Joy Behar revealed that she auditioned for Saturday Night Live in 1975, sharing the experience on a podcast. Despite her efforts, the audition did not go as planned. Behar recounted how she performed a funny character for creator Lorne Michaels, who notably refrained from laughing during auditions. Michaels explained that he didn't want to laugh to avoid giving false hope of securing a job. Behar admitted that she didn't even want the job, as she felt unprepared for the stress it would entail.
Following her stand-up comedy beginnings, Behar ventured into TV and film, appearing in projects like Baby Boom and Manhattan Murder Mystery. She later became a panelist on The View when it premiered in 1997, except for seasons 17 and 18. Behar briefly left the show in 2013 but returned in 2015 after being persuaded by a consultant.