Phil Hymes, like Roger and Kimberly, has been a stalwart of colorists and their craft to television. He was the genius lighting director of SNL from its second season, 1976, until early 2018. For 42 years and a week, Hymes was the bedrock on which Show’s identity and success was built. He gained respect among his peers and even won over the hearts of some of his famous guests.
In his 40 years on SNL, Hymes made a huge impact on celebrities who played the SNL stage. His honesty really moved the conversation along, and one of those times was when he gave critiques on Lady Gaga’s wardrobe decisions and made her love his honesty. Not all interactions were smooth. Hymes reportedly nearly caused Kanye West to walk off the show after a dispute regarding set pieces, illustrating his strong personality and dedication to his craft.
One of the most iconic clashes came with then-actor Billy Bob Thornton in Thornton’s hosting debut in 2001. Afterward, Hymes personally directed someone to ask Thornton to take off his baseball cap for the duration of his monologue. It resulted in an incredibly uncomfortable exchange between the two. Thornton, not one to back down from a fight, infamously quipped,
“Hey old man, if you’ve got something to say, say it to my face.”
Despite their rocky start, the two men eventually sat down for an honest and respectful discussion, which became a pivotal moment in their relationship. As Seth Meyers humorously recalled about this momentous confrontation, for all of its fury, it didn’t happen in public. He stated,
“Now I also want to clarify Billy Bob Thornton did not do this in front of everybody.”
After their exchange, Hymes and Thornton shared an “I apologize” moment, demonstrating that even in the high-pressure environment of live television, misunderstandings can be resolved.
This lighthearted anecdote illustrates Hymes’ feisty spirit. He was a key player behind-the-scenes who fought hard to keep the show honest and committed to the truth.
“Just two guys meeting at high noon, deciding not to fight.”
Beyond his feuds and ambivalent friendships with pop culture figures, Hymes had a long, storied career bristling with honors and innovations. He was an enormous jerk and sometimes likable in equal measure, often reminding cast members of his dazzling pedigree. After all, he had once painted President John F. Kennedy in the White House! In addition to his artist grants and awards, Hymes won his first Emmy award at 95 years old in 2018. Unfortunately, he died at 96 one year later, in 2019.
In remembering the work of Bruce Hymes, Seth Meyers rightly called him an unsung anchor of SNL’s legacy. He noted,
His influence changed SNL from a late night afterthought into a comedy juggernaut over the years. His colleagues and music lovers around the world will celebrate his visionary spirit.
“I never saw Phil do this,” referencing Hymes’ unique ability to command respect and manage the high-stakes environment of live television.
His work helped shape SNL into a comedy hit over the decades, and his contributions will be remembered by both colleagues and fans alike.
