American comedian and actress Joy Behar, renowned for her role as a host on ABC’s talk show “The View,” recently shared insights into her experience with the iconic live sketch comedy series “Saturday Night Live.”
In a conversation on “The View’s” companion podcast, titled “The View: Behind the Table,” the 81-year-old star disclosed that she auditioned for a spot on SNL’s cast back in 1975.
Behar recalled, “There was a period where I tried to get on because I had this funny character that I did. I had to audition for Lorne Michaels, the creator and producer of SNL.”
During her audition, Behar humorously recounted that Michaels, known for his stoicism during auditions, didn’t crack a smile, even though he found her skit amusing. When Behar queried him about his reaction, he explained that he didn’t want to give her false hope of being hired.
“I didn’t even want the job, to tell you the truth,” Behar confessed.
Although it’s a well-known fact that Michaels often refrains from laughing during SNL auditions, Behar admitted feeling disheartened by the lack of reaction, saying, “It was a little depressing to have to audition for someone and they don’t find it funny.”
“I was so not ready for the stress of a job like that, that I prayed that I didn’t get the job,” she added, “And I didn’t!”
In hindsight, Behar views the outcome positively. Despite not joining SNL, she went on to appear in numerous Hollywood films, including Woody Allen’s “Manhattan Murder Mystery.” Additionally, she had a role in the thirteen-episode sitcom “Baby Boom” before her tenure on “The View,” which premiered in 1997.
Since then, Behar has been a consistent presence on the show, appearing in every season except the 17th and 18th. While reports suggest she was fired from the show in 2013, she made a triumphant return in 2015 and has remained a mainstay on the daytime talk show ever since.