Gilbert Gottfried's Horrible Experience on SNL | Summary and Q&A

Summary

In this video, Gilbert Gottfried talks about his experience with Saturday Night Live (SNL) and how it was after the original cast and Lorne Michaels left. He shares his thoughts on being part of the second cast and the challenges he faced. He also discusses the toxic environment at SNL and the politics involved.

Questions & Answers

Q: When was the first time you received a check for performing?

The first time I received a check for performing was for a pilot called "The Adventures of Wally Brown". It was a terrible pilot, but it was the first time I realized that I could make money from my work.

Q: Was SNL before or after your pilot experience?

SNL was after my pilot experience. I was actually in Los Angeles auditioning for a different pilot when a friend invited me to audition for SNL with him. I got the role on SNL, but it wasn't a great experience overall.

Q: What was the state of SNL when you joined?

When I joined SNL, it was during a time of transition. Lorne Michaels had left, and so did the original cast. People already had negative opinions about the show before it even started with the new cast. It was a controversial time for the show.

Q: How did people react to the idea of a different cast on SNL?

People were outraged by the idea of a different cast on SNL. It was unheard of back then to change the cast members of a popular show like SNL. It was like replacing the Beatles in the middle of Beatlemania or recasting Friends while the show was still running. There were news stories and articles criticizing the decision to change the cast.

Q: Were you part of the second cast of SNL?

Yes, I was part of the second cast of SNL. All the original cast members had left at that point. Being part of the second cast felt challenging because you didn't want to be the direct replacement for the original cast. You wanted to be accepted as a fresh addition after the replacement.

Q: Did you enjoy the process of auditioning for SNL?

I didn't really enjoy the process of auditioning for SNL. I always felt weird and out of place. While others were taking it very seriously and being hateful towards their competition, I approached it with a sense of weirdness. I didn't see it as something important, which may have been why I didn't feel like a star while on the show.

Q: Did you enjoy your time on SNL?

I didn't particularly enjoy my time on SNL. The press tore everyone apart, and I didn't feel like a star. When I eventually got fired from the show, it was a tough experience. I found out about it through a fan letter from a young girl. It was a strange way to get the news.

Q: Was SNL a toxic environment?

Yes, SNL was a toxic environment. The writers and I disliked each other, and they even wrote a funeral sketch for me where I played the dead body. There was a lot of competition, backstabbing, and politics involved. It wasn't a fun or supportive environment.

Q: Did other cast members have a bad experience at SNL too?

Yes, other cast members had a bad experience at SNL. Jim Breuer, for example, had a horrible time there. Phil Hartman also mentioned the toxic environment at SNL and how everyone seemed to be at each other's throats. It was a challenging and unpleasant place to work.

Q: How do variety shows like SNL differ from stand-up comedy?

Variety shows like SNL are very different from stand-up comedy. Stand-up comedy allows comedians to have more control over their material and performance. On SNL, there's a lot of politics, competition, and pressure to fit in with the show's format. It's a different experience altogether.

Takeaways

In this video, Gilbert Gottfried shares his experience with SNL and highlights the challenges and toxic environment he encountered. His time on SNL was not enjoyable, and he faced criticism from the press. The show underwent significant changes and cast turnover, which added to the difficulties. SNL at that time was a dog-eat-dog world with constant backstabbing and competition among the cast and writers. It was a different experience compared to stand-up comedy, where comedians have more control over their material and performance.