'SNL' stars Pete Davidson and John Mulaney confess to sugarcoating celebrity monologues
Davidson reveals he also encouraged hosts by insisting they had 'crushed it,' regardless of reality
Pete Davidson and John Mulaney have revealed that they often stretched the truth when giving feedback to celebrity guest hosts on Saturday Night Live, admitting they routinely offered overly generous praise regardless of performance.
Speaking during the Netflix Is a Joke Festival, Mulaney, a former SNL writer and performer, recalled how he would reassure high-profile hosts that their opening monologues were going well, even when the reality was far less polished.
“When I was 25, I’d tell Oscar-winning hosts… ‘You’re gonna say all that, it’s gonna go great,’ and they’d tank eight times out of 10,” Mulaney said.
Davidson agreed, saying he also tended to praise guest hosts regardless of how their performances actually landed on stage, often telling them they had “crushed it” to keep morale high.
Mulaney explained that many celebrity hosts struggled with live comedy timing, describing how some would ask for honest feedback after performances but were rarely prepared for the truth.
“They’ll have actor face. They sort of don’t get it,” he said. “And they’d be like, ‘Hey, was that good?’ And you’re like, ‘No!’”
Davidson added that he often tried to coach nervous hosts through live television basics, reminding them that they were ultimately performing for the camera rather than the in-studio audience.
“You’re really performing for the people at home,” he said.
Mulaney echoed the sentiment, noting that many hosts underestimated how small the live studio audience response could feel during SNL tapings.
Davidson also admitted he would sometimes exaggerate details about the studio audience itself to calm nerves, jokingly describing them as tourists or casual visitors rather than dedicated fans.
Mulaney, who has hosted SNL multiple times since his writing tenure, also recalled an instance where a well-known comedy figure struggled significantly during a monologue rehearsal.
He said the performer had difficulty during the writing process and ultimately delivered a weak performance, but even then, he avoided giving blunt criticism.
“It’s bad acoustics,” Mulaney recalled saying, despite the studio being known for its strong sound setup.
The comedians’ comments highlight the behind-the-scenes pressure and diplomacy often involved in live television, where honesty is frequently softened to maintain confidence and avoid derailing performances.
