Lamorne Morris Relates to Garrett Morris’ Experience as the First Black Cast Member of ‘SNL’

As I delve deeper into the world of comedy, I can’t help but marvel at the tales that unfold behind the scenes. The story of how “SNL” was born, as recounted here, is nothing short of inspiring. It’s a testament to the audacity and vision of those who dared to push boundaries and challenge the status quo.

Garrett Morris, SNL’s first black cast member, starred on the show from 1975 to 1980, becoming famous for his portrayal of fictional Dominican baseball player Chico Escuela. Yet, it was his role as Stan Winters during the initial three seasons of Martin Lawrence’s ’90s sitcom ‘Martin’, that left a lasting impact on Lamorne Morris, who plays Garrett in Saturday Night – a film directed by Jason Reitman and based on SNL’s debut episode. This movie is scheduled for theatrical release in New York, Los Angeles, and Toronto on Sept. 27, and globally on Oct. 11.

Whenever an aspiring actor observes someone on TV, it can appear like an insurmountable challenge, as Morris explains to The Hollywood Reporter. Martin, specifically, is exceptionally skilled at creating characters. Each actor on that show was capable of portraying numerous characters. They were so humorous and relaxed, their dialogue resembled how my friends and I conversed. I remember thinking, ‘Wow, we could pull this off, let’s give it a try.’

According to Morris, “As you progress in comedy, you come to understand that there’s an increasing array of possibilities.

The Chicago native’s rise has included starring on Fox’s New Girl for seven seasons and landing the lead role on Hulu’s Woke before joining the cast of Fargo in its fifth season as Trooper Witt Farr, the role for which he garnered the Primetime Emmy for best supporting actor in a limited or anthology series. Two decades of comedy experience under his belt and an innate sense of kinship to Garrett who shares his last name, though the two are of no relation, Morris didn’t hesitate to audition when he received an email about the Saturday Night role early one morning.

In this discussion, he chats with THR regarding his talks with Garrett Morris, refining the unique tone of the Julliard-educated actor’s voice, and reenacting his famous “Kill all the whiteys” sketch from Saturday Night Live.

What led to you taking on this role and at what point in time did it happen? Also, did any apprehension arise within you regarding the task of embodying Garrett Morris’s character?

In Chicago, I was at home when I received an email while still in bed. Upon seeing it, I jumped out of bed with determination, saying to myself, “I’ve got this! I can do this. I know Garrett. This is my area of expertise.” I quickly set up my camera in my bedroom and grabbed an old jacket and tie from my brother’s room. With my hair growing out at the time, I styled it a bit into an afro, and started filming. I found confidence in the fact that I had lived with Garrett in my mind for quite some time, as we share the same last name, people often assume we are related. Moreover, I grew up watching Martin, so I felt a connection to him. The process was certainly intimidating, as I didn’t know Garrett personally, and feared he might dislike my performance. However, it seems that Garrett found the movie enjoyable.

At this year’s American Black Film Festival (ABFF) Honors, you handed Garrett the Hollywood Legacy Award in the presence of Leslie Jones. Can you tell me how much time you got to interact with him after securing your role and if there’s anything he told you about his stint at SNL?

I spent more hours interacting with him online than in actual meetings. Our longest face-to-face encounter happened during ABFF. We mainly conversed at a table, exchanging casual chatter. During our virtual sessions, I mainly asked about his relationships with the cast members because I was already aware of the challenging circumstances he faced on the show as the only Black actor. The show’s environment was problematic due to racist writers and uncomfortable jokes. He had conflicts with some writers, which I aimed to understand better. I also wanted to learn about the dynamics between him and other cast members, who he bonded with, and who he socialized with outside of work.

Looking back, drugs played a significant role in the scene at Saturday Night Live and the overall culture of the time. Folks were even doing coke during meetings – it was just part of the vibe. Garrett put it to me like this: “Dude, everyone was having a blast. It was a bunch of crazy, energetic kids just playing around.” Hearing him explain it that way really helped me when we got on set because you could feel the enthusiasm of everyone else and their unique quirks. So I would approach each actor and share with them what Garrett had told me about the character they were portraying, and we’d collaborate from there.

Jon Batiste, as part of the band, and you were the only African-American performers in the movie. Did you find yourself able to relate or understand Garrett’s experience in a similar way?

In a way that’s somewhat similar, I’ve had a comparable journey in my career. People often referred to me as “the Black guy from that show,” and for quite some time, many didn’t know my real name; they just knew me as “you’re the Black guy.” I certainly identified with that. However, during filming, there were instances when you could feel it – the subtle tension. Jason, a true professional in his craft, understood Garrett’s character, and he didn’t want viewers to think, “There are many Black people here. Why is Garrett complaining?” because that was the issue – opportunities like that weren’t common. So, Jason would create situations where he’d separate me, placing the larger group over here, and telling others, “Garrett wouldn’t socialize in these types of moments.” While I was there doing my part, I’d often find myself looking outwards until I became more familiar with the rest of the cast. Jason took great care to subtly portray the intricacies of each character’s struggles.

Did you already feel acquainted with Garrett prior to the audition, or was there a period of refining his voice that you had to go through?

Absolutely, without a doubt. You understand that Garrett has distinct tones in his voice. As a performer, Garrett exudes a confident and larger-than-life aura, which is evident when you watch Martin. In the show, he often leaned back, puffed out his chest, and said “ah, Martin,” mimicking a style reminiscent of Sammy Davis Jr. However, in his everyday life, he was more laid-back. He’d smoke cigarettes and engage in casual conversations. Yet, there’s a rhythmic quality to his voice, as if he were singing, because he is indeed a singer. He even performed La traviata in Italian. Therefore, I had to analyze numerous interviews of his and rehearse various lines to capture his unique vocal style accurately.

And then you had to sing as well. Talk about the scene where you perform “Kill All the Whiteys.”

He created a sketch titled “Death Row Follies,” where he collaborated with vocal coach Dave Stroud to emulate the voice of a character named Garrett. The effort was intense as we aimed to replicate Garrett’s voice in that sketch accurately. We hoped our work would be close to the mark. Garrett was experiencing considerable strain during the show, and this song, he mentioned, solidified his role there. He felt confident, stating, “This is what I excel at. I am a performer.” His performance turned out splendidly, as evidenced by an interview where he discusses it without giving away any spoilers. In the olden days of the ’50s, there was a show in which the host would invite audience members to sing. One such individual, an older white woman, sang a song containing offensive language about race. This incident left everyone stunned, and the cameras were quickly switched off and commercials were shown. Garrett revealed that he drew inspiration from this event when creating the boundary-pushing humor for SNL, signaling to America that the new generation of comedians would be fearless, offensive, and unapologetic, mocking anyone from politicians to celebrities.

In the film, the cast members are first introduced in a sequence which was captured in one shot.

Oh boy (sighs).

What was it like getting that right?

Twice over, we carried out that task. For a couple of days, that’s how long we dedicated to cracking the code. It was quite a wild ride! Upon my initial encounter with Jason, following the job offer, I recall him mentioning his intention to film the entire movie as a single take, the whole movie. After rehearsing for a month, we then spent five consecutive days shooting the movie. Initially, I was taken aback, thinking “Wow, Jason, you’re high! What substance are you consuming?” (Laughs). However, he didn’t go through with that plan, but these single takes were quite demanding. They were approximately five to six minutes long, so if anything deviated from the script, we had to start all over again from the beginning. At one point, a digital counter displayed our progress: take 12, take 21, take 23, and we wagered on whether we’d surpass 30 or fall short. We reached take 24, and Jason declared this would be the final take, just as we were nearing completion, when one actor froze, muttered “ah fuck,” and everyone erupted in laughter due to our close call. That day was incredibly intense. We had a llama on set, various characters, and it was our debut appearance in the film. It was chaotic, but I tip my hat to Jason. Before our arrival, he had already filmed the entire movie using stand-ins, enabling him to grasp the choreography.

When do you first remember seeing Garrett on SNL, and was or is being on the show a goal for you?

Absolutely, Saturday Night Live (SNL) has been a significant aspiration for me throughout my career. I’ve auditioned for SNL before, but didn’t make the cut, which is alright. Interestingly enough, I have a background in Second City and improv, as well as sketch comedy, so SNL has always been a dream of mine. Coincidentally, the year I didn’t secure a spot on SNL, I landed the role in New Girl instead. It seems that everything worked out for the best.

2024-09-29 19:55

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