‘In Miami, you grow up fast’: SNL star talks about how the 305 influenced his comedy
We try not to play favorites around here, except when it comes to people who crack us up, like Marcello Hernandez.
In September 2022, the local comedian was announced as one of the newest cast members of “Saturday Night Live” and made us all proud.
On Instagram, Hernandez informed his followers that a “little Cuban Dominican boy from Miami is on SNL.”
Almost two years later, Hernandez, who used to provide hilarious content for lifestyle site Only in Dade, sat down for Variety’s Power of Young Hollywood issue.
Among the main topics of conversation? The 26 year old talked about how being raised in the 305 influenced him as a person — and artist.
One of the Belen grad’s most memorable bits on the iconic NBC late night show is playing a South Beach velvet rope bouncer with a Tony Montana accent.
“In Miami, you grow up fast, because there’s so much clubbing that people are doing,” he told the mag. “When you’re young, you’re like, ‘I want to do that.’ Miami is like a ‘fake ID, go when you’re 17’ kind of place. You get caught a lot. They break your ID in front of you…These promoters, they’re ruthless.”
The charismatic comic adds that he particularly enjoyed sharing a scene with Aquaman hunk Jason Momoa, “who really fits the bill of a sexy Miami bouncer.”
As for what else influences his craft? Up there would have to be his muse, aka his “protective” mother, who is originally from Cuba.
Hernandez channeled their relationship in an early “SNL” skit playing a son introducing his gringa girlfriend to his disapproving Latina mother played by none other than Pedro Pascal (in a gray wig).
The side splitting sketch landed in the top five most-watched of Season 48, Variety reports, as did its sequel last year, which featured Pascal again, as well as Bad Bunny perfectly cast as the tía.
“A lot of the jokes I say and the stuff that I write has to do with our relationships growing up,” Hernandez said. [My mother] went through a lot to get to the U.S. and to make a name and a world for herself, so I respect her very much and I trust her judgment.”
One more thing: As the presidential election inches closer to reality, please don’t ask him to jump into any political discussions if you see him around town.
“I just try to stay happy and positive,” he concluded. “I don’t like the drama of it all.”
This story was originally published August 7, 2024 at 3:56 PM.
