Julia Louis-Dreyfus Says ‘SNL’ Audition Was ‘Excruciating’: My Sketches ‘Died a Terrible Death’ in Front of ’20 Very Unfriendly Cast Members and Writers’

As a seasoned movie critic with a knack for discerning the human element in every performance, I find myself deeply moved by Julia Louis-Dreyfus‘ account of her ‘SNL’ audition. Her journey from the Practical Theater company in Chicago to the cold, unforgiving stage of 30 Rock is a testament to resilience and the power of learning from humiliation.

In a recent episode of the “Wiser Than Me” podcast (as reported by People), Julia Louis-Dreyfus reminisced about her challenging audition for “Saturday Night Live.” The Emmy award winner made her debut on the NBC comedy show in 1982 and starred across three seasons. At just 21 years old, Louis-Dreyfus was the youngest female cast member on the show at that time.

Louis-Dreyfus shared that when he first began his career, he was associated with the Practical Theater group in Chicago. The team behind ‘SNL’ attended the performance and were captivated by it, leading them to invite us all to New York and become part of ‘SNL’.

She went to New York City accompanied by three strangers, aiming to try out for “SNL” through a comedy performance of the opening act. Louis-Dreyfus recalled that the performance was a disaster as they performed “under cold, harsh fluorescent lights in broad daylight for 20 skeptical, unfriendly SNL cast members and writers. [They] were not fond of us from the start, as their friends had been recently let go to make way for our group.

She remarked, ‘We didn’t stand a chance.’ The sketches that had been successful in Chicago met an agonizing end that day. It was unbearable. I believe that experience left us humiliated for several years on ‘SNL.’ To be honest, I learned a great deal since that embarrassing day in the carpeted office on the 17th floor of 30 Rock.

On “SNL,” Louis-Dreyfus performed alongside renowned actors such as Billy Crystal, Eddie Murphy, Martin Short, and Christopher Guest. In an interview with Stephen Colbert in 2019, she described her three years on the show as both a challenging and educational period.

At one point, Louis-Dreyfus remarked that many individuals on the show were extremely humorous. However, she admitted her naivety, explaining she didn’t fully grasp the workings of the environment back then. It was a highly sexist atmosphere, as well as being rife with drug use. I, unfortunately, was oblivious to it all. All I could think was, ‘Wow, he’s full of energy.’

She stated that she wouldn’t continue with the show business if it wasn’t enjoyable anymore. In other words, she decided not to endure such a dirty, thorny path if it wasn’t going to be worthwhile in the long run. Since then, she has used the “fun-meter” as a gauge for every job opportunity, which has proved beneficial for her.

Listen to Louis-Dreyfus’ full interview on the “Wiser Than Me” podcast here.

2024-10-31 17:46

Julia Louis-Dreyfus Says ‘SNL’ Audition Was ‘Excruciating’: My Sketches ‘Died a Terrible Death’ in Front of ’20 Very Unfriendly Cast Members and Writers’

Read More

Minority Mindset