Highlights
- Tracy Morgan resented Jimmy Fallon's constant laughing during SNL skits.
- Morgan warned Fallon not to laugh in their sketches together, leading Fallon to stop breaking character.
- Lorne Michaels also reportedly got angry when Fallon laughed during sketches.
Since Saturday Night Live premiered, the show has launched the careers of many beloved stars. However, Kate McKinnon once revealed SNL made her feel embarrassed, which proves that starring in the show can be a double-edged sword.
Since Jimmy Fallon and Tracy Morgan once got wrapped up in a major controversy together, many fans would assume the former SNL co-stars got along great. However, as it turns out, Morgan once revealed that he hated an aspect of co-starring on SNL with Fallon.
This article will reveal why Tracy Morgan resented that Jimmy Fallon broke character during SNL skits. Then, the article will look at how Lorne Michael felt about Fallon laughing during Saturday Night Live sketches.
Tracy Morgan Called Out Jimmy Fallon For Constantly Laughing During Saturday Night Live Skits
Between 1998 and 2003, Tracy Morgan and Jimmy Fallon co-starred on Saturday Night Live together. For both comedic performers, their SNL tenures were a huge deal since they became famous and launched their careers to further success.
During their time on SNL together, Morgan and Fallon co-starred in several sketches together. Given that and how much success they were enjoying, it seems like Fallon and Morgan should have enjoyed working together.
In reality, it turns out that there was one aspect of working with Fallon that Morgan couldn't stand. In 2007, a Vulture article quoted what Morgan told The New York Post about why he hated it when Fallon laughed during SNL sketches.
When most fans think about Jimmy Fallon's time starring in SNL, there is one thing that comes to mind, how often he laughed during sketches. While many fans adored that, Morgan certainly wasn't a fan of Fallon breaking.
What are the top 10 times Jimmy Fallon broke character on SNL, according to Watchmojo?
Time: | Rank: |
|---|---|
“Sandler Family Reunion” | #10 |
“Family Feud” | #9 |
“The Leather Man” | #8 |
“Boston Teens: Donnie’s Party” | #7 |
“Gus Chiggins, Old Prospector” | #6 |
“Aquarium Repairmen” | #5 |
“More Cowbell” | #4 |
“Debbie Downer: Disney World” | #3 |
“Jeffrey’s” | #2 |
“The Love-ahs” | #1 |
While speaking to The New York Post, Morgan very bluntly described Fallon's tendency to laugh on SNL.
"Laughing and all that dumb s–t he used to do."
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Morgan then went on to describe how Fallon laughing would affect SNL and his co-stars. According to Morgan, Fallon's breaking character would distract the audience and take the crowd's attention away from everyone he was performing with.
While Morgan didn't explicitly state it, his comments made it seem like he believed that Fallon intentionally stole the spotlight.
"That’s taking all the attention off of everybody else and putting it on you, like, ‘Oh, look at me, I’m the cute one.’"
Finally, Morgan revealed that he didn't put up with Fallon breaking character while they shared SNL's legendary stage.
Instead, Morgan stated that he warned Fallon not to laugh when they were starring in a sketch together. Morgan also went on to claim that Fallon stopped breaking character during sketches they were in together after that warning.
"He wouldn’t mess with me because I didn’t f***ing play that s–t... I told him not to do that s--t in my sketches, so he never did.”
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Based on what Morgan said about Fallon breaking character on SNL, some people have made hyperbolic claims. Most notably some outlets have stated that it is a fact that Morgan hates Fallon.
In reality, Morgan never said that he hated Fallon or anything like that. Instead, Morgan only expressed how much he resented Fallon breaking character during SNL sketches.
It also is worth noting that one of Fallon's other co-stars once wrote about being annoyed by Fallon. However, that SNL star who once was annoyed by Fallon appears to be friends with The Tonight Show host.
In 2011, Slate published an excerpt from Amy Poehler's memoir, "Bossypants". That excerpt revealed Poehler was once making crude jokes backstage at SNL and Fallon didn't like it. Fallon, who was a big star at SNL at the time, said, "Stop that! It’s not cute! I don’t like it." to Poehler who was new to the show.
Even though he was a big deal and she was replaceable, Poehler didn't allow Fallon to control her. According to what she wrote in "Bossypants", Poehler turned on Fallon and told him, "I don’t f--king care if you like it."
Lorne Michaels Called Jimmy Fallon Out For Laughing During SNL Sketches
In the years since Jimmy Fallon left Saturday Night Live, he has continued to work with Lorne Michaels. For example, Michaels executive produces The Tonight Show now that Fallon is the host.
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Given that Michaels and Fallon still work together, both men obviously enjoy their association. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that Michaels has enjoyed every aspect of working with Fallon over the years.
With that in mind, it is fascinating to look at how Michaels reacted to Fallon laughing during SNL sketches.
In February 2018, Andy Cohen interviewed Jimmy Fallon for "Radio Andy".
In June 2024, Heidi Gardner appeared on Watch What Happens Live. In response to a fan question, Gardner described how Lorne Michaels reacted to her laughing during a Beavis and Butt-Head sketch. "I was really scared, but I saw him on the floor, the sketch afterwards. And we locked eyes, and he gave me a little smile and a chuckle. And I was like, 'Oh, I'm not in trouble.'"
During that conversation, Fallon described how Michaels and SNL's writers felt about him laughing during sketches. According to the Tonight Show host, even though SNL has repeatedly rebroadcast sketches that featured Fallon laughing, Michaels would get angry when he laughed.
"Yeah, [Lorne Michaels] got mad all the time. Yeah, no one likes it when you break in the sketch. You know, the writers don't like it."
Saturday Night Live
Music
Comedy
- Release Date
- October 11, 1975
- Seasons
- 48
- Story By
- Colin Jost
- Network
- NBC
- Streaming Service(s)
- Peaco*ck
- Showrunner
- Lorne Michaels
