For anyone who has been part of Saturday Night Live, their accounts of the experience are often filled with humor, despite the underlying challenges. Dana Carvey, a cast member from 1986 to 1993, describes the environment succinctly: “SNL is built on ADD, procrastination and people who can really focus at the very end of the day — it’s also a psychological torture chamber.”
The sentiment isn’t limited to the on-screen talents. Paula Pell, a writer from 1995 to 2013, humorously recalls, “There’s the very familiar diarrhea cramps of which many have spoken about. You get the cortisol back when you’re there, like somebody gave you 18 niacin pills and you’re just flushing in hot panic. But it’s exhilarating.”
The 2024-25 season marked a significant period for the show, particularly with the celebration of its 50th anniversary, bringing back a plethora of beloved alumni. This celebration culminated in a February primetime special, but the planning began months earlier when the final days of the 2024 presidential election prompted several familiar faces to return. This reunion materialized following communication from executive producer Lorne Michaels the previous summer.
Carvey recalls, “Lorne called before that crazy debate and said, ‘You’ll come out, it’ll be New York in the fall, you’ll do six shows, and then, if that’s all you want, you can tell us to fuck off.’” Before confirming his participation, Carvey checked if anyone from the current cast wanted the role. Writer and producer Steve Higgins reported that no one was interested, which allowed Carvey to proceed.
However, Biden’s poor debate performance led to his withdrawal from the race, leaving Carvey uncertain about his role. He noted, “There were so many sensitivities, and if you ding Biden, you’re making Trump happy.”
Maya Rudolph, who was part of the cast from 2000 to 2007, returned to portray Kamala Harris, having started to guest as the character in 2019. With high stakes at play, she felt the pressure of creating a humorous and flattering portrayal. “I wanted her to feel good about it,” Rudolph shared, reflecting on the positive feedback she received from the former senator. Harris was reportedly pleased with Rudolph’s performance, leading to a surprise cameo appearance in the final episode before the election. The audience was stunned when Rudolph, in character, greeted the real Harris at the end of a skit. Rudolph recalled, “There was a beautiful little bubble around the studio. There was a shine to that night.”
After Election Day, with Trump emerging victorious over Harris, Rudolph and Carvey both continued their roles for a few more episodes, as SNL’s political satire aimed to capture the ongoing drama of the administration. Streeter Seidell, one of the head writers, described the challenge, saying, “The cold opens were a challenge because I’m not necessarily a politically minded comedy writer, but it was a super fun — and stressful, especially during the election.”
The political focus proved fruitful as the 50th season garnered an average of 8.1 million viewers, its highest in three years. The reunion special alone attracted 15 million viewers, with the event drawing together past and present cast members and writers, showcasing over three hours of nostalgia and talent.
Ego Nwodim, a current cast member, expressed her awe at sharing the stage with so many luminaries from earlier seasons. “To be in the company of so many performers I grew up watching and admiring, seeing Eddie Murphy as funny as he’s ever been, in my mind, I was like, ‘This should be illegal.’”
Mikey Day, who has been with SNL since 2013, recalled the joy of working with Meryl Streep, finally fulfilling a longtime dream. Their collaboration on a sketch saw Streep making her SNL debut, which was a memorable experience for all involved.
Additionally, Pell aimed to revisit past beloved characters during the 50th celebration. She managed to incorporate both iconic figures—Marty and Bobbi, the music teachers from the classic sketches and Rachel Dratch’s Debbie Downer, who also made a notable appearance. Pell humorously declared, “I can now die knowing that I got Robert De Niro in a Debbie Downer sketch, staring into the camera during the ‘womp womp.’”
Rudolph also sought to connect her Bronx Beat characters with Mike Myers’ Linda Richmond from “Coffee Talk,” expressing her admiration for him. “I’ve never had the chance to express to Mike Myers how much he means to me… That he wanted to do that with characters that Amy Poehler and I created was truly my fantasy football… I guess? I don’t know how fantasy football works.”
While the reunion felt like a punctuation mark on the season, several more episodes remained, promising continued laughter and timely commentary on the new administration. Nwodim’s fan-favorite character Miss Eggy found a way to shine, combining comedy with a pointed critique of the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner. Despite some unexpected moments during live performances, Nwodim’s comedic risks have set the stage for a bright future within SNL’s legacy.
This story originally appeared in a standalone issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine.