AceShowbiz - Nearly three decades ago, Dane Cook experienced a fateful "bench moment" outside Rockefeller Plaza. As he approached his audition for "Saturday Night Live", a crippling panic attack forced him to call his manager and withdraw.

In a recent appearance on the "Fly on the Wall" podcast with David Spade and Dana Carvey, Cook recalled the incident. "I had a full-on panic attack and sat on a bench outside. I knew from friends who had been on the show that it was confrontational, and I was very beta at the time."

Cook believed that an "SNL" gig was crucial for career advancement, as he had learned that without it or an HBO special, one was "not invited to the party." However, his anxiety over competing for skits and his inability to stand up for himself led him to doubt his ability to survive in the competitive environment.

Following his "bench moment," Cook faced disappointment from his agent and management, but his self-reproach was even more severe. "I definitely felt like I let myself down," he confessed.

Despite the setback, Cook continued performing and later found success through social media. He achieved significant stand-up comedy acclaim and starred in movies including "Waiting..." and "Employee of the Month." Ironically, he was invited back to host "SNL" twice in 2005 and 2006.

Reflecting on the missed opportunity, Cook remains apologetic. "I also knew from a few friends that had been on the show that it was that it was more confrontational, and I was very beta at that time." However, he acknowledges that the experience taught him the importance of confronting his fears.