Why SNL writers fib to celebrities about their hosting gigs

Pete Davidson and John Mulaney once had the awkward job of cushioning the egos of A-list celebrities who bombed on their first shot at hosting Saturday Night Live. During a Netflix comedy panel, Mulaney shared stories from his early days as an SNL writer—back when he was just 25 and fresh out of stand-up. He admitted to telling Oscar-winning hosts their cringe-worthy monologues would be a hit, even when they flopped up to 80% of the time. Davidson chimed in, joking that he’d do the same, assuring clueless hosts they "killed it" when they clearly didn’t. Mulaney cracked, "Actors sometimes miss the mark because they just don’t realize how bad it is. They’d ask, ‘Was that okay? ’ and you’re stuck thinking, ‘Do you even hear yourself? ’"The duo joked about redirecting struggling hosts to focus on the cameras instead of the live crowd. Mulaney played along, saying, "You’re not performing for the people here. You’re performing for the folks at home. " Davidson took it further, spinning a tale about the live audience being mostly confused tourists who barely understood English—even though SNL’s studio is famous for its perfect sound and loyal fans. At one point, a major comedy star bombed so badly Mulaney had to soften the blow. When the star asked if it was terrible, Mulaney lied and blamed the acoustics—despite SNL’s legendary studio setup, once home to a full orchestra.