Episode 10

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Published on:

9th May 2025

EP 10 - From YouTube to SNL - Nick Rutherford's Unbelievable Hollywood Journey

Nick Rutherford (Good Neighbor, SNL, Rick and Morty) joins us for a funny, honest, and wildly insightful conversation about the rollercoaster ride of working in comedy and making it in Hollywood.

We talk about how a group of friends making absurd YouTube videos became the sketch group Good Neighbor, how that led to Saturday Night Live, and what happened when the dream job didn’t turn out as expected. Nick shares stories from his time writing and performing at SNL, voicing characters on Rick and Morty, and creating the surreal world of Dream Corp LLC for Adult Swim.

We also get into the pressure of making content in today’s attention economy, the strange psychology of pitching shows, and what it takes to keep going when the industry doesn’t always say yes.

In this episode:

  • The rise of Good Neighbor and early internet fame
  • Behind the curtain at Saturday Night Live
  • What it feels like to be let go from your dream job
  • Writing and acting in Dream Corp LLC
  • Voice acting on Rick and Morty
  • The tension between making art and building a following
  • Mental health, mindfulness, and staying sane in comedy
  • Learning how to keep going when the path isn't clear

It’s equal parts hilarious, heartbreaking, and hopeful—a perfect snapshot of what it really means to try and make something meaningful (and funny) in today’s world.

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About the Podcast

Deep Noodle Podcast
Unfiltered conversations with comedians, writers, actors, and artists.
This noodle goes deep! Not your daddy's Hollywood interview show. Nathaniel August Williams sits down with the funniest, most fascinating minds in entertainment—writers, actors, comedians, and artists—to unpack the highs, lows, and holy sh*t moments of making art, making people laugh, and making sense of this crazy mystery of existence.

From behind-the-scenes absurdity to unexpected deep dives, these interviews go beyond the surface to reveal the heart, humor, and hustle behind the craft.

Smart, funny, and unfiltered—this is the show for anyone who loves comedy, creativity, and a good story.

About your host

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Nathaniel Williams

Nathaniel August Williams is a writer, director, and performer. He's the co-founder of Lathien Pictures and host of the Deep Noodle podcast. He has worked as a director with talents like Matthew McConaughey, Jenny Slate, and Pete Davidson, and as an actor on shows like HBO's Boardwalk Empire and Darren Star's Younger. He performed comedy at the UCB and People's Improv Theater and graduated from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.