SNL’s 50th Anniversary

An interview with former cast member Alex Moffat

Every Saturday night September through mid-May, a famous late night comedy show is broadcast on NBC. This show is Saturday Night Live. SNL started Oct. 11, 1975. Each season has a slightly different cast, and throughout the show cast members are in sketches that are rehearsed throughout the week. SNL has become part of American culture, for many, it’s a tradition to sit down and watch each week.

Each show has one host and a musical guest. The host will start out the show with a “monologue” to introduce themselves. They will also appear in several skits. Some hosts over the 50 years have been Jodie Foster, Justin Timberlake, Maya Rudolph, Taylor Swift, Charlie xcx, Ariana Grande, and many, many more.

This year SNL celebrated their 50th anniversary. It was celebrated in February with a musical performance on Friday the 14th, and a performance with tons of skits that included cast members and hosts from throughout the years.

I interviewed Alex Moffat, a former cast member who was a part of the 50th performance.

What did it feel like to be back for the 50th Anniversary performance?

“Amazing. It felt like going to a family reunion where you know everybody, you love everybody, but also everybody happens to be a world famous comedian.”

Did any performances stick out to you in the 50th Anniversary performance?

“I would say Paul McCartney’s musical performance. Really I’m a lifelong Beatles nut. And before his sound-check I got to meet him and so did my wife and daughter and he actually sang Yellow Submarine right to my daughter.”

How old is your daughter Evy, and does she understand what her dad does?

“She’s four, it’s hard to say. She doesn’t seem impressed if that’s what you mean. But I think she has some idea that I perform for a living and that I try to be funny for her.”

Lin Manuel Miranda…. TALK.

“Well, since we were both in the same sketch together, so we kind of spent most of the day together. Back when it was my second episode, we got to do a sketch called “Diego called”. So anytime I run into him around New York, which is, you know, every so often, he couldn’t be nicer. We always stop and chat.”

Do you get nervous before skits?

“Yes, it never goes away. I think it’s because I care a lot about what I’m doing. I’m passionate about what I’m doing, so I want it to be as good as it possibly can be. Also, I kind of look at it as a service if you can believe that.”

Were there any hosts that you thought could be a cast member?

“Steve Carell could have easily been a cast member, and Emma Stone.”

You appeared as Blake alumni, Al Franken. What’s the key to a good Al Franken?

“I’m not sure I hold the key to a good Al Franken, because I talked to him at the 50th and it was my first time meeting him in person. I said ‘hi, I’m Alex, and I did an impression of you.’ He said, ‘you did?’ I don’t think I hold the key, you might have to ask someone else for that. But when I was doing the impression I thought of the Cheshire Cat.”