Jane Curtin's Strategy for Avoiding 'SNL's Drug-Fueled All-Nighters

Jane Curtin has been candid about the substance abuse issues among the original Saturday Night Live cast, despite NBCs leniency toward drug references in the shows early days. She recalled the presence of drug dealers in the studio halls, notably a troublesome individual named Merlin David. I despised him and wished he would disappear, yet he roamed freely, Curtin said in Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live.

At one point, Curtin even distanced herself from producer Lorne Michaels, frustrated that he did not intervene in John Belushis spiraling behavior. I confronted Lorne and asked, Are you going to do something about this? she remembered. While Michaels might have felt powerless, Curtin was able to shield herself by declining to participate in the drug-fueled late-night sessions.

Her peers recognized this approach. Amy Poehler remarked, Jane always seemed like the sensible one in the cast. Julia Louis-Dreyfus concurred, simply stating, Because she was.

Sources:

• Here’s How Jane Curtin Skipped ‘SNL’s Drug-Fueled All-Nighters

Author: Ava Mitchell
Ava Mitchell is a journalist covering culture, art, and literature. She is known for her creative approach and ability to produce in-depth features and interviews.