SNL Stars Reveal Tricks to Get Past Censors

Dana Carvey and David Spade share behind-the-scenes stories of their battles with NBC censors.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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In a recent podcast interview, former Saturday Night Live cast members Dana Carvey and David Spade discussed the creative tactics they and their colleagues used to sneak past NBC censors and get edgy content on the air. From pretending to deliver censorship notes to mumbling questionable lines, the SNL stars found clever ways to push the boundaries of what was allowed on the live sketch show.

Why it matters

The ongoing tug-of-war between comedians and network censors is a long-standing part of SNL's legacy, reflecting the show's commitment to boundary-pushing humor and the constant need to navigate shifting societal norms and sponsor sensitivities. These insider stories provide a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes machinations that have allowed SNL to maintain its reputation for unpredictable, envelope-pushing comedy over the decades.

The details

Carvey recalled an incident involving the infamous "Il Cantore Restaurant" sketch from the early 1990s, in which the cast was told to cut a raunchy bit where Victoria Jackson put her legs over Carvey's head. To ensure the bit made it to air, the writers "pretended" to pass along the censorship note to the cast, but didn't actually do so in time. Spade also shared a story about a "Weekend Update" segment where he intentionally mumbled a line containing the word "pussy" to get it past the censors, despite being warned it would result in ad dollars being pulled.

  • In the early 1990s, during the production of the "Il Cantore Restaurant" sketch.
  • During a recent episode of the "Fly On The Wall" podcast featuring Carvey and Spade.

The players

Dana Carvey

A former cast member of Saturday Night Live, known for his iconic impressions and sketch comedy work.

David Spade

A former cast member of Saturday Night Live, known for his sardonic humor and roles in films like "Tommy Boy" and "Joe Dirt".

Robert Smigel

A writer for Saturday Night Live, best known for creating the Triumph the Insult Comic Dog character.

Lorne Michaels

The creator and longtime executive producer of Saturday Night Live.

Dennis Miller

A former anchor of the "Weekend Update" segment on Saturday Night Live.

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What they’re saying

“Right before we went out, 3, 2, 1, Smigel was pretending to try to reach me so he could say to the censorship people he was trying to reach me.”

— Dana Carvey, Former SNL Cast Member (Fly On The Wall Podcast)

“You're fucking cooked, dude. That got too big of a laugh.”

— Dennis Miller, Former SNL "Weekend Update" Anchor (Fly On The Wall Podcast)

What’s next

The stories shared by Carvey and Spade highlight the ongoing challenges SNL faces in balancing its edgy comedy with network standards and sponsor concerns. As the show continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how the writers and performers find new ways to push the boundaries while staying on the right side of the censors.

The takeaway

These insider accounts from Carvey and Spade provide a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes battles that have allowed SNL to maintain its reputation for unpredictable, envelope-pushing comedy over the decades, despite the constant need to navigate shifting societal norms and sponsor sensitivities.