Saturday Night Live‘s 40th anniversary special last night featured a number of memorable bits – but few topped the reel of SNL audition tapes.

‘SNL’ Audition Tapes

Pete Davidson and Leslie Jones, who joined Saturday Night Live as featured players for the current season, came onto the stage last night to introduce the audition tape segment. “Before any of us joined the cast of Saturday Night Live, we all had to audition on this very stage. My audition was the scariest moment of my entire life, until right now,” said Davidson.

Jones added in her typically boastful fashion, “I wasn’t scared at all. My audition was hilarious. Lorne was laughing his a– off!”

In the clip that followed, original cast members Dan Akroyd, John Belushi, Gilda Radner and Chevy Chase were shown doing screen tests. Dana Carvey auditioned with Church Lady and Chopping Broccoli, Kristen Wiig did Target Lady and Will Ferrell did Harry Caray.

Who did Lorne Michaels and the rest of the producers pass on over the years? Jim Carrey, who performed his Matthew McConaughey impression during SNL 40, didn’t get the coveted job, neither did Zach Galifianakis, Kevin Hart or Stephen Colbert, who all still managed to carve out successful careers for themselves.

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