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Why Punkie Johnson still has love for Lorne Michaels, even if ‘SNL’ was not her ‘zone’

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Why Punkie Johnson still has love for Lorne Michaels, even if 'SNL' was not her 'zone'

As a fervent admirer of Punkie Johnson, I find her journey through “Saturday Night Live” and beyond to be nothing short of inspiring. Her candid discussions about her experiences within the show, highlighting her unique perspective as a stand-up comic who didn’t grow up in sketch comedy, add a refreshing twist to the narrative of success on such a renowned platform.

Despite not being part of the main cast for Saturday Night Live’s 50th season, Punkie Johnson’s bond with the show remains robust.

On Wednesday, the comedian explained, “We both came to realize that it wasn’t my territory.” This comment provided further insight into her recent departure.

2020 saw Johnson become a part of the NBC sketch series. Recently, she shared stories about her departure from the show with David Spade and Dana Carvey on their podcast “Fly on the Wall.” As the star of “Bottoms,” who began her career in stand-up comedy, had been contemplating leaving for quite some time.

Johnson expressed that she often found herself feeling incongruous during her time on “SNL.” She clarified, “I wasn’t raised in the world of sketches, I didn’t attend sketch school and I never truly felt like I belonged there.” She further noted, “[SNL] caters to a distinct type of individual.”

As a passionate film enthusiast, I found myself standing out in the world of Saturday Night Live (SNL) due to my eclectic and unconventional approach. Unlike the structured format that SNL and its sketches are known for, I came across as scattered and free-flowing. When I first joined the cast, I was under the impression that everyone else had a stand-up background like me. However, I soon realized that wasn’t always accurate.

“Y’all went to school for this? To be here?,” she recalled thinking at the time.

As a movie critic, I found myself grappling with limited screen time during my stint on SNL this season. To put it into perspective, I barely managed two or three sketches throughout the entire run – quite a challenge when you’re up against over twenty talented cast members! It goes without saying that SNL has a veritable feast of performers to keep satisfied.

Before the start of Season 49, Johnson expressed doubts about her fit and considered departing from “SNL”. However, her team managed to convince her to continue by saying something like, “Look, Punkie, you ought to have a backup plan. You can’t just walk away from your job.”

Season 49 of “SNL” got off to an exceptional opening for Johnson. Collaborating with writer Ben Silva, the comedian managed to secure three or four sketches in the early part of the season. This success left her feeling quite confident, remarking, “Wow, I’m really nailing it! This is my year.” She credited Silva for turning her thoughts into sketch content, humorously adding, “he knew just how to communicate with Punkie.”

Following Silva’s departure from “SNL” to concentrate on her private affairs, Johnson commented that she struggled and started questioning her position within the series. In late July, during a stand-up performance, Johnson declared that she wouldn’t be coming back to “SNL.”

As a movie enthusiast, I invited questions in a video uploaded on Instagram on August 1st, and everything was smooth sailing until someone asked, “What are you most excited for next season?” Now, I’m not one to mince words with my friends, so I simply admitted, “To be honest, I won’t be returning.”

Since then, Johnson has been approached with opportunities to try out for and participate in fresh endeavors, such as a film and a TV special.

Following the announcement of her departure, Johnson expressed gratitude towards “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels for giving her the chance. She mentioned that he has been incredibly supportive throughout her career, making him one of the very few influential figures in the industry who firmly believes in her talent.

“He’s just my guy,” Johnson said.

Two years into my stint at “SNL,” I reached repertory status in 2022, making me the eighth Black female cast member on this iconic show. Following in the footsteps of trailblazers like comedian Danitra Vance, I became the second openly LGBTQ+ Black woman to join the show, a position she held during her tenure in the mid-1980s but didn’t publicly acknowledge at that time.

Johnson follows up her “SNL” career with her Childish & Petty tour with comedian Dicey.

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2024-08-24 00:31

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