The table isnt shaking butEgo Nwodimdoes have a steak salad in front of her.
I can see this is pretty well done, she says.
Im using my core as to not shake the table.
Ego NwodimPhoto by: Ava Williams/NBC
I got to have a lot of fun, she says.
Im proud of the work I did.
We were speaking days before the writers strike.
Lisa from Temecula (Photo by: Will Heath/NBC)Will Heath/NBC
Nwodim says she supports the WGA members and they should be given what they deserve.
Heres my big headline, we cant make this art without each other, she says.
DEADLINE: This season felt like it went by so fast; how was it for you?
DEADLINE: The three of you have almost become the veterans.
NWODIM: I know its just so crazy.
Thats whats cool about the show.
Any good human is constantly evolving, right?
So, the show, with the exodus that occurred, has allowed for that.
I think this season shows he has [done that] in my opinion.
DEADLINE: Did you feel pressure when everyone was leaving at the end of last season?
NWODIM: People were talking about leaving for some time, and then they didnt.
How will the audience respond to the stuff that I do and whats still left in the tank?
DEADLINE: Did you approach it any differently as a result of that?
NWODIM: Well, in some sense, yes.
I was tempted to say no, but in some sense, yes.
Because theres room for me here.
The show is sort of like this blank canvas.
Its not totally blank, right.
But it feels like theres a lot has been erased from the canvas, in a sense.
How are you gonna fill it in?
I did approach it differently in September, because Im Im a senior now, which is crazy.
I dont know where the time went.
Thats insane to me.
I still have not conceptualized or wrapped my mind around that one.
Ive been on the cast.
And Ive had my moments here and there.
But now theres room for me to really play.
I think I approached it with a bit more boldness and confidence.
Its partially like this is just the recipe for this time.
The other part of it is, you get to figure that out for yourself.
Thats exciting and exhilarating and terrifying all at once.
Thats been its been liberating in some sense.
Ive gotten so much advice over the years, and a lot of it has been so incredibly useful.
I wanted to use this opportunity to [think] How do I want to navigate it?
Now that I understand the lay of the land.
I understand how this machine works.
DEADLINE: Essentially, what youre saying is that everyones experience on SNL is different.
Some people arent even watching the show, and theyre just watching it on YouTube.
Theres only so much advice, you could make a run at garner and hoard.
Because at a certain point, you have to just have the experience for yourself in a real way.
DEADLINE: Lisa from Temecula is a perfect example of that, given how viral those sketches have gone?
NWODIM: That is remarkable to me.
My brain is like what reality am I living in?
Using resonate and Lisa in the same sentence is just funny to me.
Alex English and Gary Richardson and Michael Che wrote that piece for me.
They told me they had something fun for me that week.
DEADLINE: Had you been dining with them?
NWODIM: To be clear, Im no longer ordering my steaks well done.
I got bullied out of it.
Im grateful for those bullies because the steak is better.
They told me this idea was inspired by Alexs actual cousin, apparently.
Hell be upset that Ive shared that.
Ive told everyone, every chance I get, that its Alexs cousin.
I feel like we all know that person.
Normally Id say Where does it go from there?
How do we sell that at our table read?.
But I let them take care of it.
I didnt ask any questions.
I could not make it through the sketch without laughing.
The whole last two pages, I was just dying laughing.
I was losing my mind.
DEADLINE: Making sure you dont break seems like one of the hardest things.
NWODIM: Normally were all such pros at not breaking.
By the time we do a sketch for air, weve heard it [up] to six times.
The joke of it is not happening, the physical bit isnt happening right now.
When we were doing it at run through earlier in the day, we were all losing our shit.
The laughs were were genuine.
That whole process was just so incredible to watch it all come together.
Because I remember Saturday when I woke up, Im literally praying, God help me perform this well.
DEADLINE: Is there more pressure on certain sketches compared to others?
NWODIM: I say a prayer every day before I go to the show on Saturday.
People ask me about rituals and I dont really have one, but I pray every day.
I certainly pray before I go do a live television program.
He had the sense that might happen.
I wanted it to live up to it because everyone all week was like that sketch is incredible.
I think thats kiss of death on any sketch.
When everyone passes you in the hall, like, thats happening this week.
Youre like, Uh, oh, its gonna tank.
That was a real steak, by the way.
I thought this is delicious.
At air, that was a real steak that they had grilled as well.
DEADLINE: Its funny you mention Lornes spidey-sense because you never know what character is going to pop.
Thats so freaking magical to me.
All the like improv in there, man, I feel fortunate.
DEADLINE: When did you first start watchingSNL?
NWODIM: I loved Mr. Robinsons Neighborhood, I was probably too young to be enjoying it.
Tina Fey, Amy Poehler era was my jam, that was my class.
As Lorne says, everyones favorite cast is the one that was on when they were in high school.
DEADLINE: SNL will always be funnier when youre younger, getting high etc.
I just did a day at work and they were saying This is amazing.
Were so proud of you.
Youre a part of an institution.
Once you get out of the bubble, you think how incredible that Im part of that.
What an honor to be part of it.
I feel really fortunate daily.
Heidi texted me earlier this season and said, We have the same job that Eddie Murphy had.
Are you kidding me?
Thats the way to put it.
Thats the way to frame it.
Thats the way to be reminded to stay grateful.
I walk down the hall and I see pictures of Adam Sandler, David Spade, Danitra Vance.
These are black and white photos, my photos on there.
NWODIM: Thats crazy to me.
When youre in the bubble, it can be so hard to remember or recognize the impact youre having.
I look up to you.
Im inspired by you.
I want to do comedy.
DEADLINE: Are you able to think of work outside ofSNL?
You referenced Lorne letting people go and do other things.
I want my other dreams to come true.
I want to be in films and I want to do more TV as well.
I just recently got to work with Sam Boyd again on a film hes doing with Melissa McCarthy.
That was really great.
I missed a pitch day on a Monday to pop out and do a little cameo.
Hopefully well shoot that at some point.
DEADLINE: Will you shoot that this summer?
NWODIM: That conversation is still ongoing in terms of what exactly Ill be doing.
I have some very cool opportunities, which is exciting for me.
DEADLINE: The logistics seem like the trickiest bit.
NWODIM: It is the scheduling and the Tetris of it.
Its not just a matter of what works for your schedule.
It doesnt always work out.
NWODIM: Its so fascinating to me.
I really believe Lorne only hires talented people.
He has such an eye for talent, if I may say so myself.
Its a bit of a dance because people come in doing what they do.
But they also have to figure out how to marry that thing they do to what the show does.
The show is a 50 year old institution.
Its not easy to evolve.
Its not easy to morph.
Truly the fastest way to what you actually want is like trying to be of service.
DEADLINE: When did you feel comfortable on the show?
Then last season, I felt a little less comfortable.
This season, I feel more comfortable.
DEADLINE: What changed between your third and fourth season?
That left room for me to play and kind of show up the way I am now.
But I know we will have to make room on your return again.
NWODIM: I got a real hunch.
You dont get a ton of information about it.
People keep it close to their chest, but you’re free to start to get a sense.
People did start to talk about it towards the end of season.
NWODIM: This grand exodus has been a lesson.
I just love them all so much.
Were gonna be okay, because we have so many talented people there.
I now have lived the version of the show that sees a grand exodus and got through it.
Change is so scary.
Unless theyre Kenan and he doesnt have to, hes perfect.
Its an opportunity to fall in love with somebody else on the show.
There is just boundless talent in that building.
I really do think our new cast members have done such a good job of being bold.
These new cast members have brought something really unique and special to the table.
DEADLINE: Do you genuinely enjoy working onSNL?
NWODIM: I do.
This is a job that makes you WORK and its exciting.
Im learning so much there too, which is cool.
You learn how to produce, you learn a little bit about directing yourself.
Im learning skills that I didnt want to learn and no one can take that away from me.
