Damon Wayans recalls being fired from ‘SNL’ for breaking an important rule

CNN
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Damon Wayans has no hard feelings about being fired from “Saturday Night Live” back in Season 11 — mostly because he wanted out of the sketch show.

Recalling the incident that led to his firing in Peacock’s “SNL 50” docuseries, the comedian said the moment that ultimately got him fired was the culmination of frustrations he’d felt throughout Season 11 as he watched his sketches being cut from the show before airing.

After one of his sketches was cut yet again, “I snapped,” Wayans said.

In a sketch called “Mr. Monopoly,” which starred Jon Lovitz as the titular character, Wayans decided to play his role differently for broadcast than he had in rehearsals, surprising his scene partners and others.

“I just didn’t care,” Wayans said.

Wayans added that he “did it on purpose because I wanted (Lorne Michaels) to fire me.”

It worked. Wayans was fired almost immediately after the show ended, a decision Michaels said in the doc. “was really, really hard” but “had to be done.”

“Live From New York” writer James Andrew Miller also weighed in, saying Damon “broke the ultimate golden rule, which is no surprise.”

After “SNL,” Wayans succeeded.

He went on to become a hugely successful comedic actor, starring in five seasons of both “In Living Color” in the ’90s and “My Wife and Kids” in the aughts. He also starred in popular ’90s films including “Major Payne,” “Mo’ Money” and “The Last Boy Scout.”

Proving there’s no bad blood, Wayans was welcomed back to ‘SNL’ to perform a stand-up set during the final episode of Season 11, which ran from 1985-1986.

“Lorne is a very forgiving man,” Wayans said in the doc. “And I think he just wanted to tell me that he believed in me.”