Saturday Night Live has a long history of impressive talents trying out for the show, including such world-renowned comedians as Jim Carrey, Kevin Hart, Donald Glover and Lisa Kudrow, among countless others.
While rejection from the show is never easy, one notable SNL hopeful revealed the arduous process behind his rejection from the series, as discussed in length on a 2025 episode of Dana Carvey and David Spade’s Fly on the Wall podcast.
Though today known for his work as a successful stand-up comic and acclaimed comedic actor, Andrew Santino revealed that he initially tried to make a name for himself in the industry by auditioning for SNL prior to the 2013/2014 season.
At the time, Santino was testing opposite Pete Davidson, with the comedian believing he left a favorable impression on SNL producer Lorne Michaels, as evidenced by the fact that he received a call from Michaels inviting him back to New York for a one-on-one meeting.
“I flew to New York, and I was like, is this it?” Santino recalled thinking. “Am I going to move to New York? Like, this is wild.”
Arriving at 30 Rock, Santino and Michaels sat in the latter’s office, where “we talked for an hour about Chicago. He loved talking about Chicago because he knew I was from Chicago. He ate popcorn.”
Following this, Michaels then brought Santino out to meet a number of people involved with the show. “And so I walked around and met all the writers,” Santino continued.
While all of this seemed like a promising set-up for an eventual job offer, Santino’s hopes were promptly crushed when Michaels delivered his rejection.
“I think you’re going to have a great career,” Santino remembered Michaels telling him. “I don’t think you’re the puzzle piece I’m looking for.”
Reacting to the story, Spade expressed disbelief that Michaels would go through all of that trouble only to reject Santino’s audition. “It’s like meeting the family of the girl who breaks up with you,” the former SNL player observed.
Fortunately, Santino explained that he doesn’t have any ill feelings about the rejection, explaining that he wasn’t surprised that Michaels ultimately settled on Davidson.
“Yeah, [Davidson[ is like a decade younger than us,” Santino said. “He was a kid. So I was like, ‘Yeah, they’re gonna pick this malleable, cute kid whose dad died in 9/11 versus a vulnerable redheaded crackpot.’”
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