Stephen “Demo” DeMaria helped build the world of Saturday Night Live for half a century. Now, the veteran carpenter—often nicknamed “The Boss of the Carpenters”—has retired after working on the show from its earliest days through its Season 50 finale.
DeMaria, 87, is widely reported to have built sets for every episode since SNL debuted in 1975, an almost unmatched behind-the-scenes streak on a live television institution that reinvents itself week after week.
A career that started before SNL even premiered
DeMaria’s connection to the production predates the series’s first broadcast. He was hired in 1974 to help build studio audience seating, work that put him on the radar as the show was being assembled.
Over time, he rose into a leadership role—described in coverage as a foreman overseeing a large crew responsible for turning sketch designs into physical sets under extreme time pressure.
The weekly “live” grind viewers rarely see
What looks effortless on Saturday night is the product of a tightly choreographed build-and-swap system. Reporting on DeMaria’s routine describes early Thursday starts to review designs and coordinate construction across teams, with sets prepared offsite before being transported to Studio 8H and installed for rehearsals and the live broadcast.
It’s not just carpentry—it’s logistics. Sets must read well on camera, survive quick changes, and remain safe for performers moving fast through doors, stair units, and multi-level builds.
Favorite builds and a low-key exit after a milestone season
In interviews about his departure, DeMaria has reflected fondly on the show’s early era and the classic sketch settings he helped bring to life over the decades.
His retirement comes as SNL closes out Season 50, marking the end of a rare behind-the-scenes tenure that spans the entire lifespan of the series itself.
