The comedian explained that his envy pushed him to become a better comedian.

David Spade used to ‘actively admit’ he was jealous of SNL costars who got more airtime

The comedian explained that his envy pushed him to become a better comedian.

By Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2022. Her work has previously appeared on MTV News, Teen Vogue, and NME.

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August 18, 2026 11:22 a.m. ET

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David Spade as Dick Clark’s Receptionist on ‘Saturday Night Live.’. Credit:

- David Spade says he used to tell his fellow *Saturday Night Live *stars that he was jealous of them if they got more airtime than he did.

- The comedian explained that he used his envy to push himself to become a better comedian.

- “I know my level when I came in here as a middle act comic and going, ‘I got to get like this,’” he said.

David Spade is sharing why jealousy can sometimes be a good thing.

During a recent episode of his and Dana Carvey’s *Fly on the Wall* podcast, the 62-year-old explained how being envious of other *Saturday Night Live* cast members pushed him to become a better comedian.

“When you go to *SNL*, and then you’re hearing all these whispers of like, someone’s getting on [the air] more there, I would actively admit I was jealous,” Spade confessed. “I’d tell Adam [Sandler], ‘That was funny, I’m so jealous,’ because that’s at least acknowledging something was good — or makes you better — to go, ‘Okay.’”

David Spade attends the ‘SNL50: The Anniversary Special’ at 30 Rockefeller Center on February 16, 2025 in New York City.

TheStewartofNY/WireImage

The *Grown Ups *star noted that his run on *Saturday Night Live* was “more about upping my own game” so that he could go toe-to-toe with his talented costars.

He continued, “I know my level when I came in here as a middle act comic and going, ‘I got to get like this.’”

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As a result, Spade added that it’s the biggest compliment whenever talented comedians know that they’re safe to riff and improv with you because you’re on their level.

“That’s just an accomplishment right there, which you don’t really think too much, but… that’s what other people think!” he said. “They’re like, ‘F---, those guys know what they’re doing.’”

Their podcast guest, Tony Hale, completely agreed. “It takes time building that kind of trust and those relationships, and when you get to that kind of riding that comic wave together, I mean, there’s nothing better,” he said. “Because there’s that… you’re just throwing the ball and then you’re trusting they’re going to throw it back, and that’s just flat out fun.”

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Spade starred on six seasons of *Saturday Night Live* from 1990 until 1996. Carvey, meanwhile, appeared on the late-night sketch comedy series from 1986 until 1993.

The *Emperor’s New Groove *alum is set to reunite with even more of his fellow *SNL* costars in the upcoming film, *Grown Ups 3*. He is joined in the comedy threequel by Sandler, Chris Rock, and Rob Schneider.

Listen to Spade discuss feeling jealous on *SNL* in the podcast above.

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW SNL”