Comedians who, like Middleditch, were turned down for Saturday Night Live:
Steve Carell: Auditioned in 1995 and moved on to star in the television show The Office as well as films like Anchorman, The Big Short, and Battle of the Sexes.
Lisa Kudrow: Auditioned in 1990 before joining the cast of Friends and starring in films like Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion and The Opposite of Sex.
Lisa Kudrow and Steve Carell (photo credit: Getty Images)
Kumail Nanjiani: Auditioned in 2012 and ended up becoming part of the cast of Silicon Valley, alongside Middleditch, and cowriting and starring in the film The Big Sick.
Jennifer Coolidge: Auditioned in 1995 and wound up winning roles in films including American Pie, Legally Blonde, Best in Show, and A Cinderella Story.
Kumail Nanjiani, Jennifer Coolidge and Zach Galifianakis (photo credit: Getty Images)
Zach Galifianakis: Auditioned in 1991 and then appeared in films such as The Campaign and The Hangover, and his own web series, Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis.
