There are plenty of actors and comedians who have auditioned for sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live but didn't get cast on the show, and there are also lots—52 in all, in fact—who were cast on the show but didn't last beyond a single season. This dates all the way back to the 70s when the series first got onto the air and extends all the way to today. Some went on to achieve massive success and even returned to host years later.
That said, here's a look at 13 of the celebrities within this 50+ group of single-season cast members, ranked.
Robert Downey Jr. (1985-1986)
The most well-known single season-er on the show, Downey Jr. is also widely considered to be the worst cast member ever. That's in stark—pun intended—contrast to his massively successful movie and television career, which has consistently ranked him among the highest-paid actors in Hollywood.
That said, SNL was just a blip on his early resume. There's no doubt Downey Jr. is funny, but his style of funny just didn't fit with SNL, and that makes him rank last on the list of short-lived cast members.
Sarah Silverman (1993-1994)
Silverman is now a household name, known for her stand-up comedy routines and shows, as well as her former romance with Jimmy Kimmel and their hilarious viral videos. She has spoken openly about her short stint on SNL where she both wrote and appeared in skits several times, though she was eventually let go before she could really find her footing.
Silverman's humor isn't really a good fit for SNL, so it's a good thing she was able to move on and spread her wings.
Laurie Metcalf (1980-1981)
Yes, Metcalf is another well-known actor who people don't even realize was cast for the show at one point in time. In fact, she has the shortest tenure of anyone, as she only ever appeared in a single episode before the writer's strike put a hold on everything.
Metcalf is such a comedic talent that she would likely have done really well had she been given the chance. So, had the strike not happened, her career could have taken a very different path.
Paul Shaffer (1979-1980)
Many people don't realize that Shaffer was actually a cast member on the show for a very short period of time. After working as a house band member, he was promoted to featured cast member during a time when the show was really struggling to find its footing.
He only appeared in a handful of sketches and was never the star. He was, for example, the pianist for Bill Murray's Nick the Lounge Singer sketch. His most memorable moment was being the first person to drop an F-bomb on the show. He started working with David Letterman in 1982, who was, back then, just an up-and-coming comedian.
Ben Stiller (1988-1989)
He only lasted four episodes. Stiller apparently wanted to join to develop short films for the series, but, when he realized he'd have to do live sketches, he decided it wasn't for him. Interestingly, the concept of short films, called SNL digital shorts, became a bigger part of the show thanks to Andy Samberg, who became a cast member decades later.
Stiller got his wish, though; instead of making short films, he starred in huge ones like Zoolander, Meet the Parents, and Night at the Museum. He also returned to host SNL multiple times through the years and most recently had a cameo as attorney Michael Cohen.
Janeane Garofalo (1994-1995)
After only working on the show for five months, Garofalo was reportedly happy to leave, and has called her time on the show "the most miserable experience of my life." She called it a boy's club. She appeared in various sketches and impersonated everyone from Hillary Rodham Clinton to Jodie Foster, Madonna, and Martha Stewart.
Garofalo has starred in some pretty big projects since, like Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, 24, and The West Wing.
Gilbert Gottfried (1980-1981)
One would think Gottfried's grating voice would be perfect for some sketches, or maybe that just pigeon-holed him and made him not really fit well with any of them. Nonetheless, he was indeed a cast member in the early 80s for a very short period of time. He had funny characters like Leo Waxman, the co-host of a fictional show called What's It All About.
Gottfried went on to have a massively successful stand-up comedy career with material that probably wouldn't have been appropriate for SNL anyway.
Damon Wayans (1985-1986)
While most know Wayans for his role on sketch comedy series In Living Color, he had actually been hired for rival show SNL before In Living Color was even conceived. Unlike the others who were just victims of a tough situation and the writer's strike, Wayans was fired for a very specific reason.
It apparently happened after he went against direction and played a straight cop character as flamboyantly gay in a sketch once the cameras were rolling. It's clear he was finally able to do what he wanted on In Living Color, and it worked because that show was a huge success, and Wayans went on to star in his own sitcom as well as other movies and TV series.
Siobhan Fallon Hogan (1991-1992)
She isn't one of the more recognizable names, but, in terms of her impact on SNL, Hogan was an important, though short-lived, player. She introduced the characters the Delta Delta Delta sisters which was, of course, a hilarious skit about sorority girls. She also did an impression of Katharine Hepburn.
Her contract wasn't renewed, as she reportedly felt the material from the show didn't reconcile with her strict religious beliefs. She went on to write for rival sketch comedy series MADtv.
Martin Short (1984-1985)
It's amazing to think that Short, one of the funniest actors of the generation, did not last on the show. He came in as an already seasoned comedian and developed characters that helped revive the show's popularity, like Ed Grimley, a nerdy, manic Wheel of Fortune fan. He also shared his various impressions.
When the writer's strike and budget issues plagued this time period, Short didn't last. But, he was the one laughing, as he continued to enjoy great success in films, TV series, and even Broadway.
Michaela Watkins (2008-2009)
Watkins had some really funny sketches on the show with characters like Angie Tempura, the computer nerd and creator of the website "Bitch Please," who insults celebrities and impersonates everyone from Arianna Huffington to Barbara Walters and Joan River. So, it's a wonder she was let go. She had expressed her shock and dismay when she discovered her contract wasn't being renewed after just one season.
Nonetheless, she did find success on various shows like The New Adventures of Old Christine, Transparent, and Casual, and she currently appears on the sitcom The Unicorn.
Jenny Slate (2009-2010)
Slate did amazingly on the show with characters like the infomercial pitchwoman Tina-Tina Cheneuse who sold items like doorbells and car horns, and she was featured in a lot of sketches. Her contract not being renewed could have something to do with the fact that, in her very first episode, she accidentally said the "f-word" on live television.
Considering her roles in Obvious Child, Parks and Recreation, Bob's Burgers, House of Lies, and other series since then, as well as the voice work she has done, Slate is doing just fine.
Billy Crystal (1984-1985)
At the time Crystal joined the show, he was already a seasoned comedian. The idea was that perhaps adding known faces to the show would help resurrect its popularity. He created the memorable character of Fernando Lamas, the talk show host with the catchphrase "You look…mahvelous!"
But, Crystal didn't get much of a chance to continue as the writer's strike combined with budget issues led to his departure. It didn't really impact Crystal's career at all, though, as he continued to be a success on the big and small screen, alike.