Remember that viral “SNL” sketch in which Ryan Gosling and Mikey Day played Beavis and Butt-Head? Its success was partly due to “SNL” cast member Heidi Gardner, who, caught off guard by her costars’ hilarious transformations, completely broke character. Maybe the most remarkable thing about the sketch, however, is that even as she vibrated with laughter, none of the extras behind her so much as cracked a smile.
It’s all part of the assignment for the show’s roster of background actors, who fill out scenes set in nightclubs, waiting rooms, press conferences, and other public settings. For years, the iconic late-night show has relied on these unsung performers to play straight-faced, nonspeaking roles alongside some of the funniest comedians and celebrities in the world.
Here’s how to get cast as a background actor on Lorne Michaels’ long-running NBC series, plus what to expect from the experience.
How to get your foot in the door at Studio 8H
One of the easiest routes is to sign up with an agency that works directly with NBC; it also helps if you’re based in New York City. But though acting experience is encouraged, it isn’t essential. Sometimes, a bit of good, old-fashioned sleuthing in the pages of magazines like Backstage (or on our main casting page) can be your ticket to rubbing elbows with the likes of Bowen Yang and Chloe Fineman.
“Equity has a monthly production list that used to include contact information for principals and background casting directors, but there are also listings in the trade papers,” says Jami Simon. In addition to roles on “New Amsterdam” and “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” the actor has appeared in “SNL” sketches like “Appalachian Emergency Room,” as well as filmed bits the show shoots in and around the Big Apple. Simon landed the gig when she met an “SNL” casting director at a seminar at Actors Connection, which offers workshops, online classes, and intensives on both coasts.
Tom Godfrey made it onto the show after he grew tired of the rigors of pilot season in L.A. and returned to NYC, where he previously worked on soap operas and as a puppeteer for the Department of Cultural Affairs. “I did more workshops in New York, one of them being with the casting director for extras on ‘SNL.’ And through him, I made it onto the show,” he says. He went on to appear in the digital short “People Getting Punched Right Before Eating” with Jon Bon Jovi and Andy Samberg, as well as on “SNL” episodes hosted by A-listers like Beyoncé and Jon Hamm.
“Like everyone who’s been there, you’re thrilled to be at 30 Rock,” Godfrey continues. “It’s a great job, and you’re going to be live. And that’s lifeblood for an actor.”
You’re in! Now what?
Simon says that being an extra on “SNL” is an especially great gig for actors looking to retain union health insurance and keep their instrument sharp. She does, however, caution that the show’s live component makes for an intense production schedule.
“Background actors would generally go Thursday or Friday for rehearsal and to wardrobe,” she says. “Location shots were usually Friday, and on Saturday, we would have skit rehearsals. There was a supper break, then they’d run the show for an audience at 8 p.m. There are more skits than will actually [make it to] air.”
Mastering Composure: The Art of Keeping a Straight FaceWhat if you’re one of the unlucky performers whose sketch gets the ax? “If your skit is cut, they ask you to stay until the show starts at 11:30 p.m. in case anything changes,” Simon explains. “If they keep your skit, your hours depend on the running order; I was often in a later skit. But actors are paid the same whether or not their skit makes it to air.”
Despite the hectic action behind the scenes, Simon says that the vibe among the background performers is professional and productive. “You’re focused on your work and character, and in rehearsals, you hear the material several times.”
Perhaps that’s why these actors are able to maintain such a straight face. “I never saw an extra ever break character, no matter how often the principals did,” Godfrey says.
His biggest piece of advice: Whatever you do, don’t tell anyone in the cast if you think something isn’t landing. “There was an incident where a woman on set for Friday rehearsals decided to tell one of the cast members that what he was doing wasn’t funny,” Godfrey recalls. “Even worse, she went up to Lorne Michaels and made suggestions as to how the show could be made better. Needless to say, she was not back with us on Saturday!”
It’s safe to say the folks at “SNL” know what they’re doing. “The show has an electric atmosphere, and many of the technicians and production staff have worked there for years,” Simon says. “Only issues with weather and climate have ever put a damper on the gig. [The crew members] make a complex show run smoothly.”
Godfrey says that being an extra on the series is a solid route for actors and nonactors alike to get experience on a professional set. “Movies and TV are usually a drag: early calls, endless waiting, standing in the cold or the rain, with no real connection to the project. You’re just a body. The pay scales [on other sets] were comparable, but ‘SNL’ was always a joy to work on.”
Our Experts:
- Jami Simon is best known for her recurring roles on HBO’s “High Maintenance” and the web series “Riding the D With Dr. Seeds.” Her other TV credits include “The Blacklist,” “New Amsterdam,” “Half Empty,” and “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”
- Tom Godfrey has appeared in “The Operation” and on “Law & Order.” He has also worked in TV and radio sportscasting, and is the former commissioner of the Broadway Show League.
