As a longtime enthusiast of Saturday Night Live (SNL), I’ve witnessed its evolution over the years, and I can confidently say that Lorne Michaels is not the rigid taskmaster that some may believe him to be. While it’s true that he values structure and timing, he also seems to have a soft spot for spontaneity, especially when it comes from comedic powerhouses like Amy Poehler.
As a devoted fan, I’ve often heard the notion that Lorne Michaels is quite rigid in his approach. It seems like he’s not a big fan of anything deviating from the script, which is a common perception due to numerous cast members expressing this over the years, and interviews where Lorne himself emphasized the potential chaos improv can bring to the show’s timing, camera cuts, and overall rhythm. However, if we believe one of SNL’s longest-serving cast members, the truth might be more nuanced.
Darrell Hammond, famous for his portrayal of Donald Trump and Bill Clinton on the show over a span of more than a decade, recently appeared on Amy Robach and TJ Holmes’ podcast. During their conversation, he was questioned about whether he ever broke character on the show. He admitted that one person who could consistently make him laugh at inopportune moments was Amy Poehler. They often performed Regis and Kelly sketches, and she would occasionally save a joke for the show that she hadn’t used during dress rehearsals, which occasionally caught him off guard.
Despite any assumptions, he had never received any information regarding that matter directly from Lorne Michaels. Here’s an excerpt from his statement…
In other words, no one ever criticized me regarding such matters. It’s rumored that Lorne disapproved, but he never expressed his feelings to me since the crowd adored watching Amy improvise.
As a devoted fan who’s savored countless episodes of Saturday Night Live and delved into numerous books about the show, I can confidently say that my perspective is shaped by this immersive experience. Lennon (Lorne Michaels) might not have been a direct collaborator in my professional journey, but his influence on the show is palpable. From what I’ve gathered, it seems likely that he values adherence to the script during sketches, as evidenced by his decision to part ways with Damon Wayans for altering his role without prior consultation. This suggests that while he may not actively discourage cast members from straying off-script, he certainly isn’t encouraging such behavior either.
It’s hard not to observe that many comedians have held significant roles in the history of Saturday Night Live, often breaking character or acting a bit silly, just like Tina Fey. Notably, Jimmy Fallon and Andy Samberg frequently struggled to maintain their composure. Tina Fey had a contagious spirit of fun that made people laugh, but there are also instances, such as those with Beavis and Butt-Head last season, where the sketches were marked by a high level of chaos, which is characteristic of SNL’s most memorable moments.
In most instances when you perform your duties, even if an occasional sketch veers off course, I believe Michael won’t be upset. As Hammond explained, he never received any reprimand from his boss about deviating from character or chuckling a bit during sketches. However, it’s important to understand that there’s a distinction between laughing and spontaneously adding lines for the sake of improvisation. I suspect it’s the latter that Michael wouldn’t accept. That fine line between professional yet playful antics is what has kept the show culturally significant for fifty seasons.
Starting from later this month, you’ll get a chance to catch “SNL” back on your TV screens, having made some adjustments to the cast, and gearing up for its eagerly awaited 50th anniversary special which will air early next year.
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2024-09-16 00:37