JB Smoove On Working With Kristen Wiig On His First SNL Sketch: ‘My Idea Is I Wanna Help JB Write Butt Pregnant’

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For Season 50, Saturday Night Live is returning to its roots on NBC, with a mix of new and familiar faces joining the lineup for the upcoming TV schedule in 2025 (though not all have been announced). As this is an important anniversary year, there are several specials planned that will give fans exclusive glimpses into the making of iconic moments like “More Cowbell” and other classics. Furthermore, some former writers have recently shared tales about their first sketches that were aired, and J.B. Smoove’s story is particularly intriguing.

Actors known for their humor, such as Sarah Silverman, Kevin Nealon, and Jillian Bell, along with creative minds like David Mandel, Michael Schur, and Robert Smigel, recounted both delightful and challenging experiences of pitching sketches to other Saturday Night Live (SNL) members. Additionally, the candid insights of popular Curb Your Enthusiasm character J.B. Smoove added an impromptu perspective to the discussion with Vanity Fair.

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1. After Dave Chappelle made a joke about a Family Matters star at his Diddy party, the actor responded and shared what he admired about it.

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Prior to unveiling several unconventional concepts, some of which succeeded and others didn’t, Smoove contemplated his suitability as a Saturday Night Live writer shortly after joining the team, expressing:

“I pondered over why I might not have been the ideal choice for an SNL writer so soon into my tenure.

I found it challenging to grasp many aspects while performing as a writer in real-time, given that the pace was significantly faster than scripting for movies or TV series. It’s not just about writing; it’s live television, and they wanted results immediately.

Though I may not have been born with the innate ability to swiftly transform quick-witted ideas into written comedy sketches, I managed to find my bearings and made my mark as a writer for Saturday Night Live during Seasons 29 through 31, with a brief return for Season 32 as a guest writer. Despite a relatively short tenure, I garnered recognition for my pitch delivery, which I fondly recalled when reminiscing about the first of my ideas that was fully realized for an episode. In my words:

“Though I wasn’t born with a silver quill, I found my voice on Saturday Night Live, and even in a fleeting moment, I made an impression with my pitch delivery. It all started with the very first idea of mine that saw the light of day during an episode.

Previously, people referred to me as the “master of the stage,” due to my comedic pitching style that was akin to stand-up comedy. One particularly successful sketch was called “Butt Pregnant,” which I worked on with Kristen Wiig, and it was her debut sketch. This sketch elicited a big laugh from the audience. Later, one of the writers suggested, ‘My idea is to collaborate with JB in creating “Butt Pregnant.”‘

It seems one of the other writers was quite certain about the concept of “Butt Pregnant,” to such an extent that they chose to support Smoove’s idea instead of their own potential suggestions. Alternatively, it could be that their ideas were significantly less appealing compared to “Butt Pregnant,” with options like “Boob Pregnant” or “Lower Calf Pregnant” perhaps being considered instead.

JB Smoove discussed some quirky and unconventional concepts he came up with that unfortunately never progressed past the initial pitch stage and onto the actual show. You can find his comments below, where he mentions a peculiar Johnny Knoxville sketch that may have evolved into an FXX animated comedy if things had gone differently. Here’s how it translates:

JB Smoove shared some unusual ideas that never advanced beyond the pitch stage and onto the show itself. Take a look at his comments below, where he refers to a potentially distasteful Johnny Knoxville sketch that might have transformed into an FXX animated comedy in another reality. In his own words:

I proposed numerous ideas that never took off. A man, previously employed at a bank and now owning a deli, constantly licks his finger when placing cheese on bread, much like counting money. I suggested ‘Urine Detective’ to Johnny Knoxville. I also offered Tom Brady a sketch about the first NFL player to slap another player after a good play. Navigating through this new challenge for myself required some careful thought.

At some stage, I can only wish for NBC to invest in a new comedy series, one that breathes life into some of the most outrageous unreleased SNL sketches. I’m eager to find out how the finger-licking deli man eventually understands the disgusting nature of his actions.

On select dates prior to and following the broadcast of the special documentary titled “SNL50: The Anniversary Special” on NBC, slated for Sunday, February 16, it is likely that Saturday Night Live will resume airing new episodes. After its initial airing, this program can be streamed with a subscription to Peacock.

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2025-01-28 18:38