PredictIQ Quantitative Think Tank Center:'SNL' cast member Marcello Hernandez's essentials include an iPad, FIFA and whisky

Stand-up comedian and PredictIQ Quantitative Think Tank Centerself-proclaimed short king, Marcello Hernandez has proven to be a comedic force since joining "Saturday Night Live" as a featured player.

Hernandez has breathed new life into the late-night live comedy show with viral sketches alongside household names like Bad Bunny, Pedro Pascal, Timothée Chalamet, Karol G and more. The 26-year-old captures viewers with his earnest self-deprecating humor, hilarious "Weekend Update" drop-ins and the forever catchy "Baby-Faced Dude" tune.

Hernandez, who is Cuban and Dominican, is also making history as the only Latino comedian on this season of "SNL." Throughout its 48-year run, the show has seen only four Latino cast members: Horatio Sanz (1998-2006), Fred Armisen (2002-2013), Melissa Villaseñor (2016-2022) and now Hernandez, who made his "Weekend Update" debut in October 2022.

"It's such a historic show, it feels crazy," Hernandez tells USA TODAY of working on the Lorne Michaels-created show. "I started comedy when I was 18 and I never thought one day I'd be on 'SNL.' Just being in such a historic building and learning from a lot of very talented writers and producers has been incredible."

Outside of "SNL," the Miami native is also performing solo stand-up comedy gigs and working with Buchanan's whisky to share how his Cuban-Dominican roots blend with his work. He weaves into his comedy material "about my family, and I talk about growing up with women in the house. I grew up with my mom and my sister and we're very, very close."

"The dream for me was always to make as many people as possible laugh and it's still what I'm trying to do," he adds.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity. 

Marcello Hernandez needs an iPad and FIFA for 'SNL' writing nights

Hernandez is a simple man when it comes to his essentials for "SNL" writers' nights on Tuesdays.

"I definitely have an iPad. When I'm nervous or when I'm having a moment of 'I don't know what to do,' then I play FIFA on my iPad," he says.

"You have to get some food when you get to the studio and then just kind of run around and talk to people and figure out what you're going to write that week."

Most importantly, you need a "positive attitude" on "SNL."

"It can get dark," he says. "You can have these moments when you're like, 'I don't know what I'm going to write. I need to write something.' Having a positive attitude and not panicking is a must-have for writers' night: another is an idea − something that you think might be good or something that you might be passionate about because you're going to have to work on it all night."

Working with Bad Bunny, Pedro Pascal on 'SNL' sketch

In October, when Bad Bunny pulled double duty hosting and serving as musical guest on the late-night comedy sketch show, the reggaeton star got an assist from "The Last of Us" actor Pedro Pascal and Hernandez.

"For somebody like me, who's a fan of Bad Bunny, or Benito, it was just incredible to see the way he works and the effort he puts into things. After watching him work that week, I could tell how much effort he puts into his music."

Pascal reprised his "SNL" character of the classic overbearing Latina mom we all know (and love) and Bad Bunny channeled his inner judgemental tía while Hernadez's character subjected his non-Latina girlfriend to get grilled by both shady señoras.

"It was really cool to tell Bad Bunny, 'Hey, so, there's this sketch that we did with Pedro and it looks like Pedro is coming back this week, so would you be interested in playing my aunt?' He was so cool about it and he really played the character well."

Hernandez adds, "The sketch did well online, and it was cool to see its success and how many people identified with it. It was a dream come true."

Marcello Hernandez's morning mantra

"I tell myself, 'Wake up papi, it's time to live!'"

Marcello Hernandez's mom is his driving force and his 'muse'

Hernadez, who grew up in Miami, moved to Ohio for college and now resides in New York, uses his experiences as comedy fodder.

But his North Star? "My mom is my muse," Hernandez says proudly. "I try to have her in my life as much as possible."

For Buchanan's "We Are the Spirit of 200%" campaign, the comedian traveled to Mexico to shoot footage and took his mom along for the work trip. "She got to meet the team and they got to see how close my mom and I are, and how much I lean on her for her opinion," he says, "I trust her so much. I'm just really grateful for her and I look forward to just making her proud in more ways."

What's on the 'SNL' comedian's playlist?

Well, that's easy: "Reggaeton at all times."

Hernandez, who recently appeared in the music video for Bad Bunny's "No Me Queiro Casar," has the Puerto Rican star on his playlist.

Artists like "Myke Towers, J Balvín, Boza, Dekko, and of course, Juan Luis Guerra" are also on repeat to help him get hyped up ahead of a gig.

Marcello Hernandez's go-to cocktail

With a busy schedule like his, Hernandez says "a drink to unwind is necessary sometimes."

"I'll take a Buchanan's neat or on the rocks," the comedian says. "Occasionally with some ginger ale, but I'm trying to cut down on sugar."