Comedians Who Auditioned for SNL and Were Rejected

3 hours ago7 min read1 comments

Saturday Night Live could hold the record for launching the most comedy careers of any show ever. It would be exhausting to count all the comedians it introduced audiences to over the 50 years it’s been on the air.Even more exhausting would be trying to count all the ones who got shown the door, but the stories of the big names who bombed their auditions are the real tea. Imagine being in that iconic 8H studio, the pressure is totally on, and you're performing for Lorne Michaels whose poker face is more legendary than a Marvel post-credit scene.The list of 'almost-cast' members is low-key more fascinating than some of the actual cast rosters, like a parallel universe of comedy. Take someone like Aubrey Plaza, whose deadpan delivery is now her signature brand; she auditioned and was passed over, only to become a massive alt-comedy icon with 'Parks and Recreation'—proof that an SNL rejection isn't the end, it's just a plot twist.Then there's the legendary story of Jim Carrey, a comedic force of nature, who reportedly auditioned in the early '90s. He was already a star on 'In Living Color,' but SNL didn't bite, and he went on to define a generation of film comedy with 'Ace Ventura' and 'The Mask,' making his SNL miss look like a massive 'what if' in pop culture history.Donald Glover, a multi-hyphenate genius, also tried out. He was deep in his 'Derrick Comedy' days and, while he didn't get the gig, his trajectory into 'Community,' creating and starring in 'Atlanta,' and becoming Childish Gambino is the ultimate glow-up story that basically mocks the idea of a single gateway to success.Even the queen of relatable cringe, Mindy Kaling, has spoken about her unsuccessful audition, a moment that arguably pushed her to hone her voice on 'The Office' and later build her own empire with 'The Mindy Project. ' The SNL audition room is a crucible where comedic styles are tested, and sometimes the very thing that makes a comedian unique—their specific, un-polished, or unconventional vibe—is what doesn't fit the show's fast-paced, ensemble-sketch mold. It’s a reminder that in the messy, often unfair world of showbiz, a 'no' from one of the most powerful institutions can sometimes be the best thing that ever happened, forcing talent to forge their own path and create a legacy that is entirely, and iconically, their own.

#SNL

#comedians

#auditions

#rejections

#careers

#featured

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