Marcello Hernandez '19 Joins the Cast of Saturday Night Live

9/15/2022 7:15:00 PM | By: Joe Ginley '16, SID

Marcello Hernandez will be part of the cast for the 48th season of Saturday Night Live.

When you tune into Saturday Night Live next, you'll now see the face of a Blue Streak.

Marcello Hernandez '19 has joined the cast of SNL.

The first-generation Latino comedian played for the John Carroll Men's Soccer and graduated from John Carroll University in 2019 with a degree in Entrepreneurship & Communication, TV & Screenwriting.

"I can't even put into words how proud I am of him," said Head Coach Dejan Mladenovic '06. "The sacrifice he made as a young man to pursue his dream is something I've respected and admired for several years now. The fact that he followed through on that dream with all of the effort and sacrifice, and now gets to see it come into fruition is amazing."

Hernandez arrived at John Carroll via Miami, Florida. He matriculated from Belen Jesuit in Miami. The prestigious Jesuit high school was founded in 1854 in Havana, Cuba, but forced to relocate in 1961 when the new political regime of Cuba confiscated the school property and expelled the Jesuit faculty. The school was re-established in Miami the same year.

Hernandez earned First-Team All-Miami Dade in 2014, leading the Wolverines in goals and assists. He was part of the U15 Dominican Republic National Team trainings and later graduated from Belen with a 3.6 GPA.

In the fall of 2015, Hernandez joined the Blue Streaks as a freshman. During his first season, he played in 7 games, logging 88 minutes.

During the following season in 2016, Hernandez earned a starting role early in the year as a dynamic midfielder. He impressed during the team's season-opening venture to New England.

But after the third game of the season, Hernandez approached the coaching staff with some news. He had decided to quit.

Why?

Well, Hernandez was a budding star. He began performing in the off season at open mic nights. After the soccer season began, Hernandez was Ubering every night from John Carroll after soccer practice to Lakewood to continue working on his acts. As his passion for comedy grew, Hernandez knew it was time to walk away from the sport he loved to pursue the entertainment business full time.

During the rest of his time at JCU, Hernandez dove into his dreams. He became involved in Debate, Theater, and Improv.

And Hernandez truly excelled. He participated in the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute, earned the John J. Reardon '59 Memorial Scholarship for Outstanding Performance in Theater, and won Outstanding Delegate at the Model United Nations Arab League Conference at Georgetown.

"This is another great example of why JCU is such a special place," Mladenovic said. "Marcello came here to be a student first and an athlete second. He didn't lose sight of his dream. When the opportunity came and he knew he couldn't do both, he was supported by the members of the program even though he wasn't playing anymore, as his teammates attended his comedy shows and standup. The John Carroll community always finds a way to support others' endeavors, even though they may not line up with their team or program. This is another wonderful example of what makes John Carroll a wonderful school."

After graduating with his John Carroll degree in 2019, Hernandez gained experience in a variety of areas. Hernandez worked as a production assistant with TBS's Impractical Jokers, Accidental Comedy Festival, and Hilarities Comedy Club.

The 48th season of Saturday Night Live will debut on October 1.

"I was a huge SNL fan since I was a little kid, I still remember the Adam Sandler and Will Ferrell days. To watch someone I know be on that cast is a dream come true for me, let alone for Marcello," Mladenovic added. "I'm super excited and I'll be tuning in live, I can't wait to see him perform."

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