Punkie Johnson is opening up about the reason for her after four seasons. The comedian recently stopped by the , and told hosts/ alums Dana Carvey and David Spade that she “didn’t really feel like I fit” on NBC’s sketch comedy show. Johnson first revealed she wasn’t returning for the show’s landmark 50th season at a comedy show last month.
“I talked to my team. I was like, ‘Look, I don’t really know if I belong at this job, so maybe I should step away,’” Johnson recalled of her initial conversation with her team before season 49 got underway last year. However, they convinced her to stay, telling her, “You need a plan.
You can’t just quit your job.” Johnson noted that her last season ended up being “tremendous,” adding, “I think I got like three or four sketches [in the] first half. And usually I only get maybe two or three on the entire season, so I’m like, ‘Oh man, I’m killing it.
Like, this is my season.’” But things took a turn when her writer Ben Silva exited , leading her to re-evaluate her place on the NBC series. Silva “just knew how to speak Punkie,” Johnson explained of their close connection.
“So if I was telling him something, he knew how to put it in format for me. If I try to put it in format, that’s the hard part.” The actress ultimately decided to leave and focus on other projects and stand-up comedy.
“I didn’t really feel like I fit, like I didn’t feel like that was my zone. That show is for a differ.