Pete Davidson, a notable figure in the comedy landscape, recently shared insights into his remuneration as a cast member on the iconic “Saturday Night Live” show during a video compilation for New York Magazine.
The video, released on social media this Wednesday, featured Davidson and several other existing “SNL” stars and alumni. They discussed the extravagant purchases they made after receiving their first paycheck from the NBC sketch comedy series.
“Do you have any idea about our salary?” asked Davidson, who was an “SNL” regular from 2014 to 2022. “We earn around three thousand dollars per episode. I remember buying dinner.”
Jason Sudeikis echoed a similar sentiment about his earnings from “SNL,” saying, “The salary isn’t substantial enough for big purchases. I believe the most significant expenditure I made after my first year on ‘SNL’ was probably my rent in New York.” Sudeikis was initially hired as a writer in 2003 before transitioning to a cast member role, which he fulfilled for nine seasons from 2005 to 2013.
The video also includes other former and present “SNL” cast members such as James Austin Johnson, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sarah Silverman, Sarah Sherman, Cheri Oteri, Seth Meyers, Bowen Yang, and Rachel Dratch.
“I treated myself with a pair of shoes that were a bit too expensive,” admitted Louis-Dreyfus. “I’ll let you in on a secret; they cost $75.”
Similarly, Yang also splurged on a pair of shoes. He mentioned in the video, “I went to Saks across the street and bought a pair of Gucci shoes. Everyone had them, and I wouldn’t feel super cool wearing them out now.”
Several others, including Johnson, Meyers, and Oteri, revealed they used their first paycheck to invest in furniture.
“I bought a couch. I have had it reupholstered three or four times,” Oteri confessed. “I recall a designer visiting me with tears in his eyes, insisting that we needed to replace the couch due to its high arms. I retorted, ‘Oh no, not today, Satan. The couch is staying. You’re leaving.’
“Saturday Night Live” is gearing up to commemorate its 50th anniversary with a live primetime special on Feb. 16. The show is broadcasted on NBC at 11:30 p.m. ET and is also available for streaming on Peacock.
You can watch the video below.
Credit: variety.com
