Famous Stars Who Couldn’t Land a Spot on ‘SNL’
Plenty of comedians and actors have chased a place on the cast of ‘SNL’ and learned how competitive that path can be. Auditions often draw performers from troupes like Second City, the Groundlings, and Upright Citizens Brigade, and the show regularly looks for people who can write, do impressions, and carry original characters under tight deadlines.
Many of the names below went on to headline hit series, lead films, and even return to Studio 8H as hosts or guest stars. Their stories show how a pass from ‘SNL’ did not stop them from building standout careers elsewhere in television and film.
Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey auditioned for ‘SNL’ in the early eighties and again in the mid eighties without getting a spot in the cast. He continued working the Los Angeles comedy circuit and joined ‘In Living Color’ which gave national exposure to his impressions and physical sketches.
He later hosted ‘SNL’ multiple times and appeared as Joe Biden during the 2020 presidential season. His film work includes leads in ‘Ace Ventura’ and ‘The Truman Show’ which cemented his status beyond sketch comedy.
Steve Carell
Steve Carell tried out for ‘SNL’ in the mid nineties during the same cycle that introduced Will Ferrell. He did not make the cast, while his wife Nancy Walls joined as a featured player that season.
Carell broke through on ‘The Daily Show’ and later led ‘The Office’ which became a defining workplace comedy. He returned to Studio 8H as an ‘SNL’ host after establishing himself in both television and film.
Stephen Colbert
Stephen Colbert auditioned for ‘SNL’ in the nineties after building stage time with Second City in Chicago. He was not selected for the cast and shifted to television writing and performance elsewhere.
He worked on ‘The Dana Carvey Show’ and then became a correspondent on ‘The Daily Show’ which led to ‘The Colbert Report’ and ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’. He has appeared on ‘SNL’ as a guest but never as a cast member.
Lisa Kudrow
Lisa Kudrow auditioned for ‘SNL’ around the time several Groundlings performers were under consideration. She was not chosen for the cast and continued to develop characters on stage in Los Angeles.
She soon landed ‘Friends’ where her performance as Phoebe became a signature role. Kudrow later returned to Studio 8H as an ‘SNL’ host once her sitcom success was established.
Aubrey Plaza
Aubrey Plaza interned at ‘SNL’ before she auditioned for the cast in 2008. She did not get hired and continued performing at Upright Citizens Brigade while taking small film and television roles.
Plaza soon joined ‘Parks and Recreation’ which gave her a long running network platform. She later hosted ‘SNL’ after earning awards recognition for work in film and limited series projects.
Paul Reubens
Paul Reubens auditioned for ‘SNL’ during the 1980 overhaul and was not selected for the cast. He redirected his energy into a stage show that refined his Pee wee Herman character.
That character moved to television on ‘Pee-wee’s Playhouse’ and into features like ‘Pee-wee’s Big Adventure’. Reubens made guest appearances connected to ‘SNL’ but never as a cast regular.
Jordan Peele
Jordan Peele pursued ‘SNL’ while already appearing on ‘MADtv’. He auditioned to play Barack Obama when the role was a key casting need but the show went a different direction.
Peele went on to co create ‘Key and Peele’ which produced widely shared sketches. He later shifted to directing with films like ‘Get Out’ while continuing to collaborate with sketch alumni across projects.
Donald Glover
Donald Glover auditioned for ‘SNL’ after writing for ’30 Rock’. He was not cast and kept building a hybrid career that balanced acting, music, and writing.
He soon starred in ‘Community’ and later created ‘Atlanta’ which earned major awards. Glover returned to Studio 8H as an ‘SNL’ host and musical guest in the same episode.
Patton Oswalt
Patton Oswalt auditioned for ‘SNL’ in the late nineties and did not land a cast slot. He continued to tour as a stand up and moved into writing and character parts on television.
Oswalt found steady visibility on ‘The King of Queens’ and a range of voice roles in animation. He has since appeared on live broadcasts and awards shows alongside ‘SNL’ alumni.
Jim Gaffigan
Jim Gaffigan took a shot at ‘SNL’ during the mid nineties casting search and was not selected. He focused on stand up albums and late night appearances that grew his audience.
Gaffigan later headlined ‘The Jim Gaffigan Show’ and released multiple specials that charted with streaming viewers. He has guested with ‘SNL’ performers across television while continuing to tour.
Ray Romano
Ray Romano auditioned for ‘SNL’ in the mid nineties without landing a cast position. He continued stand up sets in New York and developed material that eventually led to a network sitcom.
He launched ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ the following year which established a long running series. Romano later returned to Studio 8H as an ‘SNL’ host once his sitcom was underway.
Jennifer Coolidge
Jennifer Coolidge auditioned for ‘SNL’ during the nineties and did not make the cast. She kept performing with the Groundlings and booked scene stealing film roles soon after.
Her credits include ‘American Pie’ and ‘Legally Blonde’ along with acclaimed work in ‘The White Lotus’. Coolidge has appeared with ‘SNL’ alumni in films and series while maintaining an active comedy schedule.
Nick Kroll
Nick Kroll auditioned for ‘SNL’ and was not cast during a late two thousands hiring round. He returned to sketch and character work at Upright Citizens Brigade and built a solo stage act.
Kroll then created ‘Kroll Show’ and joined ensembles like ‘The League’. He co created ‘Big Mouth’ which expanded into several seasons and a spin off while he continued film and stage work.
Thomas Middleditch
Thomas Middleditch auditioned for ‘SNL’ around 2012 and did not get the job. He continued performing with long form improv groups and booked national commercials that raised his profile.
Middleditch then led ‘Silicon Valley’ which ran for multiple seasons on premium cable. He has also worked in animation and features while returning to live improv on tour.
Ben Schwartz
Ben Schwartz auditioned for ‘SNL’ in the late two thousands and was not chosen for the cast. He contributed freelance jokes to ‘Weekend Update’ while continuing to perform at Upright Citizens Brigade.
Schwartz went on to recurring roles in ‘Parks and Recreation’ and voice leads in projects tied to major studios. He has since headlined live shows that mix improv and music.
Kel Mitchell
Kel Mitchell auditioned for ‘SNL’ in 2003 during the year his ‘All That’ costar Kenan Thompson joined the cast. He was not selected and continued acting in television and film.
Mitchell starred in ‘Good Burger’ and later worked on Nickelodeon series like ‘Game Shakers’. He has appeared on reunion projects with sketch colleagues while pursuing producing and writing.
Mindy Kaling
Mindy Kaling met with ‘SNL’ and auditioned in the mid two thousands. She was offered a writing position for a limited period but could not leave her contract with ‘The Office’ and did not join the show.
Kaling stayed on ‘The Office’ as a writer and performer and then created ‘The Mindy Project’. She has continued producing series for streaming while writing books and screenplays.
John Mulaney
John Mulaney auditioned for an on camera role at ‘SNL’ in 2008 and was instead hired on the writing staff. He co created the character Stefon and contributed to monologues and ‘Weekend Update’.
Mulaney later left to create ‘Mulaney’ and build a stand up special catalog. He has returned to Studio 8H as a frequent ‘SNL’ host and mounted stage projects with other alumni.
Fortune Feimster
Fortune Feimster auditioned for ‘SNL’ around 2010 and did not make the cut. She kept performing stand up and joined the writing staff of ‘Chelsea Lately’ which increased her visibility.
She moved into acting with a series regular role on ‘The Mindy Project’ and a range of guest parts. Feimster has released stand up specials and continues to tour while developing scripted projects.
Nicole Byer
Nicole Byer auditioned for ‘SNL’ in the early 2010s and was not selected. She returned to Upright Citizens Brigade to keep building characters and hosted live shows that drew industry attention.
Byer later headlined ‘Loosely Exactly Nicole’ and became the host of ‘Nailed It!’ on streaming. She continues to lead podcasts and comedy tours while guest starring across television.
Share your favorite near miss stories or surprising auditions in the comments.