That’s a crazy one, in retrospect.
In retrospect, especially. I was a fan, so I was like, “Wow.” Also, that band you would never think of that blows your mind live, and you’re just like, “Whoaâam I a fan of Tony! Toni! Toné!?”
You’ve sort of already answered one of my questions, which is about why this show has persisted for this long.
Yeah. It could have easily become a caricature of itself. It could have easily stuck by its guns and stayed one way. It could have easily responded to the call for diversity with, like, “Fuck you, whatever.” It’s a very strong base, and Lorne takes risks with the people he hires, and he has an incredible eye. He sees stuff in people before maybe even they do sometimes.
Youâre proof of that, in a way.
A hundred percent. I don’t know what he saw in me.
Youâve obviously proved him right in the ensuing years.
Yeah, he made that choice. It’s funnyâI just watched something that someone posted on TikTok or something that, from when Cindy Crawford hosted a show on MTV, and she came to SNL and there’s a clip where she’s interviewing me. And I’m like, I see myself in herâin little meâbut I have this dopey way of talking. It was who I was then, but it was also me being someone that I thought I was. You know what I mean? I don’t know. Like as we are when we’re 22, I was not a fully realized person.
I definitely was not ready for it, but it was an amazing experience, and certainly prepared me for the rest. Everything else was pretty easy after that.
Right. Itâs like space camp or whatever.
Yeah, or Outward Bound. They throw you in a lake and you just have to learn to swim. They don’t have a little school to acclimate you. You’re just there and you go, “Oh, is this how?” I got a sketch on and I was so excited, and John Malkovich was in it. Then after dress rehearsal, I was sitting on the floor in Lorne’s office and Malkovich was sitting on a chair, and he leaned down to me and he goes, “I’m so sorry I messed up my lines.” I go, “Oh, don’t worry, buddy. You’ll get it in the live show.” Then Mike Myers says, “It’s cut from the live show, Sarah. Look, it’s on the left side of the line on the board.” Nobody tells you. I had no idea. I was like, “Ooh.”
You got to write for John Malkovich, so there’s that.
Yeah, it was awesome. I have it, actually, on a VHS tape from the rehearsal show. It was a very awkward, odd sketch and weird, but yeahâI couldn’t believe it got on at all. I think that they’re generous with the new kids, in the beginning.
SNL50: The Anniversary Special airs at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Sunday, February 16, on NBC and Peacock. To read all of GQâs coverage of Saturday Night Liveâs 50th anniversary, click here.
