Taran Killam on ‘SNL’s Relationship with Trump: “It Certainly Feels Like There’s Some Hypocrisy There”

NPR has a new interview out today with former SNL cast member Taran Killam to promote his feature directorial debut Killing Gunther, and when asked about Trump’s now-infamous SNL hosting stint in 2015, Killam offered a candid response. “It was rough. It was not enjoyable at the time and something that only grows more embarrassing and shameful as time goes on,” he said. “I don’t necessarily put so much weight into [the idea of] Trump hosting SNL helping him become president, but there’s definitely something where it normalizes him and it makes it OK for him to be part of the conversation.”

Killam went on to say that, looking back, “there’s nothing good I can take from that week” and that, during the table read, he and the rest of the cast could hear the anti-Trump protesters outside 30 Rock. “I am embarrassed, upon reflection, just because of how everyone was right. Every person outside of that building protesting was absolutely right.” He also shared his thoughts on SNL having Trump host then being seen as a mainstream “voice of opposition” to Trump:

It certainly feels like there’s some hypocrisy there. I guess you could say, “Oh, they’re righting wrongs.” And I don’t even think it’s righting wrongs. I think the show tries to — and in particular, Lorne’s outlook is — play to both sides. Play to the masses, play to whatever the popular opinion is. But, boy, they could definitely mine some comedy out of owning up to it, huh?

Check out the rest of the interview here.

Taran Killam on ‘SNL’s Relationship with Trump: “It […]