Michael Che decided to stay on Saturday Night Live for one specific reason

Michael Che is brutally honest. It's partially why he's such an effective comedian. He's willing to be extremely blunt, and the comedic tension that results, especially when paired with his Weekend Update partner, Colin Jost, has made them a consistent highlight of Saturday Night Live.

The thing is, Che almost walked away from the show. Multiple times. The comedian told the New York Times that he considered leaving Saturday Night Live five (!) different times. "My head has been at leaving for the past five seasons," he told the outlet in 2022. His reasoning was that the show is predicated on young comedic talent, and cast turnover that keeps things fresh.

Michael Che was convinced by Lorne Michaels to stay

But Che's still on the show (obviously). He changed his mind each time he considered walking away, and he explained his reasoning during an appearance on The Howard Stern Show. The comedian claimed that he wanted more time to focus on other ventures, and SNL creator Lorne Michaels worked out a deal that would allow for more free time:

" I talked to Lorne, and we figured out something where I will have more time, [which] made it kind of worth staying."

The comedian claims SNL has an "intoxicating" energy

The deal must have really scratched whatever itch Che had, because it's three seasons later and the comedian is still holding down half of the Weekend Update desk. The comedian was grateful that the SNL boss worked with him on scheduling, but he admitted there was a second, more personal reason why he decided to stay: the excitement of putting together a new show every week.

"I think that’s still intoxicating," Che told Howard Stern. "I think that’s why people always come back." He went on to praise Saturday Night Live for being one of the last vestiges of genuinely surprising TV. "[It's] kind of the last place where something exciting can happen," he posited. "Even if it doesn’t, the possibility is there."

Che will be returning to SNL for its landmark 50th season. All things considered, we're happy he still in the mix.