David Spade reveals how he felt in the early days of SNL and who was overshadowed from the start
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Making your place among the legends of comedy
David Spade may be a familiar name today, but his early days on Saturday Night Live weren’t easy at all.
In a recent episode of “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend,” Spade opened up about the struggles he faced when he joined the legendary comedy show.
“When I look back, it was very difficult for me to find my place there.
“Spade admitted, reflecting on his journey from newly-hired writer to cast member.
There is no guide.
Like many SNL freshmen, Spade found himself thrown into deep water without any guidance.
He and O’Brien, who also used to write for the show, spoke on their shared experience of understanding things on their own – an ordeal that has become a tradition of SNL.
Standing in the shadow of the stars
What made Spade’s early days particularly challenging? They were surrounded by comedy legends who were overshadowed from the start.
“Obviously, Sandler caught fire very quickly,” Spade recalled. “He has so many moves, so many characters.
Everything was happening so fast. I was just saying, ‘Oh my God’. They were really prepared.”
It wasn’t just Sandler. Dana Carvey was already a favorite of the show, and Chris Farley made an immediate impact.
Meanwhile, Spade described himself as “just a comedian who could write some funny stuff, but it took time to find his place.”
The moment when it all made sense
A conversation with veteran SNL writer Robert Smigel became the turning point for Spade. Smigel called Rob Schneider “difficult, but valuable.
Worth having around, “and that’s when Spade realized something.
“I thought, ‘I also want to be valuable,'” he recalled.
“That’s when I understood. You want someone in a situation like Smigel to say, ‘We need you.”
Learn from the best
Despite the early challenges, Spade now feels proud to be a part of that iconic SNL era alongside Sandler, Farley, Chris Rock and others.
“There were so many people there that you could look at anyone and say, ‘Oh, I can learn something from this guy,'” Spade explained.
“I can learn to write, or I can learn to perform or watch a table read.”
The learning process took time, but Spade finally found his rhythm and used his SNL experience as a springboard to a successful film career, including the beloved comedy “Tommy Boy,” created with his late friend Farley.
His story reminds us that even the biggest stars often start out feeling like they don’t fit in there – until one day, they really do.