Jennifer Aniston revealed details about her decision to decline a role on Saturday Night Live, reflecting on the experience during a conversation with Dax Shepard on the Armchair Expert podcast. Despite the potential to join SNL early in her career, Aniston ultimately chose a different path that led her to fame on Friends.
Meeting with Lorne Michaels and SNL’s Atmosphere
Recalling the moment, Aniston said she met with Lorne Michaels while in New York City, encountering cast members Adam Sandler and David Spade just outside the meeting room. She noted,
“I always thought I was such hot s—. The story of that is all very confusing,”
Jennifer began. She also explained her long-standing familiarity with Sandler, dating back to their mutual connection with Charlie Schlatter, who starred in the TV adaptation of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
“He was very good friends with Charlie Schlatter, who played Ferris Bueller in the television version of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. So we met at Jerry’s Deli in like 1912,”
she said.
Why Aniston Felt SNL Was Not the Right Fit
Aniston expressed reservations about SNL’s working environment during that period, feeling it was dominated by men and doubting whether women were treated fairly. She reflected,
“I don’t know why I had this self-righteous attitude of ‘I don’t know if women are treated the way they should be treated on this show.’ It’s a very male-dominated [show,] I would love to be here if it was in the Gilda Radner day,”
adding,
“I mean, this is the brain that semi-remembers things that are back that far. Something like that. I can’t remember, but I just remember Friends then happened.”
The Impact of This Career Choice
Aniston’s decision to turn down a spot on SNL shaped her career trajectory, ultimately leading to her iconic role on Friends, which significantly elevated her profile. Her reflections offer insight into the entertainment industry’s culture during that time and the personal considerations behind pivotal career moves.
