Horatio Sanz is a comedian who is famous for his work on “Saturday Night Live.” This past summer, he had a small role in “Superbad.” Now, he is doing a show this Wednesday night at Toad’s Place. Sanz was able to give The Mirror an interview.
The Mirror: Which comedians inspired you to become a comedian?
Horatio Sanz: When I was a kid, I remember staying up late while my family slept and I watched the Marx Brothers on the late show.
I realize this makes me sound like I’m 76 years old, but when I was a kid, WGN (Chicago’s superstation) would show a Marx brothers marathon on New Years. Later, I would sneak in my brother’s room and watch “SNL.”
I was very interested in what was making them laugh. Those guys from “Second City” became my heroes: John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray.
TM: What are your favorite comedic films?
HS: In my opinion, there is no better comedy than “Animal House.” I’m also very fond of “The Blues Brothers.” There are so many great Woody Allen films … and now I love Wes Anderson movies. That Will Ferrell character also makes some funny films.
TM: What were your experiences while working on SNL?
HS: Working on SNL was very stressful at times. But obviously, it was also very fun. I miss all the folks I worked with because we honestly don’t see each other as much as we should. I have awesome memories of each person I worked with and find my experience there to have been an absolute pleasure. However exciting you think it would be, now multiply that by 50. The hours aren’t bad either, and you have teachers’ vacation. If you can work there, I would recommend you take the job.
TM: What was your favorite improvisation moment on SNL?
HS: When the lovely and troubled Lindsay Lohan hosted, we did a sketch about Billy Joel driving young girls to parties in the Hamptons. The joke (as in reality) was that Joel liked to imbibe while driving around Long Island. Well, in the sketch, the prop guys threw a rubber mailbox at the car, to simulate Billy Joel drunkenly running into stuff with his car. So, during the live broadcast, they throw the mailbox at the car and it gets stuck over the windshield, thus blocking all the actors from being seen on camera.
So, without a beat, I crawled through the driver’s window, reached over and picked up the mailbox, and threw it off the car. The crowd went nuts and we continued the scene. I guess of all the things I may have improvised on SNL, my best moment of improv was a silent.
TM: Do you prefer scripted comedy or improv?
HS: When I improvise, I obviously write what I’m saying. Therefore, being a fan of myself, I prefer improvising over scripted stuff. It’s always fresher and less rehearsed. Now, if you throw in the audience factor and the fact that they are laughing, well, it’s just a much more pure form of comedy. If they don’t laugh, well, you want to stab yourself in the forehead with a with a paint mixer. But that doesn’t usually happen. Bold.
TM: What was your favorite skit you did while working on SNL?
HS: There really are so many fun ones. A friend once remarked that my comedy was post modern. I like that a lot. I hope people are now starting to get some of my weirder sketches. I mean, there is no reason for me to make Aaron Neville obsessed with Cocoa Butter, but the absurdity of that really made me laugh. Also, it’s fun to sing the words “cocoa” and “butter.” That said, let’s not forget COWBELL.
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