Marcello Hernández starts his workweek on Monday evenings with a pitch meeting in Lorne Michaels’ office, and it doesn’t wrap up until 1:02 a.m. on Sunday after Saturday Night Live (SNL) finishes. During the week, he balances writing and rewriting sketches, read-throughs with the host of the week, and rehearsals. On top of that, he regularly hits New York City comedy clubs, like the Comedy Cellar, to keep his stand-up routine sharp.
“If you open yourself up to being tired, you can get a lot more done,” the 27-year-old told The Hollywood Reporter with a laugh.
Hernández joined SNL in 2022 and has quickly become a standout performer, appearing in popular sketches like “Protective Mom,” “Nightclub Line,” and “Dune Popcorn Bucket.” Outside of SNL, his stand-up career has flourished, with sold-out shows across the country. He’s also opened for comedy legends like Dave Chappelle, Colin Jost, and Jo Koy.
Hernández is heavily involved in the creation of the sketches he appears in, especially those with a lot of Spanish dialogue. He values staying authentic when representing Latin culture on the show, stating, “I don’t want my mom to call me and be like, ‘You had many grammatical errors last night.’” He credits the writers at SNL for being open to collaboration, and he draws inspiration from castmates like Kenan Thompson, who he’s seen work hard to improve lines and make them concise.
Balancing SNL and a stand-up career requires a lot of late nights. Hernández, who started performing stand-up at 18, admits he’s always had a hard time staying still. “Sometimes I’ll be at my apartment and be like, ‘This is horrible,’ and then I’ll go do stand-up.” For him, it’s all about maintaining momentum and doing what he loves. “It was always my dream to have the opportunities I’m having now,” he said, emphasizing that he feels lucky to be able to do so much stand-up.
When asked if he has a preference between stand-up and SNL, Hernández says he doesn’t favor one over the other. He likens stand-up to his “first love” but is still learning the ropes of sketch writing. He appreciates the opportunity to grow his skills at SNL, calling it an ideal place to develop as a writer.
As for whether anything is off-limits in comedy, Hernández believes that once a joke is out in the world, it’s no longer the comedian’s—it’s subject to interpretation and discussion. He compares it to knowing what not to say in a close relationship, explaining, “When you’re trying to do comedy for everybody, you kind of have to say stuff and see what happens.” He acknowledges that reactions will vary, but he sees comedy as an ongoing process of learning what works and what doesn’t.
Growing up in Miami had a significant influence on Hernández’s comedy. Surrounded by Hispanic culture, much of his material is based on his upbringing and how it contrasts with the rest of the country. “Miami isn’t exactly America,” he said, explaining how his experiences shape his comedic perspective.
Recently, Hernández delivered an impression of Bad Bunny on SNL that drew attention. He described slipping into a “flow state” to nail the performance, adding that he’s had the pleasure of hanging out with the musician a few times. He credited SNL’s costume designer Tom Broecker and the collaboration with writers like Steven Castillo and Bryan Tucker for bringing the sketch to life.
When asked about his future in comedy, Hernández is trying to take things one day at a time. Instead of focusing on long-term goals, he aims to get better at his craft every day, whether it’s stand-up, sketch writing, or acting. “It’s good for my mental health to just stay focused on the challenge that each day brings,” he said.
Reflecting on his journey, Hernández never imagined being at this point in his career, recalling his days selling tickets on the street. He credits his success to working hard, getting better every day, and hoping that great work leads to new opportunities.
Featured image courtesy of SNL YouTube
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