Sarah Sherman SNL Face Secrets: Why Lorne Michaels Told Her to Stop Catching Flies

Even the most brilliant comedians don't escape the watchful eye of the boss. Sarah Sherman, the breakout star of SNL, recently revealed that creator Lorne Michaels called her out for a specific facial expression she didn't even realize she was making. During a guest appearance on the Stavvy's World podcast on January 5, 2026, Sherman shared the humorous yet blunt critique she received behind the scenes.

The Story Behind the Sarah Sherman SNL Face and Lorne's Warning

Sherman is known for her wide-eyed, mouth-agape reactions, but Michaels wasn't exactly a fan of the look. "Lorne always says, 'You're going to catch flies in that mouth,'" she joked on the podcast. In her defense, Sherman explained that the expression is her natural reaction to the "shocking" plot points she witnesses during sketches. She cited a specific performance by Nikki Glaser and Tommy Brennan that left her "legitimately disturbed."

She admitted that her immersion in the sketches can be so intense that she sometimes finds herself 10 seconds late on a line because she's too busy watching the chaos unfold around her. It's this raw, unfiltered energy that has defined her tenure since joining as a featured player in 2021.

The Bluetooth Vomit Rig That Never Made the Cut

The conversation also touched upon the brutal reality of the SNL writing room. Sherman recalled a particularly gross sketch she co-wrote with Mikey Day involving animatronic vomit. They even developed a high-tech "vomit rig" that hooked into the ear like a Bluetooth device. Despite the "technological developments," the sketch didn't get a single laugh and was promptly scrapped. Sherman noted that she writes about four sketches a week, many of which never see the light of day.