Mikey Day’s Spider Meltdown on SNL’s Weekend Update Goes Viral
It takes real talent to turn a comedy desk into a minor horror show, yet Mikey Day managed it with one tiny spider. In last Saturday’s Weekend Update, Day froze mid-joke, spotted an eight-legged intruder crawling across the desk, and unleashed a reaction that felt more exorcism than sketch comedy. Audiences on BuzzFeed and People Magazine lit up social feeds, praising Day’s unfiltered panic as the best unscripted moment all season.
The clip opens with Day riffing on Washington politics, then cuts to him recoiling as he blurts, “What is that thing? It’s huge!” His co-anchor, Colin Jost, kept a straight face while Day hopped in circles, looking like a man auditioning for Survivor: Studio 8H. Jost’s deadpan line, “It’s just a spider, Mikey,” was met with Day’s growled response: “Some spiders don’t get that memo!” If comedy gold came from genuine terror, Day just struck oil.
According to People Magazine, viewers praised Day for reminding us that even pros are one rogue insect away from a full meltdown. Tweets flooded in: one fan quipped, “Mikey Day went from SNL star to insect’s worst nightmare in three seconds flat.” Another wrote, “We pay millions for CGI monsters, but give us a real spider and watch chaos reign.” It was a master class in reactive improv—Day didn’t stick to the script, he shredded it.
Backstage sources told BuzzFeed that several crew members nearly fell out of their chairs watching monitors, while the show famously never cuts Weekend Update. That meant Day had no escape hatch—he had to fight or flee. His choice of fight involved hopping onto the news desk, arms flailing like a toddler defending a block tower, and scream-whispering, “I’m not doing this! Somebody help me!” If anyone needed proof that live TV remains unpredictable, this was it.
This spectacle trended worldwide, drawing laughs and sympathetic nods from arachnophobes everywhere. Social media lit up with memes, from Spider-Man parodies to side-by-side before-and-after headshots of Day. Even Lorne Michaels reportedly asked Day in the writer’s room later, “You good?” Day’s reply: “I’m calling pest control on Monday.” If he can out-scream a spider on live national TV, what can’t he do?
Now if you ever doubt the magic of unplanned moments, remember a single spider managed to hijack a major network show and cement Day’s place in SNL lore. Next time someone tells you comedy is all about perfection, show them this eight-legged interruption. Be prepared, though—somewhere in the darkness of your living room, a tiny chaos agent is plotting its own TV takeover. Tune in next time for more bad decisions and wild reactions.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, BuzzFeed
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
