After all, it’s all live, and anything could go wrong.
You know who you are.)
So, without further ado, here’s our (highly subjective!)
Kristen Wiig as the Target Lady, John Belushi as Samurai Futaba, and Eddie Murphy as Stevie Wonder on ‘Saturday Night Live’.Credit:Dana Edelson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty; NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty; Anthony Barboza/Getty
ranking of the top 30 bestSaturday Night Liveplayers of all time.
And, of course, who could forgetAss Dan(RIP).Kevin Jacobsen
29.
Oteri’s zany, over-the-top characters and utter commitment to goofiness was a feat to behold.
Bobby Moynihan and Colin Jost on ‘Saturday Night Live’.Will Heath/NBC via Getty
(Not to mention his later success with diverse comedic film roles, including Austin Powers, Dr. “It’s been said of me that I can do comedy where comedy hadn’t previously existed.”
While this quote may sound boastful to some, he’s not wrong.
“Coffee Tawk”) or turtleneck-wearing, aggressively GermanDieter ofSprockets.
Molly Shannon, Tracy Morgan, Cheri Oteri, and Claire Danes on ‘Saturday Night Live’.Courtesy Everett
Her hilariously flat delivery in bringing up bad news and bringing down the mood made for comedy gold.
If you’re bulletproof EverymanChris Parnellyou can.
O’Malley, a 50-year-old dancer who loves to demonstrate her ability to kick and stretch.
Tracy Morgan on ‘Saturday Night Live’.Dana Edelson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
She could go big and brassy as a boisterousOprahor spaced out and crooningWhitney Houston.
Even working among very strong casts during her seven seasons on the show, Wiig was a major star.D.P.
But Thompson, the longest-running cast member inSNLhistory, earned every bit of his undeniable stardom.
Mike Myers and Dana Carvey on ‘Saturday Night Live’.Alan Singer/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty
As an impressionist, Carvey’s style was more, well, impressionist his gabbling, discursiveGeorge H.W.
Sometimes, stars onSNLare born of effortful attention-seeking.
Ferrell’s stock-in-trade was a wide-eyed excitement that burned in even his most outwardly subdued characters.
Rachel Dratch on ‘Saturday Night Live’.Dana Edelson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
For instance: Placid suburban husbands suddenly erupt in strangled cries of “I drive a Dodge Stratus!”
Meanwhile, Ferrell brought us one ofSNL’s most memorable political impressions, his George W. Bush.
Even more than Hartman, though, Hader’s impressionist skills were unparalleled.
Chris Parnell on ‘Saturday Night Live’.Dana Edelson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images
While other, younger cast members came and went, Hartman was just everywhere, doing everything.
That said, backstage, the still shockingly young Murphy was a true team player.
Cecily Strong, Kenan Thompson, and Jason Sudeikis on ‘Saturday Night Live’.Theo Wargo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Aidy Bryant on ‘Saturday Night Live’.Rosalind O’Connor/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Fred Armisen on ‘Saturday Night Live’.Dana Edelson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Cecily Strong on ‘Saturday Night Live’.Will Heath/NBC
Molly Shannon and Chris Farley on ‘Saturday Night Live’.NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
Jan Hooks and Nora Dunn on Saturday Night Live'.Alan Singer/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images
Will Forte on ‘Saturday Night Live’.Dana Edelson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images
Darrell Hammond on ‘Saturday Night Live’.Dana Edelson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Adam Sandler on ‘Saturday Night Live’.Alan Singer/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty
Andy Samberg on ‘Saturday Night Live’.Dana Edelson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Maya Rudolph on ‘Saturday Night Live’.Will Heath/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Kristen Wiig on ‘Saturday Night Live’.Dana Edelson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Kenan Thompson and Fred Armisen on ‘Saturday Night Live’.Will Heath/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Chris Farley and David Spade on ‘Saturday Night Live’.Everett Collection
Dana Carvey on ‘Saturday Night Live’.Alan Singer/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Kate McKinnon on ‘Saturday Night Live’.Will Heath/NBC
John Belushi and Buck Henry on ‘Saturday Night Live’.NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, and Laraine Newman on ‘Saturday Night Live’.Everett Collection
Will Ferrell on ‘Saturday Night Live’.Dana Edelson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Gilda Radner and Jane Curtin on ‘Saturday Night Live’.Everett Collection
Bill Hader on ‘Saturday Night Live’.Will Heath/NBC
Bill Murray on ‘Saturday Night Live’.NBC/NBCU Photo Bank
Phil Hartman on ‘Saturday Night Live’.Gerry Goodstein/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Stevie Wonder and Eddie Murphy on ‘Saturday Night Live’.Anthony Barboza/Getty Images
