Like any live show, Saturday Night Live has its hits and misses. Leslie Jones recently looked back on a 2014 sketch with Chris Rock that she admits didn’t go well at all. In a new interview, the Ghostbusters star shared the surprisingly simple, five-word reaction she got from SNL‘s Lorne Michaels and the team after the sketch flopped.
I was listening to the Good One podcast on Vulture, and host Jesse David Fox didn’t pull any punches – he called a particular SNL sketch one of the biggest failures in recent history. When the comedian, originally from Tennessee, came on the show, she didn’t try to defend it. Instead, she shared the behind-the-scenes story, giving us a look at what really happened – the stuff most fans never get to see. She started by explaining…
That was my initial attempt at the sketch, and I was confused about the color-coding of the pins. I didn’t realize the host was always either black or blue. No one told me what my assigned color was, so I didn’t know which lines were mine. I was trying to put on my earring when Chris, the stage manager, started frantically signaling me – he was practically shouting my name! It’s a wonder they didn’t pick it up on the live broadcast. [Laughs]
The idea for the sketch wasn’t bad at all. It featured the actress and Chris Rock as a long-term couple whose playful arguments were actually how they showed affection – much to their on-screen child’s dismay. It sounded funny on paper, a typical relationship comedy. However, on Saturday night, something just didn’t click, and the sketch fell flat, like milk going sour in the heat.
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After the performance, the Coming 2 America actress was devastated, but her fellow cast members quickly offered support. Vanessa Bayer comforted her, reminding her that everyone makes mistakes. Then, Lorne Michaels offered a brief but impactful piece of advice.
I remember Lorne coming over, going ‘It’s live, baby. It happens.’
Just five words, offered without criticism. And who better to offer them than Lorne Michaels, who has guided the iconic sketch show for over fifty years? He’s witnessed every kind of performance, and if anyone can calm a performer after a show doesn’t go well, it’s the person who started it all.
Jones’ honest account resonates because it reveals all the hidden work performers manage during a live show, especially late at night: coordinating colors, passing props, making quick costume changes, hitting their marks, considering where the audience is looking, and racing against the clock. It’s amazing more mistakes don’t happen. But that very potential for things to go wrong is what keeps Saturday Night Live exciting after all these years.
Leslie Jones may have left the show in 2019, but clips like this show why she was so popular – she was always brave and real, openly sharing both the successes and the mishaps. Not every sketch is a hit, but the important thing is it’s live television, so mistakes happen. You can see the sketch below, but be warned, it’s a bit awkward to watch.
Currently in its 51st season, Saturday Night Live airs live on Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. Eastern Time (10:30 p.m. Central Time). You can also watch episodes on demand with a subscription to Peacock.
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2025-11-12 05:38