Saturday Night Live: 30 scandals and secrets you didn’t know
By Jeremy Dick
24. There’s always a llama, showgirls, and Abraham Lincoln backstage
This one isn’t so much a scandalous controversy as it is one of the show’s most interesting secrets. Many longtime fans of the series may have actually noticed by this point. At the very least, a lot of them might realize that now after reading this entry.
Dating as far back as 1978, llamas have been seen backstage at Saturday Night Live. Over the years, it would evolve into a running joke. In particular, Seth Meyers seemed to have made it a staple after taking on the head writer spot. During that time, nearly every set in the backstage area featured a llama in the fram. They are never pointed out and just treated as an ordinary part of the backstage scenery.
Usually accompanying the llama are two other staples: a group of showgirls and an actor dressed as Abraham Lincoln. At this point, they are so well ingrained into the “backstage area” as presented on SNL, that not featuring them in any of these segments seems weird. Leaving the “Why are Abraham Lincoln, a group of showgirls, and a llama backstage at SNL?” question unanswered only adds to its effect.