Adam Sandler opened up about how his departure from Saturday Night Live affected him emotionally.
He shared at a Vanity Fair event that leaving the show was incredibly painful, and he couldn’t bring himself to watch it for a year. Seeing his former colleagues – people he’d worked with for five years, including a year as a writer and four as a performer – continue as if nothing had changed was especially difficult, making him feel unwanted and heartbroken.
After I stopped working on the show, I couldn’t bring myself to watch it for the first year. It was just too painful. It’s similar to how it feels when you stop playing a sport – you realize the game goes on without you, and it’s a little heartbreaking to see that.
During the conversation, Sandler talked about how Saturday Night Live has changed over time. He also noted that Lorne Michaels, the show’s creator, seems more relaxed now about cast members occasionally breaking character. Sandler explained that Michaels used to be much stricter about maintaining professionalism during sketches.
He explained the show used to be much more intense, with a strict rule: mess up, and you were off the show. But Sandler pointed out that things are different now, and he actually liked seeing that rule relaxed. It was great to see the cast members having fun and laughing together.
In the early days of Saturday Night Live, the original cast – including Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Jane Curtin, and Gilda Radnor – had a strict rule against laughing during rehearsals or performances. They wanted to be different from shows like The Carol Burnett Show and treated the work very seriously. If anyone broke character and laughed, they were essentially reprimanded. Over time, though, that rule was abandoned, and now it’s common to see everyone laughing on set.
Even with all the changes over the years, Adam Sandler insists that Saturday Night Live has maintained the qualities that made it so successful. He admitted things were difficult after his initial departure, but he doesn’t hold any grudges. Sandler expressed deep gratitude for his time on the show, saying it was the best experience of his life.
You’re experiencing a mix of incredible joy and intense worry. It’s similar to the bond you feel with teammates – a unique connection that lasts a lifetime, and it’s a really good feeling.
Adam Sandler was a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1990 to 1995, alongside other famous comedians like Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, David Spade, and Mike Myers. He later returned to host the show in 2019, earning an Emmy nomination, and has made several appearances over the years, including for the show’s 50th anniversary celebration.
Saturday Night Live airs new episodes Saturdays at 11:30 PM ET and 8:30 PM PT on NBC.
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2025-12-07 06:28