Reading about the behind-the-scenes of SNL makes it seem incredibly chaotic. On one hand, it's a creative haven for comedians and writers alike. They can exorcise all of their witty ideas and bounce it off of other like-minded people. On the other hand, sometimes, heads can clash, evident when you read literally anything about Chevy Chase. Regardless, it's a hell of a launching pad for so many comedians with television aspirations. Moreover, it has bred so many superstars over the years.
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Clearly, Saturday Night Live can be both amazing and anxiety-inducing alike. Former SNL star Sarah Silverman can attest to all of this. Recently, she spoke to Howard Stern on his show, where she reminisced on her brief stint on the show. Despite being a part of the cast for only one season, Silverman only has positive things to say about it, nerves and all.
Sarah Silverman Recalls Her SNL Experience and How Conan O'Brien Helped After She Was Fired
"It's so magical, it's so amazing, but there is just something about it where they just have this energy that puts you in your place where you feel like a piece of shit and terrified [with] the anxiety," Silverman says. "It's very hard to be zen and chill there."
After getting canned from SNL after one season, it put the comedian in a rough spot. "I got a call from my agents and managers, like you know, when they call you together, it's either great news or terrible news," Silverman explains. "I was so new to the industry, and they were like 'Yeah, you're fired,' and I was in such denial about it — I couldn't believe it."
However, the SNL experience didn't keep her down for too long. Ultimately, she rebounds on Conan O'Brien's late-night show, and her career goes up from there. She credits that brief time on Saturday Night Live as the reason she got to work with Conan. "His first year [hosting Late Night] was my first and only year at SNL, and he put me on all the time even after I was fired," Silverman recalls. "And that was the start for me, and I wouldn't have been able to be on Conan without SNL."
