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Peek Inside an SNL Table Read As Marcello Hernandez Reflects on His First Weekend Update
Saturday Night Live's latest "Behind the Sketch" video stars Hernández recounting his "Weekend Update" debut on his second episode ever, and shares never-seen-before footage of the table read.
Since joining the Saturday Night Live cast as a Featured Player in Season 48, Marcello Hernández has made a major mark on the show. He's co-written popular sketches including "Protective Mom" with Pedro Pascal, proving equally adept at writing hilarious Spanish-language sketches (Exhibit A: "The Age of Discovery" featuring October 21 Host Bad Bunny). And, alongside his equally-talented fellow Season 49 cast members, he's brought all manner of colorful characters to life in each episode.
But like Pete Davidson, Leslie Jones, and more alums before him, Hernández has also shared a bit of his real self as a "Weekend Update" guest. In a January 24 "Behind the Sketch" video shared by SNL, Hernández reflects on the first time he took that live-on-TV leap during his second episode ever.
Hernández performed his very first "Weekend Update" bit on October 8, 2022, during Host Brendon Gleeson's episode. The topic: His enthusiasm about the MLB Playoffs. In the supremely-confident outing, Hernández effectively introduced himself to viewers as both a baseball fan and a bilingual comedian of Cuban-Dominican descent.
RELATED: Marcello Hernandez's Real Mom Inspired Pedro Pascal's SNL Character
The "Behind the Sketch" video opens on Hernández watching that "Weekend Update" on a tablet.
"I remember more laughs, to be honest," the performer and stand-up comedian jokes.
Marcello Hernández describes what his first "Weekend Update" felt like
"I was definitely super nervous, for sure," Hernández shared, watching the video to take him back into that moment. "This was also an old stand-up joke of mine that I had done for a long time, so that made me more comfortable. But I think it's my first time doing a joke of mine on TV."
The back-and-forth banter with "Weekend Update" co-anchor Colin Jost was a special part of the experience, Hernández added. "They do a great job of making Colin come back at you in some way, to make it like a conversation."
Hernández's explanation for how it came together is a peek at how "Weekend Update" guest segments make it onto the broadcast. Because it was the week of the Major League Baseball playoffs, and creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels "loves baseball," Micheals had asked Hernández if he has any baseball-related material.
Cut to several days before the cast member's second time on SNL. "On Wednesday, which is table-read day, I get a message from someone that's like, 'Lorne said he thinks you have a baseball thing. Will you just write it for the table?" He quickly produced a draft with two SNL writers.
Check out a Saturday Night Live table read in action
As Hernández continues, the "Behind the Sketch" video reveals footage of Brendon Gleeson's table read, with Michaels and the entire cast gathered around the main table and about two dozen staff members—including Please Don't Destroy—seated around them.
"We did at at the table, and it didn't do that great, because this isn't a show full of baseball fans," Hernández laughed, as he's seen standing up to deliver a joke during the table read. "Like, writers aren't necessarily the most sporty people."
Ultimately, Hernández thinks it all boiled down to Michaels remembering that he had a baseball bit. "Thank you Lorne," he says at the video's end.
Watch "Weekend Update: Marcello Hernández on the MLB Playoffs," from the October 8 episode of SNL, below.
