Anthony Michael Hall, known for his seminal roles in films such as “The Breakfast Club” and “Sixteen Candles” recently reminisced. He reminisced about his time as the youngest cast member ever on “Saturday Night Live” (SNL). Hall became co-host on the show’s 11th season. He faced a rare set of challenges and experiences that shaped his formative early career in a profound way.
Hall, who was only 17 years old when he began working on SNL, called the experience both rigorous and life-changing. He went on to explain how exhausting it was to work on the show. Those long days and rehearsals went smoothly non-stop from Thursday through Friday. To make matters worse, the crew would shoot the show back-to-back on Saturdays, further inflating the grueling timetable.
When Hall stepped onto the SNL stage, Lorne Michaels was just returning to produce the show after a five-year absence. The network harbored doubts regarding Hall’s inclusion, fearing that his youthful persona might not resonate with audiences or fit the show’s established format. As Hall remembered it, “I know that there was a lot of trepidation,” noting that a great deal was at stake with his casting.
Hall took on the challenge though, even with all the skepticism. He expressed amazement at the atmosphere of SNL, stating, “You have a live audience there; it’s like rock and roll, theater, stand-up. It’s like everything rolled in one, and I’m just amazed to this day.” The experience of his travels was one of amazement. He managed to avoid the pressures of being a young performer in an unforgiving, high-stakes industry.
Besides Hall, a number of other new cast members debuted on SNL during that season, including Robert Downey Jr. This combination of talent fostered a highly collaborative yet frenzied creative process that drove the innovative output. Hall acknowledged that creating sketches often posed difficulties for writers trying to adapt their styles to accommodate him, saying, “When I look back I have some memories of it being difficult, I think, for a lot of the writers to figure out how to write for this kid.”
Looking back on his time at SNL, Hall said nothing but great things about everyone who helped create the show’s legacy. He stated, “I have such respect for all the people that come through that system, all the men and women.” This feeling is indicative of why he was truly a great comedian because he always knew how to work with people.
