Pete Davidson Reveals His ‘SNL’ Starting Salary Was $3,000 an Episode
SNL Stars Reveal Their First Paycheck splurges: From $75 Shoes to a Reupholstered Couch
New York, NY – “Saturday night Live” cast members past and present are dishing on their first paycheck indulgences, revealing surprisingly modest purchases for some of comedy’s biggest names.
In a recent video roundup for New York Magazine,Pete Davidson,who spent eight seasons on the iconic sketch comedy show,admitted his first “SNL” check,a modest $3,000 per episode,barely covered a meal. “Do you guys know what they pay us?” davidson quipped. “It’s like three grand an episode. I think I got dinner.”
Jason Sudeikis,who joined “SNL” as a writer in 2003 and later became a cast member for nine seasons,echoed Davidson’s sentiment. “You don’t make enough money to make big purchases,” Sudeikis shared.”So I think New York rent was probably the biggest purchase I made after writing my first year on ‘SNL.'”
The video, which features a star-studded lineup including James Austin Johnson, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sarah Silverman, Sarah Sherman, cheri Oteri, Seth Meyers, Bowen Yang, and Rachel Dratch, offers a glimpse into the early days of these comedic icons.
Louis-Dreyfus, known for her roles in “Seinfeld” and “Veep,” confessed to splurging on a pair of $75 shoes, while Yang admitted to buying a pair of trendy Gucci shoes.
Some cast members opted for more practical purchases. Johnson, Meyers, and Oteri all used their first paychecks to furnish their apartments. Oteri, known for her memorable characters on “SNL,” recounted a humorous anecdote about refusing to part with her beloved couch, even when a designer suggested it was outdated.
The video serves as a lighthearted reminder that even comedy superstars started somewhere, often with modest beginnings.
“Saturday Night Live” is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary with a live primetime special airing on February 16th. The series airs on NBC at 11:30 p.m. ET and streams on Peacock.
SNL Stars Share Unexpected Tales of Early Paycheck Splurges
New York, NY – The cast of “Saturday Night Live,” past and present, are revealing their surprisingly modest spending habits when it came to their first paychecks.In a recent video for New York Magazine, stars like Pete Davidson, Jason Sudeikis, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus shared humorous anecdotes about their early expenditures.
Davidson, who spent eight seasons on the iconic sketch comedy show, jokingly confessed that his initial $3,000 per episode salary barely covered dinner. Sudeikis, a nine-season veteran, echoed this sentiment, stating that New York rent consumed most of his earnings during his early years on the show.
While some stars opted for practical purchases like furniture - James Austin Johnson, Seth Meyers, and Cheri Oteri all used their first paychecks to furnish their apartments – others indulged in smaller luxuries. Louis-Dreyfus, known for her iconic roles in “Seinfeld” and “Veep,” confessed to splurging on a pair of $75 shoes. Bowen Yang admitted to buying trendy Gucci shoes, while Sarah Silverman humorously recalled purchasing a “bunch of pot.”
The video offers a lighthearted glimpse into the early days of these comedic icons, reminding viewers that even superstars had modest beginnings.