As a die-hard Saturday Night Live (SNL) fan with years of dedicated viewership under my belt, I’ve always marveled at the show’s ability to consistently deliver laugh-out-loud moments. The upcoming 50th season is not only a testament to its enduring legacy but also a reflection on the journey of its cast members.
The 50th season of Saturday Night Live is set to broadcast within the 2024 TV lineup, marking a period of introspection. This Emmy-winning variety sketch program has witnessed numerous cast members join and depart over the years. Despite some high-profile departures in recent times, the troupe remains robust and brimming with talented actors. To demonstrate their sharpness, it transpires that certain Saturday Night Live performers possess clever methods to secure more screen time. I recently discovered this myself, and I must say, I find it quite impressive.
It’s only natural that some cast members may get more screen time during live broadcasts than others, leading some to assume it’s solely based on sketch order. However, I was taken aback to learn that it involves much more. Several cast members shared insights about the intricate workings of the renowned show with the Wall Street Journal, even reflecting on their early days. Heidi Gardner, who started in Season 43, recounted the difficulty she faced in getting sketches and likened it to high school.
During my initial year, I found it quite challenging to approach doors and believe that someone would be interested in collaborating with me. It wasn’t due to a lack of hospitality, but rather my belief that I should only interact with those who were seniors or more advanced than me according to the traditional school hierarchy.
It’s understandable that the actress might have felt that way given how often seniority plays a role in many scenarios. However, when it comes to Saturday Night Live, it seems like she could have put more effort into it. Joining SNL can be quite daunting, considering its large cast and the desire to stand out in sketches. Fortunately, Heidi Gardner managed to adapt quickly and has since gained popularity, particularly during the last season when she cracked up during the viral Beavis & Butt-Head sketch. Nevertheless, this doesn’t make her job any less challenging now.
Ego Nwodim, newcomer from Season 44, disclosed that she’s persistently pursuing writers with her unique ideas. Given the abundance of cast members, sending pitches can sometimes be challenging. Consequently, Nwodim finds herself doing it on Mondays to ensure her ideas are put forward effectively.
I try to do it at the earliest convenience, as scheduling aligns with fellow actors who perform similar tasks.
At the beginning of each week, it’s likely that writers are flooded with ideas for upcoming sketches, as well as pitches from cast members. They must also manage their workload by deciding which sketches to proceed with and which to reject. Despite this challenging task, Nwodim’s approach appears effective, and I admire her determination in advocating for herself.
Regarding SNL’s longest-serving cast member, Kenan Thompson – who joined the team prior to Season 29 – his preference is to appear in any sketch, irrespective of the concept or character he portrays. And I must admit, I find his approach quite appealing as well.
It’s just reminding people, ‘Hey, I’m always down to be the hot dog vendor.’
Joining Saturday Night Live can be a challenging path to stardom, as some actors shine brightly right away like John Belushi or Kate McKinnon, while others may take more time to find their groove. Ultimately, it appears that cast members must work hard to secure roles in sketches, and if I were in their position, I’d seek advice from Kenan Thompson, Heidi Gardner, and Ego Nwodim.
On Saturdays, you can catch me tuning in to Saturday Night Live at 11:30 PM Eastern Time on NBC. If you miss the live broadcast, don’t worry! You can stream the episodes with a subscription to Peacock.
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2024-10-30 21:07