Earlier this month, Punkie Johnson told a stand-up audience during a Q&A that she was leaving Saturday Night Live after four seasons. Of course, that news was everywhere by the following morning, and she quickly released a video clarifying there wasn’t any bad blood and it was just the right time to move on. Fans, however, were hoping they’d get more of an explanation, and that finally came a few days ago when she appeared on a podcast with SNL vets Dana Carvey and David Spade and talked in way more detail.
The entire appearance on Fly On The Wall is worth listening to, as everyone involved is hysterical, candid and knows the inner workings of Saturday Night Live very well. In it, Punkie Johnson talks about how she came from a stand-up background and never totally felt like SNL was her place. She was able to figure out how to play the game and do some work she’s proud of, but it never felt completely comfortable, especially after writer Ben Silva left the show.
That cast member/ writer relationship is a key factor in finding success on the show that people don’t talk about enough. The way Saturday Night Live works goes something like this. On Monday, there’s a big pitch meeting where everyone talks out random ideas, some of which are fully formed and some of which are just vague concepts.
For example: David Spade threw out the idea of a caveman who is afraid of caves as a possible pitch someone might bring up. Afterwards, people then form smaller groups where they s.