Kristen Wiig
On the January 21 episode of Las Culturistas, co-hosted by fellow SNL alum Bowen Yang and comedian Matt Rogers, Kristen Wiig opened up about her tenure on Saturday Night Live.
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At a Glance
- Wiig spent seven years on SNL, from 2005 to 2012.
- She earned four Emmy nominations for her work.
- In her third season she hit a creative wall, describing a “breakdown” that led her to invent the famous “Don’t make me sing” sketch.
- Why it matters: The story shows how creative pressure can fuel breakthrough moments.
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Introduction
Kristen Wiig reflected on the highs and lows of her SNL career, revealing how a mid-season creative slump forced her to rethink her approach and ultimately birthed one of her most celebrated sketches.
Early Years on SNL
Wiig joined the cast as a “fully formed” performer, having auditioned twice and already carrying a repertoire of characters. She described her first two seasons as a time of “breaking out” and learning to “live with” her fellow cast members.
> “Being around my SNL costars felt like ‘living with them’ for seven years,” she told the hosts.
She credited the experience with teaching her that failure is a natural part of the process. Wiig noted that she often wrote sketches she knew would bomb at the table read, but that it was “okay” because “everyone’s got things that don’t work.”
The Breakdown
During her third season, Wiig said she hit a brutal wall. She had “done every voice” and felt she had nothing left to offer.
> “Three seasons in, I was having a breakdown, being like, ‘I’ve done every voice. I have nothing.'”
Bowen Yang echoed this sentiment, recalling how he felt the same way in his second season when his audition bits became part of the show.
> “I was like, ‘I literally did every character that I have,’ and didn’t know what else to do.”
Wiig leaned on her castmates to navigate the slump. She explained how they would challenge each other: “Can you play blah blah blah?” and she would respond, “Well, we’ll see.”
> “And then you end up trying or doing it. It doesn’t always work. And then you just like find new things.”
Finding New Methods
Instead of relying on vocal impressions, Wiig began experimenting with physicality. She recalled a moment standing in an office, deciding to “just do something that someone stands like this.”
This physical approach led to the sketch where a woman repeatedly declares, “Don’t make me sing.” The bit became one of Wiig’s most iconic moments.
- Physicality over voice: a new creative direction.
- Office standing: the catalyst for the “Don’t make me sing” sketch.
- Result: a lasting legacy in SNL history.
Iconic Bits
Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers highlighted two of Wiig’s favorite sketches. The first is the “flirting expert” Rebecca LaRue, who terrorized Weekend Update host Seth Meyers.
> “It flopped during dress rehearsal, but it worked during the show.”
Yang recalled watching the rehearsal and feeling it didn’t play, yet the live version succeeded.
> “It’s probably because it didn’t play. I was like, ‘I’m gonna go for it.'”
Wiig also offered advice to Yang about feedback:
> “Don’t read like the reviews and the comments and the feedback.”
She explained that negative feedback can become ingrained, while positive comments fade.
Post-SNL Career
Since leaving the show, Wiig has hosted SNL five times, with her most recent appearance in 2024. Her experience on the show continues to influence her comedic work.
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Key Takeaways
- Creative pressure can lead to breakthrough moments.
- Physical experimentation opened new avenues for Wiig’s comedy.
- Feedback management is crucial for performers.
