At a Glance
- Marcello Hernández’s mother Isabel fled Cuba at age 12 before reaching the U.S.
- His breakout SNL “Protective Mom” sketch was directly inspired by her
- Isabel appeared in a T-Mobile ad with her son in October 2024
- Why it matters: The comedian’s family stories resonate with millions of first-generation Americans
Marcello Hernández has turned his immigrant family’s journey into comedic gold. The Saturday Night Live cast member, whose Netflix special Marcello Hernández: American Boy dropped in January 2026, mines his Cuban-Dominican upbringing for material that has made him one of the show’s breakout stars.
The Escape That Shaped Everything
Isabel left Cuba with her family when she was 12. The group settled in Spain and the Dominican Republic before she traveled to the United States alone. While pregnant with Marcello, she put herself through college and graduated.
Hernández’s father emigrated from the Dominican Republic. The comic jokes that parents from those two nations have a predictable outcome: “They are divorced. It doesn’t work out.”
Comedy Born From Strict Rules
Growing up, Hernández learned fast that complaining was not an option. He tells audiences his Cuban mother “escaped communism” and reminded him of that fact every morning.
Her daily wake-up call, he says, went: “Good morning Marcello, have a great day, but just remember … I free you.” If he claimed he’d had a rough day at school, she shot back: “What happened that was so bad? Did somebody steal your freedom today?”
The SNL Sketch That Went Viral
In February 2023 Hernández wrote and starred in the “Protective Mom” sketch, casting Pedro Pascal as the suspicious, overbearing mother. The bit became one of season 48’s five most-watched live sketches.
Pascal told Variety the idea originated with him asking to play Hernández’s “protective mother.” While the character isn’t a physical replica of Isabel, Hernández channeled her attitude. One line he wrote-“My son don’t have ADD, he just like to jump”-mirrors her refusal to believe in attention disorders.
Mom On Screen And On Stage
Isabel stepped in front of the camera with her son for T-Mobile in October 2024. A behind-the-scenes TikTok shows Hernández teasing her with microphones; she finally tells him to “stop, stop, stop” before flipping her hair and declaring, “I feel famous.”
On stage, Hernández often contrasts his parents’ English skills. He brought his dad to SNL and the writers greeted him with “It’s so nice to meet you.” His father replied, “Me too.” His mother, by contrast, poses philosophical questions such as: “Marcello, what’s the difference between a butt dial and a booty call?”
The Late-Night Thank-You
During his October 2023 debut on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Hernández immediately thanked Isabel, who sat in the audience. In Spanish he told her he loves her with all his heart; cameras caught her wiping away tears.
Backstage, Meyers asked if she was proud. Her deadpan response-“Eh”-earned laughs from the host and her son alike. Hernández admitted the ambivalence sounded exactly like her.
Key Takeaways
- Isabel’s journey from Cuban refugee to college graduate frames Hernández’s worldview
- The “Protective Mom” sketch fused personal history with mainstream comedy, reaching millions
- Shared commercials and red-carpet appearances keep their bond in the public eye
- Hernández credits every milestone, including national TV spots, to his mother’s sacrifices
