Punkie Johnson sheds light on her SNL exit: 'I didn’t really feel like I fit'

Becoming a cast member on Saturday Night Live is a dream for most comedians, and it was for Punkie Johnson. She was thrilled to join the cast of season 46, and wield her talents in front of a global audience, which is why her exit ahead of season 50 was so surprising.

Johnson decided not to return for the upcoming season, despite the fact that she was poised to become a full-time cast member. Those close to Johnson spoke on her behalf, but it wasn't until she appeared on Dana Carvey' Fly on the Wall podcast that the comedian gave her side of the story.

Punkie Johnson felt estranged from the cast

In short, Punkie Johnson felt like she was a bad fit for Saturday Night Live. Or rather, she didn't fit what the producers thought she should be. "I didn’t really feel like I fit, like I didn’t feel like that was my zone," she explained. "That show is for a different type of person."

Johnson, who is a standup comedian by trade, thought that she would be rubbing shoulders with other standups. This proved to not be the case. "I started having conversations with people and everybody was like, 'Oh yeah, we went to school for this,'" Johnson recalled hearing. "I’m like, y’all went to school to be here?"

She was dishearted by the exit of an SNL writer

In addition to feeling out of sorts with the rest of the SNL cast, Punkie Johnson told Deadline that the departure of writer Ben Silva contributed to her decision to walk. She felt as though Silva was ideally suited to her comedic sensibility, and believed her segments would suffer in his absence:

"If I was telling him something, he knew how to put it in SNL format for me. If I try to put it in 'SNL' format, that’s the hard part."

Johnson admitted that she previously considered leaving SNL, but stuck around and managed to increase her screen time. She was glad she ultimately stayed for as long as she did, but felt that her talents would be better served elsewhere.

Fortunately, for her, it sounds like they will be. "My phone and opportunities have not stopped," she told the outlet. "It’s crazy." Sounds like Johnson made the right call.