Andy Samberg Reflects on Walking Away From ‘SNL’: “It Was Taking a Heavy Toll on Me”
Andy Samberg Reflects on Walking Away From ‘SNL’: “It Was Taking a Heavy Toll on Me”
On Kevin Hart's Peacock interview series 'Hart to Heart,' the comedian recalled why he exited the hit NBC sketch series after seven seasons.
I’m not his biggest fan, but good for him getting out when it felt like it was time to move on. B99 was great, he’s a very funny guy!
There’s a watched a show called The Dark Side of Comedy and SNL sounds like it can just chew up a comedian.
I read Tina Feys book around the time it came out and felt the same way, I actually really like her but the grind she described is insane
I remember her saying something about, a schedule built around cocaine but without the cocaine anymore.
Also not a fan but Palm Springs is an insanely fun movie
Huge fan of Christen milioti and she and Samburg both did so well in that! Underrated movie for sure.
Meanwhile Kenan will never leave.
He’s been there for 21 years, the show turns 50 next season. It’s nuts.
I really think it's just because Kenan has been doing it all of his life, and Samberg really started up after college. Not to say that there is anything wrong with that, I love Samberg, but I think it's just the Kenan feels more comfortable with it, and is more used to that particular grind.
Also, Kenan isn't a writer on SNL AFAICT.
I think Andy Samberg/the Lonely Island crew was writing for both SNL proper as well producing the Digital Shorts that were nightmare production hours due to all the talent overlapping with the main SNL show. Anyone would be burnt out from that. I recall someone (I think it was Jorma Taccone maybe) mentioning like 18h production days for some of those a long time ago.
Not to discredit Kenan Thompson at all but I don't think he writes for SNL, or if he did it's very much in the distant past. His role would be a bit different from the likes of Andy, Tina, Seth etc.
I think he's got some dirt on Lorne Michaels and is just using it to maintain a steady paycheck. More power to him if so.
What's the appeal of SNL?
Everything I've heard about SNL makes it sound like an unbearably toxic workplace. And I tried watching the sketches but outside of those that got popular (Papyrus, Alien abduction, Melissa McCarthy as Sean Spicer, joke swaps etc) has been meh.
Brits get couple of comedians to do anagrams and sums, or tell lies,nand that's somehow funnier and more entertaining than SNL.
Used to be a talent factory for new comedians. But they lost their way i think
This is the best summary I could come up with:
After seven years, his contract was up and he decided not to return after the 2011-2012 season wrapped, officially announcing his decision weeks after the finale.
Though he dreamt of being on SNL since he was 8 years old, Samberg explained to Hart how things started to change when his longtime friends and Lonely Island collaborators, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone, left when their writing contracts were up — Schaffer and Taccone both went on to direct films The Watch and MacGruber, respectively.
The trio’s The Lonely Island’s digital shorts were a viral success and became historical SNL sketches including “I’m on a Boat” and the Emmy-winning “Dick in a Box” with Justin Timberlake.
Samberg also recalled the busy schedule he had with being on the show and over time it began taking a toll on him physically and emotionally.
When doing a guest spot on Parks and Recreation at the time, he said he was able to “see that life” with Poehler telling him “It’s pretty comfortable Samberg” given there was an easier schedule.
Samberg reiterated that he had projects lined up before leaving, including another upcoming The Lonely Island album and he had filmed a movie with Adam Sandler.
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