SNL’s Beavis And Butt-Head Sketch Almost Happened With Jonah Hill First, But The Show Ran Into A Problem

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One memorable and oddly charming Saturday Night Live sketch featuring Ryan Gosling as Beavis and Mikey Day as Butt-Head almost aired years ago, but it didn’t make its debut on Studio 8H until recently. A seasoned cast member revealed that the well-liked routine had a challenging journey to the stage, with an initial attempt dating back to a time when Jonah Hill was considered for the role of Beavis instead.

In a recent chat with Variety, Mikey Day shared insights about the popular sketch that went viral and its surprising path to broadcast. As a seasoned SNL writer and performer, Day is renowned for crafting beloved oddities like David S. Pumpkins and the ongoing “Miss Rafferty” alien abduction sketches featuring Kate McKinnon. However, the idea behind this sketch, centered around controversial cartoon characters, had been subtly bouncing around in the writers’ room for years, according to him. He elaborated on this:

We tried it once with Jonah Hill… But the sketch itself wasn’t there yet.

The presenter of “Is it Cake?” (available on Netflix) and his collaborator, Streeter Seidell, further developed the idea, trying out another version during Oscar Isaac’s hosting stint. Regrettably, this particular attempt failed to make it past the dress rehearsal stage. Day persisted:

That particular week, the tasks at hand were overwhelmingly large due to numerous complex designs that had already been initiated.

Initially, my cherished idea was placed on hold for a while. I confessed to the media that I had almost abandoned it entirely, until Ryan Gosling returned as host and everything transformed. As a longtime cast member, I’ve seen firsthand how he breathes life into our production whenever he hosts. The revived sketch received instant acclaim and adoration from fans, with both Gosling and the writer-performer pouring their hearts into their elaborate prosthetics and vacant stares. Heidi Gardner’s infectious laughter added an extra touch of charm to the already captivating performance.

It’s not unprecedented for a peculiar sketch by Mikey Day to gain popularity years after its creation. In fact, this seems to be a niche talent they’ve developed alongside their writing partner, Seidell. They have created a variety of successful works, from the iconic David S. Pumpkins featuring Tom Hanks to numerous sketches that have helped newer cast members gain recognition.

The standout performer from Saturday Night Live, who became a writer for the show in 2013 and was later promoted to the main cast, mentioned that one of the enchanting aspects of working on SNL is its unpredictability. He elaborated by saying:

The top-notch performer from Saturday Night Live, who joined as a writer in 2013 and was later promoted to the main cast, finds that one of the captivating elements of working on SNL is its unpredictability. He clarified by stating:

In simpler terms, you’re free to jot down anything that pops into your mind. It seems tailor-made for someone like me who has Attention Deficit Disorder.

The go-to guy for sketch comedy isn’t particularly keen on discussing the origins of his comic ideas, whether they stem from an ancient commercial, a magical Disney ride, or a classic cartoon from MTV’s prime time. In his own words, “When it clicks, it just seems to work.” Admittedly, the concept for Beavis and Butt-Head seemed unlikely on paper, but once it was brought to life, it surpassed all anticipations. Fortunately, they didn’t abandon the idea until they found the ideal Beavis in Ryan Gosling.

Just concluded its historic 50th season, Saturday Night Live (SNL) is now available for streaming, along with all past seasons like Season 49 that includes Mikey Day’s “Beavis and Butt-Head” skit, solely on Peacock with a valid subscription.

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2025-06-19 22:07