As I read through this interview, it strikes me how far and how fast Marcello has come from his humble beginnings selling tickets on the street to gracing the stage of Saturday Night Live (SNL). It’s an inspiring journey that not many can claim, especially within such a short span. His ability to maintain focus while keeping a grounded perspective is truly commendable.
Marcello Hernández‘s work week commences on Monday evenings, starting with a pitch meeting in Lorne Michaels’ office, and concludes on Sundays at 1:02 a.m., following the conclusion of Saturday Night Live.
Amidst drafting, revising, and running through rehearsals with the week’s host, as well as on days of practice, an SNL breakthrough cast member squeezes in time to perform at comedy venues like Comedy Cellar in the West Village or other NYC comedy clubs. This helps them hone their stand-up act.
By allowing yourself to feel tired, you can accomplish much more,” the 27-year-old shares with The Hollywood Reporter, chuckling.
In 2022, Hernández became a part of the Saturday Night Live (SNL) team, and since then, has turned out to be one of the show’s hidden strengths. He’s shone brightly in numerous sketches that have sparked quite a stir on the internet, such as “Protective Mom,” “Nightclub Line,” and the amusing “Dune Popcorn Bucket” segment.
He’s a well-known comedian who consistently sells out shows nationwide when Saturday Night Live isn’t airing, and he’s had the opportunity to perform alongside big names such as Dave Chappelle, Colin Jost, Jo Koy, and others.
Below, Hernández shares insights about introducing Latin culture to Saturday Night Live in a fresh manner, his views on the boundaries of humor in comedy, and his surprise at reaching this stage in his career just nine years after starting stand-up.
How involved are you in writing the SNL sketches that you’re in?
Frankly speaking, there’s quite a bit of Spanish content in the show, which I find very engaging. You might notice that Kenan [Thompson] often helps with lines and tries to make them more succinct. The writers also value collaboration with cast members, making the process more interactive. Given the cultural context, I take it upon myself to ensure accuracy, as I wouldn’t want my mom to point out any grammatical errors in our work. So, you could say I play an active role, especially when it comes to matters of our culture.
In addition to SNL, you also have a very successful stand-up career. How do you balance the two?
Embracing a lifestyle with less sleep allows for increased productivity. [Laughs.] By accepting feelings of tiredness, one can accomplish more tasks. Throughout my life, I’ve found it difficult to stay still for long periods. At times, even when at home, I feel restless and decide to perform stand-up comedy instead. This has been a passion of mine since I was 18 years old, and it brings me immense joy. Following each performance, I feel revitalized, only to realize the next morning that I stayed up late and am exhausted. My dream has always been to have the freedom to do stand-up as often as I desire, which is something I’m grateful for now.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Marcello Hernández (@marcellohdz)
Do you have a preference between stand-up or doing something on SNL?
Oh dear, I adore everyone and everything! In terms of entertainment, it’s hard to choose but stand-up comedy was my initial passion. However, I’m currently immersing myself in sketch writing and general TV writing as well. Stand-up is like a long-standing partner, while sketch writing feels fresh and exciting, particularly these past couple of years. In my opinion, SNL might be the ideal place to learn more about it. Honestly, I don’t have a preference between the two. One I’ve been doing for nearly a decade, and the other is still quite new to me.
Why do you think comedy is so important right now?
Each individual has their unique approach to appreciating humor, but everyone finds laughter in their own special way. Whether it’s through watching Saturday Night Live or laughing at someone tripping in a blooper reel, the method of amusement varies for each person. I’m simply thrilled that people enjoy a good chuckle, and I feel privileged to be involved with a production where our main focus is laughter. It still seems strange and absurd to me that the purpose of our show is to make you grin, but that’s all that truly matters. Even in casual conversation, my aim is to bring smiles to people’s faces, and it’s fascinating to contribute to something so significant where everyone takes their work seriously. However, at the heart of it all, we’re here to elicit laughter. It’s a bit ironic that some folks show up in a suit for my job, only hoping they’ll bring on the giggles.
Would you say there’s anything that’s off-limits when it comes to comedy?
After expressing an idea, be it a jest or not, it transcends ownership. It becomes open to interpretation. In a relationship, there are certain topics that should be avoided due to sensitivity, but this is because you have a deep understanding of the person, knowing what might upset them. However, when aiming for humor that appeals to everyone, one simply has to express thoughts and witness the outcome. If negative reactions occur, then one must face the consequences.
You’ve posed quite an intricate question, one that seems to explore human behavior and intentions in humor, much like a young student trying to make their classmates laugh during school hours, only to face the stern reprimand of “You can not say that.” The question is complex because it’s challenging to know people’s true intentions. Just as a comedian has the freedom to tell jokes as they see fit, each individual has the right to respond or react according to their feelings and opinions.
How do you feel like growing up in Miami plays a part in your comedy and life in general?
I spent most of my childhood immersed in a cultural environment. Most of my friends have strong ties to their Hispanic heritage. Since I began comedy at 18, moved from Miami to Ohio for college, and started exploring places outside of Miami around the same time, my material often reflects this experience. My jokes are about growing up in Miami and then discovering new environments. Given that Miami isn’t exactly representative of America, it has its unique characteristics, which I believe come across in my comedy, as well as my perspective on how different my upbringing was from those I met later in life.
In a lively and over-the-top manner reminiscent of Latin culture: Miami’s absolutely wild! It’s bursting with excitement and energy, teeming with Spanish vibes, lots of folks salsa dancing, and many people chattering away in Spanish on the bustling streets.
A few weeks ago on SNL, you absolutely nailed your Bad Bunny impression. How did you perfect it?
I just went into a flow state. That’s a guy we all watch so much, and I’ve had the joy of getting to hang out with him a few times. I think it just kind of worked out, and the outfit was awesome. Shout out to Tom Broecker [SNL costume designer]. I had fun doing it.
What’s your reaction to the fact that you introduced the Spanish-language game show Sábado Gigante to SNL two weeks ago, which Don Francisco commended on Instagram? It must be quite fulfilling to know that you are helping to bring more Latino representation to SNL in a way that hasn’t been done much before.
I love it. Obviously, people know how close I feel to my culture, and also I have to mention [SNL writer] Steven Castillo, who came up to me this week and said that he’s been trying to get Sábado Gigante on the show for years and hasn’t been able to, and kind of gauged my interest. I was super into it. He and Bryan Tucker, who’s a writer who’s done [recurring sketch] “What’s Up With That?” with Kenan and Dan Bulla, who’s another amazing writer who travels with Adam Sandler and is just such a talented guy. The four of us kind of came together and put the sketch together. And I’m just glad that it was fun and that people are liking it, and that we can speak so much Spanish on TV.
Where do you hope to be down the line in your comedy career?
Wow, I’m giving this fresh approach a shot – living one day at a time. There are numerous aspirations swirling within me, yet I choose to act rather than speak. It feels beneficial for my mental well-being to zero in on the daily challenges, striving for consecutive days filled with progress in stand-up comedy, sketch writing, film writing, or acting. In this manner, I hope to evolve gradually into a more holistic performer or comedian, taking on more projects while keeping my focus here and now, avoiding excessive worry about the future, and instead concentrating on improvement in the present moment.
As a gamer, I can relate; interviews are like challenging boss battles! Just when you think you’ve got the perfect answer, your brain goes into overdrive trying to strategize the best response. Once it fires off an answer, the question vanishes, leaving you wondering if you played your character well enough. All that’s left is hoping that what I said accurately reflected my feelings, much like checking if my character survived the battle.
Looking back at where you began in comedy five or ten years ago, would it have occurred to you that you’d be where you are today?
No, dude. Not at all! I ran into this guy last night who kind of lived on the street where I used to sell tickets. He’s out there panhandling every night. And we had a moment like, “Holy crap, man!” He was like, “Dude, I was telling these people about you. You used to sell tickets, and now you’re on TV, man.” I was like, “Isn’t it crazy?!” He’s like, “Yeah, man, it’s insane.” Truly. I’m sure people were like, “Marcello, you’re doing good, kid. You’re gonna be a big thing.” And I’m like, “Yeah, OK. Leave me alone.”
It’s truly remarkable, and I never thought this would happen. That’s why discussing the future is challenging as my past aspirations weren’t specifically defined. Instead, I focused on improving daily, becoming funnier and a little better each day, believing that eventually, things would fall into place. Now, I’m more deliberate with my time, but I still believe in the power of incremental improvement and staying within my comfort zone to see what unfolds. If you produce quality work, people are likely to take notice, which could lead to opportunities that pave the way for further achievements.
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2024-10-15 17:55