Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade

Episode: Marcello Hernandez (IN STUDIO): New SNL Intersects Old Skool

Release Date: February 5, 2026
Guests: Marcello Hernandez (SNL cast member, comedian; with Dana Carvey and David Spade)
Main Theme: Bridging eras of 'Saturday Night Live' through comedy, career reflections, and the current landscape for new SNL stars, as veteran comics welcome rising talent Marcello Hernandez for an energetic, lighthearted, and insightful studio session.

Episode Overview

This in-studio episode welcomes Marcello Hernandez, rising SNL star and fresh Netflix special headliner, to swap stories and comedy wisdom with Dana Carvey and David Spade. The hosts riff on generational shifts in comedy, Marcello’s journey from Miami to SNL, the intricacies of the SNL writing process, recent experiences at the Grammys, and the role of heritage and family in constructing comedic identity. Fast-paced banter, character comedy, and moments of sincere advice pepper a conversation rich in both nostalgia and celebration of the present.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Marcello's SNL Ascent and Identity

• Breaking in at SNL: Marcello shares how his audition “baseball bit” on the difference in energy between Latino and white baseball players caught Lorne Michaels’ attention, leading to his first major sketch (17:35–19:14).
• The Impact of “Domingo”: His recurring SNL character Domingo altered the course of his career, with Marcello crediting the sketch for opening doors and giving him an inimitable “angle” at SNL (11:20–11:58).
• Roles & Representation: He notes pride that his roles (e.g., as a doctor, a veterinarian) break the stereotypical “Latino trope” (“not a sexy gardener or something… I have a few,” 12:22–12:28).
• Advice for New SNL Cast: The hosts and Marcello discuss how a cast member’s unique take or recurring bit is crucial for getting written into more sketches and earning a place in the ensemble (19:14–20:12).

2. Behind the Curtain: Sketch Creation, Bombs, and Triumphs

• Church Lady Sketch Experience: The trio reflect on performing a recent SNL “Church Lady” sketch, with the complexity of nailing character and camera angles (01:08–01:36).
• Handling Bombs: Dana describes a sketch (“Salvador Don Francisco show” parody) that bombed live but bonded him with Marcello—spotlighting the trial-and-error nature of experimental comedy (21:33–24:58).
• Physicality in Stand-up: Dana compliments Marcello’s full-body comedic style, likening it to Robin Williams and noting most comics “don’t do that… it’s fun to watch” (31:31–31:59).

3. The Grammys and Navigating Fame

• Grammys First-Timer: Marcello recounts presenting at the Grammys and being starstruck backstage (07:03–08:47).
  • Memorable Moment: “I went backstage and I saw Queen Latifah and I was like, oh my God, Queen Latifah. And she spoke Spanish to me…” (07:08–07:23).
• Celebrity Interactions: Reflects on “surreal” moments when stars like Queen Latifah recognize his work and discuss the odd etiquette and seat-filler phenomenon at awards shows (09:16–09:46).
• Emerging Recognition: Dana and David tease Marcello about “blowing up” and fielding fan encounters (10:32–10:50).

4. Onstage & Off: Touring, Specials, and Comic Process

• Netflix Special “American Boy”: The group discusses the creation, staging, and editing process of Marcello’s special—focusing on audience connection, risk-taking with physical bits, and the importance of showing genuine moments on stage (28:00–32:19).
• Material Turnover: Discussion on the pressure (and myth) of creating all-new hours versus refining bits over time (47:33–48:48).
• Touring: Marcello outlines his current touring schedule—comedy club gigs, university shows, and including Boston’s Wilbur Theater (46:34–47:33).
• Comedy Career Origins: Shares story of grinding early career jobs, including being a local Miami Instagram news anchor and writing for other comics, before SNL enabled full-time comedy (63:36–64:48).

5. Heritage, Family & Representation

• Family Moments: Conversation about the emotional impact of his mother attending the Netflix taping, and how his family supports and keeps him grounded (52:05–53:36).
• Cultural Comedy: Talks about Latin music’s infectious energy, the rise of meringueton, and his pride in bringing “Latino energy” to SNL (42:24–43:36; 44:33–45:36).

6. Navigating Ego, Finances, and the Showbiz Machine

• Money & Fame: Honest conversation about not letting rapid fame or income go to his head, with both hosts urging financial wisdom and Dana offering his formula for long-term security (“wall of passive income,” 55:30–56:27).
• Celebrity Relationships: Acknowledges “everyone wants you to be single” in showbiz, but insists on authenticity and “earnestness” in his personal life (38:11–41:42).

7. Inside Baseball: SNL as an Institution

• Lorne Michaels: The crew muses on who could take over SNL after Lorne (“Who’s going to get the call picked up?” 40:04–40:16).
• Host-Performer Dynamics: Reflections on old school vs. new school SNL, with Marcello respecting the show’s legacy while emphasizing modern twists and increased representation.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Star Encounters:
  “Queen Latifah… spoke Spanish to me and, and I was like, you speak Spanish? She was like, of course.”
  —Marcello Hernandez (07:08–07:23)

• On “Making It” at SNL:
  “That was like the first time… the writers and everybody saw me do something funny on the show. And then that’s a big deal. When you do your first funny thing, then you get written in.”
  —Marcello (19:14–19:39)

• On Repping Latinos:
  “…thank you for bringing, you know, the Latino energy to SNL. And I was like—those moments are surreal, right?”
  —Marcello (11:16–11:20)

• On Family & Fame:
  “My mom… has been through so much that, like, she. The words kind of don’t affect her so much. She’s more like, how do I treat her? You know, do I come home for Christmas? …Am I a good person?”
  —Marcello (53:09–53:36)

• On Early Career Hustle:
  “I was working that job and a different job. …Then I told my boss: ‘…I don’t want to have to work my 9-to-5 and this. Is there a way you can pay me enough to get me out of [it]?’ And he did, and I got out of it, and I could pay my rent doing videos.”
  —Marcello (64:48–65:11)

• Advice for Young Comics:
  “Always the best advice you get is somebody going like, just keep doing it. All the best people told me…”
  —Marcello (70:05–70:10)

• On Multigenerational Respect:
  “We’re part of a, you know, a heritage.”
  —Dana Carvey (68:30–68:34)

Important Segments & Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment / Topic Brief | |------------|-------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:08–01:36| “Church Lady” SNL sketch breakdown; wig/hair stories | | 07:03–08:47| Marcello’s first Grammys, Queen Latifah encounter | | 11:16–11:20| Queen Latifah’s praise for Marcello and Latino representation | | 17:35–19:14| Baseball-themed SNL sketch—Marcello’s SNL breakthrough | | 21:33–24:58| Handling a sketch bomb; “Salvador Don Francisco show” parody | | 28:00–32:19| The making and risk-taking of Marcello’s Netflix special | | 38:11–41:42| Showbiz, relationships, and maintaining authenticity | | 42:24–43:36| Latin music, the rise of meringueton, and positive vibes | | 44:33–45:36| Latin artists at the Grammys & the state of representation | | 52:05–53:36| Family, parents’ pride, generational resilience | | 55:30–56:27| Carvey’s lesson on ‘the wall of passive income’ | | 63:36–65:11| Marcello’s Instagram news anchor job and early hustle | | 68:30–68:34| “We’re part of a, you know, a heritage.” — Carvey | | 70:05–70:10| “Just keep doing it” — the best advice in comedy |

Episode Tone & Flow

• Language: Familiar, fast-paced, peppered with character voices, and self-deprecating bits.
• Vibe: Friendly roasting among three comics, energetic, supportive but not without competitive ribbing and honest career talk.
• Style: Stories flow naturally between stand-up, SNL specifics, celebrity run-ins, and genuine advice, with little line between performance and real self.

Summary Takeaways

Marcello Hernandez proves himself both student and innovator of SNL legacy—balancing gratitude, humility, and drive. Dana Carvey and David Spade blend mentorship with equal-parts mockery and admiration, revealing the timelessness of comedic grind and the thrill of breaking through, no matter the era. The episode is a feast for SNL fans, comedy nerds, and anyone interested in the behind-the-scenes reality of making people laugh in a world where both opportunity and pressure have never been greater.

Listeners will love:

• Behind-the-scenes SNL insight
• The chemistry and respect between an emerging comic and established legends
• Real-life “making it” stories—equal parts funny and touching
• Fresh perspective on representation, risk, and keeping it real in comedy