With the help of friend and fellow comedian Dennis Miller, he joined Saturday Night Live in 1990.
Spade started as a writer and eventually moved up to cast member.
While there, he became known for his brand of sarcasm, and his characters in a number of sketches were hits.
Some of them include a flight attendant for "Total Bastard Airlines" who bids a dismissive "Buh-Bye" to each passenger upon disembarking; a receptionist for Dick Clark who, as a matter of policy, asks people indiscriminately, "And you are?";
and the quick-witted "Hollywood Minute" reporter who roasts celebrities with personal one-liners.
Other characters include Christy Henderson from the Gap Girls and Karl from the Karl's Video sketches.
He also did impressions of various celebrities, including Brad Pitt and Michael J. Fox.
According to interviews with Spade, most of the material that he wrote early in his time at SNL was given to Dana Carvey to perform on the show.

After the major cast overhaul following the 1994-1995 season, Spade agreed to remain on the show for the 1995-96 season to serve as a bridge between the former cast and new cast members Will Ferrell, Molly Shannon, and Cheri Oteri.
During this season, Spade was given a weekly segment called "Spade in America" which was a spin-off of his "Hollywood Minute" and "Weekend Update" commentaries.

On December 9, 1995, Spade revived "Hollywood Minute" inside one of his "Spade in America" segments; Spade joked, "Look, children, it's a falling star.
Make a wish!"
next to a picture of former Saturday Night Live cast member Eddie Murphy.
The one-liner referred to Murphy's lack of recent box office success, especially the bomb Vampire in Brooklyn.
The quip made Murphy turn against both Spade and SNL for several years afterward.
Spade wrote in his 2015 memoir that he received an angry phone call from Murphy two days later at the SNL offices; the two did not reconcile until a chance meeting in 2011.
Spade left SNL in 1996.
He returned to host an episode in 1998 and another in 2005.
With the help of friend and fellow comedian Dennis Miller, he joined Saturday Night Live in 1990. Spade started as a writer and eventually moved up to cast member. While there, he became known for his brand of sarcasm, and his characters in a number of sketches were hits. Some of them include a flight attendant for "Total Bastard Airlines" who bids a dismissive "Buh-Bye" to each passenger upon disembarking; a receptionist for Dick Clark who, as a matter of policy, asks people indiscriminately, "And you are?"; and the quick-witted "Hollywood Minute" reporter who roasts celebrities with personal one-liners. Other characters include Christy Henderson from the Gap Girls and Karl from the Karl's Video sketches. He also did impressions of various celebrities, including Brad Pitt and Michael J. Fox. According to interviews with Spade, most of the material that he wrote early in his time at SNL was given to Dana Carvey to perform on the show.
After the major cast overhaul following the 1994-1995 season, Spade agreed to remain on the show for the 1995-96 season to serve as a bridge between the former cast and new cast members Will Ferrell, Molly Shannon, and Cheri Oteri. During this season, Spade was given a weekly segment called "Spade in America" which was a spin-off of his "Hollywood Minute" and "Weekend Update" commentaries.
On December 9, 1995, Spade revived "Hollywood Minute" inside one of his "Spade in America" segments; Spade joked, "Look, children, it's a falling star. Make a wish!" next to a picture of former Saturday Night Live cast member Eddie Murphy. The one-liner referred to Murphy's lack of recent box office success, especially the bomb Vampire in Brooklyn. The quip made Murphy turn against both Spade and SNL for several years afterward. Spade wrote in his 2015 memoir that he received an angry phone call from Murphy two days later at the SNL offices; the two did not reconcile until a chance meeting in 2011. Spade left SNL in 1996. He returned to host an episode in 1998 and another in 2005.
David Spade