Garrett Morris Exposes Dark Truths About SNL: Lorne Michaels Isn’t the Real Problem

Garrett Morris, one of the original cast members of Saturday Night Live (SNL), has opened up about his time on the show, and his thoughts on the current state of the long-running sketch comedy program. In a recent interview, Morris offered a mixed assessment of his experience working with SNL creator Lorne Michaels, but a scathing critique of the show’s writers.

When asked about Michaels, Morris vehemently defended the legendary producer against any accusations of racism. “Lorne had zero racism,” Morris said, “his problem was sexism.” However, Morris had strong words for the show’s writers, claiming that they had “a lot” of racism, particularly when it came to writing for him and other black cast members.

Morris joined SNL in 1975, along with John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, Jane Curtin, and Laraine Newman. During his time on the show, Morris often found himself playing stereotypical roles, a practice that he attributes to the writers’ lack of vision. “I was on the show for six years, and the writers had one idea of what a black guy could play,” Morris recalled, “ano matter what the piece was.”

Morris also felt like he was often marginalized by the show’s writers, who he believed saw him as nothing more than a “niche” player. “I was a black guy, so I could only play a certain thing,” Morris explained, “I couldn’t play a doctor, I couldn’t play a lawyer.”

Despite his disappointment with the show’s writers, Morris praised Michaels for giving him the opportunity to work on SNL. “Lorne was the one who hired me,” Morris said, “his goal was always to create a diverse cast.” Morris noted, however, that Michaels had his own set of problems, particularly when it came to his treatment of women on the show.

In addition to his thoughts on the past, Morris offered a sharp critique of the current state of SNL. Morris believes that the show has become too reliant on celebrity cameos and pre-taped sketches, and that the writing has suffered as a result. “SNL used to be a show that could tackle anything,” Morris said, “now it’s a show that’s more concerned with celebrity guests.”