Damon Wayans, teh acclaimed comedian and actor, recently opened up about his brief yet memorable time on Saturday Night Live (SNL) and the infamous sketch that led to his departure from the iconic NBC show. His candid revelations come as part of Peacock’s docuseries, SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, where he reflects on his journey in the world of comedy.
“Yeah, I got fired. We gonna talk about it,” Wayans declares in the fourth episode of the series, titled “Season 11: The Weird Year.” His words set the stage for a story that blends ambition,frustration,and a touch of rebellion.
Wayans,who joined SNL in 1985,felt destined for the show. “I was born to be on Saturday Night Live,” he said,revealing that he had already been developing characters that would later become staples of his groundbreaking sketch show,In Living Color.however, his time on SNL was far from smooth sailing.
At the time, Wayans had limited on-screen experience, with his role in Beverly Hills Cop being one of his few credits. Eddie Murphy, his co-star in the film, offered some sage advice before Wayans joined SNL. “eddie’s advice to me was, ‘Write your own sketches. Or else, they’re gonna give you some Black people s*** to do, and you ain’t gonna like it,’” Wayans recalled.
Despite his efforts to pitch his own ideas, Wayans found his creativity stifled. “They would shoot my ideas down,” he said. “Everything Eddie said came true. They started writing me in their sketches.” The roles he was given frequently enough leaned into stereotypes,prompting him to push back. “I’m like, ‘Hell no.’ I said, ‘Listen, my mother’s gonna watch this show. I can’t do this. I won’t do this.’”
However,in a twist of irony,it was a sketch leaning into a different stereotype that sealed his fate. During the 12th episode of Season 11, Wayans and co-star Randy Quaid played cops in the “Mr. Monopoly” sketch. While rehearsals went according to plan, Wayans took a bold detour during the live show, portraying his character as an effeminate gay stereotype—a move that deviated from the script and shocked the audience.
Alex Reed host Griffin Dunne recalled the moment: “I thought it was weird, but people still laughed. And then lorne fired him pretty much as he walked off the stage.” Wayans admitted, “I snapped. I just did not care.I purposefully did that because I wanted [Michaels] to fire me.”
Lorne Michaels, the creator and executive producer of SNL, described the decision to let Wayans go as “really, really hard, but it had to be done.” Despite the abrupt end to his tenure, Wayans was invited back to perform stand-up in the season finale. Years later, he returned to SNL as a host, nearly a decade after his firing. “Lorne is a very forgiving man, and I think he just wanted to let me know that he believed in me,” Wayans said.
Following his SNL departure, Wayans went on to achieve tremendous success with In Living Color, a sketch comedy show that became a cultural phenomenon. His career continued to flourish,solidifying his status as one of comedy’s most influential figures.
For those curious about the sketch that sparked it all, the video below offers a glimpse into the moment that defined Wayans’ SNL journey.
How did getting fired from SNL impact your subsequent creative endeavors, notably in the growth of “In Living Color”?
Archyde Exclusive Interview: Damon Wayans Reflects on His SNL Journey and the sketch That Changed Everything
By Archys, Archyde News Editor
In a candid conversation with Archyde, acclaimed comedian and actor Damon Wayans opened up about his brief but impactful stint on Saturday Night Live (SNL) and the infamous sketch that led to his departure from the iconic NBC show. His revelations come as part of Peacock’s docuseries, SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, where he reflects on his journey in comedy and the pivotal moments that shaped his career.
Archyde: Damon, thank you for joining us.You’ve been in the spotlight for decades, but your time on SNL remains a fascinating chapter in your career. Let’s start at the beginning. What was it like joining SNL in 1985?
Damon Wayans: Thank you for having me. Joining SNL was a dream come true. I always felt like I was born to be on that show. I had this fire in me, you know? I was already developing characters and ideas that I knew could work on a platform like SNL. It felt like the perfect place to showcase my talent.
archyde: You’ve described Season 11 as “The Weird Year.” What made it so unusual?
Damon Wayans: (Laughs) Oh, man, it was a wild time. The show was going through a lot of changes, and I think everyone was trying to figure out their place. For me, it was a mix of excitement and frustration.I had all these ideas, but the process was… let’s just say, not what I expected.
Archyde: That frustration seemed to come to a head during a particular sketch. can you tell us about that moment?
Damon Wayans: yeah, I got fired. We gonna talk about it. (Laughs) So, I was in this sketch where I had a bit part. I wasn’t the focus, and I felt like my character wasn’t being utilized the way it could have been. In the heat of the moment, I whent off-script. I just started doing my own thing, trying to make it funnier, you know? But it didn’t go over well with Lorne [Michaels] and the team.
Archyde: What was going through your mind at that moment?
Damon Wayans: Honestly, I was just trying to make the sketch better. I thoght, “If I’m going to be on this stage, I’m going to give it my all.” But looking back, I can see how it came across as unprofessional. I was young, ambitious, and maybe a little too confident.
Archyde: How did Lorne Michaels react?
Damon Wayans: Lorne is a legend, and he’s very protective of the show. He didn’t appreciate me going rogue. He pulled me aside and basically said, “This isn’t how we do things here.” And that was that. I got fired.
Archyde: That must have been a tough blow.How did you move forward from that experience?
Damon Wayans: At the time, it felt like the end of the world. But in hindsight, it was a blessing in disguise. Getting fired from SNL lit a fire under me.It pushed me to create somthing of my own. A few years later, I co-created In Living Color, and a lot of the characters I was developing during my SNL days became staples of that show.
Archyde: It’s amazing how things come full circle. What advice woudl you give to young comedians facing similar challenges?
Damon Wayans: I’d say, don’t be afraid to fail. Sometiems, the biggest setbacks lead to the greatest opportunities.And always stay true to your voice.Comedy is about authenticity. If you believe in what you’re doing, the audience will feel it.
Archyde: Damon, thank you for sharing your story with us. It’s been an honor to hear about your journey and the lessons you’ve learned along the way.
Damon Wayans: Thank you. It’s been a pleasure.
Damon Wayans’ full story can be seen in Peacock’s docuseries, SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, now streaming.
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