Tracy Morgan knows the upside of being a former Saturday Night Live cast member better than most. He spent seven seasons on the NBC sketch institution, later became one of the funniest weapons on 30 Rock, and remains closely tied to the comedy world, even starring in a sitcom on the 2026 TV schedule that has been called 'catnip' for 30 Rock fans. But when he talks about what it feels like to miss the cut at SNL, the memory still sounds raw. In an interview, the funny man revealed how you know you’re “in trouble” while pitching sketches on the late-night staple.
During a Variety and CNN Actors on Actors conversation with current SNL cast member Marcello Hernández, Morgan looked back on his time at the show while also offering advice to the comedian who recently wrapped his fourth season and released his comedy special American Boy (which is available to everyone with a Netflix subscription). One of the most striking moments came when Morgan explained how quickly writing week can turn painful for an SNL cast member. As he put it:
