It’s Saturday Night Live week on late-night television
By Matt Moore
A forgotten Saturday Night Live cast member comes to Jimmy Kimmel Live!
It’s not unusual for a cast member’s career to take off after his or her Saturday Night Live tenure comes to an end. It’s just not too common that it happens for someone credited with just four episodes.
But that is the case for Ben Stiller. Stiller’s short film The Hustler of Money, a parody of The Color of Money, in which he played a Tom Cruise-inspired character caught Saturday Night Live‘s attention in 1987. It aired the short and offered a writing gig to Stiller in 1989.
Stiller joined SNL that year as a featured player. However, he departed after just four episodes when it was clear he wouldn’t be making more short films for the sketch show. It certainly worked out for Stiller who has put together a long and impressive career since leaving SNL.
And there is clearly still a good relationship between Stiller and SNL. He has hosted in 1998 and 2011 and made a memorable run of cameos as President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Michael Cohen.
On Tuesday, Aug. 11, Stiller will be the guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. The episode will be guest-hosted by comedian and TikTok star Sarah Cooper.
On Twitter. Stiller has been one of Cooper’s most vocal fans. Jimmy Kimmel Live! has been letting guest hosts pick their own interview guests. Cooper and Stiller have a lot in common when it comes to creating their own opportunities in comedy.