Favorite SNL character or performer. Mine has got to be a tie between Chris Farley/Phil Hartman/Will Ferrell/Chevy Chase/Eddie Murphy/Tina Fey/Maya Rudolph, so basically everyone. This is why I need your help. Characters are even harder. I liked two of David Spade's characters a lot. The assistant and the flight attendant. Bill Murray as the geek is funny. Jimmy Fallon and Rachel Dratch as the couple from Boston were good. Phil Hartman as anyone.
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102 comments:
Gilda Radner, hands down.
Characters: The Gap Girls
Performers: Phil Hartman and Chris Farley. May they rest in peace. Phil Hartman was the only celebrity whose death I truly wept for.
Kristin Wiig is my favorite performer, she can do everybody.
Performers: Will Ferrell and Phil Hartmann.
Character: Alex Trebek, Hello my name is Simon and The Anal-Retentive Chef.
Oh man, Celebrity Jeopardy is awesome!
Anything done by Gilda Radner and Will Ferrell.
This is a hard one. I will have to think about it. I do agree with Phil Hartmann and Will Ferrell being favorites. I really, really loved the Lawrence Welk sketch with Kristin Wiig but only the first version of it.
Jeopardy/Will Ferrell, Darrell Hammond
George and Yortuk Festrunk, the Czechoslovakian Brothers.
Always got a kick out of Tim Kazurinsky's Dr. Jack Badofsky too.
Hartman was brilliant, still missed. As is Gilda.
Will Ferrell!
It would be easier to list the ones I didn't like but I won't because I don't want this thread to turn into "SNL sucks, everyone sucks, you're wrong!"
There's no way I could list all my favourite recurring characters because there are too many.
I'm now laughing at Cheri Oteri's pill addicted character, I can't remember her name.
Another great "your turn" would be to list your favourite single episode sketch (i.e., not a recurring character). Like the cowbell sketch.
Oh God, I forgot the swinging Czech brothers.
Oh, and Sprockets!
SNL doesn't make me laugh much these days, but I love What's Up With That. It's just so goofy that I find it funny.
Favourite characters: Brian Fellows (Tracy Morgan) and The Anal Retentive Chef (Phil Hartman).
Maya Rudolph as Donatella Versace is bril.
I always loved Will Ferrell.
Vicki - My little sister totally referenced the Gap Girls on the phone with me today. Totally random...
Gah! There's too many! I'll show my 80's teenage self and go with Wayne and Garth just to be different.
Also Eddie Murphy as Mr Roberts' Neighborhood.
Oh, and David Spade and Steve Martin! I can't stop thinking of great ones!
I liked Jan Hooks. She would slay me as Hillary.
lol Susan, my sister LOVES the Gap Girls!!!
@Casey - I love the What's Up with That sketch, too. I watched the first episode of it over and over again.
I cannot believe no one mentioned John Belushi as the Samurai.
Jan Hooks as Hillary was awesome. Good one.
I also liked Molly Shannon.
I can't believe no one has mentioned Dana Carvey - so many characters and skits: Church Lady, Hanz, Chopping Broccoli, my god he was hysterical! Mike Myers was great at Cowfee Talk.
Granted I haven't watched SNL in decades so can't comment on the others.
And of course the original cast, Gilda and Belushi - I never cared for Chevy.
Yes, I'm that old.
That Chippendales sketch with Chris Farley & Patrick Swayze kills me every time. I know it's not a recurring character but man it is so hilarious.
Celebrity Jeopardy was awesome too. More recent, I've always thought the Debbie Downer stuff was pretty funny.
1. Eddie.
Unprecedented number and variety of hilarious characters and scenarios. Mister Rogers, James Brown in the hot tub, black guy disguised as white guy. Genius.
2. Chris Farley/David Spade. Great rapport and variety that translated well to the movies.
3. Dana Carvey.
The great impersonator.
4. John Belushi.
Sentimental pick, groundbreaker. Defined the heart of the show.
5. Bill Murray.
Sentimental pick. Defined the brains of the show.
6. Phil Hartman.
Chameleon. Especially the skit where he's Clinton "out for a jog" and eating other people's food at McDonalds. Priceless. Nailed the character but with affection.
7. Will Ferrell
Vicious character take-downs despite inability to look like anyone other than Will Ferrell. Especially like the skit with Bush saying 'strategery.'
8. Adam Sandler
Honorable mention for the Hanukkah song. Everything else was annoying.
I wish i could include some women on this list but I can't honestly. They weren't as funny on this show.
Phil Hartman was genius. FTW.
Will Ferrel as Robert Goulet.
BAM.
Favorite performer - Phil Hartmann, hands down. SNL did a skit where the entire premise was done backwards, and he was the announcer doing the play-by-play. The skit was awful, but he was hilarious in it. I really miss that guy.
Favorite skit is Eddie Murphy's James Brown hot tub sketch, if you watch it on youtube, you can see how he's about to crack up the entire time. A close second w/b Chris Walken's googly-eyes gardener.
Clinton jogging was gold! God I miss him!
Amartel, gotta second your picks for 2-6. But, come on, Gilda Radner!
Ms. Cool, my husband and I sing the What's Up with That song to each other all of the time. It's catchy. Ooooooh Weeeeee.
Can't decide. Eddie as James Brown and the hot tub was pretty funny.
Farley as the thrice divorced motivational speaker who livesis in the van down by the river
Will, Amy, Tina, Gilda. NOT Chevy, for chrissake!
Phil Hartman, Gilda Radner, Chris Farley.
James Brown and the celebrity hot tub. Still pretty funny.
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/james-browns-celebrity-hot-tub-party/1160071
Phil Hartman and Jan Hooks, hands down.
I don't care for Will Ferrell. Although, for some reason I like Talladega Nights and can watch it over and over and never get tired of it.
I always thought Dana Carvey did a spot on Bush Sr.
Whenever I think of Farley I think of the line, "down by the river."
Tragic that the few times I catch the show now as a grownup, it usually puts me into a coma.
Dana carvey was hilarious. Phil Hartman gets my eternal love for his work on Newsradio. I didn't watch his snl years much (I guess those were my college partying years). Ambiguously gay duo sketches are always awesome. Church lady is a classic.
Oh, and Dennis miller rocked doing the news, before he got wonky with his politics
All Time Greatest: Phil Hartman (with Will Ferrell a close second) and Amy Poehler. I watched of "Best of Amy " and blew me away.
Favorite Skit: there are so many, but "Donatella Versace Sings for The Children" always stands out. Also, Kristen Wiig as Suze Orman.
Gilda Radner - Roseanne Rosanna Danna
I miss Phil Hartman terribly, but I think he's got a worthy heir in Bill Hader. The day he leaves SNL, they might as well turn out the lights.
Phil Hartman, no contest. Favorite characters: tie between Chick Hazzard, Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer, and Frankenstein. Frankenstein, Tonto, and Tarzan sketches were priceless.
I could watch Phil Hartman do any character. Remember the Tarzan/Tonto/Frankenstein interview? Phil started cracking up BAD when he had to jump up and yell (Frankenstein voice) "Fire Bad!!!" He hardly ever broke character, so that made it even funnier for me.
That whole cast (Carvey/Hartman/Hooks/Dunn/Nealon/Lovitz/Farley ), except Victoria Jackson, were AWESOME.
Darrell Hammond always blew my mind with his impersonations. His 'lonely President Clinton eating and making late-night phone calls' sketch was a classic. All his Clinton work was so good, and we have since found out he did it mostly wasted. Incredible.
And Will Ferrell: I couldn't keep a straight face just watching him stand still.
Gilda Radner has to be my all time favourite, closely followed by Phil Hartman for all-around performance. But my favourite skits remain Wayne & Garth, Eddie Murphy's Hot Tub skit, and the one where Chris Farley plays a high school girl in the mall. "LAY OFF, I'M STARVING!!!"
Oh, and Stefon!!!
Gilda as Roseanne Rosanna Danna.
Bill Murray as the terrible lounge singer.
Phil Hartman and Darrell Hammond were/are both terrific in anything. Darrell's Clinton is very good.
Cheri used to do the nosey lady who said "simma down now"... that always cracked me up.
Bill and Gilda as Todd and Lisa.
Coffee Tawk was good especially when Barbra Streisan showed up.
Same with Madonna in a Wayne's World sketch.
The Sweeney Sisters (Jan Hooks/Nora Dunn) were good.
Mr. Bill.
OMG Megley--our posts crossed! Thanks for the Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer reminder---SO funny!
@Libby--but Jackson singing Stormy Weather in the Chick Hazzard sketch was hilarious! The only thing I remember her for.
"Phil Hartman as anyone." Agreed. I miss that guy. Curse that crackhead bitch that offed him.
So many! Gilda, John, Bill, Eddie, Phil, Dana. Those are my favs. Old School, here.
I forgot Chris! Unforgivable!
Gilda. No question.
I don't the name of my favorite character she played, but it was the little girl who wouldn't go to sleep.
Oh man. Yeah, Phil Hartman and Chris Farley as anyone.
And can I also say most sketches involving Christopher Walken? "The Continental" comes to mind. And...I'm laughing.
And can I also say most sketches involving Christopher Walken? "The Continental" comes to mind. And...I'm laughing.
Oh oh! And any Jeopardy! sketch with Sean Connery.
I loved the first season -- the whole thing was funny as hell.
The only thing that really caught my eye after that was the goat boy.
Oh and Mike Meyers, Madonna and Roseanne getting surprised by Barbra Streisand -- that was classic.
Gilda. Candy Slice, Lisa, Judy the brownie girl, Rosanne, Barbra Wa Wa,
One of the two little girls who used to slide down the banister for their uncle played by Buck Henry, There are so many characters and then the night she died they replayed that lovely dance routine with Steve Martin.
Phil would be next
Eddie, Jane and Danny, Bill Murray and Kristen
Cheri Oteri as Rita Delvechio was gold. Rob Schenider as that copy guy was memorable because we did that all the time in my school's office every time someone made a copy. "Maureen - makin' copiiiies." EVERY TIME. So funny remembering that now.
GILDA! Loved Gilda she was nice' refreshing,and funny in everything she did.
I still joke with a co-worker when we make a mistake and say, NEVERMIND in Emily Latella's voice.
Gilda was my favorite when I was a kid and would get to stay up and watch, while my parents went to sleep. Gilda passed from OC just like my Mom. I think she was so wonderful to come out and talk about it. She will always be my favorite.
No contest - Phil Hartman. I remember that my mother called me at work to tell me that he'd been killed because she knew how much I adored him. I was heartbroken.
Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer - BRILLIANT. Anything he touched was pure gold. Phil as Frank Sinatra on "The Sinatra Group" with Sting as Billy Idol and Jan Hooks as Sinead O'Connor (I think he called her "Shine head"). He and Jan Hooks were always marvelous together. I always thought they should marry and breed a race of uber-funny children.
Darrell Hammond is another favorite. It took me several seasons to warm up to Will Farrell but he's another. Maya Rudolph was always wonderful and I think Kenan Thompson doesn't get enough credit.
Gilda as Roseann Roseanna Danna
makes me miss her
Dana Carvey as the church lady
we use to get together at church and laugh on Sunday mornings about it. Funny stuff
Coneheads. I loved the coneheads.
Who did "do you want to get small"? That went around high school for a year.
Cheri oteri- my fav character-miss reardon!! And if course, phil hartman
Steve Martin did the "get small" routine. It was part of his act. Dating myself but I still have the album. ("One time I got really small and crawled inside a vacuum cleaner. And the drug wore off.")Steve was a host though, but one of those repeat hosts so maybe he counts as a player.
Okay, I'll concede on Gilda. She was totally unique and ahead of her time.
I hate that Netflix (in Canada) has SNL for the years 1990-2010 but they aren't full episodes.
I almost had a seizure when Donatella Versace welcomed me to her Superbowl Party. Also, the way she said "Diet Coke with Lemon."
And the way Keenan Thompson says, "Bokay" for his house music show kills me. What's Up with That is so damn ridiculous, it's just funny. Especially Jason Sudeikis dancing in his Adidas track suit.
So many - Just a few:
Phil Hartman - Everything
Dana Carvey - Everything
Chevy Chase - Land Shark
Christopher Walken - The Continental
Tim Meadows - The Ladies Man
Rachel Dratch - Debbie Downer (specifically the Disney one)
Kevin Nealon - Subliminal Man
Tina Fey - Everything plus Palin
Jimmy Fallon - Several
Norm MacDonald - Weekend Update
Adam Sandler - Opera Man
Bill Hader - James Carville
Also really liking Jason Sudeikis
Phil Hartman and Darrell Hammond impersonations were hilarious. Hammond as Sean Connery in celebrity jeopardy was hilarious. Will Ferrell too
And Eddie in mr Robinsons neighborhood
One of the funniest faux commercials was the first or second season so the couple had to have been Jane Curtain with Dan Ackroyd or Chevy, and the product was Autumn Fizz the carbonated douche. I remember being sooooo shocked at the time and yet, I laughed my ass off when a burping sound came from, well, you know...
Jeez.... where to start, and not going to touch the originals (Gilda, Chevy, John, Jane, etc) because they are in a different class. But here are my favorite cast members/sketches
*Although not cast members- many of my favorite sketches/characters have involved Christopher Walken and Alec Baldwin.
*Cheri Oteri as the crazy pill lady
*Anything Bill Hader does
*Anything Chris Parnell does
*Maya Rudolph as Whitney Houston (too soon? it was funny though)
*obvs Tina as Sarah
*Operaman
*Gap Girls and D. Spade's Hollywood minute
*Tracy Morgan as Brian Fellows... awesome.
*Farley in a van down by the river
*any sketch where Jimmy Fallon couldn't stop cracking up.... I know it annoys some but I thought it made it funnier
*Kevin Nealon- Mr. Subliminal and on Update
*Phil Hartman- in so many roles but I especially enjoyed Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer ("I'm just a simple caveman!")
*Really?!? on Update with Tina, Amy, and now Seth- the one they did about Michael Vick taking weed on a plane was awesome
*Amy Poehler with one leg
*Will Ferrell in anything
*Nat X/whenever they let Chris Rock talk
Overall favorite sketches:
-Pranked! (Seth Meyers/C. Walken)
-Neil Diamond & Bigfoot's Greatest Hits (Will Ferrell & the Rock)
-Brian Fellows w/ the Rock
-Census (Tim Meadows/C. Walken)
-Cowbell
-Ship Survivors (C. Walken, H. Sanz, Parnell, others?)
-Canteen Boy
-Sandler's Halloween costume skit on Update with Kevin Nealon
so I guess i know my snl? :)
I love all the 90's performers.
Maya Rudolph as Donatella was random and hilarious.
Wiig's Penelope is also a favourite. Darrell Hammond was genius. Oh! And Molly Shannon as the catholic schoolgirl, the 50 year old lady and Dog Show.
Aaaaand the Spartans.
So many!
I loved Toonces the driving cat, land shark, ups guy oh and the bees. There is so much to remember, Gilda as my all time fave. Oh and 'No coke, pepsi' was a riot. Remember the Rosanna Danna about the bellytuttons shaped like a seashell? And Jane you miserable Slut. Gotta give props to the Palin and Schweddy balls too.
The Boy & Girl Cheerleaders were great too.
Celebrity Jeopardy, hands down. I love Will Farrell.
I agree with all of ya. There are too many awesome SNLers to truly list, especially for one as lazy as I.
The Coneheads!
Gilda, Bill, Norm doing that news bit?, Christopher Walken & shin-she shin-she.
Gilda Radner, any of her characters. Miss her still.
Gilda Radner, Phil Hartman and Dan Aykroyd.
If you really love SNL, you might buy the Live From New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live. Interviews with nearly all of the cast and writers, all through history. I can pick up that book and open it anywhere and start reading.
There are others I could name but I've seen them so many times, like Alec Baldwin on NPR with his Schweddy Balls. I think of Alec Baldwin and Christopher Walken as two guest stars that will do anything for a laugh on SNL.
@anita mark - we need more cowbell! Lololol.
Molly Shannon and Chris Farely made me laugh the most.
@Elizabeth, I'm currently reading that. Another great book is Saturday Night: A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live. It spans from the very beginning to 1985. It's incredible (if you haven't already read it) and it's why I flip out when I read the word "skit."
Not a recurring sketch but the Christopher Walken family reunion sketch where Amy Poehler kept talking about the spooky ghosts was one of the funniest things ever.
Another not recurring sketch that always gets quoted in my house was from the Nia Vardalos episode. It was towards the end of the episode and it was a forgettable talk show sketch but Horatio Sanz kept saying, "you're the best in the biz, Judy Pathos." We still say that to each other and it kills us. Really my only fond memory of Horatio Sanz.
I don't know why but Tracy Morgan, Chris Kattan, Jimmy Fallon and Horatio Sanz singing a Christmas carol always made me laugh. It was just so dumb, it was hilarious.
And the Vincent Price variety specials are hilarious. Eva Longoria was hilarious. And her other sketch where she kept eating bad fish sandwiches.... I'm giggling.
But I guess we can go on forever with what we liked.
Phil Hartman and Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer. Your world confuses and frightens me!
I liked Horatio Sanz in the Debbie Downer Disney episode with Jimmy Fallon. They were laughing so hard that Horatio kept wiping his eyes on his shirt sleeve, I think he might have even used food (pizza) to dab tears. Some do get irritated when they break character but it always makes me laugh.
Chris Kattan - I loved the skits when he would perform dance routines for the musical guests, "mango," and my all-time fave "Goth Talk" with Kattan and Molly Shannon!
Mike Myers and "Phillip", the hyper hypo skit - YouTube the one with Nicole Kidman - hilarious!
Someone else already name-checked this one, but Gilda as Candy Slice, aka Patti Smith--the bit where she asks to borrow Laraine Newman's hairbrush & then uses it on her armpit hair, and the song she does about Mick Jagger (IIRC) are still pee-your-pants hysterical!
Gilda as Roseanne Roseanna Danna. God I loved her. Also John Belushi and Dan Ackroyd as the Killer Bees!
And Robyn I totally forgot that one..Okay Gilda as anything. God I loved her!
Adam Sandler. Ugh. I just thought he was awful.I never could see his talent but then I felt the same way about Bill Murray. For some reason he grew on me. But people seem to love him. Don't get it.
Oh and Down by the river in a van with Chris Farley. All the good ones are gone aren't they?
Favorite character: Sean "I'll take 'Anal Bum Cover' for 1000, Trebek" Connery.
Impossible to pick just one! I loved Eddie Murphy. Loved all the 90's guys (Gap Girls, Matt Foley, Waynes World, Coffee Talk, Opera Man, Hollywood Minute...those were the days). Will Ferrell made every sketch for me. Loved the Spartan Cheerleaders. He reenacted Party of Five when Scott Wolf hosted, it was hysterical and I can't ever find it online. I love Amy Poehler as Amber (rockin' one leg). I could go on and on. I really need to read the two books mentioned in the comments.
I'm old school. Definitely 1st group. Gilda probably, but I love Jane Curtain too.
What, no Chris Kattan? (I kid, I kid.)
I thought Phil Hartman and Norm McDonald had great comic timing (Norm in a purposefully awkward way), and Dana Carvey and Mike Myers play characters flawlessly.
Now I actually like Fred Armisen and Kristin Wiig; I think they both totally sink into their characters. (I hate hate HATE them as the unprepared singer couple though.)
Although I never found him funny on the show, I LOVE Al Franken, the person/politician. I think he is brilliant, and I like that he is brutal to those who need to be knocked down a peg and compassionate to those who need to be lifted up. I like his advocacy for a better health care system and I hope he does well in his political future. And I wish I still lived in Minnesota so I could vote for him!
Mr. Bill.
Gilda. Candy Slice. http://youtu.be/vMF7JrPHT74
"You, Mick Jagger, don't... keep... regular... hours!"
Eddie's Buckwheat -- remember the night he was shot and the bodyguards dove out of the way? Or his Mr. roger's character telling kids to go repeat a certain profanity to their mothers? Ahh, did you get slapped? Then you said it right!
Chris Farley's Chippendale's Dancer with Patrick Swayze.
That beer "commercial" where a bunch of men were doing a beefcake shoot by the pool.
Haven't watched in almost 10 years. I read somewhere the difference between generations when it came to the Nancy Kerrigan/tonya Harding baton beating: classic SNL would've asked Tonya to host. I have to agree.
So like everything you guys already said, Amy pohler as amber (jealous?), norm in everything but especially his Larry king, the Christmas skit with jimmy, horatio, Tracy and Chris, David spades Hollywood minute, the gap girls, will Farrell and Rachel dratch as the creepy lovahs in the hot TUB, the Boston kids, and most recently, laser cats. Also consign on both books mentioned, the shales and miller one being just a bit better.
Eddie Murphy! Everything he did was funny. I LOVE Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood and James Brown, but especially Buckweat Sings the Classics:" Tree Tines A Lodee"
Phil Hartman was good in everything too.
Will Farrell as George W. Bush.
Chris Walken as the Continental Lover.
Maya Randolph as Beyonce with Prince.
Currently I'm loving Stefan the Gay Club kid in love with Seth Myers.
More Cowbell!!!
Jim Bulushi, Phil Hartman, Will Farrell, Darryl Hammonds, Molly Shannon are my favs. I've been watching since day one..... was babysitting and it was on and I was sooooo confused!
@Lelaina Pierce: You can find the Scott Wolf SNL on Netflix-free streaming. 1997, Season 23, episode 17. Netflix is awesome for catching all SNL!
chris farley and chris kattan. I looooved chris kattan's version of Ricky Martin. Hilarious.
And one of my favorite Chris Farley episodes was when Susan Lucci hosted. Hysterical. He was great.
@Lisa B. - Thanks for the info! We are about to switch over to Netflix anyway, just so we can see Arrested Development. I've been looking for that clip for YEARS.
I admit I have only seen episodes from the late 90s on, so my opinions may be a little skewed, but:
Best impressionists are Darrell Hammond and Bill Hader. They can literally play anybody.
Best character actors have to be Amy Poehler, Kristen Wiig, and Will Ferrell. They are all absolutely fantastic performers who had many recurring characters and people always wanted to see them on screen.
Honorable mentions to Tina Fey and Maya Rudolph, because I absolutely adored the both of them on SNL and still do!
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