That Time John Mulaney And Writer Simon Rich Wrote An SNL Sketch That Flopped Within An Hour Of Them Meeting Each Other

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As someone who has spent countless hours laughing at the genius of John Mulaney and Simon Rich’s collaborations on Saturday Night Live, I can confidently say that their creative chemistry is unparalleled. Their reunion on Late Night with Seth Meyers was like a masterclass in comedy, reminiscing about their time crafting some of SNL’s funniest sketches.

John Mulaney and Simon Rich, comedy veterans who have been collaborating since years ago, remain in sync to this day. Lately, they’ve reconnected to discuss the Broadway play that Rich penned for Mulaney to star in, as well as reminisce about crafting some of the most hilarious sketches ever seen on Saturday Night Live. According to them, it was love at first sight when they met, and they began brainstorming ideas right away. However, their initial attempt at working together ended up being a failure within just an hour of their first encounter.

On one occasion, the scribes found themselves on the set of “Late Night with Seth Meyers.” Here, they reminisced about their initial encounters and shared experiences from their time at Saturday Night Live (SNL). It seems that both individuals made a lasting impression on each other during their first meetings. Rich was captivated by Mulaney’s stand-up comedy after watching a DVD of his jokes, finding him both witty and amusing. In response, Mulaney developed an appreciation for Rich after reading his book, “Ant Farm: And Other Desperate Situations.

Initially, when they penned their first collaborative piece during their initial meeting, it didn’t turn out to be the harmonious partnership they had envisioned. As John Mulaney put it, the sketch they eventually came up with was not a success.

Back in the day, there was a show titled “Cash for Silver.” You might recall those “Cash for Gold” advertisements. It was essentially the same concept but for your silver items instead. In one scene, Bill Hader is shown up close and personal, pleading for your silver. The catchphrase was, “Send us your silver, we’ll send you cash.

Of course, like many SNL sketches, the premise had a twist. Simon Rich divulged the reason for Bill Hader’s character demanding silver, and it was very ridiculous. He said:

And he’s increasingly…he’s very insistent and frantic, and you gradually realize why, and it’s because he and his family are marooned on werewolf island.

Additionally, they both clarified that the character’s urgency stemmed from the necessity to manufacture enough ammunition by the time of the full moon in order to leave the island. The storyline was complex, featuring Kenan Thompson asking numerous questions, as well as characters striking bargains with werewolves and boat captains. Rich emphasized that they took great care to ensure the narrative remained coherent.

We knew if we left a plot hole in there, viewers would be aghast.

This sketch seems incredibly funny, with a mind-boggling twist that’s out of this world! I can easily picture Bill Hader and Kenan Thompson bringing their legendary comedic charm to it. The writing duo had an exceptional SNL cast at their disposal during their time, and just hearing them describe the absurd segment leaves me in stitches. It’s quite remarkable how they came up with such a zany idea so quickly after being introduced.

Previously discarded concepts have had their resurgence, such as “Lobster Diner” that quickly gained popularity and led to musical spin-offs, despite not progressing beyond the initial table read when John Mulaney initially proposed it as a writer. Perhaps it’s now the right moment for “Cash For Silver” to emerge.

Despite the detailed outline of the sketch, it’s understandable why it fell short. It was overly complex and wordy, making it difficult for viewers to follow during an SNL segment. This appears to be a sketch that writers found appealing but didn’t resonate with live audiences. Although “Cash For Silver” didn’t succeed initially, it marked the beginning of Rich and Mulaney’s collaborative journey, which eventually led to hit sketches such as “What’s That Name?” and “Kissing Family”. In essence, their initial failure paved the way for their future success.

Audience members have the opportunity to catch John Mulaney in Simon Rich’s play titled “All In” at New York City’s Hudson Theater until January 12th, 2025. For those who want to reminisce about their memorable collaborations, you can rewatch some classic sketches they created by streaming old episodes of Saturday Night Live, which are now available with a Peacock subscription.

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2024-12-23 22:07