Jim Carrey, Jennifer Coolidge, Kevin Hart, Stephen Colbert, Donald Glover, Mindy Kaling and Jordan Peele. These are just some of the A-list comedy stars who auditioned for SNL but didn't make the cut.

Their audition tape was featured in the first episode of SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, a four-part documentary about Peacock directed by Morgan Neville that reveals the SNL audition process, writers Curtain of room waiting.

Colbert sat in front of the camera and watched his 1996 audition, in which he played a waiter who was "disgusted by food."

He laughed as he watched his younger self gag and heave while reading the specials. "Why don't you hire me? That's great!" he said. "I looked at it and said, 'Wow... good for you, man. Everything's going to be fine. Eventually someone's going to like this and hire you."

The "Late Show" host said of his audition, "I felt really good about the effort, and I probably felt pretty good at the time — until I didn't get it."

Peele plays a character named Darius who is "too thug to be a barista." He spread his arms and imitated the disgruntled coffee shop employee: "You mean the Caramel Mint Mocha Latte - no, I don't think so!" Peele, of course, later co-created his own hit with Keegan-Michael Key on the sketch comedy "Key & Peele" before becoming the critically acclaimed film director of "Get Out" and "No."

"I brought in a lot of people and I thought, 'I can't believe we didn't hire that guy,'" said former "Saturday Night Live" producer Marci Klein. "Jennifer Coolidge so Interesting. I can't let anyone get it. "

In 1995, Coolidge failed his audition. Four years later, she found success in Hollywood, playing Stifler's mother in "American Pie."

"I always say, 'Anyone who's not on this show ends up doing better. Don't worry," Klein said.

In 2001, Hart tried out as a background dancer in Michael Jackson's "Beat It" music video. The character tries to show off his moves but can't due to a spinal fusion.

Carlin auditioned for the role in 2005 wearing a Red Sox hoodie with the hat on backwards. She previously revealed that "Saturday Night Live" offered her a writing job but had to turn it down due to her contract with "The Office." "The Office" showrunner Greg Daniels agreed to release Kaling from her contract if she became a cast member, but the writer's offer was not part of their agreement.

"There are definitely people who come in who have been incredibly successful in both film and television... but ultimately don't get picked," said co-producer and head of talent Jeff Black.

Glover auditioned in 2007. Two years later, he landed his breakout role on NBC's "Community." In 1986, Carrey auditioned for a physical comedy routine in which he contorted his upper body and threw his arms backwards. Eight years later, he starred in Ace Ventura, The Mask and Dumb and Dumber in the same year. He became one of the biggest movie stars of the 1990s and one of the highest-grossing actors of all time.

The SNL50 documentary series also showed footage of comedian Henry Zebrowski's audition, in which he returns behind the curtain and reappears completely naked with his hands covering his crotch. "He didn't get hired, but not because he was naked," former producer Lindsay Shookus said with a laugh.

"SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night" is just one of the many ways NBC is celebrating the 50th anniversary of "Saturday Night Live." The special documentary "Ladies and Gentlemen...50 Years of SNL Music" produced by Amir "Questlove" Thompson and Ozzy Rodriguez will premiere on January 27th. An immersive experience that allows fans to "host" the acclaimed sketch comedy series will take place from January 30 to February 2 at Rockefeller Center in New York. Studio 8H will host a celebrity-studded three-hour primetime special live taping on February 2. 16.