Kenan Thompson had a message for many who have been shocked to study in regards to the surprising beginning wage at “Saturday Night Live” — pay your dues!
Pete Davidson, 31, made headlines final week when he revealed that “SNL” comedians make round $3,000 per episode, joking that his first paycheck merely went to feeding himself.
Thompson, 46, reacted to Davidson’s feedback, telling Selection on Thursday, December 6, “It’s pretty notorious that it’s more so about having the job than getting paid for the job.”
Kenan — who joined the NBC sketch comedy collection in 2003 — declined to offer particular particulars about his personal wage numbers. Nevertheless, he mentioned it’s easy: “You gotta pay your dues a little bit, yeah.”
Thompson’s feedback got here after Davidson and several other different acquainted “SNL” faces disclosed what they splurged on with their first checks after being forged on the beloved sketch collection that not too long ago celebrated its fiftieth season.
Davidson responded, “Do you guys know what they pay us?” when New York journal requested what his first massive buy was after touchdown the gig in 2014.
“It’s like three grand an episode,” he continued. “I think I got dinner.”
The comic wasn’t the one one who used their first “SNL” pay to outlive.
Alum Jason Sudeikis revealed he used his paycheck on New York lease, and present forged member Sarah Sherman bought herself a “nice mattress.”
“I mean, you don’t make enough money to make big purchases. I think New York rent was probably the biggest purchase I made after writing my first year on SNL,” Sudeikis responded.
Nevertheless, different “SNL” stars revealed they splurged on high-priced gadgets.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus purchased a pair of $75 footwear that have been “out of my budget,” Sarah Silverman bought a $300 cashmere sweater, Seth Meyers indulged in a Crate & Barrel sofa and a giant TV, Rachel Dratch purchased an residence, and Bowen Yang splurged on a pair of Gucci footwear.
Whereas Thompson didn’t disclose how a lot he makes now that he’s the longest-tenured forged member in “SNL” historical past, he beforehand shared that he additionally needed to work his manner up in Hollywood.
“That first commercial when they paid me, it was $800,” the previous Nickelodeon star mentioned Demi Lovato‘s “Child Star” documentary in September. “I was 12 so that may as well have been a million dollars.”
Thompson additionally addressed being conned out of his first massive buy.
“In Florida they didn’t have the same labor laws. My mom met this dude either through church or the community who claimed to be good at getting you out of your tax problems. He was basically a con artist and ran away with my biggest earnings up to that point,” he defined on the time. “By the time it was discovered, it was at the end of that Nickelodeon tenure.”
“It was devastating because I discovered it in front of others. I was going to buy a house in Atlanta — my first home — and he didn’t show up with the f – – king check,” he concluded.
The comic mentioned the horrible expertise made him second-guess his future in showbiz.
“I really considered not wanting to act anymore if these are the kinds of things I had to go through,” Thompson shared. “It was almost like I was forced to stay humble — if you will — because when I could have been at my most boisterous everybody knows my name kind of years, I didn’t want that because I didn’t want people to know I was struggling. It’s kind of the beautiful conundrum, the irony of life.”
