Surprise Emmy Winner Goes Viral for Olive Garden Reference in 3-Part Advice to Younger Self

Jeff Hiller's Primetime Emmy win was inarguably the biggest surprise of the night, as the comedian took home the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role on Somebody, Somewhere. In a post-win press junket backstage, the surprises continued as Hiller recalled working at Olive Garden when he was younger.

Hiller won his first Emmy on September 14 for playing Joel on HBO's comedy series Somebody, Somewhere, which aired its third season in late 2024. Following his win, the 49-year-old actor grabbed his statue and went backstage to take photos and meet a room full of press ready to ask questions.

One person from the Television Academy Foundation asked Hiller what he would say to his younger self following his win, and of course the comedian had a hilarious answer in response. "I guess I would say, 'You're going to go wait tables at The Olive Garden tonight,'" he begins.

His advice to his younger self is three-fold, "grit and bare your teeth through it, steal some breadsticks, and know that in the future you'll get a nice piece of objet to make it all worth it," Hiller continues before laughing.

"I did work at the Olive Garden," Hiller reiterates with a shrug, "when you're there you're family." As he finishes answering the question the room of reporters can be heard laughing in the background.

A Breakout Moment for 'Somebody, Somewhere'

While the Emmy Award is Hiller's first recognition for Somebody, Somewhere, the show has received critical success since first airing in 2022. Hiller's co-star Bridget Everett won a Dorian Award that year for her outstanding TV Lead Performance as well as a Television Critics Association Award in 2025. The show also won the prestigious Peabody Award in 2024 in the entertainment category.