,’ Meadows, wearing a purple work shirt and ID lanyard, portrays Gregg, a perpetually grumpy Department of Motor Vehicles employee, holding a broken side mirror in a parking lot.
In ‘DMV,’ Meadows’s character, Gregg, is a surly employee who consistently laments his circumstances. For Gregg, the DMV isn’t a career steppingstone, but a final destination. Show creator Dana Klein revealed that she envisioned Meadows in the role even before penning the pilot script.
Klein, in a video interview, marveled, ‘He can draw a laugh simply by saying ‘no.’ I’m still not sure how he manages it.'”
While Meadows might not have achieved the mega-stardom of ‘SNL’ contemporaries like Will Ferrell or Adam Sandler, he has consistently remained a familiar face. He seems perfectly content with his standing in the industry, even as his distinctive, sharp wit experiences a surge in popularity. When asked about a potential new wave of career momentum, Meadows responded with characteristic modesty and humor.
‘If there is, I’m deliberately keeping it under wraps,’ he quipped. ‘I refuse to get swept up in it. Watching the Emmys or Academy Awards, I often feel like I operate in an entirely different world of entertainment.'”
During a recent lunch in New York, Meadows was on a brief promotional tour for ‘DMV’ before heading back to Montreal to complete Season 1 filming. He chose the historic White Horse Tavern in Manhattan’s West Village, a neighborhood he once called home during his ‘SNL’ years. In person, he exuded warmth and introspection, settling comfortably into the ambient glow of the venerable establishment.
Captured on a New York City street corner, Meadows playfully lowers his sunglasses, casting a skeptical gaze at the camera. Though he made a brief trip to New York for press, he now primarily resides in his hometown of Detroit, where he grew up as the youngest of six children.
While he still cherishes his connection to the West Village and maintains an apartment in Venice Beach, Los Angeles, Meadows now spends the majority of his year in his native Detroit, having purchased a home there in 2017.
Growing up as the youngest of six to a janitor father and a nurse’s assistant mother, Meadows harbored his comedic aspirations as a ‘secret.’ He initially pursued TV and radio broadcasting at Wayne State University in Detroit. However, a newspaper ad for local improv classes changed his trajectory. He quickly embraced the ‘yes, and’ philosophy, left university before his junior year, and relocated to Chicago in the mid-1980s.
His ascent was swift. Within a few years, he joined the prestigious main stage of Second City, sharing the spotlight with burgeoning talents like Chris Farley and Bob Odenkirk. It was there that Lorne Michaels, scouting for ‘SNL’ recruits (specifically Farley), noticed Meadows. Farley joined in 1990, with Meadows making his debut the following year.
In a memorable ‘SNL’ Weekend Update segment, Meadows, in character as the smooth-talking radio host Leon Phelps, ‘The Ladies Man,’ complete with an orange silk shirt, black leather vest, and Afro wig, engages with a smiling Tina Fey.
Meadows became a foundational presence on ‘SNL,’ logging an impressive 10 seasons, a record eventually surpassed by Darrell Hammond (14 seasons) and currently held by Kenan Thompson (22 and counting). Following a familiar ‘SNL’ trajectory, he was encouraged to develop his popular character, the lisping radio personality Leon Phelps, ‘The Ladies Man,’ into a feature film. However, the 2000 movie, co-written by Meadows, unfortunately faltered both critically and commercially.
‘It undeniably put a brake on my career,’ Meadows admitted. ‘Everything just slowed down.'”
Despite this, Meadows insists he holds no resentment towards peers who achieved greater box office success.
In a striking photo, Meadows is seen in a moment of contemplation.
He stated with absolute sincerity, ‘Honestly, I feel no jealousy whatsoever toward anyone I’ve worked with who achieved great success. Their triumphs feel like a victory for someone I deeply care about.'”
Above all, Meadows simply loves his work. Harriet Dyer, his ‘DMV’ co-star, characterized him as consistently calm on set, always eager to discuss his children. With one child a college senior and the other a recent graduate, Meadows expressed relief that neither is interested in a career in comedy.
He conveyed this sentiment without hesitation. According to his friend and former castmate Molly Shannon, Meadows possesses an admirable ability to ‘be deadly serious in the greatest way.'”
Shannon further elaborated, ‘Some comedians feel compelled to perform constantly, always joking or ‘doing bits,’ which can sometimes create distance. Tim, however, is far more authentic; he’s ready to dive into serious, profound conversations almost immediately.'”
Lately, Meadows has embarked on his first-ever stand-up comedy tour, an endeavor he initially found ‘humbling.’ He sees it as an opportunity for audiences to ‘validate something silly’ he conceived during his commutes. More practically, it also serves as a contingency plan should television opportunities dwindle.
Standing beside a reflective surface that mirrors his likeness on a New York City street, with a hot dog cart in the background, Meadows reiterates his earlier statement: ‘I can honestly say, lie detector, I have no jealousy or anything with anybody I’ve worked with that went on to do well.’
While ‘Peacemaker’ could potentially open doors for a more significant role in the DC Comics universe—his character joined a new crime-fighting team in the finale—Meadows remains cautiously optimistic, ‘That would be very exciting,’ he admitted, but he’s not relying on it. Similarly, ‘DMV’ could either become a long-running hit or, like ‘The Michael Richards Show,’ be canceled after only a handful of episodes. (Fortunately, ‘DMV’ has at least secured a full-season order.)
Regardless of the future, Meadows is prepared. For now, he finds contentment in embodying the ‘Bill Erwin type’—a performer who understands his place and role perfectly.
‘I truly owe that man a debt,’ he concluded. ‘I’m incredibly grateful we had that conversation.'”
Visuals provided by Yazz Jansen.