Tracy Morgan Recalls Struggles At ‘SNL’: ‘Whitest Show In America’
By Kelly Coffey-Behrens on January 22, 2025 at 4:30 PM EST
Tracy Morgan’s tenure on "Saturday Night Live" from 1996 to 2003 was a pivotal chapter in his career, but it didn't come without its struggles.
Since its premiere in 1975, "Saturday Night Live" has been a cornerstone of late-night television, launching the careers of numerous comedy legends, including Steve Martin, Dan Aykroyd, Tina Fey, Adam Sandler, Pete Davidson, and Kate McKinnon.
However, the experience of working on the show comes with its own set of challenges, as many cast members, including Tracy Morgan, have revealed.
Tracy Morgan Reflects on His Time at 'Saturday Night Live'
In Peacock’s "SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night" docuseries, Morgan, who is now 56, candidly recalled feeling out of place during his first few years on the show.
“I wanted to show them my world, how funny it was. But the first three years, I felt like I was being culturally isolated sometimes,” he explained. “I’m coming from a world of Blacks. I’m an inner-city kid.”
Tracy Morgan Calls 'SNL' The 'Whitest Show In America'
Referring to "SNL" as the “whitest show in America,” Morgan admitted, “I felt by myself. I felt like they weren’t getting it.”
Morgan credits "SNL" creator Lorne Michaels for helping him find his footing. Michaels provided Morgan with valuable advice that ultimately shaped his approach to comedy on the show.
“Lorne Michaels had that talk with me,” Morgan shared. “He said, ‘Tracy, I hired you because you’re funny, not because you’re Black. So just do your thing.’ And that’s when I started doing my thing.”
Other 'SNL' Cast Members Who Have Spoken Out About The Show
Pete Davidson, who spent eight seasons on "SNL" from 2014 to 2022, recently sparked conversations about the show’s pay structure. “Do you guys know what they pay us?” Davidson said in a video for New York Magazine in December 2024. “It’s like three grand an episode. I think I got dinner.”
Jason Sudeikis echoed similar sentiments, admitting that his salary during his early years on the show didn’t allow for large purchases. “I mean, you don’t make enough money to make big purchases. I think New York rent was probably the biggest purchase I made after writing my first year on 'SNL',” he shared.
More 'SNL' Cast Members Speak Out
Other current and former "SNL" cast members, including James Austin Johnson, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sarah Silverman, Sarah Sherman, Cheri Oteri, Seth Meyers, Bowen Yang, and Rachel Dratch, also spoke out.
“I bought a pair of shoes that were out of my budget,” Louis-Dreyfus revealed. “I’m going to tell you, they were $75.”
Yang also treated himself to a pair of shoes, sharing in the video, “Going to Saks across the street, buying a pair of Gucci shoes. The kind that everyone got, and the kind I wouldn’t feel super cool wearing out now.”
Some cast members, including Johnson, Meyers, and Oteri, revealed they used their first paycheck to purchase furniture.
“A couch. I have gotten it reupholstered three or four times,” Oteri replied. “I remember a designer coming over in tears, and he goes, ‘OK, those arms are too high. We have to get … We’re going to get rid of that couch.’ I said, ‘Oh no. No, you’re not. Not today, Satan. No, the couch is staying. You’re going.’”
Tracy Morgan Accused of Bullying Co-Star Bobb’e J. Thompson Over Scene-Stealing
Former child star Bobb’e J. Thompson has accused comedian Tracy Morgan of inappropriate behavior during their time on "The Tracy Morgan Show". In an interview with Comedy Hype News, Thompson alleged that Morgan accosted him when he was just seven years old while filming the NBC sitcom, which ran for a single season from 2003 to 2004.
Thompson claimed the incident occurred during a tense on-set encounter, where Morgan grabbed him by the collar, cursed at him, and used the N-word. Reflecting on the alleged altercation, Thompson said it stemmed from his reputation as a "scene stealer" due to his energetic and comedic performances.
“I remember being a kid on a certain set, and the star of this certain project that I was working on, the na got mad at me,” Thompson recounted. “I’m just a seven-year-old kid just doing my job, bro. He got mad at me, grabbed me by my collar, and was like, ‘Who the f is on that sign, my n---a?’ That’s how he handled me.”
Thompson added that Morgan repeatedly criticized him for "hamming it up" during scenes, claiming the comedian would often tell him to dial back his energy. At the time, Thompson played Jimmy, the youngest son of Morgan's character, a garage owner balancing family and work life.
