‘There’s No Way I’m Getting It.’ Pete Davidson And More SNL Greats Recall Horror Of Producers Not Laughing During Auditions

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This year, NBC is honoring comedy, focusing on the sketch genre, as “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) reaches its 50th anniversary on television. As we anticipate Dave Chappelle, Timothée Chalamet, and other Season 50 hosts and musical guests to appear in the 2025 TV lineup, some of SNL’s cast and crew are reminiscing about their past in the docuseries “SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night.” The role of a cast member is known for being demanding, and it appears that the audition process can be particularly daunting, as Pete Davidson, Cheri Oteri, and other alumni share tales of the discomfort of performing without laughter from producers.

The four-part series titled SNL50, which debuted on January 16 for viewers with a Peacock subscription, delves into the first installment highlighting the significant anniversary of Saturday Night Live. This initial segment primarily concentrates on the nerve-wracking audition process. It’s undeniable how intimidating it is for these comedians to perform in front of showrunner Lorne Michaels and producers, with Andy Samberg openly confessing he felt so terrified that he vomited. The fact that the producers maintain a relatively expressionless demeanor during the auditions only adds to the anxiety. Pete Davidson recounted his experience on the docuseries.

They extend the stage into view, which was previously darkened for anonymity during auditions. It can be quite nerve-wracking since there are only a few judges present. Occasionally, every two minutes or so, someone would chuckle, making me think, “That joke wasn’t funny at all; I don’t stand a chance.

Pete Davidson, who was a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 2014 to 2022, is not unique in his experience. Similarly, Nasim Pedrad (2009-2014) and Cheri Oteri (1995-2000), both former SNL cast members, have also described the deafening quiet of their auditions, and Cheri Oteri was even warned by another comedian just before she went on stage.

As I prepared for my audition, a man exited the room having just completed his turn, and he warned me, “Brace yourself. They don’t find humor here.

Performing multiple impressions and zany characters within just five minutes can be quite a challenging ordeal for the hopefuls, as it’s evident in those intense auditions. Kyle Mooney, a cast member from 2013 to 2022, intentionally misspoke Lorne Michaels’ name during his 2012 audition, leaving him second-guessing the wisdom of that move. He later admitted: “That was quite a dilemma.

During that moment, I found myself adopting a somewhat unpolished interview persona, not my usual eloquent self… I attempted to kick off my audition with an attempt at mimicking a Saturday Night Live host’s style, saying something along the lines of, ‘I can’t believe I’m here at 30 Rock, in front of the legendary Lonnie Mickers!’ Unfortunately, this didn’t elicit any response. I immediately felt a pang of disappointment and thought, ‘Oh dear!’. This was my very first move, and it left me feeling rather disheartened.

It appears that numerous prominent figures on “Saturday Night Live” have gone through the same experience of auditioning in front of an audience that doesn’t react, and Michael Shoemaker, a producer from 1990 to 2009, questions whether this practice should be altered. Shoemaker stated:

*or*

Many major “Saturday Night Live” actors have experienced auditioning in front of a non-responsive audience, and Michael Shoemaker, a producer from 1990 to 2009, ponders if this method should be revised. Shoemaker expressed:

*or*

It’s common for prominent “Saturday Night Live” actors to audition without audience feedback, and Michael Shoemaker, a producer from 1990 to 2009, suggests reconsidering this approach. Shoemaker stated:

It seems there’s no one finding humor in the moment. Frankly, I believe we could use more laughter among us. However, it’s still possible to find amusement, but perhaps the jokes have all been told – just keep calm and don’t let it worry you if they aren’t landing right now.

Previously at SNL, Ayala Cohen openly stated that she refused to feign laughter to avoid influencing the selection process. This aligns with what might be every prospective cast member’s greatest concern, as Marci Klein – who led talent from 1995 to 2012 – affirmed.

If something doesn’t make me laugh in the first minute, it’s not gonna get better.

It seems like quite a challenging task, yet it’s not often described as an effortless one. In fact, David Spade has referred to it as a grueling ordeal, suggesting that few Saturday Night Live cast members remain for more than a few seasons. This makes the longevity of Kenan Thompson, Pete Davidson, and other long-serving cast members all the more impressive.

To delve deeper into the past five decades of Saturday Night Live and catch a glimpse of some beloved cast members’ early audition performances, you can stream all four episodes of “SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night” right now on Peacock. The iconic sketch comedy returns to your screens at 11:30 p.m. ET this coming Saturday, January 18th, on NBC.

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2025-01-16 20:09