Downey Jr., Hall on SNL's Season 11 Reflections

Robert Downey Jr. reflects on his brief tenure on 'Saturday Night Live' (SNL) during its 11th season from 1985 to 1986, as discussed in the docuseries SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night. Downey credits his friend Anthony Michael Hall for helping him land the role, with Hall encouraging him to audition. Despite the season's star-studded cast, including Joan Cusack and Jon Lovitz, it is considered one of the weakest in SNL history, partly due to the difficulty writers faced in crafting material for the young cast. Downey acknowledges the experience taught him valuable lessons about his career, despite the show's mixed reviews. Hall humorously notes that he is still waiting for Downey to return the favor decades later. Lorne Michaels, SNL's producer, admits he may have gone too young with his casting choices during this transitional period for the show.