In a recent episode of the podcast “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend,” actor Bill Hader – who used to write, produce, and voice act for the hit show “South Park” – recalled when Van Halen singer David Lee Roth pitched the “South Park” team an unusual, yet very familiar, movie idea.
“When I worked at ‘South Park,’ he pitched a movie to us where he was an assassin: ‘It’s about a guy trying to get his dog back,’” Hader said, impersonating Roth.
The staff then apparently told the singer: “Yeah, they made this movie ‘John Wick’ that’s kinda similar.”
The 2014 film “John Wick,” which stars Keanu Reeves, is about an assassin who seeks revenge after his dog is killed by Russian mobsters.
According to Hader, Roth was unconvinced that “John Wick” was similar to his idea. “‘Nah, but the guy has a dog?! Whaddaya mean he has a dog?’” Hader recalled Roth saying.
When they suggested another idea to him about playing a musician by day and assassin by night, he replied, “‘Nah, I don’t want those guys involved’” – referring to his bandmates.
“We were totally in awe,” Hader said of the interaction. “‘Oh my god, that’s f*cking David Lee Roth.’ And he did not disappoint at all. He was so sweet and nice, it was awesome.”
