‘That Show Appeals to a Different Type of Person’

Comedian Punkie Johnson recently opened up about her decision to leave “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) ahead of its 50th season. Speaking with “SNL” veterans David Spade and Dana Carvey on their “Fly on the Wall” podcast, Johnson shared her doubts about her role on the iconic sketch comedy show.

Johnson began questioning her place in the show even before Season 49 began. “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. Despite her reservations, she decided to stay on for Season 49, encouraged by her team to have a plan before making any significant changes.

For the initial weeks of Season 49, Johnson found success and felt positive about her contributions. “The first couple of weeks were tremendous,” she said. “I think I got like three or four sketches on the first half [of the season]. And usually, I only get maybe two or three for the entire season, so I’m like, ‘Oh man, I’m killing it. Like, this is my season.’”

However, the departure of her writer, Ben Silva, left Johnson feeling uncertain again. “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,” she explained. This change made her reconsider her fit for the show.

“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,” she continued. Johnson, who has a background in standup comedy, found that many of her colleagues had formal training specifically for roles like those at “SNL.” “I came from standup so I just thought everybody else came from standup. 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 “SNL” in 2020 for Season 46 as a featured player. Over her tenure, she has been part of several sketches and performances, showcasing her comedy skills. Aside from “SNL,” she has appeared in “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” “Adam Ruins Everything,” “Corporate,” and “Space Force.”

Reflecting on her time at “SNL,” Johnson expressed mixed feelings but ultimately felt it was time to move on. She suggested that her skills and background in standup comedy may be better suited elsewhere.

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