- Andy Samberg is an 'SNL' legend
- The show took quite a toll on him
- THIS is how he explained it
In a heart-to-heart with Kevin Hart on the Peacock series 'Hart to Heart,' Samberg got candid about the physical and mental toll the show took on him, revealing a behind-the-scenes struggle that fans never saw. We'll look at the reasons behind Samberg's departure, his reflections on the intense SNL schedule, and how his decision ultimately came down to preserving his health and sanity.
The Toll of Comedy:
Andy Samberg, once a shining star of 'Saturday Night Live', has finally opened up about why he said goodbye to the show that made him a household name. In a revealing interview with Kevin Hart, Samberg shared that behind the laughter and viral hits, there was a man struggling to keep up with the punishing pace of the show.
"It was taking a heavy toll on me," Samberg confessed, painting a picture of a life where sleep was a luxury he couldn't afford.
"Physically, it was taking a heavy toll on me and I got to a place where I was like I hadn’t slept in seven years basically," Samberg said.
"We were writing stuff for the live show Tuesday night all night, the table read Wednesday, then being told now come up with a digital short so write all Thursday, all Thursday night, don’t sleep, get up, shoot Friday, edit all night Friday night and into Saturday, so it’s basically like four days a week you’re not sleeping, for seven years. So I just kinda fell apart physically."
Samberg said working on 'SNL' changed after Schaffer and Taccone departed, effectively leaving him alone as the sole digital shorts creator for his final two years.
"I was basically left in charge of making the shorts, which I never pretended like I could do without them," Samberg said. "We made stuff I’m really proud of in my last two years, but there’s something about the songs that I can only do with Akiva and Jorm. It’s just how it is, we’re just a band in that way."
The departure of his 'Lonely Island' comrades, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone, only added to the pressure, making the digital shorts segment a solo mission he felt ill-equipped to handle alone.
The decision to leave 'SNL' wasn't made lightly. Samberg recounted the intoxicating rush of seeing his ideas come to life on national television within days but acknowledged the unsustainable nature of the work.
Consulting with 'SNL' veterans like Amy Poehler, he weighed the benefits of staying against the toll it was taking on his well-being. Ultimately, the need for mental and physical health won out. "I had to do it," he said, reflecting on the tough choice to step back from the limelight.
"I was like, once I go, when I have an idea, I can’t just do it," Samberg said. "The craziest thing about working there is once you get going, if you’re just in the shower and you have an idea that shit can be on television in three days, which is the most like intoxicating feeling."
"They told me straight up, ‘We prefer you would stay,’ and I was like, ‘Oh, that makes it harder,’" Samberg added about his exit. "But I just was like, I think to get back to a feeling of like mental and physical health, I have to do it. So I did it and it was a very difficult choice."
Since leaving 'SNL', Samberg has not slowed down, continuing to make waves in the comedy world with projects like 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' and various film roles. However, his departure from 'SNL' marks a significant moment in his career, one where the pursuit of health and happiness took precedence over fame and creative fulfillment.
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Andy Samberg's candid discussion with Kevin Hart sheds light on the often unseen challenges faced by those in the entertainment industry. His story is a powerful reminder of the importance of self-care, even in the pursuit of one's passions.
