Jesse Eisenberg is looking back on his experience hosting Saturday Night Live—and let’s just say it’s not exactly a fond memory. 

The Oscar-nominated actor recently shared on Jenna & Friends (via People) that his time hosting the iconic sketch show in January 2011 was marked by a major misunderstanding. 

Eisenberg, who had long dreamed of writing for SNL, assumed that hosting the show meant he could also write his own sketches—an assumption he now realizes was way off the mark.

Eisenberg’s Dream of Writing for SNL

For Eisenberg, the opportunity to host SNL was a full-circle moment, as he had been an aspiring sketch comedy writer in his late teens. 

“My dream when I was 17 was to write for SNL,” he explained. “I made a packet and everything and I got an agent.” 

\His passion for comedy writing led him to believe that when he finally got the chance to host, he would be able to craft his own sketches and have them featured on the show.

Unfortunately, he quickly learned that SNL doesn’t quite work that way. “I only have bad memories because I did such a dumb thing,” Eisenberg admitted.

A Big Misunderstanding

During his week at SNL, Eisenberg—who was eager to contribute as a writer—went about the process all wrong. “I assumed I could write all the sketches,” he said. “I didn’t know how it works. It turns out, they have writers.”

Rather than sticking to the traditional host role of collaborating with the show’s creative team, Eisenberg took it upon himself to start slipping scripts to various cast members, hoping they would make it onto the episode. However, his efforts were in vain. “It was so unbelievably inappropriate and offensive of me that, no,” he said when asked if any of his sketches actually made it onto the show.

Was He Misled?

Eisenberg now jokes that he was “sabotaged” into believing he could write his own sketches, saying he had been told by someone that it was possible. “It turns out I was sabotaged,” he quipped. “I was assured, ‘Yes, of course. That sounds great,’ they said.”

While the experience was a learning moment, Eisenberg’s passion for writing never faded. In fact, his dedication to storytelling has since paid off in a major way.

From SNL Setback to Oscar Nominee

Though his SNL hosting experience may not have gone as planned, Eisenberg has continued to prove himself as a talented writer. His recent directorial debut, A Real Pain, has earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. The film, which he also stars in alongside Kieran Culkin, has been widely praised, further cementing Eisenberg’s skills as both a writer and filmmaker.

Meanwhile, his co-star Culkin has also received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, marking a significant achievement for the project.

A Lesson Learned

Looking back, Eisenberg acknowledges that his approach to SNL was misguided, but he also recognizes that his enthusiasm for writing is what led to the misstep. While his week at SNL may not have been the experience he expected, it was just one chapter in a career that has continued to evolve in exciting ways.

With an Oscar nomination now under his belt, Eisenberg’s writing aspirations have clearly come full circle—just not in the way he originally imagined.

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