TV Article Tracy Morgan on Saturday Night Live cast: They inspired me so much By Derek Lawrence Derek Lawrence I currently write about Fast & Furious, The Office, and Will Smith. One day, I will write Hitch 2. EW's editorial guidelines Published on August 16, 2016 10:22PM EDT Photo: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP A near fatal crash in 2014 left Tracy Morgan in so much physical and emotional pain that the usually jovial comedian couldn’t find much to joke about — until a return to his old stomping grounds at Saturday Night Live. On Tuesday, the SNL alum talked to Howard Stern about how returning in October to host the sketch show and working with the cast helped him turn things around. “When I went home, I was in the pitch meeting and this young cast – all of them, Kenan [Thompson], Leslie [Jones], everybody, the whole cast – I know they were doing their hardest, their best pitches, and they inspired me so much,” Morgan shared. The comedian, who spent seven seasons on SNL and is nominated for an Emmy for his hosting gig, was creatively stimulated so much he says he was immediately able to go back to doing what he does best. “After I left the pitch meeting, I went to [Comedy Cellar] and I grabbed the mic for the first time — for the very first time; it was like a new life — and I did five minutes,” he continued. “I will always forever be indebted to that cast for inspiring me to go back and be funny.” During his interview with Stern, Morgan also discussed the difficult mental state he was in after the accident, which killed his friend and mentor, James McNair, and resulted in Morgan struggling to speak and unable to walk. “I thought about suicide, man,” he told Stern. “I was that damaged in the hospital, man. I didn’t want to live.” Watch the full clip from The Howard Stern Show above.