In this conversation with SNL writers, John Mulaney describes the slow and painful realization that the audience does in fact understand a failed Herman Cain sketch, but “they don’t care for it.” A risky business, this live comedy thing! They also talk at length about the evolution of Stefon, who was originally written as Ben Affleck’s brother and screenwriting partner. That would’ve been so different, but also probably not different at all. “Ben, this movie is gonna have everything. Bearded Chinese guys in blankets, folk music, raisins, poison ants, coffee mug people–oh, it’s that thing of like, when a midget has a ponytail and you pick him up with it like a handle and drink coffee from his mouth.” Same old Stefon.
