Sarah Silverman reveals ‘SNL' makes ‘you feel like a piece of s–t' — and credits A-lister who saved her after firing
Salty about 'SNL.'
Sarah Silverman, 54, reflected on her one-season stint on 'Saturday Night Live' during a recent appearance on 'The Howard Stern Show.'
The comedian was a writer and cast member during Season 19 (which aired from 1993 to 1994), but she got fired after just one season.
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Silverman called being on the show 'so magical' and 'so amazing.' But, she explained, there was also 'just something about it where they just have this energy that puts you in your place where you feel like a piece of sh-t, and you're terrified. The anxiety… it's very hard to be zen and chill there.'
5 Sarah Silverman on 'The Howard Stern Show.'
NBC
5 Kevin Nealon and Sarah Silverman during 'Weekend Update' skit on October 23, 1993.
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The 'Sarah Silverman Show' star added, 'Andy Samberg did that whole piece about the anxiety of doing something for 'SNL.' It was very honest — I thought a lot of people connected to it that were there. We all feel like losers here for some reason.'
She was referring to one of Samberg's sketches during the show's 50th anniversary special in February.
Silverman and Stern have been friends for years – in 2008, when Stern married his wife, Beth Ostrosky, Silverman attended his wedding with her then-boyfriend, Jimmy Kimmel.
She added that she wasn't fired for any particular or personal reason, it was business as usual for the NBC variety show.
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Nevertheless, 'I was totally thrown for a loop when I was fired, because it never occurred to me that was possible,' Silverman said.
5 Sarah Silverman on Conan O'Brien in 1994.
The Howard Stern Show/Youtube
5 Conan O'Brien attends the Conan O'Brien Must Go S2 World Premiere at American Cinematheque in LA at the Aero Theatre on April 09, 2025 in Santa Monica, California.
FilmMagic for Max
5 Sarah Silverman attends 'SNL50: The Anniversary Special' on February 16, 2025 in New York City.
Getty Images
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Looking back, she said, 'I think it's definitely for the best.'
After she got the boot, she praised newly-minted Oscars host Conan O'Brien for saving her career.
'Conan was the best thing for me,' Silverman said.
'That was his first year [on 'Late Night'], was my first and only year at 'SNL.' And he put me on all the time, even after I was fired, all the time, and that was the start for me,' she explained.
'And I wouldn't have been able to be on Conan without 'SNL.' And it was an incredible kind of boot camp experience.'
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