'Saturday Night Live': John Goodman Bombed His '80s 'SNL' Audition
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Of all the stars that nearly made their way onto the cast of Saturday Night Live, a long list that includes the likes of Catherine O'Hara (who bailed on the show's sixth season to appear on Second City TV) and Jennifer Aniston (who told off Lorne Michaels over the SNL “boys club”), it seems beloved actor John Goodman can apparently not be counted among them.
Yep, even with all of Goodman's iconic moments throughout his 13 times hosting the show -- his portrayal of the gossipy Linda Tripp amid the Clinton-Lewinsky Scandal, being the Drunker Uncle to Bobby Moynihan's Drunk Uncle, and playing the Church Lady's Saddam Hussein-wrestling mother in the iconic Dana Carvey segment – it seems the star wasn't even close to becoming a permanent SNL staple all thanks to his disastrous 1980 audition.
“It's not that I had any material to show or anything good to do," Goodman joked during his Friday appearance on The Tonight Show. “I just knew they'd hire me … 'cause I'm a nice guy.”
Despite this optimism, it seems Goodman's glowing personality wasn't enough to get him a spot on the highly-coveted comedy cast list. “It's the worst thing I've ever done in front of people in my life,” he told host Jimmy Fallon. "I wrote something about 15 minutes before I went over there and, oh, god, it was awful."
But even though Goodman's first shot at SNL stardom was not good, man, the actor says he looks back fondly on his times hosting the series. “That used to be the favorite thing I'd do every year would be Saturday Night Live,” recalled the star, who last hosted the show in 2013. "They always made me feel at home, and you're with a bunch of smart and funny people and it just feels great."
So folks, take it from Goodman – even if you have one of the best personalities, preparation is key to success. But it seems all's well that ends well, even on SNL.
Top Image: NBC
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