Wyburne Lake🎣
and the power of phone calls
On Sunday, Lauren and I watched the SNL 50 special. The best way to describe it—and SNL as a whole—is “hit and miss.”
In high school, I loved watching SNL with my mom. We’d laugh so hard at sketches featuring Kristen Wiig, Fred Armisen, Andy Samberg, and Bill Hader (whose absence from the special was a bummer). I haven’t watched consistently since, but comedic icons like Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, Amy Poehler, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Steve Martin still inspire me when it comes to humor and timing.
My mom used to tell me, “Will, you don’t have to be funny—you just have to be fun.” Even at its worst, SNL has reinforced the value of not taking ourselves too seriously.
What stuck with me most from the special was Lorne Michaels. A common thread was his influence—none of SNL's stars would be there without him. But it got me thinking about the power a single leader can have over an institution, for better or worse.
It reminded me of Bob Knight at Indiana—known for two things: winning and pushing players to their limits, sometimes to the point of trauma. Watching past cast members joke about Lorne’s creative control, I saw parallels. It’s hard to argue with the guy who built it all, but the best leaders I admire know when to pass the baton.
Overall, my view of SNL is neutral—it’s brought me plenty of laughs but has also pushed some comedians I love to the brink. These days, I enjoy sketch comedy every night of the week—whether it’s my kids in costumes, a puppet show in the living room, or a spontaneous bit at bedtime. No cue cards or dress rehearsals—just joy.
This simple tool from GiANT confirms what I’ve naturally experienced with age. Personally and professionally, those first three are in the red for a reason. GiANT explains:
Most leaders are time-poor, so we've become reliant on short electronic communication—texts, emails, and other methods. While great for conveying information, these are extremely risky for communicating challenges since words alone make up only a small part of what people actually hear.
Whether or not “bringing effective challenge” is my intent, I’ve found the latter three modes of communication to be far more effective across the board.
Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd, both SNL-influenced, have carved out their own paths, and I’m glad to see them converge here.
No telling what the movie will become, but I’ve heard fear and humor together can evoke the strongest emotions—this trailer confirms it.
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Lauren and I had photos taken early in our marriage by her talented friend, Raegan Waite. I recently came across this one—simple but a good reflection of most our mornings together.
We celebrated nine years on January 30th, and I wrote about the altar here.
Music: Tenielle Neda some mornings. Billie Eilish some nights. Revisiting Wicked soundtrack often with kids. Anticipating new Vulfpeck. Still haven’t bought Tobe Nwigwe tickets in KC…yet.
Food: I’m thankful for my wife who researches the coffee we should drink, because Fabula coffee has been a great pivot for us, that is mold-free and low acid. It’s been subtle, but I have felt a day-to-day difference the past year since we switched over.
Podcasts: Adam Scott and Ben Stiller breaking down Woe’s Hollow (Severance Season 2, episode 4) which was a wild thing to watch following a Super Bowl letdown—was simply trying to salvage the night.
Reading: The Great Mental Models Volume 1: General Thinking Concepts by Shane Parrish.