It has been absolutely no secret that the Saturday Night Live cast didn't really enjoy Donald Trump's company during the week he hosted their show. And who could blame them? Trump—whose general literacy is questionable—could hardly understand the jokes or get through the table read. On a strictly professional level, that's annoying as hell!
But the atmosphere that week, as former cast member Taran Killam described in a frank new interview with NPR, sounded more like some sort of dystopian comedy show (think that scene in V For Vendetta).
"We could hear the protests during our table read," Killam told NPR. "As we're reading 40 mediocre sketches, we just hear, 'No Trump! Donald Trump!' ... I am embarrassed, upon reflection, just because of how everyone was right. Every person outside of that building protesting was absolutely right."
Even though he admits their intentions weren't bad, giving Trump that platform during his shameful candidacy was pretty damaging:
It was rough. It was not enjoyable at the time and something that only grows more embarrassing and shameful as time goes on. 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 normalises him and it makes it OK for him to be part of the conversation. And I don't think the intention of having him on was ever politically based. I sincerely believe that. But I don't think it was considered—the implications that it had then and could have moving forward. And I think looking back ... there's nothing good I can take from that week. Because he's not an enjoyable person to be around—he's from a different class; he's from a different way of life. There was never any common ground. ...
Then get a load of this little anecdote:
The most heartbreaking moment at the time: We're at the host dinner, and he brings [his wife] Melania and he brings [his daughter] Ivanka and [son-in-law] Jared [Kushner]. And he says [to], "You know, Lorne, if I don't win this thing, I'm gonna be fine. We just bought this beautiful piece of property in Scotland. If I have to be president, I'm never gonna see that thing." And that that was his priority in that moment, that that was even a consideration, made me sad.
What an asshole. At least SNL has spent the last few years trying to make up for it.
