Emmys 2012: ‘SNL’s’ Bill Hader Shocked By Nomination, Says It Wasn’t on His Radar

Shocked. Surprised.

Those are the words best used to describe Bill Hader’s reaction when news came that he had snagged his first Emmy nomination for his work on Saturday Night Live.

“It wasn’t [on my radar]. It wasn’t like, ‘Oh yea! The Emmy nominations are coming out!’ ” Hader admitted to The Hollywood Reporter. “I’ve been so crazy, running around all over the place it didn’t even dawn on me. I got up early this morning with my daughter and my wife. We had breakfast. I checked my e-mail, nothing was there. Looked at my phone, everything was good. Hopped into the shower. When I came out, all of a sudden it was like 30 messages.”

FULL LIST: 2012 Emmy Nominations

Hader, who has been a regular cast member on SNL since 2005, was alone at home when the news came through. “My wife and daughter were gone so then I had this moment of, ‘Oh my gosh, what happened?’ ” he recalled, laughing. The first congratulatory text came from fellow nominee Kristen Wiig, whose message was too vague for Hader to put two and two together: “She went, ‘Oh my god, congratulations!’ I went, for what? What happened?” The second, from the SNL writers, filled him in on what was going on.

Though Hader wasn’t clear on what part of his performance struck a chord with the Academy voters (“It never really occurred to me that this would ever happen”), he was appreciative all the same listing off memorable characters, impressions and sketches he has taken part of on NBC’s late-night sketch show, highlighting Stefon, the gay nightlife guide who often appears on “Weekend Update.” “It really is a full-on shock,” he conceded. Even his wife couldn’t believe it. ” ‘For what?,’ ” Hader remembered his wife telling him. When he ventured out of the house, random strangers on the street were giving him good vibes: “I was walking down the street because I had to go to a [voiceover] session for an animated movie and a guy on a bike went, ‘Hey, congrats on the Emmy!’ “

PHOTOS: 2012 Major Emmy Nominees

On a personal note, Hader revealed that the episode hosted by former SNL regular Maya Rudolph — who received a nomination for hosting — was a favorite of his last season. “When she came back, she hit a grand slam,” he said. “That episode was one where you just went, wow.”

With changes in store for the upcoming season of SNL, due to the departures of Wiig and Andy Samberg, Hader confessed that he has no prior knowledge on who producers are eyeing to bring in as replacements — or how that would affect the dynamic.

“I don’t know when new people are hired. I find out when or after [news outlets] do,” Hader said. “I’m sure they’re looking at people and some will be hired.”

“It’s going to be very interesting. It was sad to see Kristen and Andy go because I came in with them,” he said. “It was very emotional.”

How is Hader going to celebrate his shocking nomination? “I’m seeing Dark Knight Rises.”

E-mail: Philiana.Ng@thr.com