A Look Back at the Most Notable Alums to Graduate from ‘Wild N’ Out’

Present during a long run– from the show’s inception in 2005 until 2014–Mikey Day acted most often as Nick Cannon’s foil; the witty, white jokester to balance against the show’s aesthetic. After a stellar run of nearly a decade, Day worked briefly on the variety show Maya & Marty alongside Maya Rudolph and Martin Short. In October of last year, he joined the cast of SNL as a featured player, where he’s known for his impressions of political figures, including Tim Kaine to Donald Trump Jr.

DeRay Davis performed throughout a consistent guest run on Wild N’ Out spanning the show’s first eight seasons. Like many of the other original cast members, his comedic style evolved throughout his time on the show. Known for large, physical humor and devastating punchlines, his work was perfect for Hollywood. He starred in the first two Barbershop films, stealing scenes in both to the pleasant surprise of both critics and fans. Beyond that success, he’s consistently found space to shine in films such as 21 Jump Street, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, and Meet The Blacks.

Starting out on Def Comedy Jam in the late 90s, Affion Crockett displayed a knack for impressions. A staple throughout the show’s first four seasons, Crockett excelled in “Wildstyle”  battles. With the sketch comedy skills he acquired on Wild N’ Out, the veteran performer pivoted to film, starring in a wide range of parodies from Dance Flick to last year’s Fifty Shades of Black.

Corey Holcomb performed as a regular cast member on the show from day one through season seven. He’s best known for his quick punchlines and crass sense of humor. Since his Wild N’ Out debut, he’s stayed true to his core, keeping a foot in stand up comedy as his base while also doing voice work on The Cleveland Show for four years from 2009 until 2013.

DC Young Fly is the one of the first Wild N’ Out stars to make his name entirely on the internet, which, itself, is designed for sketch comedians to thrive. He became known for his roast sessions on Vine before joining the Wild N’ Out cast, where his proficiency for the art of the dozens definitely stood out. Young Fly was able to translate his time on the show into immediate success, locking down a supporting role in the 2016 movie Almost Christmas and securing a gig as one of the new hosts of MTV’s revamped TRL.

Much like DC Young Fly, King Bach made his name through a persona built entirely on the internet, curating 16.1 million followers on Vine–the largest followership ever built on the platform before its demise. Known online for his physical comedy and absurdist personality, Bach was able to translate those skills to a recurring role on Wild N’ Out in seasons 6 and 7. He’s since used that momentum to land roles in TV shows like Workaholics and movies like Meet The Blacks. 

Seemingly running through the entire genre of sketch comedy, Killam actually got his start on The Amanda Show. From there, he moved onto MadTV at just 19 years of age, making him the youngest cast member the show ever had. By the time Killam was a regular on Wild N’ Out–for 29 episodes in the show’s early seasons–he was well respected as an improv comedian, standing out for his lightning quick comebacks and versatile impressions. Since Killam hung his Wild N’ Out jersey up, he’s enjoyed a variety of roles in film throughout multiple genres–from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to 12 Years a Slave. In 2017, Killam also played King George III in a Broadway production of Hamilton at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. And–completing his sketch comedy run–the multifaceted actor spent six years as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, from 2010 until 2016.

Mike Epps’ tenure on the show was perhaps the most unexpected. By the time he arrived to do a run of 2013 Wild N’ Out episodes, he was already an established scene-stealer in the world of comedy. He’d cut his teeth for nearly a decade at Def Comedy Jam and went on to have major roles in films like Next Friday, Friday After Next, and Roll Bounce. Still, just as Wild N’ Out is an incubator for new talent, it also afforded established comedians a space to prove they’ve still got it. “Day-Day” squaring up with an eager, up and coming comedian like DoBoy was a win-win for everyone involved.

Pete Davidson’s run on Wild N’ Out was short in comparison to his peers listed here, but his ability to think quickly and improvise his way through sketches served him well both on the show and beyond. He went on to guest star on several hit series, including Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Comedy Central’s Roast series. This run culminated in Davidson being added to the cast of Saturday Night Live in 2014 at the age of 20, making him one of the youngest cast members ever. His standup performances continue to garner critical acclaim, as his highly relatable and deeply personal style of comedy hits home for audiences.

Perhaps no comedian has built a larger brand on the foundation of Wild N’ Out than Katt Williams. A one of a kind addition to the show in its early days, Williams brilliantly employed a pimp-turned-comedian persona to wreck opponents during Wildstyle battles and endear himself to viewers at home. Wildstyle was where Williams thrived, converting the session into nimble displays of lyricism, setting the stage for eventual newcomers such as Concieted and making the permed pimp the first true must-watch cast member in the show’s history. Williams was able to convert his brand into post-show success, voicing “A Pimp Named Slickback” on The Boondocks and performing several critically-acclaimed stand up specials like The Pimp Chronicles and It’s Pimpin’, Pimpin’. He’s also carved out a niche as a brilliant supporting actor in comedic films like Scary Movie 5 and the upcoming Father Figures.

As Wild N’ Out returns for its tenth season, featuring up and comers such as Timothy DeLaGhetto, Justina Valentine, Karlous Miller, Jess Hilarious, and Chico Bean, the list of influential comedians who can trace their mainstream success back to their time on that stage is sure to grow as the show itself continues to thrive.