Joy Behar's Hilarious Take on Her SNL Audition

Back in 1975, Joy Behar, the iconic TV personality and comedian, shared an unforgettable story about her experience auditioning for Saturday Night Live. If you've ever wondered what it feels like to perform in front of someone as legendary as Lorne Michaels and not get a single laugh, Joy has your answer—and it's as candid as you'd expect from her.

On The View's “Behind the Table” podcast, Joy, now 81, revealed the inside scoop. “I had this funny character that I used to do, and I really wanted to be on SNL,” she explained. “So, I auditioned for Lorne Michaels, and guess what? He didn’t laugh a single time! After I finished, he simply said, ‘That was funny,’ and I replied, ‘You didn’t laugh.’ His response? ‘I don’t want to laugh because then you’ll think you have a job.’ And I said, ‘That’s okay, don’t worry about it.’”

Why Joy Didn’t Want the Job After All

Joy admitted that the lack of laughter during her audition made her realize something important. “It’s honestly a little depressing to audition for someone, and they don’t even crack a smile,” she confessed. “At that point, I realized I wasn’t ready for the stress of a job like that. I literally prayed that I wouldn’t get the gig, and thankfully, I didn’t.”

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For those who don’t know, SNL has been the launching pad for some of the biggest names in comedy, including Adam Sandler, Bill Murray, and Eddie Murphy. While Joy didn’t land the job, her career has taken off in other incredible ways.

A Career That Speaks for Itself

Despite missing out on SNL, Joy’s career has been nothing short of remarkable. Since her audition, she’s amassed over two dozen acting credits across films and television shows. But perhaps her most enduring role has been as a cohost on The View. She joined the show in 1997 and remains the longest-serving cohost to date.

Joy Behar Saturday Night Live — Sonia Moskowitz/Getty Images

Joy’s Return to The View

Joy did take a break from The View in 2013, but she returned full-time in 2015. During a candid interview with Time in July 2022, she opened up about her departure. “I was glad to be fired,” she admitted. “At that point, I was just sick of the show for some reason—I don’t even remember why.”

The following year, her co-star Whoopi Goldberg addressed Joy’s comments during a live television segment. In typical Joy fashion, she explained her perspective during an episode of The View in February 2023. “I always have friends where I work, and if I don’t, I won’t stay at the job,” she said. “When I was fired last time, people asked me if I was okay with it, and my answer is, I was happy because all my friends had already left. So, there was no reason for me to stick around. I mean it.”

Whoopi, 68, couldn’t help but question her logic. “Really? All your friends left?”

“You had just come on, and my backstage friends had already gone. I don’t like working without my friends,” Joy replied with her signature wit.