Additional Coverage:
- Beloved ‘SNL’ Star Reveals the Show’s Brutal Ritual That Once Sent Him Into a ‘Depression’ (parade.com)
Working on Saturday Night Live (SNL) is often seen as a pinnacle for comedians, but getting a sketch from concept to live broadcast remains a challenging hurdle. Even some of the show’s most iconic stars have faced the disappointment of seeing their hard work cut before air time.
In a 2025 discussion with Variety, Mike Myers reflected on the emotional toll that sketch cuts took on him during his tenure on the show. Myers, who was part of SNL’s cast from 1989 to 1995 and later returned for the 50th-anniversary special, described how deeply disheartening it was to have sketches dropped after weeks of writing and rehearsals.
The dress rehearsal, held each week before the live episode, is when most cuts are made. Although the cast and writers prepare numerous sketches, only a select few make it to the final broadcast. Myers confessed, “I used to go into a depression when my sketch got cut,” highlighting the personal investment performers have in their work.
Current cast members Sarah Sherman and Marcello Hernández also spoke about the emotional ups and downs of the process. Hernández likened SNL’s competitive environment to sports, where it’s tough not to feel let down when material doesn’t make the cut.
Myers eventually found a way to cope, thanks to advice from fellow SNL alumnus Conan O’Brien. Myers recalled a week when O’Brien, after dealing with a challenging host, learned one of his sketches was cut-and rather than reacting with frustration, O’Brien took it in stride. This attitude helped Myers understand that a cut sketch didn’t equate to failure.
“He taught me how to say, ‘OK. It’s not the end of the world,’” Myers said.
This perspective shift allowed him to appreciate the editing process more fully. When he returned to the show to portray Elon Musk, Myers even joked about enjoying the challenge of trimming material, saying, “If you’ve got eight jokes, three of them are OK and the five of them are strong, let’s just go with the five!”
In a fast-paced show where every second counts, knowing what to cut can be just as crucial as what stays. For SNL performers, this balance remains part of the craft behind the laughs.