In its illustrious history, 'Saturday Night Live' has produced a ton of talented comedians, writers, and actors. But as it turns out, the celebs who took a chance on the show in its early seasons weren't really making bank.
In fact, they earned a relatively paltry income compared to other shows that were running at the time. But they sure are glad they accepted the offer today!
'SNL' Started Out Paying $750 Per Week
Fans know that 'SNL' started in the '70s, and that long ago, $750 per week might have seemed like a lot. But in the film and TV industry, it really wasn't.
At the same time 'Saturday Night Live' was advertising its sub-$800 salaries, other productions were guaranteeing six figures, according to published accounts by those in the know.
As it turns out, the meager amounts were enough to keep some celebs fed and housed while they worked their way up. After all, a lot of major celebrities today started out as 'SNL' writers. It turned out OK for them, but the path wasn't necessarily easy.
Some Early Cast Members Took A Big Risk
One writer account that fans might find interesting is that of a writer who spent nearly two decades with 'SNL.' Marilyn Suzanne Miller was personally invited by Lorne Michaels to join 'Saturday Night Live' as a writer, but the pay was comparatively abysmal.
Her other job offer at the time, Miller later recounted, was as a story consultant on 'Maude,' which "was a guaranteed six-figure deal." The 'SNL' offer was far less cash, but it also didn't come with a guarantee that the show would even be picked up for multiple seasons.
Later, though, Miller won an Emmy for 'SNL,' and she doesn't seem to have regretted ditching out on 'Maude.' Although, one of her complaints centered on the fact that 'SNL' involved a lot of illicit substances (apparently people were making enough money to afford them), so maybe the cash per week wasn't so little after all.
How Much Do 'SNL' Cast Members Make Now?
In the seasons following the 'SNL' debut, cast members began making more; jumping to $2,000 per week in the second season, and then to $4,000 by the fourth season, sources report.
But interestingly, with fans' recent complaints about the quality of 'SNL' sketches, maybe the writer quality has gone downhill as their earnings have increased. After all, earlier seasons received better reviews, fans say, so something isn't quite right.
But the cast sure appreciates their cushier salaries; Will Ferrell broke a record by earning $350K per season in 2001.