Home / Arts and Entertainment / Conan O'Brien Recalls "SNL" Tenure as One of the Show's "Most Intense Periods"
Conan O'Brien Recalls "SNL" Tenure as One of the Show's "Most Intense Periods"
2 Aug
Summary
- Conan O'Brien was an "SNL" writer for 3 years, describing it as an intense period
- Adam Sandler's infectious enthusiasm contrasted with Odenkirk's frustration
- O'Brien went on to host "Late Night" and "The Tonight Show" before his current success
In a recent podcast episode, Conan O'Brien looked back on his time as a writer for "Saturday Night Live" in the early 1990s, a period he describes as one of the show's "most intense." O'Brien, who would later become a beloved TV host, was part of a team that included writers like Robert Smigel and Bob Odenkirk, all of whom felt the pressure to deliver.
Odenkirk himself has since admitted to being "too hard on the show," frustrated that it didn't fully represent his own vision. In contrast, Adam Sandler, who joined the "SNL" cast in 1990, brought a much more lighthearted attitude, constantly expressing his love for the experience.
O'Brien's "SNL" stint ultimately proved to be a stepping stone in his own successful career. After leaving the show, he went on to host "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and briefly "The Tonight Show" before finding further acclaim on his own talk show "Conan." Most recently, he has hosted the Oscars to critical praise, with plans to return next year.
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Despite the intensity of his "SNL" days, O'Brien acknowledges that he could have had "more fun" during that time. Nevertheless, his experiences there laid the foundation for his remarkable rise to become one of America's most beloved television personalities.
