Fans are pretty sure they’ve cracked the code on what made the difference for Jimmy Fallon years ago as he was seeking one of the coveted spots on Saturday Night Live.
Like many SNL alums, Fallon was reminiscing about NBC’s popular sketch comedy show this weekend ahead of a three-hour special celebrating its 50th anniversary. The late night host resurfaced a clip from his audition back in July 1998 and posted it on Instagram on Sunday, Feb. 16.
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“My SNL audition,” Fallon, 50, wrote to caption the video. “I was so nervous. I want to thank Lorne Michaels for everything. (And @adamsandler.) #SNL50.”
The clip began with a brief countdown as a young Fallon, who was visibly nervous, waited to begin. Once it was time, the comedian explained that he would be doing some impressions of famous individuals participating in a fictitious “celebrity walk-a-thon.” He proceeded to do impressions of John Travolta, Jerry Seinfeld and Adam Sandler before moving on to musician impressions and characters that he’d invented himself.
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Many fans who left comments on the post said it was clear why he was selected to join SNL’s cast, which he remained part of through 2004.
“His Adam Sandler impression got him the gig,” one fan declared as another fan said they “agree 100% !!!”
Others thought that his take on Travolta was also well done, with one writing, “His John Travolta is great 😂” as another agreed that the “John Travolta impression was good too!!!!!”
Fallon recently spoke about his audition while on his late night show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, as he recalled that it was the Sandler impression that made SNL creator Lorne Michaels laugh. Michaels’ reaction was a welcome surprise for Fallon, who said he was warned several times before his audition began that the laughter likely wouldn’t come.
“I do my audition, I do the whole thing, and in my act I did an impression of Adam Sandler—and this is before anyone really did an impression of Adam,” Fallon explained. As he was doing the impression, “I saw Lorne started laughing,” he added, flashing a big smile at the cameras.
Fallon then sent a message of thanks to Sandler and Michaels as he reflected on the career that followed. “So I thank Adam Sandler, and I just want to thank Lorne Michaels, because—gosh. He just changed my life and has just become a mentor to me, a friend. I love him so much.”
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