Martin Short reflects on 'Saturday Night Live' days ahead of hosting return

As Martin Short prepares to return to Saturday Night Live this weekend, as a host alongside musical guest, Hozier, the three-time Golden Globe nominee is looking back on his brief yet memorable tenure as a cast member.

While appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Short revealed that his time on the NBC sketch comedy show in the mid-1980s was marked by anxiety and uncertainty.

In this regard, he admitted, “I was terrified every show. I treated it like a special.”

According to Deadline, Short joined the SNL cast in Season 10 (1948-1985), a tumultuous year following the departures of Eddie Murphy and Joe Piscopo.

Moreover, he explained that he had a one-year contract during what executive producer Dick Ebersol referred to as the show’s “George Steinbrenner year” due to its uncertain future.

Meanwhile, Short even attempted to quit during his fourth episode as he recounted, “Being Canadian and savvy, I said to Dick Ebersol, ‘I haven’t cashed any checks yet.’”

Additionally, Edersol persuaded him to stay until Christmas, predicting that Short would find his footing by then, as he stated, “He later told me that if I made it to Christmas, I’d have figured out how to do the show. But it was always nerve-wracking to me.”

During his season, Short brought to life several characters from his Second City Television days, including the beloved Ed Grimley.

Despite the challenges, Short’s impact on SNL has endured, and he has returned to the show multiple times over the years.

Furthermore, Saturday Night Live is approaching its 50th anniversary with a primetime special on February 16.