Johnny Knoxville explains why he turned down Lorne Michaels’ offer for him to join SNL
Michaels wanted the Jackass star to do five-minute segments of stunts and pranks for SNL
Aux News Lorne Michaels
Where would Johnny Knoxville be if he had never uttered the words “Hi, I’m Johnny Knoxville, welcome to Jackass?” Besides Steve-O, he’s the face that fans associate with the franchise most. He is the seemingly indestructible star who’s been put through the ringer with stunts ranging from being bitten in the nipple by a baby alligator, to being tilted upside-down inside a feces-filled porta potty. But turns out that before Jackass premiered on MTV, another monumental TV show wanted Knoxville to pull stunts for it.
In the Jackass oral history for The Hollywood Reporter, Knoxville says that while he and the rest of the Jackass crew were in the process of pitching the show without much luck, he was asked to be on Saturday Night Live.
“They were going to give me, like, five minutes each week to do what I do, but that would just be me. And I couldn’t do both,” he explains. “Our show was about to go. So I kind of bet on us as opposed to on myself. I was really flattered that Lorne Michaels asked me to have lunch with him at the Polo Lounge, but I said, ‘No, I’m going to do this instead.’”
Prior to Jackass, Knoxville shot some stunts akin to what he does on Jackass for Big Brother, a skateboard magazine edited by Jeff Tremaine. As explained in the oral history, the videos were released on VHS tapes and distributed in mom-and-pop skate shops. They became a hit, ultimately getting the attention of SNL creator Lorne Michaels. But by the time Michaels had met with Knoxville, the Jackass crew had already made plans to shoot the pilot.
Tremaine talked about it a bit more with The A.V. Club back in 2006, saying, “The ball was rolling on Jackass, but it was going slow. We made a little tape basically showing what Jackass was. It was going around, and it was really popular. SNL got a hold of it. They made an offer, and it almost killed the deal because [the offer] was a sure thing for [Knoxville].”
43 Comments
1979 CBS. We’re Coming On.
…the audience’s face, apparently.
All those shows were on CBS at one time?They look like they come from completely different eras.
Pretty psyched about having the rights to Rocky, weren’t they?
sure Vinnie
Canada’sBukkakeStationWe’re Coming On
I think we could change that to Canada’s Bukkake Channel, seing as we already have the CBC. (which turned into the Huffington Post of the North).
Look as long as you bookend the bukkake with your Naked News TV Shows then I don’t mind because I ain’t ever been to Canada.
Wonder Woman and The Incredible Hulk, on the same network? Oh, the crossover show that could have been!
The irony being that 1979 was one of the worst if not THE worst years for TV…
CBS was such a great network at one point. They figured out the key to high quality entertainment that was also massively popular. I know that’s partly due to there only being three networks, but still. To have Norman Lear AND Lou Ferrigno dominating prime time at the same time is quite a feat, unimaginable in this era of niche entertainment and specialization.
Sticking with your friends when Lorne Michaels makes you an offer just for you is God damned classy.
Johnny Knoxville is a man to admire…from a great, great distance.
I don’t know, might be like being friends with a lightning rod. As long as you’re not phsyically touching him it’s fantastic.
Jackass granted the term “classy” an aura it never relinquished to this day, even after repeat viewings…
This just in: I have that same fIREHOSE shirt. Signed by Mike Watt, no less. I will probably never get another chance to mention that as long as I live, so there you have it. Enjoy.
Good for you!
Your comment is boastful, somewhat off topic, and relevant to absolutely no one else. In most cases, you’d be either ignored or bullied mercilessly, but somehow I felt anger at the guy mocking you instead. Bravo. Well played. I have to try this. Next time, when I want to make an obnoxious comment, I’ll be sure to acknowledge the obnoxiousness of the comment because self-awareness is charming, and then remind everyone I am going to die someday, not because of disease but normal human moratality.
I’ve got a Minutemen shirt I really like a lot.
Now I regret not buying said shirt when I saw them back then…
You have my sincere feelings of jealousy / “oh snap good for-you that’s awesome!”
At least Johnny still got to host a truly terrible episode. This wasn’t his fault, he was decent enough – the writing for this period was truly godawful. There are two good sketches though, if you get through all the garbage.
I know this show’s popularity is supposed to be a sign of the pending apocalypse, but god help me it makes me laugh my (jack)ass off. You really have to admire the dedication to their craft.
Is it crazy to admit I’ve already bought my tickets? I know it’s not going to sell out but I was so excited, I couldn’t help myself?
Fuck no, embrace the crazy!Granted I married a redhead and may not be the best barometer.
Brad Pitt getting abducted is by far and away one of my favorite bits from any show
Yeah, I’d like to say my sense of humor is mat- nope, can’t finish that sentence with a straight face. The hell with it. That giant hand gag cracks me up every time. I can’t handle the gross stuff, but sometimes a little slapstick is all you need.
“I know this show’s popularity is supposed to be a sign of the pending apocalypse”
NGL I thought you were talking about SNL first. It’s always been hit-or-miss but it’s so Millennial cringe now.
So the reason Knoxville turned down SNL for Jackass is… because he wanted to do Jackass instead. What a scoop!
He chose wisely, though.
It WAS a scoop…. Just not by AVClub. Original content is so 2007.
Tremaine talked about it a bit more with The A.V. Club back in 2006,Off by a year.
It’s a good article, so…
Very convincing hair dye.
He looks like Tig Notaro
I was thinking if Tig Notaro and Ted Danson were involved in a teleportation chamber accident.
Always 2 steps behind Madtv.
Lmao yep
So Lorne was gonna give Knoxville the “Albert Brooks” role. In that he would get random segments not involved with the cast/crew and be totally different from anything else the show was doing.That’s kinda fascinating and kinda wish we got to see that. But in the long run Knoxville made the right choice.
I agree. It wouldnt have gone well. Either too much meddling from Lorne or too much public outcry. No more career for you Johnny Knoxville,
Because aside from jackass, this jackass just isn’t very good. Evidenced by all his movies.
Where would Johnny Knoxville be if he had never uttered the words “Hi, I’m Johnny Knoxville, welcome to Jackass?”A less famous asshole.
“Hi, I’m Phil Clapp, welcome to WalMart.”