‘That Isn’t The Best Friend Of Martha Stewart Snoop.’ Cheri Oteri Recalls SNL Request The Rapper Made That Was A Surprise (But Made The Sketch Better)

by

As the 50th anniversary celebration of Saturday Night Live unfolds on the 2025 TV schedule, cast members and hosts are spilling all the secrets behind-the-scenes from the last fifty years. If the docuseries SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night showed me anything, it’s that an episode of this show undergoes many modifications before it gets aired, at times even minutes before it’s broadcasted. Cheri Oteri recalls a sketch that went through various transformations following Snoop Dogg’s unexpected request, but surprisingly, it turned out to be improved in the end.

Cheri Oteri served as a regular cast member from 1995 to 2000 and is most famously recognized for her frequent Barbara Walters impression. During her recent appearance on TODAY’s “Jenna and Friends”, Oteri reminisced about a sketch penned for musical guest Snoop Dogg, where she interviewed him as Walters. The actress from Grown Ups 2 revealed that Snoop Dogg, known for his hit song “Drop It Like It’s Hot”, unexpectedly asked her to include not one, but four of his cousins in the sketch, causing quite a predicament. However, everything eventually fell into place, and her explanation behind her solution is amusing.

Initially, I noticed that his security detail were actually his relatives. In truth, I was unsure of how to handle the situation. Thus, I casually said, “Alright, since unpredictable moments with Barbara might arise, you’ll serve as Snoop’s bodyguards instead.

Indeed, the bodyguards are designed to appear somewhat imposing in the drawing, as they encircle Oteri and Snoop. It’s worth noting that when this Saturday Night Live episode first aired in 1997, the public’s view of the “Young, Wild & Free” rapper, Snoop, was significantly different than it is today. Jenna Bush Hager, the SNL alum’s TODAY co-host, emphasized this point explicitly.

Just a quick note, that’s not Martha Stewart‘s current best friend; it was an older version of Snoop.

Over time, the rapper has remarkably evolved into a well-known figure in the media landscape, particularly through his endearing friendship with Martha Stewart. This transformation has proven to be a treasure trove for television broadcasters and comedians, as they frequently joke about the unusual yet intriguing interaction between these two unlikely friends.

From my perspective, there’s something incredibly endearing about him, whether it’s his heartwarming bond with Martha or the fact that he still enjoys a bit of weed (though there was a brief period of abstinence), he has earned the title “America’s sweetheart” as Oteri so aptly put it. I wholeheartedly concur, as his side quests during the 2024 Summer Olympics broadcasts in Paris were truly captivating. However, it’s worth noting that his on-screen encounter with Oteri’s Barbara Walters transpired prior to his more wholesome phase.

Previously, the host of “The Voice” was quite familiar to Studio 8H, having graced the stage four times across its half-century broadcast, once as the main host and thrice as a musical performer. He was one of the numerous prominent figures invited for the 50th anniversary weekend, taking part in the SNL 50th Anniversary Concert last Friday. His performance, which involved him smoking marijuana on stage while rapping popular songs like “Gin & Juice” and “Last Dance With Mary Jane,” marked his return to the renowned late-night comedy show since 2004, suggesting it’s been a while.

Ideally, it would be fantastic if he and Martha Stewart could co-host an episode together, since she hasn’t taken on hosting roles so far. But I’d also be content with Ana Gasteyer’s amusing impression of Martha Stewart from Saturday Night Live. Perhaps Barbara Walters (aka Oteri) might reappear for an interview with the pair – this time without any bodyguards present.

Don’t forget to tune in for the much-awaited SNL 50th Anniversary Special, scheduled for February 16th at 8 p.m. EST on NBC. If you prefer streaming, make sure you have a Peacock subscription to catch it.

Read More

2025-02-17 02:09