No show is quite as prolific or well known as the famous Saturday Night Live. A comedy show based around filming a dozen or so skits live every week doesn’t seem to be something that could run for fifty years, but SNL is almost there!
With a revolving cast of incredible talent and writers who love their job- this show seems like it would be untouchable. Some daydream about their comedy sketches getting acted out but don’t think there’s any way it’s possible.
And yet, it is!
Here’s how anyone can pitch to Saturday Night Live and how to ensure your skit is worth reading!
What Sketches They Want
When the SNL writers start accepting submissions, they request a packet. In this, you’ll want to include three to five different types of skits. The two types you have to include are topical humor and commercial parody, but you can divide the other three up however you want.
If you have a David S. Pumpkins or a Debbie Downer up your sleeve, don’t be afraid to pull them out! The writers receive and look at so many sketches during open submissions that they’re sick of seeing the same things every year.
Write Something That Makes You And Others Laugh
If your skit doesn’t make you laugh, it might not be worth submitting. Read it fresh for a stranger to your work, or consider hiring a comedian like Chaunte Wayans to review it or act it out!
Seeing someone reading the script and how it’s portrayed visually could give you some information on what to edit and what to keep the same.
Send In More Than Once
After submissions close, which they inevitably do, you may feel let down if you don’t get contacted. It takes a lot of energy, resolve, and courage to step up and allow yourself to be open to scrutiny in this way.
If they don’t contact you at SNL, you should take the time you need to feel okay with that- and then start working on your next submissions. The worst thing that can happen is they repeat no, but you’re already getting in practice and learning more by then.
As you continue to write and submit, they may start to recognize your name and possibly pick your skits because they can see your growth!
Submit It Correctly
Every spring, NBC puts out a request for New York City playwrights to submit their work. They request three to five skits, cast with current cast members ‘ names to figure out who would play what. Don’t cast Bill Hader for a role in 2021 when he hasn’t been a permanent part of the show since 2011.
They request that you combine your skits into one PDF file and that you sign a disclosure saying it’s okay for them to review your work. From here, you’ve only got up to go!
John Mulaney started out writing for SNL, so did Sarah Silverman and Hannibal Buress: writing for SNL is a straight shot to comedy stardom. Make sure you follow their rules and do what you can to be noticed!
