Even if you don’t listen to “The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast,” I encourage you to check out the “Doppelganger” episode (embedded above for your convenience) and fast forward to 42:55 to hear this discussion, if only so you can hear Samberg do some of the bits he would have done as Beetlejuice in this sketch. Honestly, I hope that there are more behind-the-scenes Beetlejuice stories to come from Samberg, because as he says in Keaton’s monologue, he tried many times over the years to “get my BJ into the show.”
Funnily enough, the host of the episode where the Beetlejuice bit was first pitched was original “Beetlejuice” cast member Alec Baldwin. The sketch didn’t involve him or his character Adam Maitland in any way, which actually makes that bit of trivia even more hilarious. Coincidentally, Alec Baldwin (who thought “Beetlejuice” might end his career) came back for Michael Keaton’s episode of “SNL,” playing Fox News reporter Bret Baier in the cold open, and he didn’t pop up for the Beetlejuice bit. And now we’ve come full circle.
Honestly, it’s a real shame we never got to see that sketch happen in 2006, because it’s exactly the kind of refreshing, absurd take that we’d love to see in today’s frustrating political satire on the show. I wish that they would have figured out a way to bring it back in that same format this time, but having Samberg get the chance to do it next to Michael Keaton himself, well, that’s pretty special. Can’t wait to hear Samberg talk about this on the podcast.
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is in theaters now, and you can check out our full review of Michael Keaton’s “SNL” episode right here.
