Why David Schwimmer Is Still Traumatized by His 1995 ‘SNL’ Hosting Gig

David Schwimmer has reflected on his unpleasant experience as a host on Saturday Night Live.

During an an interview with Stephen Colbert forward The Late Show on Monday, January 13, Schwimmer, 58, recalled the time he was preparing for a 1995 gig in the midst of Friends‘ success. (Schwimmer starred as Ross Geller in the comedy series, which launched in 1994.)

Schwimmer, who went to college with Colbert, 60, and studied alongside the TV host as a theater student, said he made “one big mistake” as a first. Friends cast member to invite to host SNL at the time.

“It was a huge honor… I couldn’t be more excited,” Schwimmer explained. “Friends at that time it was shooting on a Tuesday night and we were shooting until sometimes one in the morning, and so we would fly from LA to New York on Wednesday to get there. I really wasn’t getting there SNL until Thursday, two days before the show on Saturday.”

Schwimmer, who currently appears in the Hulu/Disney+ series Goosebumps: The Vanishingcontinued, “When I walked into the writers’ room, all the writing staff looked at me like I’d just slept with their mother or something. They weren’t happy to see me and I had no idea (why).”

The actor detailed how he “somehow got through” the following two days despite being “kind of traumatised” by his colleagues’ reception.

When asked by Colbert how the host’s appearance ended, Schwimmer noted, “I don’t remember how it went, to be honest.”

Schwimmer added that the mysterious authors’ response was crystallized “years later.” He explained how he was “talking to someone else who had hosted the show and they said, no, no, no, you’re supposed to appear on Monday.”

“No one told me and for years, I had no idea why,” he added.

Although he never solved the mix-up, Schwimmer said he was recently invited to the game the show’s 50th anniversary event, to be held next month.

Related: ‘Goosebumps’ Cast Praises David Schwimmer for Being a ‘Generous Working Father’

The cast of Goosebumps: The Vanishing will take any opportunity to praise David Schwimmer for being an exceptional costar on and off screen. During an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, Ana Ortiz, Elijah M. Cooper, Galilea La Salvia, Francesca Noel, Stony Blyden, Sam McCarthy and Jayden Bartels discussed sharing the screen with Schwimmer, (…)

“It’s been 30 years and I think, well, maybe they’ve forgotten that they don’t like me? Or, there’s just some intern tasked with emailing everyone who’s ever been hosted, but I don’t know what to do,” Schwimmer said.

Colbert then encouraged his friend to “go” to the event, telling Schwimmer that he had “worked there for a while” and failed to accept his own invitation.

“Yeah, but I don’t want to be like Charlie Brown with the football, you know, you seem eager again and, no, we don’t want you here,” Schwimmer said. “Do you want to be my plus one?” (SNL is set to mark its 50th milestone on February 16 with a three-hour prime-time live special featuring five decades worth of popular cast members and fan-favorite guests.)

A clearly amused Colbert then accepted Schwimmer’s invitation, confirming it with a firm handshake across his desk.