The Surreal Experience of Auditioning for Saturday Night Live

TLDRAuditioning for Saturday Night Live is a nerve-wracking and surreal experience. Andy Samberg recalls throwing up before his audition and feeling the pressure of meeting the legendary producer Lorne Michaels. He shares how the audition process works and the importance of making a strong impression. Samberg also discusses how he got the opportunity to write for Jimmy Fallon and how it eventually led to his own audition as a performer on SNL.

Key insights

🎭Auditioning for SNL is a dream for many performers.

🤢The pressure of the audition can cause physical reactions like nausea.

🤷‍♂️The audition involves meeting legendary producer Lorne Michaels.

😂Impressing Jimmy Fallon with an impression helped Samberg get recommended for SNL.

📝Writing for Jimmy Fallon prepared Samberg for the fast-paced writing style of SNL.

Q&A

What is the audition process for Saturday Night Live?

The audition involves performing stand-up and sketches in front of producer Lorne Michaels.

Did Andy Samberg really throw up before his SNL audition?

Yes, Samberg admits to throwing up before auditioning for SNL due to nerves and pressure.

How did Jimmy Fallon's recommendation help Samberg?

Fallon's recommendation to Lorne Michaels helped Samberg get the opportunity to audition for SNL as a performer.

Was writing for Jimmy Fallon beneficial for Samberg's SNL audition?

Writing for Jimmy Fallon helped Samberg develop his comedic writing skills, which prepared him for the fast-paced writing style of SNL.

What role did Samberg's friends play in his SNL journey?

Samberg's friends from high school, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone, joined him as writers on SNL's Digital Shorts segment.

Timestamped Summary

00:00Andy Samberg recalls the nerve-wracking experience of auditioning for Saturday Night Live (SNL), comparing it to the surreal feeling of meeting someone you've known for a long time.

03:49Samberg shares how he threw up before his SNL audition due to the immense pressure and desire to be part of the show.

05:45The audition process involves performing stand-up and sketches in front of Lorne Michaels, the legendary producer of SNL.

09:18Impersonating Jimmy Fallon during his audition helped Samberg catch the attention of Tina Fey, who laughed at his impression.

12:30Samberg explains how writing for Jimmy Fallon's show prepared him for the fast-paced writing style of SNL and eventually led to his own audition as a performer.