Nidhish Waghmare
Saturday Night Live is one of the most popular shows on television. While it’s very entertaining for the audience, several stars have come out, speaking about the emotional and physical toll it takes on them. Years later Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Andy Samberg speaks on leaving SNL, in Kevin Hart’s show: “Hart to Heart”.
Samberg reflected on his departure from “SNL” twelve years ago, elaborating on the various factors that led to his decision to leave the show. He discussed the circumstances and personal reasons behind his exit, offering insights into what influenced him to move on from the iconic sketch comedy series.
What led Andy Samberg to leave SNL
Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Andy Samberg left the iconic SNL A dozen years ago, back in 2012. Back then, speaking on his exit, Samberg said, he couldn’t “endure it anymore” as he was” falling apart in my life.”
Speaking about the workload the SNL stars used to have, Samberg also emphasized how they basically had no time to sleep for 4 consecutive days in a week.
“Physically, it was taking a heavy toll on me and I got to a place where I was like I hadn’t slept in seven years basically,” he said. “We were writing stuff for the live show Tuesday night all night, the table read Wednesday, then being told now come up with a digital short so write all Thursday, all Thursday night, don’t sleep, get up, shoot Friday, edit all night Friday night and into Saturday, so it’s basically like four days a week you’re not sleeping, for seven years.
“So I just kinda fell apart physically,” he added. Samberg, along with Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone, formed the group Lonely Island, which made the “SNL” shorts segments wildly popular.
“We made stuff we were really proud of..”-Andy Samberg
Being associated with Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone didn’t just bring out more creativity from Samberg, it also divided the work in between them. Andy admitted that he had a lot of pressure on him as soon as his friends left the show.
“I was basically left in charge of making the shorts, which I never pretended like I could do without them,” he said. “We made stuff I’m really proud of in my last two years, but there’s something about the songs that I can only do with Akiva and Jorm. It’s just how it is, we’re just a band in that way.”
Samberg mentioned that one of the reasons he stayed with “SNL” for so long was the immediate creative satisfaction the late-night series provided.
“I was like, once I go, when I have an idea, I can’t just do it,” he said. “The craziest thing about working there is once you get going, if you’re just in the shower and you have an idea that shit can be on television in three days, which is the most like intoxicating feeling.”
The show’s format allowed him to see his ideas come to life quickly, offering a unique and gratifying creative outlet.
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