Several of Netflix's most successful original shows are reality competition series, a precedent that allowed the new baking show Is It Cake? to garner an extraordinary following and claim a sizable share of the cultural conversation. While host Mikey Day has significant experience in show business – having served as a Saturday Night Live cast member since 2016 – the Netflix show has raised his profile to the point that audiences now recognize him for who he is rather than for the characters he plays.
As the general public familiarizes itself with the out-of-character Day, many will be interested in learning more about the comedic-actor-turned-host.
He Was A Writer On SNL Prior To Joining The Cast
When Day joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 2016, he had already been involved with the show as a writer for three years. According to Vulture, writers had successfully transitioned from the comedy institution's writing staff to its cast on multiple occasions prior to Day's promotion – a similar career path to SNL writers who became famous after leaving the show – with notable examples of writers-turned-performers including Tina Fey, Jason Sudeikis, and Colin Jost.
Day's diverse skills as an entertainer likely inspired Netflix officials to select him for the Is It Cake? position and their expectation of his capability has certainly been validated.
He Co-Starred In The "David Blaine Street Magic" Video
In the internet's earlier years, Day achieved a lower level of fame by co-starring in the relatively popular YouTube video "David Blaine Street Magic." Reddit user nitsujrendrag recalled watching the video during its initial popularity, saying, "This was one of the first sketches I saw during those early YouTube days where I thought, 'These guys should be on SNL.'"
Day was one of the few early internet comedians who managed to translate their fringe success into mainstream popularity – a popularity that he has expanded with Is It Cake?
He Co-Wrote A New Feature Film
After several successful years in front of the camera, Day has resumed his writing career by co-authoring the screenplay for the new film Home Sweet Home Alone with his Saturday Night Live writing partner, Streeter Seidell.
The film is a reboot of the 1990 classic Home Alone and despite its varied reception from critics and audiences, Home Sweet Home Alone isn't as bad as people think. By expanding his involvement in television and venturing into film simultaneously, Day is cementing a career that few comedians can expect to achieve.
He's A Prince Fan
In an interview with University of Pittsburgh students, Day listed the late musical mastermind Prince as one of his favorite acts to perform on Saturday Night Live during his tenure. He states, "I was there when Prince was there, and I was looking at him like, 'Oh my god, that's really Prince!'"
As SNL incorporates music and comedy with equal respect, its cast members' interest in the musical performances has contributed to the show's cohesion. Day is not known to reveal many details about his personal life, but his admiration for Prince humanizes him in the eyes of those who follow his work.
He Knew SNL Co-Star Leslie Jones As A Child
Like many entertainers, Day and his former Saturday Night Live co-star were raised in southern California. While the region is populated heavily enough that most of these individuals never crossed paths during their childhoods, Day and Jones learned that they were loosely acquainted decades before they worked together.
The Hollywood Reporter quotes Jones as saying, "He told me that when he was little, he used to go to this restaurant in Orange County called Spoons. And he remembered this lady who used to wait on him. Dude – I was the f****** lady!"
He Had An Awkward Encounter With Steven Spielberg
SNL cast members meet a surplus of cultural icons through their involvement with the show, but Day's meeting with iconic director Steven Spielberg was noteworthy for its discomfort. According to Yahoo! Sports, Day recounted their conversation on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, saying that the filmmaker noticed the Jurassic Park shirt that he was wearing for an upcoming sketch and quipped, "I know that."
Unable to think of a more interesting response, Day simply replied, "Yeah, the sketch doesn't take place in the actual park. It takes place on the ride." He would have ideally been more courteous to the director of a great, timeless movie like Jurassic Park.
He Came Up With The Weekend Update Recurring Sketch About Don And Eric Trump
One of Day's most popular and recognizable SNL routines is that in which he plays Don Trump Jr. as the former President's son reigns in his comically-childish brother, Eric (played by Alex Moffat).
A Deadline article quotes Day as saying, "Remember that picture that came out with the Trump kids and they were sort of in a stacked triangle? Kind of creepily looking into the camera? I remember seeing that and I went up to Alex [Moffat] and was like, 'We should try and write maybe a Weekend Update feature where we're the Trump brothers.'"
He Was A Cast Member On Wild 'N Out
One of Day's most notable performances prior to Saturday Night Live was that as a cast member on the Nick Cannon-hosted MTV series Wild 'N Out during the program's first six seasons. According to Wild 'N Out's website, Day's performance experience prior to joining the cast included the Improv Olympics in Hollywood and the WB series Angel.
At the time of Day's hiring, Taran Kilam (notable for his impersonation of Ted Cruz and his original character Jebidiah Atkinson) was the only Wild 'N Out alum who had been cast by SNL.
He Has Written For Several Comedy Series
Day has applied his exceptional writing ability to several comedy programs aside from SNL. All American Speakers lists The Underground, Incredible Crew, Robot Chicken, and Maya & Marty as series that he has contributed to as a writer.
Those who can write and perform with equal ease are rare and valuable figures in show business, and Day's diverse resume marks him as a member of this elite club of creatives. After an extended period of writing, he is likely appreciative of the opportunity to perform that the much-anticipated reality show Is It Cake? has provided him with.
He Has (Much) Older Sisters
In an interview with Yahoo!, Day mentioned that his only siblings are sisters who are so significantly older than him that they had left home by the time he began first grade. As a result, he "kind of grew up like an only child" and subsequently learned to entertain himself.
He mentioned playing with action figures frequently enough that he became an expert at providing his own sound effects as he played with the toys. Day has occasionally utilized this skill during performances on Saturday Night Live.