Ana Gasteyer is known for her impeccable comedic timing and ability to stay in character, even in the most absurd situations.
However, in a recent interview, the Saturday Night Live alum revealed that there was one sketch that almost broke her composure—though only during rehearsal.
During a conversation with Today host Savannah Guthrie on February 11, Gasteyer, 57, reflected on her six-season tenure at SNL,
where she became known for her deadpan portrayals of Martha Stewart, NPR host Margaret Jo McCullin in the famous “Schweddy Balls” sketch, and countless other iconic characters.
“I’m pretty good at not breaking,” she admitted. “I kind of dig deeper if I can.
I try to play through it because I like that sort of old-school approach—I want it to be funnier by playing it honest.”
But even the most disciplined performers have their limits, and for Gasteyer, that limit came in the form of a particularly chaotic 1998 sketch involving live animals.
The Infamous ‘Riding My Donkey’ Sketch
Gasteyer revealed that the only SNL sketch that ever made her break—albeit only during dress rehearsal—was a political satire titled Riding My Donkey, written by then-head writer Harper Steele.
The sketch, which aired amid the Monica Lewinsky scandal, was a parody of a political roundtable discussion. Gasteyer played CNN host Mary Tillotson, alongside Tim Meadows as Bernard Shaw, Darrell Hammond as Sam Donaldson, and Will Ferrell as fictional commentator Carl Branif. The twist? All four actors delivered their political analysis while sitting atop live donkeys.
“The donkeys went insane and went to all the wrong cameras,” Gasteyer recalled. “The whole impression was just, like, a smile, and I kept losing it and having to go back and forth.”
Despite the chaos of the rehearsal, she managed to keep a straight face when it mattered most. “But I held it together for air,” she proudly stated.
Will Ferrell and Harper Steele Weigh In
Gasteyer isn’t the only one who remembers Riding My Donkey as one of SNL’s wildest moments. Will Ferrell, one of her former castmates, recently cited the sketch as one of his all-time favorites.
“There was an amazing sketch that Harper wrote called the ‘Riding My Donkey’ political talk show,” Ferrell told the Los Angeles Times in September 2024 while promoting his documentary Will & Harper.
Ferrell recalled how unpredictable the donkeys were during the live broadcast. “At one point, the donkeys were trying to nuzzle each other, and one donkey had its head in Darrell Hammond’s crotch,” he said, laughing.
Steele, who was also part of the interview, chimed in, joking, “That wasn’t writing, really.”
Ferrell agreed, adding, “That was just chaos.”
The Art of Not Breaking on SNL
For SNL performers, staying in character during absurd sketches is almost a badge of honor. Some of the show’s most famous moments come from unscripted, unexpected incidents—whether it’s cast members breaking into laughter or props malfunctioning.
Gasteyer, however, prided herself on her ability to maintain composure. Her approach to comedy emphasized playing the moment as real as possible, which often made her performances even funnier.
Despite the unpredictable nature of live television, Riding My Donkey was one of those rare moments when even the most seasoned performers found it difficult to stay serious. And while Gasteyer managed to hold it together for the live audience, the memory of that rehearsal still brings her to laughter decades later.
A Classic SNL Memory
Over the years, SNL has delivered countless unforgettable sketches, but Riding My Donkey remains a standout due to its sheer unpredictability. For Gasteyer, it’s a rare moment when she almost lost control—but it’s also a testament to the magic of live comedy.
Though she has long since moved on to new projects, including her work in Mean Girls and The Masked Singer, Gasteyer’s time on SNL left a lasting impression—not just on audiences but on herself as well.
Follow us to see more useful information, as well as to give us more motivation to update more useful information for you.
