Today’s popular “Saturday Night Live” players could be tomorrow’s Fox sitcom stars.
The youngest of the Big 4 networks currently has two “SNL” alums starring as leading men on its Top 2 live-action comedies, with Andy Samberg anchoring “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (No. 2) and Will Forte playing the titular character on “The Last Man on Earth” (No. 1). Samberg’s talented showrunner, Mike Schur, also hails from Lorne Michaels‘ sketch comedy show, where he wrote for six seasons.
So why are so many players and writers ending up at Fox Co-Chief Dana Walden and Gary Newman’s network, as opposed to NBC where “SNL” actually airs?
One simple theory could be that NBC is shying away from primetime comedy, and Michael’s production company, Broadway Video, parks itself mainly in late-night. Or it’s even simpler as Samberg summed it up: “It’s as straightforward from my perspective as they wanted to make shows for us,” he told TheWrap.
“I don’t put too much thought into where something is airing, as long as it’s something that I think is going to be good, but they were really accommodating and we all liked what they had to say, and it made a good fit,” he said.
Also joining the two guys in “Fox’s SNL Alums Club” is Nasim Pedrad, who starred on last year’s one-and-done “Mulaney,” and now has moved over to this season’s freshman horror comedy “Scream Queens” from Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk.
The man behind Pedrad’s first sitcom, John Mulaney, was “SNL Weekend Update” head writer and occasional on-air talent before hopping aboard the Fox comedy train.
Fox-SNL connection even goes beyond the three present sitcom stars with depths of recurring actors who have made the move, including Jason Sudeikis as Forte’s “Last Man” brother, and Bill Hader guesting on “Brooklyn” as Samberg’s new captain this season.
This reunited group of merry men — and at least one woman — prove that cliche adage, which reminds us that in Hollywood it isn’t always what you know, but who you know. And in a crazy comedy incubator like “SNL,” relationships run particularly deep. So these collaborations can be partially credited to old friends simply still wanting to play together.
For his part, Samberg’s pal Forte wasn’t quite sure why the trend is happening, but he both still loves NBC and digs his new Fox camaraderie.
Forte told TheWrap: “It’s very fun to be over here with a bunch of people I’ve known for a while …. but I don’t know why that’s happened, but it has!”
“Certainly there is a part of it that’s just coincidence,” he added.
Fox’s Executive Vice President of Comedy Development & Programming Suzanna Makkos doesn’t think it’s coincidence, though. Both she and Samberg credit the aforementioned Schur for getting the “SNL”-to-Fox pipeline rolling.
“Once we started to know those people and they started to know us and were hearing such great things from their friends about the working relationship that we have here, that really seemed to open the door for a lot of things,” Makkos told TheWrap.
And the “SNL” fan is thrilled with how that’s worked out thus far. Makkos now has talent that’s been through intense comedy boot camp and is ready to roll.
“‘SNL’ is such a fantastic training ground and those people have just such great comedy chops, naturally speaking, we just tend to find ourselves gravitating towards them,” she said. Plus, “The people that have worked in that camp are such workhorses, because of the hours … there is no task that they find daunting.”
That affectionate feeling is mutual. One of the usual points of contention between comedic actors and networks is the dreaded notes situation, which at worst sees pencil pusher businessmen and women trying to tell comics what is funny and what isn’t. That’s not the case at Fox, the crossover stars say.
“The notes situation has been really positive,” Samberg told us. “At ‘SNL,’ you get notes from Lorne and from the producers and the head writers, and the network kind of steers clear because that’s such an old establishment.”
“In the early phases of the show, we did adjust a lot to make the network is happy with the show and comfortable with everything. And they gave really good, smart notes,” he continued. “I swear I’m not just saying that because it behooves me to say so. We’ve had a pretty cruising time with them.”
“We don’t always agree,” Forte said of his experience with the network and studio, “but we try to be good teammates.”
He added: “And the wonderful thing about it is if we really disagree with the note, they’ll usually just say, ‘OK, we trust ya, go for it.'”
With such glowing experiences and positive word-of-mouth, perhaps more of Forte and Samberg’s funny friends will defect from “Saturday Night Live” to Fox.
When asked who currently on “SNL” Makkos would want as a Fox talent, Makkos didn’t even hesitate: the EVP would take young stand-up comedian Pete Davidson — who was actually discovered for “SNL” at a Fox comedy showcase — in a heartbeat. But don’t presume to see Pete making the switch after Season 41 of the Saturday night staple.
“Nobody is trying to poach, I think, right now,” she said. “It’s just about relationships and how our existing talent is working with their friends who happen to be [from] ‘SNL.'”
“It’s about who’s popping comedy-wise, and a lot of people popping comedy-wise happen to be former ‘SNL’ people,” Makkos concluded. “We’re getting some street cred on the comedy side.”
Pedrad’s “Scream Queens” debuted on Tuesday, Samberg’s “Brooklyn” Season 3 and Forte’s “Last Man” Season 2 premiere on Sunday.
'SNL's' 40 Most Iconic Characters: From the Blues Brothers to Stefon (Photos)
Spartan Cheerleaders: Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri got spirit, how 'bout you?
Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers) and Garth Alger (Dana Carvey): Party time, excellent.
MacGruber (Will Forte): Makin' life-saving inventions out of household materials!
The Blues Brothers, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd: Two soul men.
Stefon: Bill Hader never could keep a straight face as "Weekend Update's" New York City nightlife correspondent.
Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party: Cecily Strong's breakout character went away temporarily when she co-anchored "Weekend Update" for a season.
"Dick in a Box" guys: You better hope that Andy Samberg and Justin Timberlake aren't your Secret Santas.
The Church Lady: Dana Carvey's character on making this list: "Well isn't that special?"
Matt Foley: Chris Farley's character may be iconic, but he still "LIVES IN A VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER!"
Sarah Palin (Tina Fey): Did this spot-on impression save "SNL" during a down period? "You betcha!"
Roseanne Roseannadanna (Gilda Radner): "Weekend Update's" consumer affairs reporter had as much distaste for New Jersey as Richard Feder has questions.
Debbie Downer: Rachel Dratch's best character would surely find SOMETHING miserable about being considered one of the show's 40 most iconic.
Mary Katherine Gallagher: We know, Molly Shannon -- you're a superstar. So stop being so nervous all the time.
Haray Caray (Will Ferrell): "Cubs win! Cubs win!" PS, Wrap readers: If you were a hot dog, would you eat yourself?
Land Shark: Chevy Chase's deadly predator was most definitely NOT a dolphin, ma'am.
Roxbury guys: Before their movie, Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan clubbed hard on "SNL." One of their best sketches included host Jim Carrey.
(It's) Pat: Never before has androgyny been so much fun. PS: Pat was played by a lady, Julia Sweeney, if you didn't know.
The Ambiguously Gay Duo: Ace and Gary oftentimes found themselves in ... precarious ... situations. Now what is everyone looking at?
Stuart Smalley: Al Franken's "Daily Affirmations" character made our list because he's good enough, he's smart enough, and doggone it, people like him.
Dooneese: Kristen Wiig's "Lawrence Welk Show" character isn't much to look at, but she also can't sing at all.
Killer Bees: The Killer Bees have the distinction of being the first recurring characters on "Saturday Night Live" -- and they came back A LOT, mostly to spite network brass.
"Celebrity Jeopardy!" gang: You can't pick one: Alex Trebek (Will Ferrell), Burt Reynolds (Norm Macdonald) and Sean Connery (Darrell Hammond) were magic when they got together.
Gumby: Eddie Murphy is Gumby, damnit! Sorry Pokey, you didn't make the cut.
The Ladies Man: Tim Meadows' character liked the fairer sex even more than he dug Courvoisier -- and we loved him for that.
The Gap Girls: Chris Farley, David Spade and Adam Sandler always had fun when they got together. Add cross-dressing and mall food court gossip and it gets even better.
The Festrunk Brothers: Steve Martin and Dan Aykroyd's "Wild and Crazy Guys" birthed those Roxbury guys we talked about earlier. Know your history, kids!
Bill Swerski's Superfans: These Chicago sports fans love Da Bulls and Da Bears as much as they love bear and Polish sausage. Seen here with their cherished Michael Jordan.
The Continental: Christopher Walken's recurring character was really forward with the ladies. He may have lacked game, but was never short on ascots.
Hans and Franz: The Dana Carvey and Kevin Nealon duo were here to pump people up way before Aaron Rodgers and State Farm Insurance ever entered the power-lifting fray.
Samurai Futaba: John Belushi's samurai skills didn't translate to many other professions, most-notably working as an accountant and in a delicatessen.
Coneheads: The Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin and Laraine Newman family were not of this Earth -- and you would have never noticed if not for their accents.
Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer: Ladies and gentlemen, this classic Phil Hartman character was just a caveman -- things in our modern world frighten and confuse him.
Richard Layer: Rob Schneider's Richmeister was thrilled anytime someone in his office needed to use the Xerox machine. He had as many nicknames for his colleagues as they made copies.
Father Guido Sarducci: Don Novello was a writer for "SNL," where he famously brought the chain-smoking, tinted-glasses-wearing priest. Though the show popularized the character, it wasn't the origination point for Father Guido.
Jack Handey: Jack Handey was the real name of a real "Saturday Night Live" writer who had real funny "Deep Thoughts" during the 1990s.
George W. Bush (Will Ferrell): "SNL" was carried for several years by Ferrell, whose George W. Bush impersonation was so popular that he scored a successful and critically acclaimed one-man show on Broadway.
Mister Robinson: Eddie Murphy's play on "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" was meant for adult audiences. Where Rogers' town was lovely in every way, Robinson's was terrifying, but incredibly funny.
Robert Goulet (Will Ferrell): Ferrell's Goulet was completely ridiculous -- complete with a catchphrase of just exclaiming "Goulet!" at random times to punctuate a sentence. It was also hilarious, handing Ferrell another well-deserved spot on this Top 40 list.
Irwin Mainway: Dan Aykroyd's sleazy salesman would do anything for a buck -- even it involved selling a Bag O'Glass to children at Christmastime. That kind of dedication qualifies Mainway as an icon in our eyes.
Mr. Bill: The clay character was constantly in danger over the course of his 20-plus show appearances. It's currently unclear if the figure lived long enough to come back for "SNL 40."
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Ahead of the big NBC primetime 40th Anniversary special, TheWrap looks back at the sketch comedy show’s most iconic, inspired and hilarious roles
Spartan Cheerleaders: Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri got spirit, how 'bout you?
