Ego Nwodim knows what it takes to be a Saturday Night Live standout.
In a recent interview with The Cut, the comedian and actress—who first joined SNL as a cast member for Season 44 in 2018—revealed the “one rule” she thinks every Saturday Night Live host should follow.
“Surrender to the process,” she said. “Be willing to be silly. Trust that we all know what’s going on and how to do the job. We—the cast, the writers, and the producers—can shepherd you to a good show. And just try to have a good time.”
Nwodim’s sage advice feels particularly timely. On Sunday’s episode of Watch What Happens Live, Bowen Yang revealed that one SNL host actually brought several people to tears.
“This man—this person—this host made multiple cast members cry on Wednesday before the table read,” Yang told Andy Cohen, “because he hated the ideas.” (While the Emmy nominee didn’t name the culprit, the internet certainly has some ideas.)
Nwodim is currently busy preparing for SNL’s momentous 50th season, which she anticipates will entail “20 weeks of a party”—and hopefully some more Lisa from Temecula, everyone’s favorite steak-loving auntie.
There’s also one impression Nwodim is especially eager to add to her resumé this season: congresswoman Jasmine Crockett. “I didn’t get to play her last year, and I would love nothing more,” Nwodim told The Cut.
Outside of SNL, Nwodim is currently starring in Peacock’s mockumentary-style comedy series Mr. Throwback. She plays Kimberly, Steph Curry’s childhood friend and handler, who is inspired by a real person in the pro basketball player’s life.
“[Kimberly] feels like me in an alternate universe, but she’s also such a boss and a go-getter and she dresses, like, wow,” Nwodim told The Hollywood Reporter in a recent interview. “I wasn’t mad about putting those clothes on.”
SNL Season 50 kicks off September 28 on NBC.
