Fresh Faces, Fast Pace: SNL's Newest Cast Members Reflect on a Whirlwind First Season
The five newest cast members of Saturday Night Live Season 51 — Veronika Slowikowska, Kam Patterson, Jeremy Culhane, Tommy Brennan, and Ben Marshall — sat down for an interview to look back on their freshman year.
The season, which culminated in a finale on May 16 with host Will Ferrell and musical guest Paul McCartney, was a blur of firsts, failures, and triumphs.
"Fresh," "quick," "fantastic," "inspired," and a "roller coaster."
That's how the cast described their debut season. They opened up about the major challenges they faced, from the logistical hurdle of moving to New York to the high-wire act of live performance and the emotional sting of seeing sketches cut.
From Writer to Performer: A Shift in Control
For Ben Marshall, the transition was particularly tricky. Having come from a writing background, he noted the difficulty of relinquishing control when stepping onto the stage as a performer.
"You can stop auditioning soon, " producer Lorne Michaels advised the group, offering a glimpse of wisdom that helped them settle into their roles. Another piece of guidance from Michaels resonated deeply: "There's a show in there; we just need to find it. "
Audition Tales and Nerve-Wracking Moments
The cast also shared the moments that tested their nerves the most, including the terrifying first table reads and on-air cue card mishaps.
Kam Patterson admitted that while he had "obviously seen" SNL before joining, the show wasn't a staple in his household. Jeremy Culhane, meanwhile, recalled a memorable audition story where a nunchuck flew out of his hand and hit an audience member—a moment that, in hindsight, worked in his favor.