For numerous years, Andy Samberg has been synonymous with Saturday Night Live, and during the SNL 50 broadcast, he truly shone in his many appearances. Notably, the ex-Brooklyn Nine-Nine star featured in a skit about anxiety among SNL cast members, a topic Samberg himself has openly discussed as a past member. This skit has since become viral. Following the broadcast, Samberg met up with some of SNL’s most prominent figures and had a conversation with Billy Crystal. Therefore, when given the chance, Samberg inquired about Crystal’s anxiety experiences during his time on the show, sharing intriguing insights.
Following the momentous television spectacle slated for 2025, Andy Samberg and The Lonely Island team shared their experiences on the “The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast”. Samberg spoke about having a conversation with Billy Crystal following his “Anxiety” sketch, which is rapidly gaining popularity as one of SNL’s best digital shorts. He inquired from the comedian if he had ever experienced stage jitters during his brief tenure as a cast member, discussing:
I carried out the action and was extremely pleased I did so. I had an opportunity to converse with Billy Crystal on this matter, and he was genuinely kind. It had only been a short while since we’d crossed paths, if you recall, at one of those SNL reunion photo shoots. I couldn’t help but express my joy in meeting him again. As I asked, “I hope it wasn’t an inconvenience?”, he replied with ease and grace, assuring me that it was perfectly fine. Intrigued, I posed another question: “Did you experience anxiety while working on the show?” To which he responded affirmatively, mentioning that he did have a bit of apprehension.
The atmosphere at SNL is notoriously high-pressure, taking into account its demanding production timeline and longstanding tradition of working through nights as the deadline for the show approaches. This setting has been recognized for causing anxiety among cast members, with several of them discussing their mental health issues while they were part of the show.
For instance, Bill Hader openly discussed his anxieties during his time on Saturday Night Live, and this struggle resonated so deeply that it led to an entire comedy sketch being created based on the pressure of live television performances.
Yet, only a few of the veteran actors seem to have addressed this topic, which piqued Seth Meyers’ curiosity. He wondered if others had similar experiences too, phrasing it as: “I was wondering if anyone else has gone through something like this as well.
Yeah, did Eddie Murphy have anxiety?
After giving it some thought, Samberg came to understand that the stresses they experienced as cast members differed significantly from those encountered by Crystal back in the ’80s.
In Palm Springs, the actor shared that the When Harry Met Sally star was included in one of Saturday Night Live’s top single-season casts back then. However, most members were already established comedians with careers beyond SNL, which likely meant less pressure as they already had successful careers outside the show. He put it this way:
They stood out in a unique way, as they were similar to established performers who had previously found success independently. He pointed out that they weren’t dealing with the usual stage nerves about whether they would succeed on the show, because their success was already established.
In contrast to today’s SNL, where the cast primarily consists of relatively unknown comedians aspiring for a break on NBC’s sketch show, this situation was quite different. Their screen time and job security depend on the number of sketches they are featured in, the popularity of their characters, and their writing skills that contribute to the program. This competitive environment often leads to significant pressure, which unfortunately can lead to various mental health issues.
Despite jittery cast members, SNL consistently delivers humor and relevance each week. Though the 50th anniversary special has passed, the show boasts numerous intriguing hosts and musicians for its 50th season that fans can look forward to. Don’t forget to catch up with SNL every Saturday at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC. If you want a glimpse of the anniversary broadcast or previous seasons, consider subscribing to Peacock for access.
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2025-03-08 20:40