“Do you guys know what they pay us?” Davidson said. “It’s like $3,000 an episode. I got dinner.”
At first, it sounded like a lot of money. But when I considered how many hours of rehearsal go into each episode, per week I realized that it’s not that high (at least in Hollywood terms).
Other SNL alums shared details about what they purchased after their first paycheck. Some cast members (like Julia Louis-Dreyfus) opted for fashion-related purchases. “I bought a pair of shoes that were out of my budget,” she said. “I’m going to tell you, they were $75.”
Other stars (like Cheri Oteri) purchased furniture for their expensive New York City apartments. “A couch. I have gotten it reupholstered three or four times,” she added. “I remember a designer coming over in tears, and he goes, ‘OK, those arms are too high. We’re going to get rid of that couch.’ I said, ‘Oh, no. No, you’re not. Not today, Satan. No, the couch is staying. You’re going.’”
Even Jason Sudeikis confirmed that his SNL paycheck barely covered monthly expenses. “I mean, you don’t make enough money to make big purchases,” he joked. “So, I think New York rent was probably the biggest purchase I made after writing my first year on SNL.”
