Here's an interesting interview with Andy Samberg, with some comments on Nic and some of his movies, and his appearance on SNL! He's a fan! (of course) Here is the part about Nic.

http://www.craveonline.com/film/interviews/190359-well-lubed-machine-andy-samberg-on-thats-my-boy-and-leaving-snl-

When Nicolas Cage came on “Get in the Cage,” was he into your impression or just promoting Ghost Rider?

He seemed like he enjoyed it. For him it was funny because when we first met, I was like, “It’s so nice of you to come. I’m such a huge fan” which is true. I’m a huge Nic Cage fan. He was like [in Cage voice], “It’s nice… because your impression… is not an impression at all… but more… an insane character.” I was like I’m glad that you see it that way because that’s kind of what it turned into for me. Almost the way Ferrell’s Bush became just a Ferrell character. I’m not saying it’s as good as that, but that’s my favorite thing at “SNL” when an impression turns into a whole other thing with a whole other set of rules and you can write the game for it, sort of outside of the laws of “this is a spot on impression and the reason it’s funny is because it sounds so much like the person.” Instead it turns into this is just an insane person who can say and do whatever they feel like. So it meant a lot to me that he found it funny enough and had enough of a sense of humor to come do it with me. That was definitely one of the high moments of my time at “SNL” was getting to do “In the Cage” with Nic Cage himself. That was definitely something I’ll hold onto forever as a highlight.

Were you doing more the blockbuster Cage than the indie movie Cage?

For sure. It’s a lot of National Treasure but even a little Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call – New Orleans. That movie’s incredible where you’re like what am I watching right now? It’s both intense and effective and also hilarious and bananas where you’re just like wait, now there’s an iguana? We had a screening of that movie at “SNL” and everyone was really enjoying that movie. It’s definitely a special thing so I think that helped too. He’s so willing to go into a crazy place with his characters and I think people enjoy indulging that side of him and I think a lot of that is why the impression that I did of him sort of turned into that more and people were happy to see more of it, because when he does it it’s great.

When you have actual celebrities on those “Cage” segments, do you give them minimal lines and just make them look good?

We always want to make them look good, for sure, if someone does you the favor of showing up. But I wouldn’t say we give them minimal lines. It just depends on the person and what they’re comfortable with. The cool part about the one with Cage was he was really funny. People forget how funny he is. Raising Arizona is one of the funniest performances ever.

Have you seen Vampire’s Kiss?

Yes. That is a good one. There’s so many good ones, man. Drive Angry was really great. That one really had us rolling.

I just couldn’t believe what I was watching in Vampire’s Kiss.

Yeah, he’s completely off the rails, just doing whatever. He’s one of the most inherently watchable actors that there is. You’re just like what’s he going to do? What’s coming next? What Cage move is going to happen here to make this special? He always seems to have something. The best case scenario when you have somebody come do a cameo is make them look good but also make them get to do something funny. That’s definitely the goal.

Cool to read!! I honestly was not sure where he was going with the Nic impression until the show where Nic himself appeared. ( for anyone who missed that, watch it here )

To find out Andy Samberg is a fan, and such a fan, is a it thrilling!

Thanks for posting Lady T