About 12 years ago I entered the Saturday Night Live audience lottery. Five months after entering, I received an email saying that I had been offered two tickets for the live-taping show of Saturday Night Live. Two months after that, I saw Jonah Hill host on March 10th, 2012. I went with my brother and we had the best time ever, truly seemed to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I wrote about it in 2014.

Fast forward to Tuesday night, November 14, 2023. My fiancée checks her email and stops in shock, raises her arm, and is excitedly reading and re-reading something on her phone. She exclaims, “What are you doing November 18th??!?” I confusingly wondered why she asked it in that way, instead of just saying “this Saturday”, so I replied, “This Saturday? Nothing- I don’t think we have any plans.” She said, “Well now you do, because we’re going to Saturday Night Live!” and added, “Wait that’s this weekend!” Needless to say, we were pumped. Pumped that we legitimately had no plans that couldn’t be moved or cancelled, and pumped we were going to SNL!

To rewind just a little, she entered the lottery back in August 2023. The only official way to see the show in person is to send an email to SNLTICKETS@NBCUNI.COM/SNL in the month of August. In the past, you had to provide all of your contact information and you were entered into a lottery. A few years ago though, they changed the requirements slightly, you just had to send an email with your name and why you would like to be a part of their studio audience. This has been on her bucket list and was something we bonded over when we first started dating. So in her email, she included a little story from one of our first dates and how special it is between us. When I won, they didn’t ask me to RSVP, but when she won, she had to RSVP within 24 hours, or else her tickets were forfeited. I’ll spare you all the details from the rest of the night, but we quickly decided that we were definitely going, how we were getting there, and where we would stay. It was in four days after all!

The day finally came and Julia and I drove to NYC. We left Boston a little before 9am and arrived at our hotel at about 1:30pm, parked, checked into our hotel and decided to find some lunch. We stayed about a couple blocks from Rockefeller Center which was a great call since we essentially didn’t leave that 5 block radius. While walking to get food, we came up to 30 Rock and I asked if we should pop in, to let Julia get familiar with it in the daytime. Last time, Mike and I ran into Jonah Hill. Well we didn’t see the host, Jason Momoa, this time, but within a minute of walking in, we did see cast member Devon Walker! I immediately spotted him and wished him luck. He said Thanks, and I added that we would be there tonight, and he said Oh you’re going? Cool- hope you have a good time. Or something like that. Not gunna lie, that was pretty cool. I mean we legit walked in one of 4 entrances and within 1 minute we see a cast member. I think that’s what really got Julia in the mood. She was pumped all week no doubt, but that happening made it really real.

We left after about 10 minutes and got lunch at a bar a few streets down. Then we walked to Central Park and strolled through there for a bit. By now we were trying to figure out what to do. So we decided to walk back to the hotel and just chill. It was about 5pm and so we tried to rest up because I honestly couldn’t tell ya the last time I stayed up to catch SNL live at home. Let alone make it to the end!

At 6:30 we left to have dinner at Norma’s, which had been recommended to us. Side note – Norma’s was incredible! Next time you’re in NYC, try to get there.

Julia’s email said to arrive no later than 9:00pm, which was an hour and fifteen minutes before when my email said to show up back in 2012. I legit didn’t know what we would do for all that time! So we finish dinner and stop in for a quick espresso martini at a bar right next to 30 Rock, then walked in at exactly 9pm. Initial panic set it when we saw how many people were already in line. But I also kind of knew that this line didn’t really mean anything. We were still going to get in, and it likely wouldn’t affect where we sat. There was a girl a few people ahead of us who mentioned this was the third time she won the SNL lottery! Sorry to people who have never gone, but also, hell yea there’s a chance I can go a third time!

After about 10 minutes we get to the front of the line where someone welcomes us and checks our id’s and Julia’s email and then asks up to go upstairs. At the top, another lady checks our email and says to go stand in a new line. Julia’s email said to ask for “Stephanie’s Line” which we assumed this line must have been. Most of the people in the line downstairs are also in this line. I counted about 45 people in front of us, but it was moving. We, along with almost everyone else in the line, stopped for a picture under an SNL sign. Then we finally make it to the front and a lady checked us in and gave us each two wristbands and our tickets. Mine said #199 (an upgrade from #259!) and had the letter ‘A’ written on the back. After that we made our way through security and immediately after we were ushered into the Peacock Lounge. A worker came up with a tray of beers and sodas and asked if we wanted one – if you’ve read my experience in 2012, you’ll know we definitely didn’t go to any lounge the first time! I wonder now though, if this lounge was happening but we just didn’t make the cut for that or something? Who knows.

Anyway, this Peacock Lounge is sweet. They’ve got a DJ playing jams, one of those selfie station type areas, and images of past SNL cast members and hosts on the walls. (Check out my video below) By now it’s like 9:25. All that I just mentioned took less than 30 minutes. But I’m also sitting there in the lounge wondering what they hell are we doing for two more hours?!? The answer was: wait. We just hung out there, listened to good music, had a drink and took some photos. A lady eventually came out and made a few announcements about going to our seats soon, to use the bathroom before, no camera’s etc. She did this a few times until she called the first group in. If your ticket had the number ‘8’ written on the back, you were called first. Then the second group called, about 5-10 minutes later, were people with ‘TH’ on the back. Later, she called anyone with ‘A, B or C’ written on the back. I had thought maybe ‘A’ meant we’d have a front row, but it didn’t necessarily turn out that way. Everyone with that ticket filed in line and we took the elevators up to Studio 8H. In the elevator, Julia knew a girl she grew up with and mentioned it to her and everyone had a good laugh. Then we started making our way in to the actual studio. While standing in that line, Sarah Sherman walked by and a few of us wished her luck.

We were escorted to our seats, which were right-center (if you’re looking at the stage), second row, on the aisle which I liked. These seats were definitely better than where I sat before, so I was pretty pumped about that. I’d have been happy anywhere, I just mostly just wanted anything different from the last time. People continued filing in and there didn’t seem to be too much rhyme or reason for certain seats, especially for groups A, B, and C.

After sitting there for a little while Michael Che came out and welcomed us. He also criticized the section I sat in last time – talk about a long bit. Then he reminded us once more about phones/cameras, housekeeping issues (exits, etc.) and assured us we were going to see a great show, and to have fun. He left and Kenan Thompson came out and sang a song with Chloe Fineman, Heidi Gardner, and Ego Nwodim as backup singers. Once they finished, the band played a few more songs and were great.

We were about to go live and I thought I still can’t believe I’m here again. And I could tell that Julia was also stoked that it was starting, but also just had no idea what to expect. Everyone there is in a great mood, excited to get started. We watched the cold open, a skit about President Biden returning from his trip to China; which was pretty funny. “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!” Darrell Hammond announces the cast, musical guest and our host for the evening, Jason Momoa.

I’m not gunna go through all the skits and shorts like I did last time because you can watch pretty much anywhere these days, but I’ll say a couple things about them, and being there. First off though, the crew is just incredible. How they set up each set during commercials and sometimes even when other skits are going on, is just so remarkable. Secondly, I really think every skit is funnier in person. There’s something about being there live and watching it all unfold before you that really makes you smile and laugh throughout, even if a joke doesn’t quite land. That’s a cool feeling in my opinion. And the cast? No matter who you see, just know, they have boatloads of talent. I mean they absolutely nail it- their lines, certain inflections, facial expressions, just everything. Big ups to them, and to the hosts. It does not look easy at all.

Jason seemed extremely confident and gave what I thought was a pretty quick monologue. When you watch the monologue, you might catch a glimpse of Julia and me in the audience, albeit brief, dark and blurry. So for the skits, most we could see straight on, but the one where Jason Momoa’s character returned from being stranded at sea was filmed kind of below us. We could watch it at an angle, which is fascinating tbh. And from that angle we could also read their cue cards, so knew what lines were coming, or if they messed up a word. That’s pretty interesting. You’re totally watching the skit unfold, but you almost can’t help yourself checking out the lines. On Weekend Update, which they’ve been nailing this season and last imo, you kinda switch from watching it in front of you, to watching on the monitor because it has the image associated with the joke Colin or Michael is telling. And similar to last time I went, all three guests on WU were very funny. Also, in the tennis pre-recorded sketch, I lost it when her head got hit off. I knew they’d go for something, I was thinking maybe her arm or a leg would fall off. I didn’t think they’d go head, and it just cracked me up. Last thing to say is Kenan might be the GOAT, and not just because he’s the longest serving cast member, but because every skit he is in, works. And he’s the one that makes it work, no matter how ridiculous it is. He is a perfect cast member.

Tate McRae also wasn’t bad. I only listened her a few of her songs for the first time the day before the show, but I thought she did a pretty good job… Then it’s time. You hear the band playing that last song and you’re sitting there like what? it’s ending??!? And if you’re me, you almost forcefully try to take it all in. Who knows if you’ll ever be back? Once again I truly could not believe an hour and a half went by so quickly! The cast joins Jason and Tate on stage and they say their thanks and goodbye’s and shortly after, everyone is told it’s time to go. What a show!

After the show, we were led right into a line towards the elevators. I asked to use the bathroom, but was told I could do so downstairs. Last time, somehow Mike and I waited in the lobby area behind the seats, and saw a few cast members. This time though, it was straight to the elevators and downstairs. Our elevator opened to the Gift Shop. We were each given a 10% off coupon, which we used on a Christmas ornament. Then we decided we weren’t going to see anyone here, and so we left. This exit was on 6th Ave, as opposed to the W 50th Street one we entered in. So we walked around the corner to that entrance and stood outside with about 10-15 other people waiting for the cast and other celebs to come out. We probably waited about 20 minutes, which was now 1:30am, until we decided to call it a night. It was pretty cold after all and you just don’t know if anyone is coming out soon, or if they’ll even stop. That was kind of a bummer because last time, we saw a bunch of people and got to take pictures with two of them. But what can ya do? Maybe next time I’ll be invited to the after party…

I’ve said this before, and I will continue saying it, this was one the coolest experiences I’ve ever had! I don’t mean to boast, but so much for “this is your one and probably only chance to go”. I still can’t believe I’ve gone twice, and believe me, I don’t take it for granted one bit! It truly makes me want to be at every live show. At times, I wish a younger me decided to move to NYC to try and get any job at Rockefeller Center that I could. I guess I’ll have to settle to seeing it live every 11 and a half years. I strongly recommend attempting to see Saturday Night Live because you really will have a once in a lifetime experience, even if you end up going twice!