SNL50 - Top 50 Recurring Characters - Part Two

 

Here is the cream of the crop when it comes to recurring characters and bits. Trying to narrow things down to 50 was incredibly difficult. I just didn’t have room for things like The Wild and Crazy Guys, Hans and Franz, Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer and the Merryville Trolley Ride. If your favourites are missing, you can certainly make your own list, but also feel free to let me know my glaring omissions. Here is my top 25.

25. THE FALCONER
EPISODE: S28E05 (11.09.2002)
APPEARANCES: 9
Lots of puppetry work with Donald the Falcon.
LINK: Click here

24. TOMMY FLANAGAN
EPISODE: S11E02 (11.16.1985)
APPEARANCES: 19
Jon Lovitz became an SNL star because of his pathological liar. “Yeah, that’s the ticket.”
LINK: Click here (45 seconds in)

23. SUEL FORRESTER
EPISODE: S21E15 (03.16.1996)
APPEARANCES: 8
I know I sometimes mumble but nothing like Kattan’s hard to understand character. I like the writing on the chalkboard and the students’ confused faces.
LINK: Click here

22. SPACE, THE INFINITE FRONTIER
EPISODE: S22E20 (05.17.1997)
APPEARANCES: 3
Ferrell is truly bizarre as Harry Caray with questions that are just as strange. Jeff Goldblum does not know how to answer.
LINK: Click here

21. SHALLON
EPISODE: S39E04 (10.26.2013)
APPEARANCES: 3
I love the confidence of Nasim Pedrad’s Shallon character and how she gets her fellow students on her side. “Get in that van!”
LINK: Click here

20. PORN STARS
EPISODE: S38E16 (03.09.2013)
APPEARANCES: 9
Vanessa Bayer and Strong are hilarious as former porn stars trying to sell expensive things. They mispronounce constantly and often revert back to their old ways. Such amazing characterizations.
LINK: Click here

19. BABY BOSS
EPISODE: S39E07 (11.23.2013)
APPEARANCES: 4
Beck Bennet goes all out as a genius in a baby’s body. Seems similar to Ferrell as a cat. Love the physicality; he obviously studied babies.
LINK: Click here

18. BOSTON TEENS
EPISODE: S25E13 (02.19.2000)
APPEARANCES: 14
Fallon’s Sully and Rachel Dratch’s Zazu are always a fun hang with the Boston accents. Throw in some Ben Affleck for good measure.
LINK: Click here

17. KAITLIN & RICK
EPISODE: S29E18 (05.01.2004)
APPEARANCES: 7
Poehler is a bundle of energy as Kaitlin, it is funny yet exhausting to watch.
LINK: Click here

16. PENELOPE
EPISODE: S36E07 (11.20.2010)
APPEARANCES: 7
Nothing like the one-upmanship of Wiig’s Penelope.
LINK: Click here

15. DAVID S PUMPKINS
EPISODE: S42E04 (10.22.2016)
APPEARANCES: 2
Who would have thought this Hanks character would be such a hit? The beat-boy skeletons and David S Pumpkins are their own thing. Any questions?
LINK: Click here

14. CHAD
EPISODE: S46E18 (05.08.2021)
APPEARANCES: 11
I love the line delivery of Pete Davidson’s Chad. He’s so calm, quick, honest and juvenile.
LINK: Click here

13. CONSUMER PROBE
EPISODE: S03E04 (10.29.1977)
APPEARANCES: 3
Dan Aykroyd is so slimy as Irwin Mainway but he has an explanation for everything like the dangerous Invisible Pedestrian costume.
LINK: Click here

12. THE CHRIS FARLEY SHOW
EPISODE: S18E13 (02.13.1993)
APPEARANCES: 3
You can’t help but root for Farley who is so nervous interviewing his famous guests. Endearing.
LINK: Click here

11. DEBBIE DOWNER
EPISODE: S29E18 (05.01.2004)
APPEARANCES: 8
The breaking in this sketch is legendary. It is impressive that they even got to the end of it. Awesome use off sound effects. Watching Horatio Sanz dab his tear-filled eyes with waffles is a treat.
LINK: Click here

10. HERB WELCH
EPISODE: S37E06 (11.12.2011)
APPEARANCES: 6
Another great Hader creation as a disgruntled reporter who keeps hitting interviewees with his microphone. Love the stuff he says under his breath.
LINK: Click here

9. BUH-WEET  
EPISODE: S07E02 (10.10.1981)
APPEARANCES: 12
Eddie Murphy rocks the speech impediment as Buckwheat from Little Rascals. A classic. The character got so popular, he had Buh-Weet assassinated in a later season.
LINK: Click here

8. WAYNE’S WORLD
EPISODE: S16E19 (05.11.1991)
APPEARANCES: 20
Aerosmith’s appearance is probably the most popular Wayne’s World, but I like the old school top tens they would do. Oh, and there's Madonna. Schwing!
LINK: Click here

7. SCIENCE ROOM
EPISODE: S45E11 (01.25.2020)
APPEARANCES: 4
Mikey Day’s Josh and Strong’s Lonnie steal the show with their utter cluelessness around science. I have had some students who gave answers like this. This sketch bring tears to my eyes from laughing.
LINK: Click here

6. HYPER HYPO
EPISODE: S19E07 (11.20.1993)
APPEARANCES: 2
Myers plays a great hyperactive child named Philip. He needs a harness for good reason. Very fun interactions with Nicole Kidman.
LINK: Click here

5. DANCING MASCOT
EPISODE: S36E22 (05.21.2011)
APPEARANCES: 6
All of Timberlake’s dancing mascots are a riot. This one has more fun songs and Lady Gaga to boot. Kudos to the costume department.
LINK: Click here

4. MACGRUBER
EPISODE: S35E11 (01.09.2010)
APPEARANCES: 10
Always a run of three mini-sketches that get more outrageous, Forte is awesome as this MacGyver knockoff. He is so racist with his terms and mace.
LINK: Click here

3. THE CONEHEADS
EPISODE: S03E04 (10.29.1977)
APPEARANCES: 12
For old school characters, the Coneheads are still funny with their Halloween treats.
LINK: Click here

2. MR. ROBINSON’S NEIGHBORHOOD
EPISODE: S10E09 (12.15.1984)
APPEARANCES: 10
Murphy is simply fantastic as Mr. Robinson. I love every one of these sketches. They are so well written and Eddie’s charisma is on full display. Awesome!
LINK: Click here

1. MATT FOLEY
EPISODE: S18E19 (05.08.1993)
APPEARANCES: 8
This is Farley at his best. He’s loud, physical and extremely funny. Every line out of his mouth is golden. The rest of the family does a great job playing along with Matt’s antics. Love the adjusting of his belt.This is sketch perfection.
LINK: Click here