Will Forte recently opened up about the intense and exhausting experience of bringing his beloved Saturday Night Live character MacGruber back to life for Glen Powell's hosting debut. In a candid conversation about his Huntington's disease awareness campaign with Teva, the comedian described a whirlwind week that felt like a nostalgic throwback to his early days at 30 Rock—complete with severe sleep deprivation and last-minute creative marathons that tested his endurance.
The revival of MacGruber didn't materialize until the eleventh hour, according to Forte. The actor, currently working on the second season of Netflix's The Four Seasons alongside fellow SNL alum Tina Fey in Beacon, New York, initially doubted he could even participate. The idea first emerged when Powell, the Top Gun: Maverick star, reached out through mutual friends before his November hosting gig.
"I know Glen a little bit through friends and so he had reached out," Forte explained. "My friend put us in touch 'cause he was coming to host for the first time and just had a couple questions about what the week was gonna be like. So we had a nice chat about that. And he said he had a MacGruber idea."
At first, Forte assumed his involvement might be minimal—perhaps a brief cameo during the monologue or a quick walk-on moment that wouldn't require much preparation. However, his expectations shifted dramatically when he learned that SNL's producers wanted a full-fledged, traditional MacGruber sketch. This meant writing, rehearsing, and performing a complete six-minute piece that would meet the show's notoriously high standards and satisfy loyal fans who remembered the character from his original run.
The final product featured Forte's hapless hero character desperately trying to avoid questions from his allies—played by Powell and SNL cast member Chloe Fineman—about his alleged appearance in the controversial Epstein files. The politically charged premise required careful handling and sharp writing to land effectively within the show's comedic framework while addressing a sensitive current event.
What followed was a grueling creative sprint that Forte described as "really like old times." He immediately enlisted his original MacGruber collaborators, John Solomon and Jorma Taccone, and the trio launched into an intense writing session. The team found themselves working through the night, fueled by the same adrenaline and pressure that defined their original SNL tenure, when they were staff writers on the show.
"It was a couple nights of getting very little sleep," Forte recalled. "It was really like old times, 'cause in those old SNL writing days, you are so sleep deprived. So it felt like home."
The timing couldn't have been more challenging. Forte was simultaneously committed to filming The Four Seasons in Beacon, which required him to balance his SNL writing duties with his acting responsibilities on the Netflix series. He described a chaotic schedule that involved writing "in the cracks of Four Seasons stuff," rushing back and forth between locations, and stealing moments whenever possible to refine the MacGruber script.
The comedian's week became a masterclass in multitasking and endurance. He would shoot scenes for The Four Seasons, then immediately dash to a computer to continue writing. This was followed by late-night drives into New York City, where he would work until 3 a.m., catch a few hours of sleep, wake at 6 a.m. to film the MacGruber sketch, complete the shoot, and then immediately return to Beacon for night shoots on the Netflix series. This relentless pace continued for several days, with each night bringing less sleep and more pressure.
But the juggling act didn't end there. Forte also had to honor his commitment to the Huntington's disease awareness campaign with Teva, which had scheduled a shoot for that Saturday—the same day SNL performs its rigorous editing and final preparations. As soon as the Teva shoot wrapped, Forte raced back to 30 Rock to dive into the editing process for MacGruber, working against the clock to finalize the piece before broadcast.
"And then I had to come back down on Saturday for this Huntington's awareness campaign with Teva. We were shooting something that Saturday, and that's the day you're editing it," he explained. "And then as soon as the Teva shoot was over, I raced over to 30 Rock and tried to edit it. So, man, it really was like the old days."
The experience served as a powerful reminder of SNL's demanding creative culture, where time is always the enemy and perfection is the goal. Forte reflected on how this new MacGruber adventure compared to his original run on the show, noting that even when SNL was his sole focus, the time crunch felt overwhelming and insurmountable.
"Back then, when all you're doing is focusing on SNL, you're always thinking like, 'Oh man, if we could have only had even 30 more minutes!'" he said, highlighting the perpetual race against the clock that defines the legendary sketch show and its weekly production cycle.
Despite the exhaustion and logistical nightmares, Forte's dedication to reviving MacGruber for Powell's episode demonstrates the enduring appeal of the character and the special bond shared among SNL alumni. The sketch not only gave fans a nostalgic treat but also proved that Forte's commitment to his craft remains as strong as ever, even when it means sacrificing sleep and sanity for the sake of comedy.
The collaboration also highlighted Glen Powell's enthusiasm and respect for SNL's legacy. By actively seeking out Forte and championing the MacGruber revival, Powell showed how newer Hollywood stars value the show's rich history and iconic characters. His first-time hosting experience was enhanced by this connection to SNL's past, creating a bridge between different eras of the legendary program and demonstrating the show's continued relevance.
For Forte, the entire ordeal—while physically draining—was ultimately a testament to the creative magic that happens when talented people come together under pressure. The sleep-deprived nights, the frantic writing sessions, the cross-state dashes—all of it contributed to a moment that captured the essence of what makes SNL special: the ability to create something memorable and relevant, even when the odds and the clock are stacked against you.
The MacGruber sketch's success also underscores the character's surprising longevity. Originally a recurring SNL bit that parodied MacGyver, MacGruber evolved from a simple spoof into a cultural touchstone, eventually spawning a feature film and now, years later, still generating enough interest to warrant a high-profile comeback. Forte's willingness to drop everything and dive back into that world speaks volumes about his connection to the character and his appreciation for the platform that launched him.
In the end, what could have been a simple walk-on cameo transformed into a full-circle moment that reminded everyone involved why they fell in love with sketch comedy in the first place. The grueling schedule, the creative challenges, the sheer exhaustion—it all melted away when the cameras rolled and MacGruber sprang back to life, proving that some characters never truly die, they just wait for the right moment (and the right host) to return. For Forte, it was a reminder that the magic of SNL is worth every sleepless night.