Tracy Morgan Details Tensions and Rivalries Among ‘Saturday Night Live’ Cast in Revealing Memoir
NEW YORK, N.Y. — The legendary comedy series Saturday Night Live (SNL) has long been celebrated for launching the careers of some of the most iconic comedians in American entertainment. Yet behind the scenes, the intense environment of the show has often bred rivalries and personal conflicts among cast and crew. In his candid memoir, Tracy Morgan sheds new light on the interpersonal tensions that shaped the show’s backstage dynamics during his tenure.
Morgan recalls feeling marginalized by certain castmates, writing, “I could remember those two, especially those two people, treating me like the invisible guy.” He specifically called out Chris Kattan and Cheri Oteri for their alleged disrespect, noting in the audiobook version of his memoir, I Am the New Black, that “they never treated me well.” Morgan contrasted this with his fondness for other colleagues like Will Ferrell, Colin Quinn, and Molly Shannon, who he said treated him “beautifully.” Neither Kattan nor Oteri have publicly responded to Morgan’s remarks.
The intense pressure cooker atmosphere of SNL, with its long hours and fierce competition for airtime, has historically contributed to such tensions. The show’s earliest days were no exception. The rivalry between John Belushi and Chevy Chase reportedly began during their time at National Lampoon: Lemmings and continued into their SNL careers. According to the book Saturday Night: A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live, Belushi was frustrated when Chase quickly became the breakout star, leading to backstage animosity. Producer Dick Ebersol recalled Belushi being “radically pissed off” that Chase was stealing the spotlight. Chase later alleged that this rivalry helped spark his infamous backstage fight with Bill Murray in 1978.
Other cast conflicts have been well documented. Morgan told Penthouse magazine that Jimmy Fallon’s behavior, including excessive laughing and seeking attention, irritated him and others. Morgan said he firmly told Fallon not to disrupt his sketches, a boundary Fallon respected.
Meanwhile, Jan Hooks expressed disdain for Victoria Jackson, a cast member known for her outspoken conservative views and controversial statements. Hooks described Jackson as “from Mars” and criticized her for speaking in a high-pitched voice, saying, “You’re a grown woman! Use your lower register!” Jackson herself has recounted confrontations with castmates Nora Dunn and Jan Hooks, accusing them of undermining the show and refusing to cooperate. Dunn dismissed Jackson’s behavior as off-putting and incompatible with the rest of the cast, telling Salon that she was “not interested in what Victoria Jackson has to say.”
These stories underscore the challenges of maintaining camaraderie in a high-stakes, live television environment watched by millions every week. The NBC show’s legacy is as much about its groundbreaking comedy as it is about navigating the complex personalities behind the scenes. As Morgan’s memoir reveals, the personal dynamics among cast members have often been as dramatic as the sketches they performed.
Despite the conflicts, many former cast members have gone on to successful careers, and the show continues to be a cultural touchstone. Yet the revelations from Morgan and others remind fans that the path to comedy greatness is often paved with rivalry, tension, and the struggle for recognition in one of television’s most demanding workplaces.
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