The docuseries SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night reveals the struggles of various cast members, including Damon Wayans, who felt stifled by the show's writing. He described a significant incident where he went off-script, only to be fired by Lorne Michaels moments later. Other cast members, like Jenny Slate and Jay Pharoh, shared their perspectives on being unappreciated and how their unique talents were often sidelined. Their stories illustrate a recurring theme of talent feeling boxed in and the challenges associated with creative freedom on such a prominent stage.
Damon Wayans reflected on his experiences on SNL, stating, "the writers would shoot my ideas down... so I turned my character into an effeminate gay guy, which led to my firing."
Jenny Slate clarified rumors about her firing from SNL by saying, "I just didn't belong there... All I know is it didn't work for me, and I got fired."
Jay Pharoh lamented the lack of appreciation for talent on SNL, stating, "If you have multiple people on the cast saying things like, ‘You're so talented’... It’s unfair... They put people into boxes."
Chris Rock mentioned his departure from SNL, noting he was "fired because [he] was leaving to go to In Living Color."
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