Fred Armisen Reveals The Story Behind How SNL’s The Californians Was Created: ‘That’s Exactly Right’

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For five long decades, “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) has kept audiences laughing and will continue to do so with Season 51, debuting in early October 2025 on TV guides. Every era of SNL has introduced iconic sketches and characters, and Fred Armisen’s Californians is among them. Recently, Armisen shared insights into the creation of this beloved segment, and he had some assistance to make it happen.

Emphasizing some of SNL’s consistently amusing recurring characters, The Californians has become an integral part of the show’s comedic legacy. During an episode of Mike Bribiglia’s podcast, Working It Out, the topic of how Fred Armisen contributed to creating these west coast-inspired characters arose. Armisen revealed that his aim was to create a sketch heavily dependent on directions. Fortunately, James Anderson, who later collaborated with Armisen on writing the sketch, offered an excellent idea: a focus on speech patterns and pronunciation characteristic of Californians.

The concept initially seemed reminiscent of a book about SNL, but it turned out to be for The Californians. I was thinking of something with clear instructions and dialogue between characters, where the essence revolves around giving directions. James Anderson, my collaborator, suggested on the spot that we make it into a soap opera. As soon as he said it, I realized it was a brilliant idea. It struck me like a lightbulb moment – ‘Wow, that’s exactly right!’

Previously, the star of Portlandia has often drawn attention to The Californians’ origins. In this instance, however, I appreciate how straightforwardly he refers to Anderson’s note. It’s not just Anderson who deserves recognition; Armisen’s Stuart character was also influenced by a character performed by fellow SNL comedian Dana Carvey. Collaboration is key in creative projects, and it’s wonderful that Armisen had others to draw inspiration from, whether intentional or not.

As a devoted cinephile, I found myself drawn to explore the golden state’s enchanting landscapes and vibrant culture for my latest project. The idea originated from a humorous conversation among us cast members back in the day about how we traversed California during our travels. Before long, this jest transformed into something much larger-than-life, breathing life into a sketch that showcases people navigating the diverse terrains and personalities of the Golden State.

Whenever I visit Los Angeles, there’s always an abundance of things happening. At the table where we’d review sketches, we’d often joke about it casually, saying something like, “I was just in LA.” And then, imitating a Californian accent, someone might add, “I was on Barham Boulevard.” Bill Hader, Andy Samberg, and Keenan Thompson would join in, making it a sort of running joke. This bit of humor evolved from our shared experiences in LA.

More on SNL

Title Refrased: Michael Longfellow Opens Up About the Embarrassing Circumstances Surrounding His Departure from SNL and Shares Why Getting Dismissed as a Star is Difficult

Or

Michael Longfellow Discloses Uncomfortable Truths Regarding His SNL Exit, Explaining Why It’s Tough to be Let Go as a Public Figure

Both titles maintain the essence of the original while making it more accessible and easy to read for the general audience.

It’s surprisingly fitting that an offhand, amusing concept has evolved into a classic sketch in pop culture. I’ve always enjoyed watching Armisen, Hader, Wiig, and others sporting wacky hairpieces and trying to maintain straight faces as they discuss the 101. Given how hilarious this setup appears on paper, it seems hard to believe that producer Lorne Michaels, who was previously against repeating sketches, would reject Californians.

Lately, The Californians characters have been appearing in Volkswagen advertisements, and I eagerly look forward to their return on SNL at some point. While it’s uncertain if they will indeed make a comeback, there are more pressing issues to address regarding SNL Season 51. Notably, Heidi Gardner and Michael Longfellow have left the show recently, and this week saw the announcement of a new group of SNL stars. Given all the recent changes, it’s likely that current cast members will need some time to regroup and find their footing again.

Subscribing to Peacock TV offers Saturday Night Live content and is an investment worth making, with monthly plans starting at just $7.99. For those looking for even more features, consider upgrading to Peacock Premium or Peacock Premium Plus for ad-free streaming and the ability to download titles for offline viewing.”

“Peacock TV offers access to Saturday Night Live content, and with subscription plans starting at $7.99 a month, it’s an affordable option for fans. If you want to enjoy ad-free streams and download titles for later viewing, consider upgrading to Peacock Premium or Peacock Premium Plus.”

Or even:

“Saturday Night Live is available on Peacock TV, making it a must-have subscription for fans. The basic plan costs only $7.99 a month, but you can also upgrade to Peacock Premium or Peacock Premium Plus for ad-free streaming and the ability to download titles.

I’m wishing for a fantastic season filled with Californian-like greatness, and perhaps even a guest appearance by Fred Armisen or other Saturday Night Live greats. To revisit Armisen’s legendary SNL sketches, consider subscribing to Peacock, and ensure your account is active so you can stream Season 51 when it debuts on October 4.

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2025-09-04 11:09