James Marsden recalls ‘clucking like chickens’ at doomed ‘SNL’ audition

James Marsden recalled a doomed “Saturday Night Live” audition during an interview on “Live With Kelly and Mark” Wednesday. The actor said he and a friend answered a call about a “nationwide talent search” and ended up performing an impromptu skit where they were “clucking like chickens and just walking around each other.”

“They were doing a nationwide talent search, and a friend of mine in my drama class, or whatever, that I used to do these comedy skits with said, ‘Let’s go down and try it,’” Marsden explained.

“I think they made us do… It wasn’t even like, ‘Make an interesting character’ or whatever. It was like, ‘Just do whatever you want to do.’ I know not why we chose to do this, but we clucked like chickens and just walked around each other.”

“Yes, it was a bad choice,” he added.

The actor also said he once told “SNL” alum Tina Fey about his sketch comedy aspirations. “I did a little bit of ’30 Rock’ with Tina Fey, and I said, ‘You know, my dream was always to be on ‘SNL,'” he explained. And she’s like, ‘Oh, well, you’re going to host at some point.’ And I say, ‘No, like a regular. I want to be the guys!’ She said, ‘Well, you can if you want to.’ But yeah, I just love doing impressions and different characters.”

Peacock will premiere the four-part docuseries “SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night” on Jan. 16, 2025, one month before the legendary late night show’s big 50th anniversary primetime special. The “SNL” The documentary series will feature over 60 contributors, including “SNL” alumni, who will extensively cover decades of the show’s history.

Each episode will provide brand new insight into what went on behind the scenes in the writer’s room and will also include footage from the show’s audition process.

Of course, there’s no word on whether Marsden’s chicken impression will make it, but fans can hope.

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