As Saturday Night Live approaches its 50th anniversary, former cast members are reminiscing about their experiences on the legendary sketch comedy show. 

During a recent appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, comedian Laraine Newman, 72, 

shared a surprising story about how her impression of Barbra Streisand once led to an awkward encounter with the iconic singer.

Laraine Newman’s Run-In with Barbra Streisand

Newman, who was part of SNL’s original cast from 1975 to 1980, appeared on Andy Cohen’s late-night show alongside fellow SNL alumni Cheri Oteri, Cecily Strong, Ana Gasteyer, and Rachel Dratch. 

During the segment, Cohen asked the panel if any of them had ever been confronted by a celebrity they impersonated on SNL.

While each had a story to tell, Newman’s stood out the most. She recalled that while performing on the sketch show, she had once played Barbra Streisand in a skit that poked fun at the singer’s larger-than-life persona and high salary.

The sketch included a song called “Me”, written by SNL writer Marilyn Miller, which humorously exaggerated Streisand’s success. One of the memorable lyrics was: “Even if one of my films sucks, it still makes 4 million bucks for me.”

Years later, Newman found herself at the same event as Streisand—a bar mitzvah for a friend’s son—when the legendary singer approached her.

“She hadn’t seen [the sketch],” Newman explained. “I was at my friend’s son’s bar mitzvah, and she was singing at it. And she says, ‘I wanna talk to you.’”

Rather than stick around to find out what Streisand had to say, Newman admitted she panicked and left the event.

“I didn’t wanna talk to her,” she confessed, as the audience and her fellow SNL veterans burst into laughter.

Other SNL Alumni Share Their Own Celebrity Encounters

Newman wasn’t the only comedian on the panel with a story about meeting someone they had impersonated. Cheri Oteri, known for her energetic characters on SNL, recalled a particularly tense moment involving Judge Judy.

According to Oteri, the famous TV judge wasn’t exactly thrilled with her portrayal on the show.

“She called my manager and said, ‘Tell Cheri, your client, she’s almost got me,’” Oteri recounted, mimicking Judge Judy’s signature stern voice.

Meanwhile, Ana Gasteyer revealed that her impressions of Martha Stewart and Celine Dion were well received, describing both women as “super-gracious.” However, her favorite reaction came from comedian Jo Anne Worley, who left a voicemail on her NBC office phone.

“It was the greatest,” Gasteyer said, recalling the message: “This is Jo Anne Worley. I just loved the show.”

Rachel Dratch, best known for her SNL character Debbie Downer, shared that she once played actress Calista Flockhart in a sketch—only for Flockhart to later host the show.

“We got to do side-by-side,” Dratch said of their eventual on-screen meeting.

Cecily Strong also had an amusing story to tell about her portrayal of conservative commentator Judge Jeanine Pirro. While some celebrities have confronted SNL cast members with frustration, Pirro took a different approach—she actually wanted to meet up.

“She wanted to get lunch a couple of times,” Strong revealed. “I was busy.”

Looking Back on SNL’s Legacy

With Saturday Night Live gearing up for its milestone 50th anniversary, stories like these highlight the long history of the show’s impact on pop culture. The sketch comedy series has built its reputation by satirizing politicians, celebrities, and public figures, often leading to both praise and controversy.

While some stars take their impersonations in stride, others, like Barbra Streisand, have had less-than-warm reactions—even decades later. Newman’s decision to avoid Streisand’s confrontation remains a humorous example of how SNL sketches can have a lasting effect long after they air.

As the 50th anniversary special approaches, fans can expect even more behind-the-scenes revelations from past cast members, cementing SNL’s place in comedy history.

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