<P> SNL has featured over 140 cast members including , besides the above - mentioned players , Rachel Dratch , Amy Poehler , Chris Rock , David Spade , Will Forte , Julia Louis - Dreyfus , Tracy Morgan , Chris Parnell , Maya Rudolph , Andy Samberg , Kristen Wiig , and many others . Darrell Hammond was the longest - serving cast member until 2017 , having been a part of the cast for fourteen years between 1995 and 2009 , and returned in 2014 as the show 's announcer following the death of Don Pardo . In 2017 Kenan Thompson surpassed Hammond as the longest - serving cast member . Thompson first joined the series in 2003 . Those selected to join the cast of SNL are normally already accomplished performers , recruited from improvisational comedy groups such as The Groundlings ( Ferrell , Hartman , Lovitz , Wiig ) and The Second City ( Aykroyd , Farley , Fey , Tim Meadows ) , or established stand - up comedians ( Carvey , Sandler , Rock , Norm Macdonald ) , who already possess the training or experience necessary for SNL . </P>
<P> SNL has featured over 140 cast members including , besides the above - mentioned players , Rachel Dratch , Amy Poehler , Chris Rock , David Spade , Will Forte , Julia Louis - Dreyfus , Tracy Morgan , Chris Parnell , Maya Rudolph , Andy Samberg , Kristen Wiig , and many others . Darrell Hammond was the longest - serving cast member until 2017 , having been a part of the cast for fourteen years between 1995 and 2009 , and returned in 2014 as the show 's announcer following the death of Don Pardo . In 2017 Kenan Thompson surpassed Hammond as the longest - serving cast member . Thompson first joined the series in 2003 . Those selected to join the cast of SNL are normally already accomplished performers , recruited from improvisational comedy groups such as The Groundlings ( Ferrell , Hartman , Lovitz , Wiig ) and The Second City ( Aykroyd , Farley , Fey , Tim Meadows ) , or established stand - up comedians ( Carvey , Sandler , Rock , Norm Macdonald ) , who already possess the training or experience necessary for SNL . </P>
how do you become an snl cast member
how do you become an snl cast member
recruited from improvisational comedy groups such as The Groundlings ( Ferrell , Hartman , Lovitz , Wiig ) and The Second City ( Aykroyd , Farley , Fey , Tim Meadows ) , or established stand - up comedians ( Carvey , Sandler , Rock , Norm Macdonald ) , who already possess the training or experience necessary for SNL
recruited from improvisational comedy groups such as The Groundlings ( Ferrell , Hartman , Lovitz , Wiig ) and The Second City ( Aykroyd , Farley , Fey , Tim Meadows ) , or established stand - up comedians ( Carvey , Sandler , Rock , Norm Macdonald ) , who already possess the training or experience necessary for SNL