Overview

• Taran Killam revealed on the Fly on the Wall podcast that he often referenced his role in the Oscar-winning film '12 Years a Slave' while pitching sketches to SNL guest hosts.
• Killam admitted the recurring bit initially garnered laughs but quickly became ineffective and was ultimately discouraged by SNL leadership.
• SNL writer Bryan Tucker informed Killam to stop the practice, citing direct feedback from creator Lorne Michaels.
• Killam portrayed Abram Hamilton, one of the men who abducted Solomon Northup, in the 2013 Best Picture-winning film.
• The anecdote highlights the competitive and collaborative sketch pitching process at SNL, where personal branding can clash with creative norms.