Kyle Mooney’s SNL Audition Used Lorne Michaels for a Punchline
Every now and then, Saturday Night Live makes unexpected casting moves that leave you reeling. The decision to bring Sarah Sherman, widely known in the alt-comedy scene as Sarah Squirm, onto the cast was one such example. Similarly, the 2013 inclusion of Kyle Mooney and Beck Bennett ranks among Lorne Michaels’ best choices. These two started the comedy group Good Neighbor in 2007, alongside Nick Rutherford and Dave McCary, bringing some of the most memorable sketches to life on their GoodNeighborStuff YouTube channel. Mooney, in particular, showcased a unique brand of subversive alt-comedy that recalled the quirky irreverence seen in the early 2000s classic Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job, which also debuted in 2007. Mooney and Tim Heidecker, a star of Awesome Show, even developed characters together, with Mooney’s Bruce Chandling making multiple appearances on SNL.
During his nine-year stint on the show, Mooney had ample opportunity to showcase his distinctive comedic style, even adapting some Good Neighbor sketches like Inside SoCal for the SNL stage. While this exposure was thrilling, it sometimes felt like the raw edges of his act were smoothed out. Unlike Awesome Show, which thrived on niche appeal, SNL is a cultural institution that requires a broader comedic palette. This context makes it all the more intriguing that Mooney’s audition featured one of his most awkward and decidedly offbeat characters, alongside a punchline involving Lorne Michaels himself.
Mooney honed his craft through segments on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Sports Show with Norm Macdonald, portraying a nervously incompetent interviewer who stuttered and mumbled, often eliciting laughs through sheer discomfort. His approach, often categorized as anti-comedy, explored social anxieties in a hilarious way. But while his unique style deserves recognition, it doesn’t quite align with the mainstream appeal typically sought by SNL.
Regardless, Mooney embraced his quirky interview persona during his audition. As he recounted in the docuseries SNL 50: Beyond Saturday Night, his performance was met with crickets, especially when he purposely mispronounced Lorne Michaels’ name at the start. “I thought, ‘Oh, I want to open my audition as if I’m hosting SNL,’” he shared. “I said something like, ‘Wow, I can’t believe I’m here at 30 Rockers in front of the Lonnie Mickers,’ and the reaction was dead silence. It was the very first line, and I thought, ‘Oh no!’”
Interestingly, Mooney’s experience isn’t unique. Many cast members have echoed similar sentiments about their SNL auditions, often recalling moments when they felt a joke fell flat. Yet, despite this rocky start, it was clear that Mooney’s innovative approach resonated with Lorne Michaels and the producers. This suggests that embracing one’s distinct comedic style can be a winning strategy for auditions. Sarah Sherman shared her own apprehensions on the Live with Kelly and Mark show, stating, “I was nervous because my stand-up can be a bit grotesque. I thought, ‘Should I hold back in front of future employers?’ But I just went for it, and when they hired me, I realized they were a bit wild themselves.”
These anecdotes beg the question: Why doesn’t SNL allow comedians like Sherman and Mooney to showcase their individual talents more prominently? Despite having opportunities to shine during their tenure, both have pointed out that much of their creative energy is often overshadowed by more conventional sketches. Take, for instance, the season 50 premiere, which many considered lackluster, weighed down by stale material.
While Mooney’s interview character made several appearances on SNL, it’s disheartening to see segments labeled as “cut for time” on the SNL YouTube channel—especially when they cut those in favor of lackluster sketches. Nevertheless, SNL deserves credit for providing Mooney a platform, paving the way for his offbeat films like Brigsby Bear and Y2K, allowing his unique brand of comedy to flourish.