Punkie Johnson explains ‘SNL’ ending

While chatting with “Saturday Night Live” veterans David Spade and Dana Carvey “Fly on the wall” podcast, comedian Punkie Johnson discussed her decision to leave “SNL” ahead of its 50th season.

Johnson revealed that before season 49, she began to doubt her role on the prolific sketch comedy show. ‘I spoke to my team. I was like, ‘Look, I don’t really know if I belong in this job, so maybe I should take a step back,'” Johnson said. “But I told them super, super late, right after I found out I had to go back. And it was like ‘Well Punkie, you need a plan. You can’t just quit your job.’”

Johnson decided to stay as a cast member for season 49, saying things were “great” for the first few weeks.

“I think I got three or four sketches in the first half [of the season]” she added. “And usually I only get maybe two or three in the whole season, so I’m like, ‘Oh man, I’m going to end it. This is my season. ”

However, following the departure of her writer, Ben Silva, Johnson once again questioned her place on “SNL.” “If I told him something, he would put it into ‘SNL’ format for me. When I try to put it into ‘SNL’ format, that’s the hardest part,” Johnson said.

“I didn’t really feel like I fit in, like that wasn’t my zone. That show is for a different type of person,” Johnson added. “I came from standup, so I thought everyone else came from standup. I started having conversations with people and everyone was like, “Oh yeah, we went to school for this.” I’m like, ‘Did you all go to school to be here?’

Johnson first joined “SNL” in 2020 as a featured player in season 46. Her other credits include “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” “Adam Ruins Everything,” “Corporate” and “Space Force.”