Saturday Night Live’s David Spade on playing the long game
ON HIS NEW AUDIOBOOK, ‘A POLAROID GUY IN A SNAPCHAT WORLD‘
Nine years ago, I had a daughter. I used to fudge it a bit by staying young and in the mix, and then it catches up to you. I no longer know where people drink, so it was all a good hook for a book. It was what was on my mind.
ON WHAT IT IS LIKE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE NOWADAYS
If there’s a gaggle of kids having lunch, they’re all on their phones; there’s not much talking and they’re texting each other! If you’re the funny kid now, you have to find an amusing meme, DM it to a girl, and after a few of those they’re like, “He’s funny!”
ON THE SECRET TO HIS CAREER
There is some talent involved. Breaking through is the hardest thing, then you need to have some game. That’s why so many people fade away. Someone said to me the other day: “Where’s Chris Pratt?” I replied, “He’s just opened Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.” They go, “Good for him.” I’m like, “Good for him? The guy’s been in nine movies this year!” They go, “Didn’t see them.” If he’s out of the game, what am I? Jesus Christ!
ON QUITTING SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE
I couldn’t quit because I had nowhere else to go. If you quit the best show, everyone’s like, “What the f*ck?”
ON STAYING POSITIVE
There are reasons to be depressed every day, and then there’s my mum, who chooses to smile. Everyone wants to be around her. You don’t have to act depressed all the time to show people you understand the world.
