AceShowbiz - Punkie Johnson, a comedian known for her four-season stint on "Saturday Night Live", has opened up about her departure from the show ahead of its 50th season. Speaking to fellow "SNL" alums Dana Carvey and David Spade on their "Fly on the Wall" podcast, Johnson revealed that she had doubts about her place on the show as early as season 49.

Johnson approached her team with her concerns, saying, "I don't really know if I belong at this job, so maybe I should step away." However, they convinced her to stay, emphasizing the need for a plan before quitting.

While the first half of season 49 seemed promising for Johnson, with increased sketch opportunities, her doubts re-emerged after the departure of her writer, Ben Silva. Silva, she explained, had a unique ability to translate her ideas into the "SNL" format.

"I didn't really feel like I fit, like I didn't feel like that was my zone," Johnson said. "That show is for a different type of person." She further noted that while she came to the show from a stand-up comedy background, many of her fellow cast members had formal training in sketch comedy.

Despite her departure, Johnson is optimistic about her future. "Ever since word got out that I'm not going back to the show, my phone and opportunities have not stopped. It's crazy," she said.

Johnson joined "Saturday Night Live" in 2020 as a featured player and went on to appear in shows such as "A Black Lady Sketch Show","Adam Ruins Everything", "Corporate" and "Space Force".