The 5: Breaking Out After SNL
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While many have found success on SNL and used it to propel themselves to even bigger stardom, many flounder on the show and find themselves fighting for small bit parts and touring comedy clubs across the country. However, some don’t find their breakout success until after their time on the show where they can really spread their comedic wings. Here’s 5 performers who turned their SNL failures into mainstream success.
- JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS. If you didn’t pop on SNL during the show’s tumultuous tenure during the 1980’s, then you probably faded into relative obscurity. This turned out to be the opposite for Julia Louis-Dreyfus who spent three seasons on the show from 1982-1985 after being hired as the youngest female cast member at the time. Dreyfus had difficulties navigating the waters during her time on the show but developed a relationship with Larry David which led to her casting on Seinfeld. Louis-Dreyfus would go on to win an Emmy for The New Adventures of Old Christine and two more for her role as the vice-president on Veep. Watch her Cat Fight Cold Opener from SNL on Yahoo.com.
- SARAH SILVERMAN. Silverman has carved out a very successful career as a stand-up comedian and actress by tackling taboo subjects like racism and religion while charming audiences at the same time. Silverman got her big break however on SNL after being hired during the 1993-1994 season as a writer and featured performer. Her tenure on SNL was short-lived after she was fired after one season with only one the sketches she wrote surviving to dress rehearsal. After several small roles in television and filming her own stand-up film ‘Jesus Is Magic’, Silverman landed her own TV show which ran for three seasons and landed her an Emmy nomination. Watch Sarah Silverman on SNL’s Weekend Update.
- JAY MOHR. Actor, comedian, and impression connoisseur Jay Mohr may have had one of the most turbulent runs on SNL during his two years on the show which are detailed in his 2004 memoir Gasping for Airtime: Two Years in the Trenches of Saturday Night Live. Panic attacks and accusations of stealing material plagued Mohr before he was let go after two seasons. After being relegated to a recurring role on the Jeff Foxworthy Show, Mohr landed the iconic role of Bob Sugar in Jerry Maguire which helped propel him to land other acting roles including his own sitcom, which ran for two years. Mohr has also ventured into the world of podcasting and Radio and currently hosts his own sports show on on Fox Sports Radio. Watch Jay Mohr as Dick Vitale on SNL’s Weekend Update.
- CASEY WILSON. Wilson was hired to the cast of SNL in January 2008, becoming the first cast member hired in over two years. Wilson performed some memorable impressions on the show before being let go after a short two-season stint. When asked about her time on the show, Wilson commented “My mindset is good. I did it for a year and a half. I don’t think it will ultimately define my career. And it wasn’t the best fit for me.” That turned out to be correct as Wilson soon joined the cast of the ensemble comedy Happy Endings which ran for three seasons. Wilson and her writing partner June Diane Raphael wrote and starred in their own film Ass Backwards as well as selling two television pilots to ABC and NBC. Watch Casey Wilson as Katy Perry on SNL.
- JENNY SLATE. Jenny Slate’s one-season stint on SNL couldn’t have gotten off to a rockier start after she accidentally said ‘fucking’ during her first episode one shows 2009 season premiere. Slate only had a small recurring character catch on during the rest of the season and her contract was not renewed. Slate didn’t dwell on her failures on the show and wrote and voiced the title character in the award-winning stop-motion short film Marcel the Shell With Shoes On. Slate has gone on to voice several different film characters as well as acting roles on Parks and Recreation and different character work on the hit Comedy Central sketch program Kroll Show. Watch Jenny Slate in an SNL clip about alarm clocks.
Watch All 5 SNL Alums in their Post-SNL Careers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onmgy9QPCxc
