Top 20 Funniest Comedians REJECTED By SNL
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the biggest comedy superstars who once auditioned to join the “Saturday Night Live” cast but, for one reason or another, didn’t make the cut. What comedians would you like to see join the cast of “SNL”? Drop your recommendations in the comments below. You never know, Lorne Michaels may be reading.
#20: Kumail Nanjiani
Prior to his “SNL” audition, Kumail Nanjiani had already dabbled in sketch comedy, having appeared in various roles on the IFC series “Portlandia.” This experience seemingly caught the attention of Lorne Michaels, who also produced “Portlandia,” prompting Nanjiani to try out for “SNL.” Although he wasn’t selected as a cast member, Nanjiani was hired to join the writing team for a few weeks. However, prior commitments prevented him from staying longer, so he only wrote for one week before exiting the show. After making a name for himself, Nanjiani eventually performed on the “SNL” stage in 2017, this time making his debut as a host.
#19: Jack McBrayer
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In the early years of his career, Jack McBrayer did a lot of improv, showcasing his talents with The Second City and iO Theater in Chicago. It was during this time that he crossed paths with Tina Fey, who later joined “SNL” and ascended to the role of Head Writer. McBrayer auditioned for the show, apparently on the same day as his longtime friend Seth Meyers. But while Meyers secured a spot, McBrayer was passed over. Nonetheless, his audition seemingly left an impression on Fey and Lorne Michaels, as they would later offer him the role he has become most recognized for: Kenneth Parcell on “30 Rock.”
#18: Tiffany Haddish
In November 2017, Tiffany Haddish made history as the first African-American female stand-up comic to host an episode of “SNL.” But it seems she may have manifested it years earlier. Prior to her breakthrough role in “Girls Trip,” Haddish tried out for “SNL,” delivering an audition that many believed was terrific. However, for some reason, it wasn’t enough for “SNL” producers and Haddish was turned down. Undeterred by this setback, she reportedly joked that the next time they see her, she’ll be hosting. And that’s exactly what happened. Her performance as host was so well-received that she won an Emmy Award for Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.
#17: Marc Maron
In 1995, “SNL” saw a major overhaul in its lineup, with many longtime cast members being replaced with new faces. One of those faces could have been Marc Maron. The renowned comedian and podcaster auditioned as a potential replacement for Norm MacDonald on “Weekend Update.” However, during the audition, Maron was reportedly high and nervous, and got into a staring contest with Lorne Michaels. Reflecting on the experience, Maron speculated that his decision to take a candy from a bowl on Michaels’ desk may have cost him a spot on the show. Years later, Michaels dismissed those concerns during an appearance on Maron’s podcast, clarifying that the show was just undergoing significant changes and uncertainties about its future direction.
#16: Kathy Griffin
Kathy Griffin got her start in comedy performing with the LA improv troupe The Groundlings. In the early 1990s, Lorne Michaels visited LA to see a performance by The Groundlings. This visit seemingly sparked hope in Griffin, as she aspired to catch Michaels’ attention and secure a spot on “SNL.” Unfortunately, Michaels was only impressed by Julia Sweeney, choosing her over Griffin and another aspiring performer who would later rise to fame. Disappointed by this outcome, Griffin initially struggled to cope with the lost opportunity. However, she seemed to channel her disappointment into her career, ultimately becoming a renowned comedian and actress in her own right.
#15: Jennifer Coolidge
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Jennifer Coolidge also performed with The Groundlings, and was one of many hopefuls who tried for a spot on “SNL” in 1995. Coolidge auditioned alongside fellow Groundlings Will Ferrell, Cheri Oteri and Chris Kattan, and was the only one among them who wasn’t cast. Just a few years later, however, she got her big break after landing the role of “Stifler’s mom” in the “American Pie” franchise. Although her career faced a decline afterwards, she experienced a remarkable resurgence with her award-winning performance in “The White Lotus.” These days, Coolidge reflects on her “SNL” rejection with a positive perspective, stating that she was “spared a bullet” as she likely wouldn’t have fared well on the show.
#14: Nick Kroll
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Like many other comedians, Nick Kroll harbored a lifelong aspiration to join the cast of “SNL.” Attempting to fulfill this dream, he auditioned for the show in the late 2000s. However, despite his performance being solid, the producers didn’t see him as an ideal fit and opted not to cast him. Of course, this setback hardly hindered Kroll’s career momentum, as he quickly found success shortly after. In fact, “SNL” may have made the wrong decision, as Kroll later proved, in his own series “Kroll Show,” that not only did he excel at sketch comedy, but he could also command the spotlight as the sole focus of an entire show.
#13: David Cross
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Comedian David Cross is known today for his groundbreaking work with the maverick mid-90s comedy program, “Mr. Show with Bob and David.” However, Cross’ unique and uncompromising style of comedy didn’t always do him favors, like the time he auditioned for a spot on “Saturday Night Live.” Cross took a chance bringing his Boston-based group, Cross Comedy, to New York City in the years prior to “Mr. Show’s” breakout success. It apparently didn’t go down well with “SNL” brass, as Cross Comedy was soundly rejected and sent packing back to Boston.
#12: Lisa Kudrow
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Before she gained worldwide recognition as Phoebe Buffay on the hit sitcom “Friends,” Lisa Kudrow honed her skills as a performer at The Groundlings. In the early 1990s, when Lorne Michaels cast Julia Sweeney from the improv group, it was Kudrow and Kathy Griffin he passed over for the spot. Laraine Newman, one of the founding members of The Groundlings and an original “SNL” cast member, put in a good word for Kudrow with Michaels. However, she wasn’t deemed the right fit for the series at the time, even though her audition was brilliant. While the rejection was pretty disappointing, Kudrow ultimately proved she didn’t need the Studio 8H stage to make a name for herself.
#11: Kevin Hart
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It may be hard to believe it now, but there once was a time when Kevin Hart was a struggling performer, hoping to make it big in Hollywood. During that period, Hart tried out for “SNL,” delivering what was, by his own description, a disastrous audition. The comedian put on a poor impression of NBA player turned coach turned sports analyst, Avery Johnson. Perhaps his first mistake was picking Johnson, a relatively obscure figure Lorne Michaels didn’t even appear to be familiar with. Needless to say, it was unsuccessful. After achieving global fame years later, Hart returned to “SNL,” this time as a host, and joked about the failed audition during his monologue.
#10: Donald Glover
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Actor, singer, comedian, rapper, writer and director, Donald Glover has worn many hats throughout his career. But one role that evaded him was that of an “SNL” cast member. Indeed, the multi-hyphenate performer tried out for “SNL” not once, but twice in the late 2000s and was rejected both times. However, Glover harbors no resentment about it, even though he referenced it repeatedly during his hosting stint in 2018. Surprisingly, he believes that if he had been cast on “SNL,” he may not have the career he has today. Seeing the remarkable career he’s since cultivated in film, TV and music, it seems fortunate that he wasn’t hired on the show.
#9: Paul Reubens
We’ll be discussing the disastrous sixth season of “SNL,” also known as “Saturday Night Live ‘80,” a few times during this list. It was a year that saw producer Lorne Michaels exiting the show due to burnout, taking with him the entire cast and most of the writing staff. New cast members were needed as a result of this exodus, with one of the potential comedians being a young Paul Reubens. The future Pee-Wee Herman was passed over in favor of Gilbert Gottfried, however, and he used his feelings of bitterness to create what would go on to become the classic kids TV program, “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse.”
#8: Kel Mitchell
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Kenan Thompson’s tenure with “SNL” has been well documented at this point, having been a popular fixture on the show since debuting as a featured player in 2003. Thompson wasn’t the only Nickelodeon star to try his luck getting onto the “SNL” stage, however, as the comedian’s former co-star on “All That,” Kel Mitchell, also auditioned. Unfortunately, despite tons of positive fan reception to Mitchell’s work on “Good Burger” and “Kenan & Kel,” it was only Thompson who nabbed an open spot. However, the pair have reunited multiple times since, including in an “SNL” parody of the show that made them stars.
#7: John Goodman
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Although you might be forgiven for thinking John Goodman was an “SNL” cast member, given the numerous times he’s been on the show as a host, the former “Roseanne” star was actually rejected when he auditioned for “Saturday Night Live ‘80.” Yep, that infamous sixth season we mentioned earlier rears its head yet again, as it was eventually revealed that Goodman was passed over during the audition process in favor of Joe Piscopo. Don’t feel too bad for John, though. We hear that he ended up doing just fine.
#6: Zach Galifianakis
Sometimes, the closing of one door results in the opening of another. Case in point? Zach Galifianakis auditioned for “Saturday Night Live” back in 1999, but sadly didn’t get the part. He apparently left a positive impression on the “SNL” brass, however, and it was one good enough to land him a job writing for a number of episodes. Plus, a post-fame Galifianakis ended up returning to the “SNL” stage years later as a guest host, scoring a Primetime Emmy nomination and bringing the whole experience full circle.
#5: Aubrey Plaza
Hey, did you hear the one about the intern who worked really hard and eventually managed to land a gig with “Saturday Night Live?” No? Then maybe you can relate to the experience of actress Aubrey Plaza, who tried to go this route when working behind the scenes at “SNL” in 2005. Plaza auditioned for a spot on the main cast three years later, but was passed over. Thankfully, it was only a year later that she found a home playing April Ludgate on the NBC hit “Parks and Recreation.” While Plaza never got to fulfill her dreams of becoming a cast member, she did ultimately host the show in 2023, so a win’s a win.
#4: Stephen Colbert
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This comedy giant may be famous today as the big shot host behind both “The Colbert Report” and “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” but everyone starts somewhere. For Colbert, that somewhere was as an improv performer, though he eventually dreamed of making it to “Saturday Night Live.” Colbert even caught the eye of “SNL” writer Robert Smigel while performing comedy in Chicago, an experience that led Colbert to nab an audition for the show in 1992. Although Colbert wasn’t hired for the job, he did end up voicing half of Smigel’s Ambiguously Gay Duo, and would later find work on “The Dana Carvey Show” and “The Daily Show” before becoming the comedian we all know and love today.
#3: Louis C.K.
Louis C.K. also spent time alongside Stephen Colbert writing for the short lived “Dana Carvey Show” in 1996, a job for which he was well prepared, given the similar gig offered to him after he flubbed a 1993 “SNL” audition. C.K. was approached by Robert Smigel to write for “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” after “SNL” brass didn’t pick the comedian out from his peers for a job. Although, to be fair, some of the other comedians auditioning that day included Sarah Silverman, Jay Mohr, and Dave Attell, so at least C.K. was in some pretty good company!
#2: Steve Carell
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Although this list is full of comedians whose rejection may seem crazy in hindsight, given their immense careers today, sometimes, the final results just make a whole lot of sense. Steve Carell’s 1995 audition falls in this category, as he and his wife Nancy Walls both tried to make it onto the “SNL” cast. Although Walls was hired, Carell wasn’t – although he did make up the other half of Robert Smigel’s Ambiguously Gay Duo with Stephen Colbert. In the end, we must admit that maybe the show made the right decision when they decided to go with none other than Will Ferrell as their final choice. Isn’t that funny?
#1: Jim Carrey
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It may seem absolutely ludicrous that someone with the comedic talent of Jim Carrey would be passed over for what is essentially the Great American Comedy Show. But that’s exactly what happened back in - you guessed it - 1980, when producer Jean Doumanian nixed Carrey’s hiring. Doumanian, then replacing Lorne Michaels, ended up going with Charles Rocket, perhaps because she was focusing on the “Weekend Update” segment, and didn’t think Carrey could make the cut. Although he was rejected more than once, Carrey went on to great success on the competing sketch show “In Living Color,” and eventually found his way onto the “SNL” stage for a little vindication, guest hosting a number of times in the years after his success.
