Saturday Night Live is a place where unknown actors and comedians become household names. Indeed, it’s one of the most iconic sketch comedy shows of all time. SNL first hit the airwaves on October 11, 1975, to rave reviews. The series has had its ups and downs. There were times when it was cutting-edge, with classic characters. Of course, some seasons weren't such a hit with fans and critics. There were seasons that just didn't deliver.
SNL gave many actors and comedians their first breakthroughs. A long list of stars went on to become some of the biggest names in Hollywood. SNL is known for discovering talent that went on to dominate the entertainment industry, such as Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Adam Sandler, and many more.
Of course, not every actor or comedian had a big break because of SNL. Many world-famous celebs turned down opportunities to join SNL. In the end, they didn’t need a famous sketch comedy show - they became famous on their own. Of course, SNL rejected a few others, but it turned out to be the best thing for them.
It’s time to take a closer look at SNL and the stars that didn’t need the show. Here is...Rejected: Famous Stars That Turned Down Saturday Night Live.
13 Mindy Kaling
From 2005 to 2013, Mindy Kaling portrayed Kelly Kapoor on The Office. She was also a writer and executive producer. In 2004, Kaling auditioned for Saturday Night Live, but they offered Kaling a position after she started on The Office. It was Kaling’s childhood dream to work on SNL, so Mindy considered taking the job. However, she realized the opportunity she’d be giving up and then turned down the offer. Kaling admits it was one of her toughest decisions, but clearly, it was the right one.
12 Steve Carell
Many famous stars rejected Saturday Night Live, but it went both ways. Indeed, Steve Carell and his wife, Nancy Walls, auditioned for SNL in 1995. They had started dating earlier in the year. Walls landed a role on the show, but Carell didn’t. Carell was disappointed at the time but is now happy he didn’t land a position on the show.
Of course, Carell’s career worked out in the end. Later, Carell became a household name with his starring roles in The Office and The 40-Year-Old Virgin.
11 Catherine O’Hara
In the late 70s, Catherine O’Hara gained fame for her role on the sketch comedy series, SCTV. In 1981, O’Hara left SCTV to take a position with Saturday Night Live. O’Hara immediately regretted her decision and left SNL after just two weeks.
O’Hara felt she made a mistake and didn’t fit in with SNL, so she returned to SCTV, and her career continued to skyrocket. O’Hara is best known for her roles in Beetlejuice, Home Alone, and the television series, Schitt’s Creek.
10 Johnny Knoxville
Johnny Knoxville is best known for his MTV series, Jackass. Knoxville often performed outrageous and dangerous stunts on the show. His antics made him a household name.
Before MTV picked up the series, Saturday Night Live saw a demo tape of the show. SNL liked what they saw and offered Knoxville a spot in the cast. Knoxville turned down the offer because he wanted to work with his friends and have full control of his work.
9 Donald Glover
Donald Glover first gained fame for his role in the popular series, Community. Glover is the creator and star of the critically-acclaimed series, Atlanta. Glover also has a successful music career under the name, Childish Gambino.
Way back when, there was a time when he was a struggling writer on the show, 30 Rock. During that time, in 2007, Glover auditioned to play President Barack Obama on Saturday Night Live. Glover didn’t get the role - instead, it went to Fred Armisen.
8 Charlie Barnett
The late stand-up comedian, Charlie Barnett, is best known for being Dave Chappelle’s mentor. In 1980, Barnett auditioned for Saturday Night Live. It went well, and the role was his. However, Barnett was self-conscious about his weak reading ability and skipped the follow-up read-through. So, the position went to Eddie Murphy.
Barnett admitted that he was bitter and resentful towards Murphy for years. Barnett eventually had a career breakthrough and was best known for his role as Noogie in the hit series, Miami Vice.
7 Amy Sedaris
Amy Sedaris currently stars in the television series, At Home with Amy Sedaris. She first gained fame for her role in the Comedy Central series, Strangers with Candy. In 1995, Saturday Night Live creator, Lorne Michaels, offered her a spot on the show.
At the time, Sedaris was starring in the play, One Woman Shoe, and loved her life. She didn’t want to give up the play, so she turned down SNL. Sedaris is pleased with her decision and doesn’t regret the choice she made.
6 Paul Reubens
At one time, Paul Reubens’s dream was to be a cast member on Saturday Night Live. However, that quickly changed. Reubens realized he wasn’t going to land the role when he saw Gilbert Gottfried at the same audition. He felt they were too similar, and Gottfried had an in with the producer.
However, Reubens is more than happy that he didn’t land the role. Indeed, Reubens learned from the experience. His failure to get on SNL as a cast member drove him to find significant success with the character, Pee-Wee Herman.
5 John Candy
The late John Candy will do down in history as one of the greatest comedians of his generation. In the late 70s, Candy first gained attention for his role on the sketch comedy series, SCTV.
In 1980, Dick Ebersol attempted to lure Candy away from SCTV to Saturday Night Live. Candy didn’t like being put in between the two shows and decided to stay with SCTV. Candy appeared in several classic films, including Home Alone, Cool Runnings, Uncle Buck and Planes, Trains & Automobiles.
4 Aubrey Plaza
Aubrey Plaza admits she got into comedy because her dream was to be on Saturday Night Live. Plaza is another celeb that SNL rejected, but Plaza now realizes that she should have done the rejecting.
In 2005, Plaza interned at SNL and got an audition. It went terribly, and Plaza moved to Los Angeles. Of course, this move ended up being the best decision she ever made. Plaza went on to portray April Ludgate on the hit series, Parks & Recreation.
3 Andy Dick
In the early 90s, the controversial Andy Dick made a name for himself with his role on The Ben Stiller Show. After the series ended, Saturday Night Live approached Andy. Andy noted that SNL offered him a spot on the show without having to audition. At the time, Andy turned the offer down because he just finished The Ben Stiller Show. However, Andy now feels he just didn’t have the confidence, so he passed on the SNL offer.
2 Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey is another celeb that Saturday Night Live rejected. However, the best thing that ever happened to Carrey is that he didn’t get a spot on the show. If Carrey goes back in time, he should reject any SNL offers.
Lorne Michaels admits that he wasn’t the one that rejected Carrey. It was actually a staff member who assumed Michaels wouldn’t like Carrey. Carrey soon joined the cast of the sketch comedy series, In Living Color, and starred in several classic movies.
1 Jennifer Aniston
From 1994 to 2004, Jennifer Aniston portrayed Rachel Green on the beloved sitcom, Friends. In the early 90s, Aniston was on the verge of her career breakthrough and had already accepted the role on Friends. However, Saturday Night Live offered Aniston a spot as a cast member. Indeed, Adam Sandler remembers seeing Aniston at the SNL offices.
Of course, Aniston chose Friends over SNL, partly because she felt SNL was a boy’s club. Aniston made the right choice because the world got to meet Rachel Green.