Fred Armisen and dozens more recount their SNL auditions for the New York Times

“The rest of it — the actual audition — is a blur. And that’s a good sign. Because the best things in your life, I think, you don’t have a memory of because it goes by so quickly.”

— So says Fred Armisen, about his Saturday Night Live audition, 11 Augusts afterward.

Roll the clip!

Armisen is one of many SNL veterans who share their stories of how they auditioned for the show, and for creator Lorne Michaels, before getting their big breaks.

The full piece by David Itzkoff appears in this Sunday’s New York Times Magazine.

Some of the stories you’ve likely heard or read before, considering how many SNL people are quoted here. But Itzkoff digs deeper with several of them. Here are links to bonus extended interviews Itzkoff conducted with:

Having read this and heard that, I’m starting to think that maybe there is a science to it, after all.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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