It all started a few years since Saturday Night Live's creator, Lorne Michaels, died due to metastatic prostate cancer. Don Roy King, the show's director since 2006, was taken to the hospital by his daughter named Cameron after suffering a heart attack one day.
A few days pass, and Cameron visited the NBC studio in New York where the show was being filmed since its inception in 1975.
After a rehearsal for the episode that they were going to be filming later that night was completed, Cameron called every cast member for a meeting. This left everyone in the studio feeling confused, but they all went to the meeting room anyway.
As everyone went inside the meeting room, Cameron started tearing up.
Andy Samberg, one cast member of the show, stood up from where he was sitting and immediately gave Cameron a tight hug. She hugged back a few seconds later. Afterwards, Seth Meyers, another cast member, asked Cameron, "So, what brings you to the studio, Cam? Did something happen to your Daddy in these past few days?" Cameron pulled away from hugging Andy for a while and nodded.
Everyone suddenly had a gut feeling.
Cameron breathed out heavily and asked, "So, I wanna ask anyone from all of y'all... Are y'all wondering why Dad hasn't been showing up to rehearsals in these past few days? Weeks, even?"
Everyone nodded.
She continued, telling them, "Well, the thing is... Our family had to rush Dad to the hospital a few weeks ago. I'm assuming that all of you are aware about him suffering from heart failure, right?"
Everyone nodded again.
After that, Cameron said, "I just got back from the hospital that we took Dad to, and... he passed away a few minutes after I came." She started crying afterwards. Jimmy Fallon, another cast member of the show, rushed to Cameron and gave her another hug.
Cameron hugged Jimmy back.
While they were in an embrace, Jimmy said, "We're sorry to hear about your loss, Cam. May your Dad find eternal peace and rest." Afterwards, the other cast members gave Cameron a hug as well. As Cameron stopped crying a few minutes later, she said, "Thank y'all. I know that Dad's happy to have worked with people like you. And on behalf of our family, I thank all of you for giving color to my Dad's life."
Everyone smiled at Cameron.
Then, Cameron said, "Because Dad died before this episode could've started taping, y'all may notice that the director's seat is empty." Everyone nodded. She continued, telling everyone, "Well, for this episode, Dad has given me his blessing to have me take over. And don't worry, y'all. I remember everything that Dad does when he directs episodes of this show." Andy blurted out, "That's so sweet of you, Cam."
Cameron smiled.
Afterwards, she said, "Well, let's get to rehearsals, y'all. We gotta start rolling in a few hours." Everyone proceeded back to the studio, and Cameron looked over everyone's rehearsals to ensure that they were ready to begin shooting the episode later.
A few hours pass, and Cameron was told that the show was about to start taping.
So, she said loudly, "Take your places, people. We'll start rolling in a few minutes." Afterwards, every cast member appearing in the episode prepared themselves for the sketch that was going to be the episode's cold open of the night.
After that, the sketch started.
Once Jason Sudeikis, another cast member, broke character from the sketch for the cold open, he blurted out, "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!" As soon as the line was delivered, everyone prepared for the next sketch, while Cameron said behind the camera, "Now, let's get Justin Timberlake on stage."
A few minutes later, Justin Timberlake went on stage to host the episode.
Some number of sketches followed afterwards, where Justin acted in two of the sketches for the night. As the show went on commercial break, Cameron approached him and said, "Dad is so proud of you, Justin." Justin gave Cameron a hug and said, "I heard what happened to Don Roy King. I hope your father rests in peace."
Cameron hugged him back.
After that, Cameron pulled away and told him, "We're about to be back on air in a few minutes, Justin. You should get back on stage to introduce our musical guest for tonight." Justin smiled and said, "Certainly." So, Justin went back on stage.
Justin proceeded to introduce Poppy as the episode's musical guest, who performed her song Concrete from her album I Disagree.
After Poppy's performance with her backing band, Seth proceeded to host an episode of Weekend Update, where his co-host was Bobby Moynihan's impression of Nicole Polizzi, known as Snooki on the show Jersey Shore. Throughout the duration of the sketch, "Snooki" repeatedly hit on Seth until the segment was finished.
Every cast member continued starring in sketches after Weekend Update, and the show ended with dedicating the episode to Cameron's late father while simultaneously crediting Cameron as the episode's director.
To be continued in Part 2...
YOU ARE READING
Directed by Destiny (A SethFon AU)
FanfictionThis is a story about actor and television host Seth Meyers, and Weekend Update's correspondent for New York City, Stefon Zolesky (portrayed by Bill Hader on Saturday Night Live). Don Roy King, the show's current director, dies a few years after Lor...