David Spade Opens Up About Jealousy of SNL Co-Stars

Comedian David Spade recently disclosed that he felt envy toward fellow “Saturday Night Live” performers during his six-year tenure on the show. Speaking on his “Fly on the Wall” podcast with former cast member Dana Carvey, Spade said he “actively admit[ted] I was jealous” when other cast members received more screen time. He described the feeling as a catalyst for improving his own work.

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Spade was a cast member on “SNL” from 1990 to 1996, sharing the stage with emerging stars such as Adam Sandler, Dana Carvey and Chris Farley. In a separate interview on Conan O’Brien’s podcast, Spade recalled the difficulty of finding a foothold amid a roster of high-profile comedians. He noted that Sandler’s rapid rise and prolific character work made the environment feel especially competitive.

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Spade’s comments were delivered on two recent podcast appearances. On “Fly on the Wall,” he framed his jealousy as a form of professional motivation, saying the “whispers” about other cast members’ success pushed him to “up my own game.” During the conversation with O’Brien, he reiterated the challenge of standing out, emphasizing that Sandler “caught fire pretty quick” and arrived “loaded” with material. No other individuals or organizations offered responses to Spade’s remarks.

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• “I’d tell Adam [Sandler], ‘Fuck, that was funny - I’m so jealous,’ because that’s sort of like at least acknowledging something was good, or makes you better, to go, ‘OK,’” — David Spade — David Spade

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• “I mean, obviously, Sandler caught fire pretty quick, and he’s got so many moves, all these characters. Everything was happening so fast. I was like, ‘Holy shit.’ He really came in loaded,” — David Spade — David Spade

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