-This movie -- I know everybody was very worried
that it would not make any money.
-Yeah. People were very concerned.
-They were very concerned. -It was a little indie movie.
But word of mouth is spreading to the tune of $1 billion!
-And this is -- [ Cheers and applause ]
Look. This is an incredible cast.
A lot of our dear friends are in this film.
-Yes. -Beyoncé is in this film.
-One of our dearest friends. -Dearest friends.
Who is coming tonight? Maybe she didn't.
I can't remember. -Oh, okay.
-She always likes to watch from the audience.
-She likes to surprise
with a ten-minute set at the Comedy Store...
-Yeah. -...and then come.
-But "Entertainment Weekly" said there's a clear
standout performance in "The Lion King,"
and it's not Beyoncé.
They fully give you the standout performance.
-Yeah, that's very --
[ Cheers and applause ]
Yes. All right. Thank you.
Except with a headline like that, I literally,
because of Beyoncé, have to join the witness protection program.
-Yeah. -You know?
Which didn't stop me from retweeting it, by the way.
But, still -- No, it's very nice.
The reception has been really amazing.
-Let's talk Oscar buzz, because there has yet to be
anyone nominated for voice work, right?
-I didn't realize this, but no one has ever
been nominated for a voice performance ever
in any acting category. -I feel like this is --
Like, what better year to get it started, right?
-Well, I agree with you, Seth.
Look, you know, I'm just a simple, ordinary man
with an Emmy nom and Oscar buzz,
trying to make it in our cruel and unforgiving world.
-My fingers are crossed for you.
-Fingers are crossed. -You had a premiere.
And you got to meet --
You can see right there. You got to meet Meghan Markle.
-Yep. -There she is right there.
-And Prince Harry. -Prince Harry.
-That's me and Seth Rogen.
-But you and Meghan Markle, you went to college together.
Same school I went to. -Same school you went to. Yeah.
Meghan Markle and I went to Northwestern together,
and we were both theater majors, and we didn't --
[ Scattered cheers ] Okay, we get it.
We were both theater majors.
Go, Cats. I love Northwestern.
We were both theater majors, and we were there at the same time.
We didn't know each other.
But in the midst of all this pomp and circumstance
and at that premiere -- Literally, we're in a row,
a receiving line with Prince Harry, Meghan Markle,
Beyoncé, Elton John, Pharrell, Tim Rice, all these people.
Me, obviously.
And in the middle of all that,
Meghan and I are having a very casual conversation
about who our acting teachers were at Northwestern.
And she said, "Congratulations on your career."
And I said, "Congratulations on your career."
And she said, "Well, it took a little turn."
[ Laughter ]
But she had a great sense of humor.
And they were lovely, very down-to-earth.
-That's great. So you got to watch it with them
and all the people you mentioned,
but you have also tried
to see it with a regular audience, as well.
-Yes. I did. We had two premieres. And that's fun.
There are celebrities and industry people.
But I wanted to see it with regular moviegoers.
-Yeah. And kids. It must be fun.
-It's a movie for children and for families ultimately.
So I went to see it in IMAX.
I snuck into a regular screening in IMAX in L.A.
over the weekend, which was beautiful.
The movie looks incredible. It's so beautiful-looking.
But, you know, I haven't been to a movie
where a lot of children are in a long time.
So basically, it's parents spending a hundred dollars
to take their kids to the bathroom, is what I reali--
It's like -- So against the beautiful "Lion King"
for two hours is a silhouette of children
being dragged up and down the stairs to the bathroom
for like two hours.
I was like, "Why are the parents paying for this?"
-Yeah. -But I enjoyed it.
You know, it's a nice movie.
-And you had a connection to "The Lion King" on Broadway.
-Yes. -As an actor, people might not
know your connection to "The Lion King" on Broadway.
-Yes. This is a true story.
I was a bartender at "The Lion King" on Broadway
when I was a struggling actor,
still struggling, according to some critics.
But when I was a struggling actor,
I was a bartender at Broadway shows.
And you know it's a bad sign --
I was a bartender at one theater,
and then they moved me to "The Lion King,"
which means I'm a bad bartender.
Because no one's making martinis at "The Lion King," right?
So basically, you're selling candy and soda the whole time.
And in a foreshadowing of my later career,
where I have to shout a lot, my job during intermission
was to shout over all the kids in the lobby,
"All food, water, and soda can be brought into the theater!"
That was my job, was to make sure the parents knew
if they bought things, their kids could continue
to eat them during act two, yeah.
-Speaking of kids and food, you're a Happy Meal toy.
-I am a Happy Meal toy. -You're merchandise.
That's very exciting. First time merchandised.
-Aww. Isn't that nice? You can eat that
while getting a heart attack at the same time.
Yes, that's fun. Who knew I'd be a Happy Meal toy?
-Happy Meal, and you mentioned
you are nominated for an Emmy for "Billy on the Street."
-I am. -Congratulations.
[ Cheers and applause ] -Thank you. Thank you.
-How do you feel about your chances?
-I mean, I'm pretty sure
I'm going to lose to freaking "Carpool Karaoke."
-Yeah, it's a juggernaut. -They're in every cat--
I love -- I've been on "Carpool Karaoke."
-You have, yes. -I literally did it.
I did "Carpool Karaoke" with Metallica, which is actually --
Don't clap, okay?
Because now they're my competition.
But, no, I feel like I'm going to lose to "Carpool Karaoke."
But, you know, maybe not. -Yeah.
-Maybe on the wind of my Oscar buzz...
-Yes, that's true. That's true.
'Cause sometimes Emmy voters are like, "You know what?
We could be, like, Oscar-adjacent with our vote."
-Right. Exactly. So we'll see.
"Carpool Karaoke" has like 30 Emmy --
They're in every category! -Yes.
-"Carpool Karaoke" is nominated for, like,
Best Supporting Actress. I'm not kidding.
Somehow -- I don't know why
we're promoting your stiffest competition.
He's on right now, if you want to change the channel!
-But come right back. Go say hi and then come right back.
Thanks so much for being here.
It's always great to have you. That's Billy Eichner, everybody.