Over its five-decade run, Saturday Night Live has become a launchpad for comedy legends, introducing audiences to performers who would go on to shape pop culture. While fans debate which era was best, the 1990s arguably brought a new level of wild, irreverent humor thanks to a crew of fresh-faced rebels—among them, Adam Sandler. His rise was meteoric, but in 1995, his sudden firing left audiences stunned. So why exactly was he let go?
The rise of an irreverent star
Before setting foot on NBC’s Studio 8H, Sandler had already built a name in stand-up with bizarre songs and absurd characters. It was Dennis Miller, then an SNL cast member, who recommended Sandler to Lorne Michaels. Sandler joined as a writer in 1990 and quickly earned a spot in the cast. Alongside fellow “Bad Boys of SNL”—Chris Farley, David Spade, Chris Rock, and Rob Schneider—Sandler brought a chaotic and lovable energy to the sketches.
According to SlashFilm, Sandler had a tight bond with Farley, who was actually the one to inform him they were both being let go. “It was kind of like them asking us to quit,” Sandler shared in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “There were new people at the network who didn’t like us, so they gave us a nice goodbye.” Despite his popularity with fans, network executives simply weren’t buying what he was selling.
Fired, but on to bigger things
Though Sandler was still enjoying his time on SNL, the firing came just as his movie career was about to take off. That same year, he starred in Billy Madison, quickly followed by Happy Gilmore, The Waterboy, and The Wedding Singer, all box office hits that solidified his place in Hollywood. By 1999, Sandler had launched Happy Madison Productions, combining the names of his first two films and asserting full control over his creative output.
Getting fired, it turns out, was the best thing that could’ve happened to him. While critics have often slammed his comedic output—Jack and Jill famously swept the Razzies—he’s shown surprising dramatic depth. Directors like Paul Thomas Anderson saw it early on, casting him in Punch-Drunk Love, a turning point that unveiled the dramatic potential lurking beneath the goofy exterior.
An unexpected return to Studio 8H
In 2019, nearly 25 years after his exit, Sandler returned to Saturday Night Live as host for the first time. His musical monologue poked fun at his firing, and he was joined onstage by Chris Rock for a heartfelt and hilarious reunion. The episode was both a victory lap and a redemption arc.
Despite the mixed critical reception of many of his comedies, Sandler has earned a spot in the pantheon of performers who made it big after SNL. His turn in Uncut Gems, directed by the Safdie Brothers, remains one of the decade’s most talked-about performances—even if the Oscars missed the memo.
So while fans fondly remember his years on SNL, one question still lingers: will Adam Sandler ever yell, “Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!” again?
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