Punkie Johnson discussing her decision to leave “SNL” after questioning her fit with the show.
Comedian Punkie Johnson has opened up about her decision to leave “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) after three seasons, ahead of its milestone 50th season.
Speaking with “SNL” veterans David Spade and Dana Carvey on their podcast, “Fly on the Wall,” Johnson shared that she started having doubts about her role on the legendary sketch comedy show even before Season 49 began.
Johnson explained that she approached her team with concerns about whether she was the right fit for the job. “I talked to my team. I was like, ‘Look, I don’t really know if I belong at this job, so maybe I should step away,’” Johnson recalled.
However, she admitted that her decision came late, after she had already been informed that she would return for another season. Her team advised her to have a plan in place before making any decisions. “You can’t just quit your job,” they told her.
Despite her reservations, Johnson decided to stay on for Season 49, and for the first few weeks, things seemed to be going well. She noted that she managed to get three or four sketches on air during the first half of the season.
For Johnson, this was a significant achievement. “Usually I only get maybe two or three [sketches] on the entire season, so I’m like, ‘Oh man, I’m killing it. Like, this is my season,’” she said.
However, the momentum slowed down after her writer, Ben Silva, left the show. Johnson emphasized the importance of her collaboration with Silva, who had a knack for translating her ideas into the “SNL” format.
“If I was telling him something, he knew how to put it in ‘SNL’ format for me. If I try to put it in ‘SNL’ format, that’s the hard part,” she explained.
Johnson realized that fitting into the show’s unique environment was a challenge. Coming from a stand-up comedy background, she initially assumed that most of her colleagues had similar experiences.
But through conversations with others, she discovered that many had formal training in sketch comedy and had even gone to school to prepare for this type of work.
“I didn’t really feel like I fit, like I didn’t feel like that was my zone. That show is for a different type of person,” she admitted.
Punkie Johnson joined “SNL” in 2020 during its 46th season. Before that, she had appeared on other popular shows such as “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” “Adam Ruins Everything,” “Corporate,” and “Space Force.”
Though she’s leaving “SNL,” Johnson’s future in comedy remains bright. While she may have felt out of place on the show, her talents are evident, and she continues to make her mark in the world of comedy.
As she moves on to new opportunities, fans will undoubtedly be eager to see what she does next.
