Ana Gasteyer is known for her ability to keep a straight face no matter how absurd a situation gets.
During her six-year tenure on Saturday Night Live, she prided herself on maintaining her composure—except for one memorable moment involving donkeys.
During a recent appearance on TODAY with Savannah Guthrie, the comedian reflected on her time at SNL and shared the one time she truly lost it during a sketch.
“I’m pretty good at not breaking,” Gasteyer said confidently.
But when asked if she ever completely cracked up on air, she admitted, “There was this crazy donkey sketch that ultimately did make it to air. It’s called Riding My Donkey.”
A Wild Ride: Riding My Donkey
The sketch in question aired during SNL’s 23rd season in 1998 and featured Gasteyer alongside SNL icons Will Ferrell, Tim Meadows, and Darrell Hammond.
The premise was simple but ridiculous: a group of political commentators debated the issues of the day—including the then-ongoing Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky scandal—while sitting atop live donkeys.
As expected, chaos quickly ensued.
Gasteyer recalled how, during rehearsals, the donkeys became completely unmanageable, disrupting the entire production.
“The donkeys went insane and went to all the wrong cameras,” she laughed.
She went on to describe how Will Ferrell’s reaction only made the situation more hysterical.
“Will is amazing because when he breaks, it’s the funniest thing in the world. He’ll keep going, but he just has tears streaming down his face,” she explained.
As the cast tried to continue with the scene, Gasteyer found herself struggling to maintain her newscaster persona.
“I was doing a newscaster from CNN, and the whole impression was just like a smile,” she said, demonstrating how she had to repeatedly force herself back into character after breaking into laughter.
Though the dress rehearsal was a disaster, Gasteyer managed to hold it together during the live taping. However, the broadcasted version still had its fair share of mayhem, including a moment when Tim Meadows was thrown off his donkey mid-scene.
The Legacy of “Schweddy Balls”
Gasteyer also reflected on another one of her most beloved SNL sketches—”NPR’s Delicious Dish: Schweddy Balls,” in which she appeared alongside Molly Shannon and Alec Baldwin.
The skit, which has since become a holiday classic, featured Gasteyer and Shannon as monotone NPR hosts interviewing Baldwin’s character, Pete Schweddy, about his holiday-themed baked goods—resulting in an endless stream of double entendres.
After watching a clip of the famous scene, Guthrie praised Gasteyer for keeping a straight face despite the relentless barrage of hilarious wordplay. Gasteyer admitted that it was no easy feat.
“The audience went so unexpectedly insane because we had done those characters a few times,” she recalled. “But the genius of putting them in that situation where they were speaking in such a deep double entendre, like, the audience went crazy.”
The sketch remains one of SNL’s most famous moments, proving that sometimes the simplest ideas—combined with stellar comedic timing—lead to comedy gold.
SNL’s 50th Anniversary Celebration
As Saturday Night Live approaches its 50th anniversary, fans can look forward to a three-hour primetime special airing live on Sunday, Feb. 16, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC and Peacock.
With five decades of unforgettable moments, legendary cast members, and iconic sketches, SNL’s milestone celebration is sure to be a night of nostalgia, laughter, and maybe even a few surprises.
For Gasteyer, her time on the show was filled with moments of comedic brilliance, but as she’s proven, even the best comedians aren’t immune to the occasional uncontrollable giggle—especially when donkeys are involved.
