David Spade recently recounted a severe illness he experienced while hosting Saturday Night Live, detailing how the show's producers were prepared to air a rerun due to his condition. Spade hosted the sketch comedy program in March 2005.
During dress rehearsal for the episode, Spade said he began feeling sick. "I got sick during dress \rehearsal, the worst f---ing anxiety-riddled time," Spade stated on his podcast. He was dressed in a UPS uniform for a sketch when he felt unwell and sat down on the set floor.
Crew members urged him to continue, but Spade told them he did not feel well. He then lay down on the floor, prompting confusion among those present.
The comedian, who was an SNL cast member from 1990 to 1996, became sicker after rehearsal stopped. He was taken to a dressing room bathroom. Producers waited outside the door, discussing airing a rerun if he could not perform.
Spade said he lay on the floor sweating and began vomiting. The situation became so concerning that SNL boss Lorne Michaels came to wait outside the dressing room.
"I'm laying on the floor sweating — I don't know if it was food poisoning — then I started barfing," Spade recalled. Producers needed to know if he could perform to inform NBC.
Spade eventually managed to stand and told them he could try. The decision was made to attempt the live broadcast while a rerun was prepared. Spade said he started feeling slightly better after getting some food.
He estimated he performed at about 70 percent of his usual capability. The UPS sketch he was in during dress rehearsal was ultimately cut from the show. Spade spoke about this experience on the podcast Fly on the Wall.
More recently, David Spade attended the SNL50 anniversary celebration dinner. There, he observed Larry David's conversation with Paul McCartney. Spade noted that McCartney was a good sport and seemed to enjoy the presence of comedians.
Spade expressed frustration at the dinner, finding it difficult to hear McCartney's stories about his career because of interruptions from staff serving food. "I couldn't pay enough to hear Paul McCartney talk about this s---!" Spade said.
