Maya Rudolph Explains Why She Couldn't Create The Things She Did On 'SNL' These Days

Actor Maya Rudolph discussed how the advent of social media changed the landscape of entertainment and how she may have left SNL at the right time.

Rudolph left SNL in 2007, but not before leaving an indelible mark on the sketch comedy series with her riotously funny impersonations, including as Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, a performance that nabbed her an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.

The 51-year-old has continued gaining further success in films like Grown Ups (2010), Bridesmaids (2011), Life of the Party (2018), Disenchanted (2022), as well as several voice acting roles including Big Hero 6 (2014), The Angry Birds Movie (2016), and Luca (2021).

She currently executive produces and stars in the second season of the Apple+ series, Loot in which she portrays the divorcee of a tech billionaire who experiences a mid-life crisis despite her newfound $87 billion fortune.

On Wednesday, Rudolph sat down with Apple Music's Zane Lowe for an interview and touched on her career and how much music impacted her life growing up with two musician parents, Minnie Riperton and Richard Rudolph.

One thing she mentioned was how the proliferation of social media could have stunted her artistic process and creativity.

The conversation began with the topic of criticism and how, as a discerning audience member herself, she avoids exposure to it as consumers have more options to experience entertainment and engaging with artists.

Said Rudolph of living in time of being vulnerable in the social media age:

"I find it incredibly difficult, and I find it more personally just in...being myself far more than my comedy."

“I feel like people want to take a sound bite and create problems, and that’s become a business."

“It’s so ugly, and it’s so not at all my life. It has nothing to do with me."

"So it just makes you shy away from wanting to put yourself out there.”

She continued:

“I don’t think I would be creating the things I created on ‘Saturday Night Live’ if I worked there today."

"It’s scrutiny."

You can watch the segment here.

Maya Rudolph: 'Loot', Growing Up with Musicians & Making Music | Apple Musicyoutu.be

Rudolph touched on how the current SNL cast is experiencing being a part of the cultural zeitgeist a lot differently from when she was a featured player from the final three episodes of the 1999–2000 season through 2007.

“People didn’t have access to the show in the way that they do now when I was on it,” she said of modern audiences who have different ways of accessing their favorite TV shows.

She recalled of a different time: 

“People weren’t watching it from their phones the next day in just one sketch instead of watching the entire show. You would watch it in its entirety.”

As far as the internet is concerned, Rudolph stressed that she avoids the internet.

“I don’t really want to participate in that game because it’s not my reality," she said, adding:

"And it’s like that saying of ‘What you think of me is not my business.’ It’s great, and it’s really hard to remind yourself of, but it’s true.”

Rudolph has returned to SNL in numerous cameo appearances over the years and also served as the guest host.

She returns as guest host on Saturday with musical guest Vampire Weekend.

Here's a hysterical promo announcing her return to the Rock.

Here's another promo featuring the band Vampire Weekend, not actual vampires as presumed by Rudolph and SNL star Kenan Thompson.

Fans can hardly wait.

And speaking of mother...

It looks like Mother's Day weekend is gearing up for some hilarious good times.