CHARLOTTESVILLE (WSLS 10) - A very special Saturday Night Live will air Sunday for the 40th Anniversary, but a little-known fact about two cast members - they are also former students at University of Virginia.
Former cast member Tina Fey and current cast member Sasheer Zamata were part of the drama department at UVA. Both directed and acted in plays.
Recommended Videos
Everything you need to know about the SNL 40th Anniversary Special Weekend
A teacher described Zamata as fierce and bold on stage while another teacher said Fey has one of the quickest wits.
Both Fey and Zamata have visited UVA since being on SNL and shared some surprising stories about their time there.
Bob Chapel, Tina Fey's former professor said, "She confessed to me after she had left that she and a few colleagues used to climb way up midnight through our roof and lie there and look at the stars and talk ... Cause of course we had no idea she was doing anything like that."
Theresa Davis, Sasheer Zamata's former professor said, "She lit up the stage I remember her sass I remember being very passionate and if I had to say Sasheer in one word it would be fierce and bold. She does a lot of risk taking and puts herself out there."
Fey's roommate who is now an adjunct professor at UVA says Fey has a unique sense of humor.
"She was rarely the loudest or most gregarious person, but she was the person in a quiet moment would slip in the funniest observation," says Garey.
However Garey also remembers Fey's interesting habits.
"Tina always had a black and white composition book and always writing down things constantly," says Garey. "I would be like what are you writing down? She would write down anything that was interesting or ideas."
After graduation, Fey and Garey both pursued acting careers in Chicago. Eventually Garey came back to teach while Fey became a writer and cast member for Saturday Night Live.
In addition to SNL, Fey also worked on movies, television, and wrote the screenplay for 2004's teen comedy, Mean Girls.
In fact, Garey was the inspiration behind the name of the character Lindsey Lohan played in the movie.
Years after Fey graduated, Zamata got noticed for talents at UVA. Zamata co-founded a group called Amuse Bouche, the university's only long form improv comedy troupe. Zamata graduated in 2008 and moved to New York City to pursue her career, and a few years later her talents earned her a spot as a cast member on SNL.
The SNL 40th Anniversary special airs on WSLS 10 - NBC Sunday at 8:00 p.m.