Andy Samberg Opens Up About Leaving Saturday Night Live: “It Was A Big Choice”

Andy Samberg, known for his role in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, recently reflected on his departure from Saturday Night Live (SNL) in 2012. Speaking with Kevin Hart on Peacock’s Hart to Heart, Andy shared the challenges and reasons behind his decision to leave the iconic NBC late-night show.

Andy, now 45, admitted that it was “a big choice” to leave SNL. 

“For me, it was like, I can’t actually endure it anymore. But I didn’t want to leave. Physically and emotionally, like I was falling apart in my life,” he said.

During the interview, he elaborated on the demanding schedule of SNL, which he starred in for seven seasons from 2005 to 2012. 

“Physically, it was taking a heavy toll on me and I got to a place where I was like I hadn’t slept in seven years basically,” he said, adding, “We were writing stuff for the live show Tuesday night all night, the table read Wednesday, then being told now come up with a digital short so write all Thursday, all Thursday night, don’t sleep, get up, shoot Friday, edit all night Friday night and into Saturday, so it’s basically like four days a week you’re not sleeping, for seven years. So I just kinda fell apart physically.”

Andy likened the experience of being on SNL to that of a professional athlete. Explaining it as “this high pressure thing,” he added, “Your adrenaline goes through the roof. You know, there’s parallels. You have to perform under pressure in front of people…”

Despite understanding the potential pitfalls of leaving, Andy sought advice from SNL alums, including Amy Poehler. “I had talked to Poehler and other people that had already gone. I was like, once I go, when I have an idea, I can’t just do it. The craziest thing about working there is once you get going, if you’re just in the shower and you have an idea that s— can be on television in three days, which is the most intoxicating feeling,” he stated.

The decision was made more challenging when SNL producers expressed their desire for him to stay. “They told me straight up, ‘We prefer you would stay,’ and I was like, oh, that makes it harder. But I just was like, I think to get back to a feeling of like mental and physical health, I have to do it. So I did it and it was a very difficult choice,” he shared.

Andy’s departure from SNL was followed by new opportunities, including starring in Brooklyn Nine-Nine for eight successful seasons. He also made several return appearances on SNL, even hosting in 2014.