In a new documentary series *SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night*, Tina Fey takes viewers behind the scenes of *Saturday Night Live* (SNL), 

offering a candid perspective on the intense, competitive nature that defines the iconic comedy show. 

While the public often sees SNL as a collaborative environment where creativity thrives, 

Fey reveals that the reality is quite different. According to Fey, the show is built on a foundation of competition, not just teamwork. 

In the documentary, Fey reflects on her experiences as head writer, 

explaining that although everyone at SNL is working toward the same goal of creating a successful show, the process is often driven by a cutthroat atmosphere.

“It is built on competition,” she says, describing the weekly writers’ meetings as an arena for battle. The infamous “writers’ table” is where the real action happens—where the best and worst ideas are put to the test, and only the strongest scripts make it to the stage.

The phrase “See you at the table” takes on an almost ominous tone in this context. Fey explains that it’s not just a casual remark but an implied threat. Each week, cast members and writers perform their prospective sketches, presenting their ideas for approval. The process is long and grueling, sometimes lasting up to five hours. From there, only a handful of sketches make it to the next stage: the dress rehearsal. Many are left behind, never to be seen by the public. 

The writers’ table was, according to Fey, a tough environment where ideas were ruthlessly critiqued. “People would take the rundown of the show and just go sketch by sketch and make fun of it,” she recalls. “You would leave the room fully knowing that that writers’ room was taking a shit on it while you were gone, and that’s just kind of the way it was.” The sense of brutal honesty and competitiveness was a defining characteristic of SNL’s creative process during Fey’s tenure, and it was not for the faint of heart.

Once the sketches made it to dress rehearsal, the stakes got even higher. The process of elimination continued, as only the funniest sketches survived. The real audience—often an unforgiving live crowd—played a pivotal role in determining the fate of each piece. As Fey puts it, “The brutal fairness of the process” becomes apparent at this stage, with only the most successful sketches making it to air. “It kind of separates the wheat from the chaff,” Fey says. 

Lorne Michaels, the creator and executive producer of *SNL*, also had a hand in making these tough decisions. During dress rehearsals, he was known for offering biting feedback, including the occasional, “Are you proud of this one?” when a sketch fell flat. For writers, it was a humbling experience, reminding them that in the world of *SNL*, no idea is ever truly sacred. Alan Zweibel, one of the original writers of the show, explains this harsh reality succinctly: “Nothing is that good that it can’t be changed if need be.”

Despite the grueling nature of the process, many former writers, including Seth Meyers, express a deep appreciation for their time at SNL. Meyers, who served as the show’s head writer, admits that while the job was incredibly fulfilling, it was also exhausting. “I loved it more than any job I ever had,” he says. “And I’m so glad it’s not my current job.” This duality of admiration and relief underscores the challenging nature of working on *SNL*, where the pressure to succeed is constant, and failure is just part of the process.

With the rise of awareness about mental health and workplace inclusivity, Fey wonders whether things have changed over the years. While there may be more emphasis on kindness and camaraderie today, she suggests that a bit of the old competitive spirit may still be valuable. “Maybe it should get that way again a little bit,” she muses, her voice tinged with a hint of nostalgia for the fierce, warrior-like competition that once defined the show. “I think it’s good.”

At its core, *SNL* remains a show that thrives on competition and brutal honesty. But as Fey reflects, the process has always been a means to an end: creating the funniest, most original comedy possible. And while the environment may have softened somewhat over time, the essence of *SNL*—its relentless pursuit of excellence through competition—remains as strong as ever.

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