Few college internships offer the chance to work alongside comedy and music legends, but for University of Virginia fourth-year student Kiera Chambers, it was another day at the office at the “SNL50: The Anniversary Special.”
The more than three-hour special honored “Saturday Night Live’s” five-decade legacy, featuring current and former cast members, top musical guests and an audience of celebrities.
Some of NBC’s most iconic shows are shot inside 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, like “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “Late Night with Seth Myers,” “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” and, of course, “SNL.” (Contributed photo)
The celebration kicked off on Friday with “SNL 50: The Homecoming Concert” at Radio City Music Hall, which Chambers watched in the audience with her fellow interns. Jimmy Fallon hosted the performance-packed show, which featured Backstreet Boys, Miley Cyrus, Brittany Howard, Nirvana, Lady Gaga and more. Some SNL favorites got in on the fun, too, including Maya Rudolph and Fred Armisen, who took the stage as Beyoncé and Prince.
On Sunday, the day of the live anniversary show, Chambers worked in the music department, setting up dressing rooms for musical guests and ushering band members through 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the home to NBC. “It was the busiest day of my life,” she said.
As a fourth-year student double majoring in media studies and American studies, Chambers never expected an internship application to land her inside the famed Studio 8H during the biggest night of “Saturday Night Live.”
“It was absolutely crazy,” Chambers said. “I think that’s the most talent I’ll ever be around in my life. It was an honor to be part of it.”
The Phone Call of a Lifetime
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Chambers has been watching “SNL” her entire life, a tradition that connected her with her film- and TV-obsessed family.
“‘SNL’ has always been a cultural reflection point in my eyes,” she said. “I appreciate how it critiques society while remaining lighthearted.”
Splitting her time between Charlottesville and New York, Chambers balances her “SNL” internship with studying media studies and American studies at UVA. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)
After initially applying for a position at NBCUniversal, Chambers decided to try again, applying for the “SNL” internship last October. This time, everything changed. She advanced through two rounds of online interviews, moving closer to her goal.
In early November, while playing tennis with a friend at UVA’s Snyder Tennis Center, she received a call from the “SNL” hiring manager – she had been selected as an intern to work from January to May, which included the historic anniversary show. She didn’t hesitate to accept the offer.
“I remember thinking, ‘Is this really happening?’” she said.
A Network of Cavalier Support
The internship wasn’t without its difficulties. Would she have to choose between taking the gig of her dreams or finishing up her fourth year in Charlottesville? Could she have both?
Chambers served as a marketing chair for UVA’s Lighting of the Lawn, an annual event that illuminates the Lawn during the winter season. (Contributed photo)
Despite having enough credits to graduate, the deadline to declare graduation had passed by the time she committed to the internship, and she wanted to stay connected to UVA.
Throughout her time at UVA, she had been involved in a range of student organizations, including serving as the marketing chair for Lighting of the Lawn, writing for The Cavalier Daily humor section, participating in First Year Players and writing for the Virginia Review of Politics.
“Everything that I do at UVA really matters to me,” she said. “I do them because I care about them. It was hard to think about parting ways.”
Chambers was also enrolled in the two-semester promotions course in the McIntire School of Commerce where professor Carrie Heilman leads students in preparing for the annual National Student Advertising Competition.
“I learned so much in the first semester,” Chambers said. She wanted to remain in the course for the second semester, but her new schedule wouldn’t allow it. Heilman was supportive of her decision.
“I was so nervous to tell my professors,” she said, “but everyone was so proud of me.”
She was inspired by Micah Rucci, a 2022 UVA graduate and former First Year Players member who had gone on to become an NBC page. Seeing one of her peers go into a similar position motivated her to make the internship happen.
She decided to split her spring semester between UVA and “SNL,” taking two classes in Charlottesville early in the week and spending the rest of the week in New York City as an intern.
“Every day at UVA is such a gift, so I’m glad to still have it as part of my routine,” she said.
