The year was 1980, and SNL producers chose Joe Piscopo over John Goodman.
Goodman did do something on SNL more often than Piscopo did, though: Goodman got laughs. As 13-time (and counting!) host of Saturday Night Live, Goodman brought class, experience, and his many years as an actor in some of the finest TV and film projects ever made to the sketch show.
- Age: 72
- Birthplace: Affton, Missouri, USA
Kudrow may have sabotaged herself in her 1990 audition for SNL when producers came to see her live at the Groundlings. On the recommendation of Laraine Newman, Lorne Michaels flew out to Los Angeles to see Kudrow and fellow Groundling Julia Sweeney at the same time.
Besides hating being pitted against a fellow Groundling, Kudrow didn’t feel ready and was a little off the night Michaels and Klein were there. But, as fate would have it, there were bigger things waiting for Kudrow and she got a role on a little show called Friends. Since that explosive start, Kudrow has starred in indie films, produced and directed, and developed a number of other projects like The Comeback and Web Therapy.
- Age: 61
- Birthplace: Encino, California, USA
In 1992, Colbert fell short of expectations and failed to wow the producers at Saturday Night Live. SNL writer Robert Smigel was super impressed with Colbert at the showcase at Chicago’s Second City, but the other scouts weren’t.
- Age: 60
- Birthplace: Washington, D.C., USA
- Photo:
It’s hard to imagine Kathy Griffin following anyone’s rules, like the ones prescribed by the writers and producers of Saturday Night Live. But she, too, was a young, hungry Groundling and auditioned for SNL scouts the same night as Julia Sweeney and Lisa Kudrow. But Sweeney crushed it, with nerves and sheer fate getting the best of everyone else.
Griffin ain’t mad, though. She’s done just fine since then.
- Age: 64
- Birthplace: Oak Park, Illinois, USA
Kaling really wanted to ditch LA, move to New York, and join the Saturday Night Live crew, but it didn't work out. Greg Daniels, her boss at The Office and a former SNL writer, said that she could break her contract and go if she was offered a cast slot.
Kaling stayed and following The Office even got her own show, The Mindy Project.
- Age: 45
- Birthplace: Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Photo:
- Courtney Cook
- Wikimedia Commons
- CC BY-SA 3.0
Cook auditioned for SNL for season 28 and lost out to Will Forte.
- Age: 52
- Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Photo:
- Photo:
- Gage Skidmore
- Wikimedia Commons
- CC BY-SA 3.0
We get it. Plaza is an acquired taste. Fortunately, Amy Poehler and company saw something in Plaza and she nailed the role of April Ludgate on Parks and Recreation only a year after flunking out at her SNL audition.
- Age: 40
- Birthplace: Wilmington, Delaware, USA
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Carrey auditioned several timesand never made the cut. The first time was in the early 1980s, but he was not hired. Lorne Michaels has since claimed that he regrets not hiring Carrey, but insists he was not present for his audition.
- Age: 62
- Birthplace: Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
There’s a story out there that Hunt was on track to join SNL during the early ‘90s, but was told she couldn’t improvise. That was enough for her to kick rocks. Hunt believed in improvisation and had her sights set on bigger fish anyway, starring on shows she crafted, including The Bonnie Hunt Show and Life with Bonnie.
- Age: 63
- Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Photo:
In his audition in 1999, Galifianakis gave shades of his standup act that a lot of people just didn’t get until much later in his career. Galifianakis had to show off his weird in The Hangover before anyone of note saw what a huge draw he was. There’s no bad blood between Galifianakis and SNL.
He did work as a writer for a couple of weeks on Saturday Night Live around the time he auditioned and he did host the show three times in 2010, 2011, 2013.
- Age: 55
- Birthplace: Wilkesboro, North Carolina, USA
Reubens happened to audition during the same season as Gilbert Gottfried, and he instantly knew that both of them would not be hired. He was correct. Gottfried got the part - but only for one season - and Reubens went on to flesh out his Pee-wee Herman character and enjoy great career success.
- Age: Dec. at 70 (1952-2023)
- Birthplace: Peekskill, New York, USA
Before he teamed up with fellow MADtv cast mate Keegan Michael Key, Jordan Peele auditioned for Saturday Night Live, hoping to play Barack Obama. He was beaten out by Fred Armisen.
- Age: 45
- Birthplace: New York, New York, USA
Nick Kroll
- Photo:
- David Shankbone
- Wikimedia Commons
- CC BY 3.0
Kroll auditioned in 2008 and was passed over.
- Age: 46
- Birthplace: Rye, New York, USA
- Photo:
Hart seems like he’s made for Saturday Night Live, but alas, it was not meant to be. During his audition, Hart did his impression of NBA coach Avery Johnson, but realized that none of the producers knew who Johnson was.
- Age: 45
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Photo:
When Geena Davis was just establishing her career in 1984, she decided to try her hand at Saturday Night Live.
The thing is, Davis just didn’t seem like a natural fit for the sketch comedy show. The Oscar-winner definitely found her footing, appearing in films such as Beetlejuice, Thelma & Louise, and The Accidental Tourist.
- Age: 68
- Birthplace: Wareham, Massachusetts, USA
David Cross and Bob Odenkirk practically invented a new form of sketch comedy with Mr. Show with Bob and David in the ‘90s. So it’s a good thing that Cross bombed his audition for SNL or Mr. Show might not have ever happened. Cross brought his special brand of offbeat comedy from Boston but found that it was way too crowded during the showcase to stand out.
Cross certainly survived the experience, appearing in hugely successful projects, including Arrested Development, The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, and myriad voice acting roles.
- Age: 60
- Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Glover was already working as a writer for 30 Rock in 2008 when he heard that Saturday Night Live was looking for someone to play the newly-elected President Obama in sketches. Some critics have since noted that it was kind of strange when Fred Armisen got that gig over Glover or another African-American comedian.
Glover emerged unscathed and had a very successful run on Community and Atlanta as well as a flourishing career as his musical alter ego Childish Gambino.
- Age: 41
- Birthplace: Edwards Air Force Base, California, USA
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Groundlings Will Ferrell, Cheri Oteri, and later Chris Kattan all got on in 1995. Coolidge, from the same Groundlings group, didn’t.
Far from falling flat, Coolidge went on to appear in a slew of TV and film projects, including joining the cast of Christopher Guest’s awesome spoof documentaries, A Mighty Wind and For Your Consideration. She also had memorable performances in Legally Blonde and American Pie.
- Age: 63
- Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Photo:
- Harald Krichel
- Wikimedia Commons
- CC BY-SA 4.0
McKay flunked out as a cast member at his audition in 1995 but eventually turned a writing gig on Saturday Night Live into head writer.
He and creative soulmate Ferrell have crafted a kingdom built on films such as Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Step Brothers, the Anchorman franchise, and Funny or Die.
- Age: 56
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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- Photo:
- The Parent Hood
- The WB
Townsend lost out to Eddie Murphy in 1980 for the only "black guy" role on the show, according to former talent coordinator Neil Levy.
Townsend has made a career out of pointing out the disparity and racism in the industry with cult hits such as Hollywood Shuffle.
- Age: 67
- Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Charlie Barnett
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- Miami Vice
- NBC
Dave Chappelle mentor Charlie Barnett auditioned for Saturday Night Live in 1980. Barnett was doing quite well, when he thwarted himself toward the end of the process. Self-conscious about his reading abilities, Barnett said that he was too scared and embarrassed about reading lines out loud:“I read good, but I read slow.”
Eddie Murphy got the role when Barnett skipped the final reading. He often said that he regretted his decision and envied Eddie Murphy, who ended up as a ground-breaking cast member on Saturday Night Live. Barnett had a recurring role as Noogie on Miami Vice.
- Age: 36
- Birthplace: Sarasota, Florida, USA
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Marc Maron
In 1995, Maron was being considered as a replacement for Norm MacDonald's place on "Weekend Update." Somehow, during his final sit-down with Lorne Michaels, he botched the interview process and lost the part.
Maron has turned not being famous into a career that ironically made him famous. Bitter from all of the years in the trenches and not getting anywhere, he launched his podcast WTF in 2009 and it took off. He has also made an appearance in the Joker and is a lead on the Netflix show, GLOW.
- Age: 61
- Birthplace: Jersey City, New Jersey, USA
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- 30 Rock
- NBC
We got to know and love him as Kenneth the page on 30 Rock, but in 2001, McBrayer decided to go for a slot on Saturday Night Live. He auditioned alongside Seth Meyers, who obviously got the part.
McBrayer got to shine on Tina Fey's show and has also gotten to work with other SNL alums Will Ferrell, Tracy Morgan, and Chris Parnell. He joined the cast of The Jack and Triumph Show in 2015.
- Age: 51
- Birthplace: Macon, Georgia, USA
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John Mulaney
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Mulaney said that he felt he gave SNL a decent audition in 2008, but he didn't make the cut. As a consulation, Mulaney did write for the show from 2008 to 2012.
He and Bill Hader created the "Weekend Update" hit character Stefon for Bill Hader. He was nominated for an Emmy for his work on SNL.
- Age: 42
- Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA
The other half of Kenan & Kel on Nickelodeon, Kel Mitchell, didn’t make it to Saturday Night Live after his 2003 audition. Although it never feels good to be left behind, Mitchell has enjoyed a robust career working as both a TV actor and a voice actor.
- Age: 46
- Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA
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- Reno 911!
- Comedy Central
Reno 911!’s Kenney is hilarious, but she apparently couldn't get any laughs from her SNL audition. Kenney-Silver even called the audition process "terrifying"!
- Age: 54
- Birthplace: Westport, Connecticut, USA
- Photo:
Saturday Night Live’s loss is Silicon Valley, Portlandia, and Franklin & Bash’s gain. Nanjiani auditioned in 2012 but had stated that he didn't expect a callback. Still, he was glad for the experience, saying, “I mean, you can’t not audition for SNL.”
- Age: 46
- Birthplace: Karachi, Pakistan
- Photo:
- Gage Skidmore
- Wikimedia Commons
- CC BY SA 3.0
Paul Scheer and his friend and creative partner Rob Huebel have both apparently auditioned for SNL multiple times. Neither of them were successful on the show, but they went on to create their own sketch show on MTV called Human Giant, along with Aziz Ansari.
Scheer and Huebel’s work on The League and Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp speaks for itself.
- Age: 48
- Birthplace: Huntington, New York, USA
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Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer
Taccone, Schaffer, and Andy Samberg make up The Lonely Island. The high school pals have written and performed comedy together through thick and thin and captured the attention of Jimmy Fallon when they wrote material for the 2005 MTV Movie Awards. All three auditioned for SNL in 2005 but only Samberg made the cast. He didn’t leave his buddies behind, though. He brought them on as writers and The Lonely Island soon went viral with their SNL Digital Shorts “D*ck in a Box,” “Lazy Sunday,” "I’m on a Boat,” and “YOLO.”
The three have since left SNL but continue to produce and create comedy albums (Incredibad, Turtleneck & Chain, and The Wack Album) as well as strange movie gems such as Hot Rod.
- Photo:
- Gage Skidmore
- Wikimedia Commons
- CC BY-SA 3.0
Miller said that he tried to break the ice during his 2008 audition by bringing beer, potato chips, and firework poppers with him. When he got there, he said the atmosphere was intensely competitive and uncomfortable, and his gag with the beer didn't go over well. Miller's side of the story differs sharply from a rumor swirling that he threw a beer at Lorne Michael's head after bombing the audition on purpose. More likely than that far-fetched tale, he was just a little nervous.
- Age: 43
- Birthplace: Denver, Colorado
- Photo:
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- My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2
- Universal Pictures
Dick Ebersol went in search of bigger names for the 1984-1985 season and courted Martin for Saturday Night Live at Martin Short’s urging. But Pamela Stephenson seemed to knock everyone out of the running, so Martin was never offered the slot. Their loss.
- Age: 77
- Birthplace: Portland, Maine, USA
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Michael Patrick O'Brien
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Mike Patrick O'Brien has most notably worked as a writer for Saturday Night Live, but he was actually a featured player for the 2013-14 season.
- Photo:
- Parks and Recreation
- NBC
Glaser went for the big guns on SNL in 1995. He didn’t get the job but he did end up making a valuable friend in Robert Smigel. They both wrote on The Dana Carvey Show and then Glaser went on to write for Late Night with Conan O’Brien. He’s also spent his time creating and starring in Delocated and had a hilarious run as Councilman Jeremy Jamm on Parks and Recreation.
- Age: 56
- Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Photo:
John Roberts
- Photo:
- Gage Skidmore
- Wikimedia Commons
- CC BA-SA 3.0
John Roberts is a hilarious character actor, and his work even got him a meeting with Lorne Michaels. For whatever reason, Roberts didn't get a part on the show, but he did eventually land his great voice role as Linda on Bob's Burgers.
- Age: 53
- Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, USA
- Photo:
Roast king Jeff Ross wanted a shot at "Weekend Update" in 2000, but Tina Fey, with her three years as a writer and one as head writer, trumped that. Ross certainly had the chops to replace Colin Quinn on Weekend Update but we think Fey and Fallon did a great job.
- Age: 59
- Birthplace: Springfield, New Jersey, USA
Attell auditioned in 1993 but was asked to write instead, where he could best be used. He stayed for one season but then left to write for Jon Stewart's pre-The Daily Show gig, The Jon Stewart Show. Dave Attell did okay in his Saturday Night Live audition but he told Howard Stern that he wasn't cast because, “I’m ugly! I mean, now it’s a fug-fest… [but] I auditioned to be on the cast and they said, ‘You know what?’ You’re a writer.’”
- Age: 59
- Birthplace: Queens, New York
- Photo:
The Law & Order and standup comedy vet was Saturday Night Live’s warm-up comic for the 1975 debut season and appeared sporadically through 1980. Belzer says that Lorne Michaels promised him that he’d be worked into the show, but it never happened. Belzer has claimed, “Lorne betrayed me and lied to me - which he denies - but I give you my word he said, ‘I’ll work you into the show.’”
- Age: Dec. at 78 (1944-2023)
- Birthplace: Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA
- Photo:
- Comedy Central Presents Kevin Brennan
- Comedy Central
Stand-up Kevin Brennan was also felled by Tina Fey’s might when he auditioned to take over the "Weekend Update" desk after Colin Quinn left the show. Brennan did get a writing job for SNL in 1999. He has since continued his stand up and has written for Sports Show with Norm Macdonald.
- Age: 64
- Birthplace: USA, Chicago, Illinois
- Photo:
- Photo:
- David Shankbone
- Wikimedia Commons
- CC BY 3.0
A younger Louis C.K. auditioned for Saturday Night Live in 1993. He auditioned with Laura Kightlinger, Sarah Silverman, Jay Mohr, and Dave Attell.
But it wasn't all for naught. Louis C.K. got a gig writing Late Night with Conan O’Brien. He then went on to write, direct, and star in some of the highest-rated comedy on TV.
- Age: 57
- Birthplace: Washington, D.C.
- Photo:
COLLECTION12 LISTS
Behind the Scenes at SNLFascinating and funny tales from behind the rotating set pieces of Studio 8H in Rockefeller Center.
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Behind the Scenes at SNL
Fascinating and funny tales from behind the rotating set pieces of Studio 8H in Rockefeller Center.
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