Bill Murray Crashes a CNBC Interview to Ask Kevin Hassett to Say "My Dog Just Died"
Bill Murray asked a White House economic adviser to say "My dog just died" on live television on Monday, 2 November, to see what would happen to his smile. Variety reported the exchange, which took place on CNBC's Squawk Box, the network's weekday morning business show.
The guest was Kevin Hassett, who serves as director of the National Economic Council, the group of advisers that works on economic policy for the president. He was there to talk about the state of the economy with hosts Joe Kernan and Becky Quick. Hassett appeared on camera from another location. Murray sat between the two hosts in the studio.
Murray had not been part of the segment. He had come to CNBC earlier on Monday to talk about A Course Called Ireland, a six-part travel and golf docuseries on Paramount+. The show stars Murray and is based on Tom Coyne's 2009 book of the same name. Coyne was also a guest that morning. Murray was still in the building when he stepped into the Hassett interview.
Hassett asked whether the line should be about "your dog or my dog." Murray said "Your dog." Then Hassett said the words, and The Mirror reported that his face went flat and he appeared to hold back a smile.
Murray kept the bit going. He told Hassett, "We were gonna have someone go take your blood. We're gonna call them off." According to Yahoo Entertainment, Murray had explained his reason for breaking in on the interview beforehand: "I would regret it if I didn't take this opportunity."
Television interviews usually follow a set plan, with hosts choosing the questions and the guest keeping to the topic. This one did not. The hosts and the guest were left to respond to a visitor who had come in from another show's promotion. Hassett's answers to the economic questions on the programme were not the subject of the moment that drew the most attention.
For viewers, the clip is short and playful. It is also a reminder that a live studio can change in seconds when a guest walks through the door with a different plan.
