The SNL Monologue For Dave Chappelle Is Always ‘A Little Terrifying.’ After Learning How He Preps For It, I Get Why

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I find myself trying to envision the feelings of an SNL host moments before delivering their monologue, and it’s downright nerve-wracking just thinking about it. But hearing Dave Chappelle describe it as slightly terrifying makes it a bit more understandable. In fact, after learning his approach to preparing for that moment, I can definitely see why it might be so intimidating.

Previously, in 2050, Dave Chappelle served as one of the hosts for Saturday Night Live’s Season 50. This was his fourth time taking on this role, so he has a good understanding of what to anticipate. However, during an interview with Mo Amer for Variety’s Actors on Actors, Chappelle shared some candid insights into the process of preparing for such a performance and stepping onto the stage. He began by describing live television as a unique challenge for stand-up comedians, stating:

Initially, it seemed improvised, but after so many years, I’ve become adept at handling unexpected situations. Even without prepared jokes, my extensive experience is enough. However, performing on live television can be risky because you must adhere to guidelines and regulations. It’s worth noting that Lorne Michaels never knows exactly what I’ll say, and as a tradition, I don’t deliver my actual monologue during rehearsals.

In other words, since he’s improvising and not practicing his monologue during rehearsals, it’s understandably a bit nerve-wracking. Yet, this also demonstrates Lorne Michaels’ confidence in Chappelle to excel when he steps into the spotlight and begins the show.

Following my explanation about utilizing rehearsal time to fine-tune the sound and become familiar with the venue, I delved into the unique blend of excitement and apprehension that comes with hosting Saturday Night Live. Acknowledging the immense pressure and limitations inherent in live television, I expressed:

“I find myself both exhilarated and a tad frightened by the responsibility and constraints that come with performing live on SNL.

Performing on live TV carries a significant amount of pressure, yet the privilege of delivering a monologue on such a prestigious stage as Saturday Night Live is truly gratifying for a stand-up comedian like me. The thrill is always exhilarating, even if it’s tinged with a touch of fear.

Given that Chappelle’s stand-up specials often spark heated discussions among viewers (which you can access with a Netflix subscription), I thought he would meticulously choose his jokes for SNL. Therefore, I was taken aback to discover he doesn’t rehearse them before filming. Yet, as he noted, his extensive experience in this field has equipped him to handle such instances without prior practice.

Essentially, he emphasized that it’s often a nerve-wracking situation, but it rarely turns out to be as dire or as promising as he anticipates.

You never do as good as you think you’re going to do, but it’s never that bad.

It’s accurate that when a host appears on Saturday Night Live (SNL), their monologue is typically one of the show’s highlights because it’s when they feel most comfortable. Yet, despite excelling in this area, they still encounter fresh hurdles.

Example: During Chappelle’s hosting following the 2020 election, he needed to create two stand-up routines since the results weren’t announced on election day itself. He mentioned:

Perhaps the most challenging scenario might have been when President Biden was elected, as it wasn’t certain until the morning of Saturday that he would win. Consequently, I had prepared one set of expectations for a Trump victory, and another for a Biden victory.

Absolutely, it seems quite intimidating indeed! Yet, things turned out smoothly, and it appears that SNL found the comedian’s performance worthy as they invited them back to host the show on no less than four occasions spanning from 2016 to 2025.

It’s easy to understand why Dave Chappelle found hosting SNL somewhat intimidating after learning about his preparation process and the conditions under which he hosted. This newfound knowledge will certainly be at the forefront of my mind as I re-watch the show with my Peacock subscription, eagerly anticipating Season 51.

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2025-06-06 20:07