Saturday Night Live has served as a profession launching pad for a lot of comedians, and although some have had unbelievable longevity on this system (Kenan Thompson just finished his 20th season), others have solely made it a couple of weeks. However because it seems, your tenure on the present does not essentially imply something to your future success.
It could be onerous to consider, however superstars reminiscent of Martin Short, Chevy Chase and Billy Crystal solely lasted one season on the present; Damon Wayans, Tim Robinson and Christopher Elliott have been all decidedly not a match for the weekly sketch program’s model of comedy. And nonetheless others, reminiscent of Chloe Troast (who simply introduced her departure in an emotional submit on Instagram) and Michaela Watkins, weren’t invited to return after their debut 12 months.
Under, see which former Saturday Night time Dwell stars solely did a one-season stint on the long-running NBC present — and discover out the place they’re now.
Chloe Troast, Season 49
Chloe Troast joined the SNL solid for season 49 and immediately turned a fan favourite, showing in sketches reminiscent of “Get That Boy Again” with Chris Appleton, “Little Orphan Cassidy” with Timothée Chalamet and “Christmas Classics” with Kate McKinnon.
Nonetheless, after NBC introduced the brand new additions for season 50, Troast revealed she had not been requested to come back again.
“Sadly, I’ve not been requested to come back again to SNL this season,” she wrote in a heartfelt Instagram post. “I want I used to be going again to be with all of the wonderful mates I made there, it actually felt like house. It simply wasn’t within the playing cards.”
Troast is slated to seem within the comedy Sweethearts which comes out in November.
Chevy Chase, Season 1
Chevy Chase joined Saturday Night time Dwell in its premiere season again in 1975, and although his tenure was brief, his impression was main: The comic originated the function of the “Weekend Replace” anchor which might go to the likes of Tina Fey, Jimmy Fallon, Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers, Michael Che and Colin Jost within the many years that adopted.
Although Chase left the present in the course of season 2, he came back to host eight instances between 1978 and 1999. And his fast departure solely allowed his profession to take off: He starred in megahits such because the Nationwide Lampoon’s Trip films, Caddyshack and extra.
Now 80, the actor’s final credit score is voicing Santa in 2023’s Glisten and the Merry Mission.
Jenny Slate, Season 35
It’s possible you’ll immediately acknowledge Jenny Slate’s work within the type of the “Don’t Be Suspicious” TikTok sound, however her SNL debut went equally as viral: Within the 2009-2010 season, Slate by accident cursed throughout her first episode.
“It felt like an explosion once I by accident stated ‘f—‘ on reside TV throughout my very first sketch,” she told Glamour. “After it occurred, Lorne Michaels [creator of SNL] wished to ensure I used to be okay as a result of he knew I used to be scared; I had by no means been uncovered so publicly. The aftermath was onerous; folks tweeted that I used to be ‘ugly’ and ‘not humorous,’ and it actually stung.”
Since leaving SNL, she has appeared in Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn 9-9 and the Kroll Present, in addition to extra dramatic fare just like the movie Apparent Little one. She’s additionally been Oscar-nominated for her animated movie Marcel the Shell with Footwear On. She just lately appeared in It Ends with Us and continues her voice-acting work on Bob’s Burgers and The Nice North.
Martin Brief, Season 10
After getting his begin on Canada’s SCTV, Martin Short was recruited for Saturday Night time Dwell‘s tenth season and made a huge effect.
The beloved comic was on the present from 1984 to 1985 and created memorable characters Ed Grimley.
Although his season is taken into account some of the stacked, talent-wise, within the present’s historical past — Julia Louis Dreyfus, Billy Crystal and Christopher Visitor have been additionally on throughout his stint — Brief merely could not sustain with the tight schedule the present runs on, telling HuffPost it felt like “it was ultimate exams, each week.” (And lots of of these stars went on to depart shortly after he did.)
Brief went on to do Three Amigos, Cross My Coronary heart, Prince Charming and extra. He’s at the moment starring as Oliver Putnam in Solely Murders within the Constructing.
Billy Crystal, Season 10
You’ll be able to’t run down Billy Crystal’s epic resume with out mentioning his stint on SNL and but, he too was on the present for season 10 solely.
“I feel once I got here to the present I used to be form of a piñata of concepts and ideas and characters, and all types of issues occurred,” Crystal revealed in Dwell From New York: The Full, Uncensored Historical past of Saturday Night time Dwell as Instructed by Its Stars, Writers, and Visitors, as excerpted in Vanity Fair.
“Day-after-day I used to be excited on the discovery of what we may do. I by no means put a time restrict on how lengthy I might be there or what it will give me or get me. I didn’t method it like that. I simply felt personally as a performer and as a artistic particular person I needed to give it my shot.”
It wasn’t a match in the long run, however Crystal ended up having a reasonably large impression on popular culture nonetheless, starring in movies reminiscent of When Harry Met Sally and turning into the quintessential Oscars host.
Christopher Visitor, Season 10
In the identical 12 months as Brief, Christopher Guest additionally had a 12 months contract and left after season 10 resulted in 1985.
Visitor famously appeared in 1984’s This Is Spinal Faucet and served as a author and director on varied tasks together with Household Tree, Mascots, and Greatest in Present amongst different works.
Visitor has additionally been married to actress Jamie Lee Curtis for nearly 40 years. The couple has two children, Annie, 34, and Ruby, 25.
Robert Downey Jr., Season 11
Lengthy earlier than he received our hearts and saved the world as Tony Stark a.ok.a. Iron Man, a fresh-faced Robert Downey Jr. practiced his comedic chops on Saturday Night time Dwell.
The Marvel mainstay was a solid member on the NBC hit from 1985 to 1986 and although different skills reminiscent of Joan Cusack, Nora Dunn, Jon Lovitz, Dennis Miller, Danitra Vance and Damon Wayans have been all a part of the season, Downey called it “arguably the worst season in its historical past” throughout an interview on The Tonight Present Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Downey, who struggled to make his mark on the present as he wasn’t as versed in sketch comedy, griped about having been dubbed the “worst solid member,” jokingly telling Fallon, “Come on! There’s loads of competitors for that.”
He discovered a extra constructive legacy as a Marvel mainstay, most just lately asserting his plans to transition from Iron Man into Dr. Doom.
Damon Wayans, Season 11
The Wayans household are world-renowned for his or her comedic chops, however lengthy earlier than Damon Wayans broke via in his brother’s sketch comedy present In Residing Colour within the ’90s and beloved dad Michael Kyle in My Spouse and Youngsters, he had a short-lived stint on Saturday Night time Dwell.
The actor was solid as a featured participant in season 11, and whereas his expertise was simple, he and the showrunners had artistic variations. Wayans was fired after having gone off script in a sketch titled “Mr. Monopoly,” throughout one of many reside exhibits, per Collider.
Nonetheless, Wayans was invited again to carry out a stand-up set through the present’s season finale that 12 months.
Come October, Wayans and his son Damon Jr. shall be helming their very own CBS collection titled Poppa’s Home.
Joan Cusack, Season 11
Additionally on that fated solid of season 11 was Joan Cusack, who, like Wayans, additionally got here from an acting family.
After her 17-episode stint on Saturday Night time Dwell, Cusack would make a reputation for herself, showing in movies reminiscent of Runaway Bride, Excessive Constancy, Elevating Helen and extra. Nowadays, many would acknowledge her for taking part in Sheila Jackson in Showtime’s Shameless.
Anthony Michael Corridor, Season 11
With Nationwide Lampoon’s Trip, The Breakfast Membership and Sixteen Candles on his resume, it is no surprise Anthony Michael Hall was the youngest solid member to affix SNL within the historical past of the present — a report he nonetheless holds right this moment.
The actor was one of many a number of members who was axed following season 11’s low scores, although he managed to land on his ft, starring in Edward Scissorhands, Hail Caesar, All In regards to the Benjamins, The Darkish Knight and extra movies and TV exhibits within the years that adopted.
Ben Stiller, Season 14
In one of many shortest SNL tenures ever, Ben Stiller stop the present after simply 5 weeks. “At that time, I simply wished to make brief movies and I knew I wasn’t good reside as a result of I might get nervous,” Stiller defined whereas on The Howard Stern Show, revealing his final purpose was to be a director.
He would accomplish his dream, directing Zoolander in 2001, The Cable Man, Tropic Thunder, Stiller and Meara and The Secret Lifetime of Walter Mitty, amongst many different works.
Sarah Silverman, Season 19
A younger Sarah Silverman lent her skills to SNL in season 19 of the present which aired from 1993 to 1994. Nonetheless, Silverman who was additionally on the present as a author, was fired after the one season.
“It was an enormous defeat for me, however overcoming it, it is like a damaged bone, it heals stronger,” Silverman said of the firing.
“I had like a cluster of firings — Saturday Night time Dwell, i acquired fired from a sitcom I used to be employed for — after which I acquired an actual complicated about it like I might be certain I nonetheless had the job earlier than I would go in as a result of I acquired used to getting fired. However by some means I outgrew that after which I ended up protecting jobs.”
Silverman centered on her standup profession, and constructed her profession by showing in movies and TV exhibits reminiscent of Seinfeld, Frasier, There’s One thing About Mary, Faculty of Rock and extra. In 2014, she received an Emmy for excellent writing for a spread particular for her HBO particular, Sarah Silverman: We Are Miracles.
Her newest stand-up particular, 2023’s Sarah Silverman: Somebody You Love is on the market on Max.
Christopher Elliot, Season 20
Now recognizable for his function as Roland Schitt from Schitt’s Creek Christopher Elliott was sharpening his surreal humor for many years earlier than he landed the function as mayor within the hit present.
Elliott first auditioned for season 11 of Saturday Night time Dwell, then in the end turned it down as he was nonetheless working with David Letterman on the Late Present. He then auditioned once more for season 20 and garnered a spot as one of many solid members.
Nonetheless, the actor has admitted that becoming a member of SNL wasn’t the perfect determination. “I had already left working for Dave. At that time, [SNL] was at a really low level and so they simply supplied me the job. I used to be in L.A. and I used to be determined to get again to New York so I took it,” he advised The Daily Beast.
“However yeah, it was the completely flawed factor for me to do. All people was very candy, Lorne has at all times been very supportive of me and I met very nice individuals who labored there and all that, however that absolutely flawed for me to go there.”
A long time later, Elliott’s daughter Abby would be a part of the present, turning into an everyday from 2008 to 2012.
Rob Riggle, Season 30
Rob Riggle joined the solid of Saturday Night time Dwell as a featured participant from 2004 to 2005.
“The primary job I ever acquired in present enterprise [was] Saturday Night time Dwell,” Riggle advised The A.V. Club. “I had completed a few appearances on Conan however simply as like, ‘Man within the Viewers,’ or ‘Safety Guard,’ or ‘Tarzan Who Speaks to Animals.’ Simply little bit- characters. I used to be very grateful for these however my first job ever was Saturday Night time Dwell and I feel that was a dream come true.”
Although he was residing his dream. Riggle could not compete with the prevailing solid for display screen time and did not get a second season.
“The 12 months I used to be employed, I used to be the one man employed. The solid was huge. Fifteen folks on the solid and I am the one new man,” he defined whereas on The Each day Beast’s Last Laugh podcast. “Properly, you realize Darrell Hammond’s getting his, Tina Fey, Amy [Poehler] is getting hers, Maya Rudolph is getting hers, Will Forte, go down the listing, they’re all getting their time. I am entering into there and I am ingesting out of a firehose.”
Nonetheless, he acquired extra TV work on The Each day Present, The Workplace, Arrested Improvement and Love, Inc. earlier than exhibiting off his skills in movies reminiscent of Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Unaccompanied Minors, 21 Leap Avenue and extra.
He appeared in The Actual Bros of Simi Valley: The Film earlier this 12 months.
David Koechner, Season 21
Together with his larger-than-life persona, one would suppose David Koechner can be the proper particular person for a long-running stint at SNL. Like Wayans, nonetheless, it appears the actor and a number of the folks behind the present had artistic variations.
“There are some individuals who had made ideas or individuals who I felt have been out of place and I do not thoughts letting folks know my opinions. [SNL] shouldn’t be essentially a spot the place folks’s opinions are welcome,” he advised Tom Inexperienced, who was guest-hosting Larry King Now.
Koechner was let go after he did season 21, which aired from 1995 to 1996.
He went on to seem in The Workplace, Low cost Thrills and maybe most notably, the Anchorman movies. Just lately, he lent his skills to this 12 months’s Ganymede and Half Baked: Completely Excessive.
Michaela Watkins, Season 34
Although some former solid members walked away of their very own volition, Michaela Watkins’ firing from SNL got here fairly as a shock to many.
Watkins was on the NBC present from 2008 to 2009 however wasn’t requested to come back again for the next season.
“I don’t suppose anybody is aware of what Lorne Michaels was considering. That’s one of many thrilling issues about him. If he have been to fade, the present would simply freeze. Not a single factor can be shot as a result of a lot hinges on him,” she advised Entertainment Weekly on the time.
“The one clarification I acquired from him — and he’s not recognized to say issues simply to make folks really feel higher — was that he felt deep down that I ought to have my very own present. And I agreed. SNL was a dream come true for me. It was a improbable 12 months. I don’t have any regrets.”
She’s acquired a busy appearing profession, and has been seen in Abbott Elementary, Search Occasion and Enlightened.
Peter Aykroyd, Season 5
Although his brother Dan did a robust 4 seasons on Saturday Night time Dwell, Peter Aykroyd solely did one, however that appears to have been greater than sufficient.
Peter joined the solid as a author and featured member in season 5, which ran from 1979 to 1980. Although he left after the singular season, in his brief time at 30 Rock, the actor snagged an Emmy nod for excellent writing in a spread or music program.
Peter labored together with his brother on a number of tasks, together with the movies Coneheads and Dragnet. The 2 additionally co-wrote the 1991 comedy-horror movie Nothing however Hassle.
Peter sadly died of sepsis from an untreated hernia in Nov. 2021. He was 66.
Laurie Metcalf, Season 6
Maybe nobody had a shorter tenure than Laurie Metcalf.
The Woman Hen actress did one episode of the present again in 1981, through which she performed a “Weekend Replace” reporter despatched on the road to ask New Yorkers whether or not or not they’d take a bullet for the president,” per Vulture. She additionally appeared in a pre-tapped sketch titled “Laurie Has a Story” alongside Catherine O’Hara.
“, it looks like a dream as a result of it was so way back and it was a whirlwind 5 days I spent in New York. I feel it was my first to New York ever,” Metcalf advised Vulture of her expertise.
“I used to be so out of my component; I had not concept what I used to be doing. However I do know that I did it as a result of there may be proof, there may be footage,” she joked. “Once I see that, I notice I used to be very naïve and courageous about it in a approach. Like, ‘Okay, you need me to do that? Okay, let’s go.'”
Shortly after, the present WGA went on strike and the present went on hiatus. Metcalf was not requested to come back again as soon as taping resumed. The actress would get her huge break enjoying Jackie Harris in Roseanne, a job she reprised many years later within the present’s 2018 reboot The Conners.
Tim Robinson, Season 38
On the top of his SNL tenure, Tim Robinson went viral because the man who made Kevin Hart lose his cool within the “Barnes and Noble Firing” sketch from season 38.
Nonetheless, his expertise was so simple that regardless that he wasn’t requested again as a solid member, Lorne Michaels tapped his skills as a author and he continued to work on the present for 3 extra years, till his contract ended.
Robinson went on to star in Brother Nature, Detroiters and An American Pickle earlier than creating his personal sketch comedy collection, I Suppose You Ought to Depart with Tim Robinson, for which he is received three Emmys.
Janeane Garafalo, Season 20
Janeane Garafalo stop SNL six months after becoming a member of season 20.
“I used to be solely there very briefly, however there actually have been some nice hosts, after all,” she advised Broadway World again in 2012. “I do not know if the comedy being completed that 12 months was that nice, nevertheless it was a thrill to be there for the temporary period of time I used to be there.”
She went on to make appearances in The Ben Stiller Present, The Cable Man, Seinfeld, Dwelling Enchancment and plenty of extra TV exhibits and films. She shall be voicing the character of Dr. Dolphin within the upcoming Boys Go to Jupiter slated to come back out someday this 12 months.