Current:Home > Finance'SNL' star Punkie Johnson reveals why she left the show-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
'SNL' star Punkie Johnson reveals why she left the show
View Date:2024-12-23 19:45:27
"Saturday Night Live" star PunkieJohnson won't be returning to Studio 8H, and she's opening up about her exit.
The comedian, 39, appeared on Dana Carvey and David Spade's "Fly on the Wall" podcast Wednesday after announcing earlier this month that she's leaving the cast of "SNL."
Johnson shared that she didn't "really feel like I fit" on the show as someone with more of a background in stand-up than sketch comedy.
"I came from stand-up, so I just thought everybody else came from stand-up," she said. "I started having conversations with people, and everybody was like, 'Oh, yeah, we went to school for this.' I'm like, 'Y'all went to school for this? To be here?'"
The "Bottoms" star continued that "SNL" is a "hard job" and revealed she questioned whether to leave last season because she felt she didn't "belong," but she ultimately came back and had a "tremendous first half of the season."
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
But Johnson said things went downhill and she "spiraled" after Ben Silva, a writer she clicked well with, left the show.
Still, she added that she has already received numerous opportunities since announcing her exit.
"It's going to be very different, but I'm excited," she said. "I'm super excited. I'm working on a movie that ('SNL' creator) Lorne (Michaels) is also helping me do, I'm putting together my special that Lorne's also helping me do. So my relationship with the show is still strong. Mutually, we just understood that it wasn't my zone."
'SNL' cast departures:Punkie Johnson, Molly Kearney exit
Johnson joined "SNL" as a featured player in 2020 and was promoted to the main cast in 2022. She confirmed she would not be returning earlier this month ahead of the show's landmark 50th season.
"It's no bad blood, it's no bridges burned, it's no hard feelings," she said in an Instagram video.
In pivotal election year,'SNL' should be great. It's only mid.
Molly Kearney, who joined "SNL" as a featured player in 2022 and became the show's first non-binary cast member, also confirmed they will not be returning in the fall.
"Yall that’s a wrap on my time on 'SNL'!" Kearney said on Instagram. "Reflecting on the amazing 2 seasons I got on this show, it was such a dream come true. So incredibly grateful for this period in my life. So much love to all my big hearted buddies behind the scenes who make the magic happen every week. So many bald caps, so little time."
Maya Rudolph is expected to reprise her role as Vice President Kamala Harris on "SNL" in the fall leading up to the presidential election, though Steve Martin has taken himself out of consideration to play Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz after many fans suggested him for the role.
"SNL" will return for Season 50 on Sept. 28.
Contributing: KiMi Robinson
veryGood! (18)
Related
- Why Officials Believe a Missing Kayaker Faked His Own Death and Ran Off to Europe
- Plane crash in Ohio leaves 3 people dead; NTSB, FAA investigating
- Will Kim Cattrall Return to And Just Like That? She Says…
- ‘Twisters’ whips up $80.5 million at box office, while ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ looms
- John Robinson, former USC Trojans and Los Angeles Rams coach, dies at 89
- Secret Service chief noted a ‘zero fail mission.’ After Trump rally, she’s facing calls to resign
- How the Olympic Village Became Known For Its Sexy Escapades
- Man pleads guilty to federal charges in attack on Louisville mayoral candidate
- Martin Scorsese on faith in filmmaking, ‘The Saints’ and what his next movie might be
- Hulk Hogan shows up at Jake Paul fight wearing same shirt he ripped off during RNC speech
Ranking
- GM recalls 460k cars for rear wheel lock-up: Affected models include Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac
- Fastest blind sprinter in US history focuses on future after 100 win
- Seven Spokane police officers, police dog hurt in high-speed crash with suspects' car
- British Open 2024 highlights: Daniel Brown slips up; Billy Horschel leads entering Round 4
- NFL Week 10 winners, losers: Cowboys' season can no longer be saved
- Brian Kelley of Florida Georgia Line duo announces 'Make America Great Again' solo single
- Man pleads guilty to federal charges in attack on Louisville mayoral candidate
- Jake Paul rants about Dana White, MMA fighters: 'They've been trying to assassinate me'
Recommendation
-
A crowd of strangers brought 613 cakes and then set out to eat them
-
Police: 3 killed, 6 wounded in ‘exchange of gunfire’ during gathering in Philadelphia; no arrests
-
JoJo Siwa Reveals Plans for Triplets With 3 Surrogates
-
Conspiracy falsely claims there was second shooter at Trump rally on a water tower
-
Pistons' Ausar Thompson cleared to play after missing 8 months with blood clot
-
Triple-digit heat, meet wildfires: Parts of US face a 'smoky and hot' weekend
-
Here’s what to do with deli meats as the CDC investigates a listeria outbreak across the U.S.
-
Revisiting Josh Hartnett’s Life in Hollywood Amid Return to Spotlight