Punkie Johnson Explains Her Departure from Series

Earlier this month, Punkie Johnson announced her departure from Saturday Night Live after four seasons. The comedian decided to leave the iconic sketch comedy show ahead of its landmark 50th season because she felt she didn’t quite fit the series. During an appearance on the Fly on the Wall podcast with SNL alums Dana Carvey and David Spade, Johnson opened up about her decision to exit.

Johnson revealed that she almost left before Season 49 but was persuaded by her team to stay. “I talked to my team. I was like, ‘Look, I don’t really know if I belong at this job, so maybe I should step away,'” she said. They convinced her to remain on the show by telling her, “You need a plan. You can’t just quit your job.”

The first part of Season 49 turned out to be quite good for Johnson. She managed to get three or four sketches in the first half, compared to the two or three she usually got in an entire season. However, things took a turn when her writer, Ben Silva, left the show. “He just knew how to speak Punkie,” she explained. “If I was telling him something, he knew how to put it in SNL format for me. If I try to put it in SNL format, that’s the hard part.”

Johnson elaborated that she generally didn’t feel like she fit on the show and that SNL is for “a different type of person.” She said, “I didn’t really feel like I fit, like I didn’t feel like that was my zone. That show is for a different type of person. I came from stand-up, so I just thought everybody else came from stand-up. 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 to be here?”

Johnson joined the Saturday Night Live cast in 2020 and announced her departure during a stand-up comedy show at Brooklyn’s Union Hall earlier this month. She later took to social media to clarify there was “no bad blood.”

“After four seasons, I will not be returning to SNL for the 50th,” Johnson wrote. “It’s no bad blood, it’s not bridges burned, it’s no hard feelings. Bro, I love my people! I didn’t think none of this was going to be a big deal.”

Expressing gratitude, she said, “SNL was a dream I didn’t even know I could achieve. I was a part of one of the most elite institutions in comedy, and I am so grateful for it. That’s still my people. I love them. I’m gonna be at the after parties acting a plumb fool! My time now has come to an end, and, um, Punkie outside now, y’all.”

In related news, Johnson isn’t the only cast member who will not be returning for Season 50 of Saturday Night Live. Molly Kearny also announced their exit earlier this month. Kearney, who is the first non-binary cast member in the show’s history, shared their thoughts about leaving the show on social media.

“Y’all that’s a wrap on my time on SNL! 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. It was a true honor to work with such a talented group of writers and DON’T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE CAST. Special shout out to my day 1 crew @marcellohdz @internetdevon and @longfellow_michael. Head up and heart out! Harold forever!!!!!” Kearney wrote.

Season 50 of Saturday Night Live is set to premiere on September 28th.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter