Which celebrity or cast member has uttered the famous Saturday Night Live cold open line the most times? You know the line:
“LIVE FROM NEW YORK. IT’S SATURDAY NIGHT!”
The popular late night variety show doesn’t really get started until someone or several someone’s, say that line. Since it was said the first time in the first episode, by Chevy Chase, the line has become a staple.
The person who has said it the most times is Kate McKinnon, the former cast member. But her margin is slim: former cast member Darrell Hammond has said it 73 times.
These figures are official based on our tireless tally of the line over the 51 seasons of SNL. Each time a person says the line, whether alone or as part of an ensemble, they earn a counter in our list.
It’s no surprise that cast members have the best chance to rack up LFNY lines. It helps if the cast member performs a character that appears in many cold open sketches. That’s why Hammond, who portrayed Bill Clinton during the 1990s, is near the top. For McKinnon, her portrayal of several key political figures helped her rise to the top of the ranks in LIVE FROM utterances.
Browse below the table to see a few notes on Live From New York trivia.
| NAME | COUNT | ROLES |
|---|---|---|
| Kate McKinnon | 74 | Cast, Host |
| Darrell Hammond | 73 | Cast, Guest |
| Dana Carvey | 56 | Cast, Host, Guest |
| Kenan Thompson | 55 | Cast |
| Alec Baldwin | 47 | Host, Guest |
| James Austin Johnson | 47 | Cast |
| Cecily Strong | 42 | Cast |
| Will Ferrell | 36 | Cast, Host, Guest |
| None | 35 | |
| Chevy Chase | 34 | Cast, Host |
| Mikey Day | 32 | Cast |
| Fred Armisen | 31 | Cast |
| Phil Hartman | 31 | Cast |
| Alex Moffat | 29 | Cast |
| Beck Bennett | 29 | Cast |
| Jason Sudeikis | 27 | Cast, Host |
| Heidi Gardner | 25 | Cast |
| Maya Rudolph | 23 | Cast, Guest |
| Tim Meadows | 23 | Cast |
| Aidy Bryant | 22 | Cast |
| Bowen Yang | 22 | Cast |
| Jay Pharoah | 22 | Cast |
| Mike Myers | 22 | Cast, Host, Guest |
| Pete Davidson | 22 | Cast, Guest |
| Taran Killam | 22 | Cast |
| John Belushi | 21 | Cast, Guest |
| Kyle Mooney | 21 | Cast |
| Chris Parnell | 20 | Cast |
| Kristen Wiig | 20 | Cast |
| Chris Redd | 19 | Cast |
| Kevin Nealon | 19 | Cast |
| Bobby Moynihan | 18 | Cast |
| Chloe Fineman | 18 | Cast |
| Ego Nwodim | 18 | Cast |
| Gilda Radner | 18 | Cast |
| Colin Jost | 17 | Cast |
| Amy Poehler | 16 | Cast |
| Dan Aykroyd | 16 | Cast, Host, Guest |
| Andrew Dismukes | 15 | Cast |
| Bill Hader | 14 | Cast, Host |
| Will Forte | 14 | Cast, Guest |
| Joe Piscopo | 13 | Cast |
| Melissa Villaseñor | 13 | Cast |
| Bill Murray | 12 | Cast, Host |
| Ana Gasteyer | 11 | Cast |
| Marcello Hernandez | 11 | Cast |
| Rachel Dratch | 11 | Cast, Guest |
| Sarah Sherman | 11 | Cast |
| Robert De Niro | 10 | Host, Guest |
| Tina Fey | 10 | Cast, Host, Guest |
| Chris Farley | 9 | Cast, Host |
| Jimmy Fallon | 9 | Cast, Host |
| Molly Shannon | 9 | Cast |
| Norm Macdonald | 9 | Cast, Guest |
| Horatio Sanz | 8 | Cast |
| Jon Lovitz | 8 | Cast |
| Laraine Newman | 8 | Cast |
| Vanessa Bayer | 8 | Cast |
| Andy Samberg | 7 | Cast |
| Billy Crystal | 7 | Cast |
| Devon Walker | 7 | Cast |
| Garrett Morris | 7 | Cast |
| Larry David | 7 | Guest |
| Ben Stiller | 6 | Host, Guest |
| Eddie Murphy | 6 | Cast, Host |
| Jan Hooks | 6 | Cast, Guest |
| Jim Carrey | 6 | Host, Guest |
| Leslie Jones | 6 | Cast |
| Punkie Johnson | 6 | Cast |
| Seth Meyers | 6 | Cast |
| Steve Martin | 6 | Host |
| Charles Rocket | 5 | Cast |
| Cheri Oteri | 5 | Cast |
| Jane Curtin | 5 | Cast |
| Jim Downey | 5 | Writer |
| Lauren Holt | 5 | Cast |
| Michael Longfellow | 5 | Cast |
| Molly Kearney | 5 | Cast |
| Nasim Pedrad | 5 | Cast |
| Rob Schneider | 5 | Cast |
| Sasheer Zamata | 5 | Cast |
| Adam Sandler | 4 | Cast |
| Ashley Padilla | 4 | Cast |
| Chris Kattan | 4 | Cast |
| Chris Rock | 4 | Cast |
| Jim Belushi | 4 | Cast |
| Julia Sweeney | 4 | Cast |
| Paul Shaffer | 4 | Cast, Guest |
| Scarlett Johansson | 4 | Guest |
| Tracy Morgan | 4 | Cast |
| David Spade | 3 | Cast |
| Denny Dillon | 3 | Cast |
| Ellen Cleghorne | 3 | Cast |
| Emil Wakim | 3 | Cast |
| Jane Wickline | 3 | Cast |
| John Goodman | 3 | Host, Guest |
| Jon Hamm | 3 | Host |
| Julia Louis-Dreyfus | 3 | Cast |
| Mark McKinney | 3 | Cast |
| Melissa McCarthy | 3 | Guest |
| Michael Alla | 3 | Guest |
| Michael McKean | 3 | Cast |
| Miley Cyrus | 3 | Host, Musical Guest |
| Rudy Giuliani | 3 | Host, Guest Politics |
| Tom Hanks | 3 | Host, Guest |
| Al Franken | 2 | Cast |
| Ann Risley | 2 | Cast |
| Aristotle Athari | 2 | Cast |
| Brad Pitt | 2 | Host |
| Charlton Heston | 2 | Host |
| Chloe Troast | 2 | Cast |
| Christopher Walken | 2 | Host |
| Dennis Miller | 2 | Cast |
| Don Novello | 2 | Cast |
| Don Pardo | 2 | Announcer |
| Dwayne Johnson | 2 | Host |
| Finesse Mitchell | 2 | Cast |
| Gail Matthius | 2 | Cast |
| Gary Kroeger | 2 | Cast |
| Gilbert Gottfried | 2 | Cast |
| Harry Shearer | 2 | Cast |
| Howard Hesseman | 2 | Host |
| Jim Breuer | 2 | Cast |
| John Lithgow | 2 | Host |
| Justin Timberlake | 2 | Host |
| Lin-Manuel Miranda | 2 | Host |
| Lindsay Lohan | 2 | Host |
| Madonna | 2 | Guest |
| Martin Short | 2 | Cast |
| Mary Gross | 2 | Cast |
| Melanie Hutsell | 2 | Cast |
| Miles Teller | 2 | Host |
| Paul Rudd | 2 | Host |
| Randy Quaid | 2 | Cast |
| Rick Moranis | 2 | Host |
| Robert Downey Jr. | 2 | Cast |
| Veronika Slowikowska | 2 | Cast |
| A. Whitney Brown | 1 | Cast |
| Abby Elliott | 1 | Cast |
| Aidy Bryant Mom | 1 | Relative of Cast |
| Al Gore | 1 | Guest Politics |
| Al Sharpton | 1 | Host |
| Anthony Michael Hall | 1 | Cast |
| Arnold Schwarzenegger | 1 | Host |
| Barack Obama | 1 | Guest Politics |
| Beck Bennett Mom | 1 | Relative of Cast |
| Ben Affleck | 1 | Host |
| Benedict Cumberbatch | 1 | Host |
| Beth Cahill | 1 | Cast |
| Betty White | 1 | Host |
| Bill Johnson | 1 | Guest Sports |
| Billy Porter | 1 | Guest |
| Bob Dole | 1 | Guest Politics |
| Bowen Yang Mom | 1 | Relative of Cast |
| Brooks Wheelan | 1 | Guest |
| Bryan Cranston | 1 | Host |
| Buck Henry | 1 | Host |
| Carolyn Kepcher | 1 | Guest Celebrity |
| Cartoon by Robert Smigel | 1 | Non-Human |
| Cecily Strong Mom | 1 | Relative of Cast |
| Chloe Fineman Mom | 1 | Relative of Cast |
| Chris Elliott | 1 | Cast |
| Chris Evert | 1 | Host |
| Chris Redd Mom | 1 | Relative of Cast |
| Christopher Guest | 1 | Cast |
| Cindy Crawford | 1 | Host |
| Colin Jost Mom | 1 | Relative of Cast |
| Colin Quinn | 1 | Cast |
| Connie Crawford | 1 | Civilian |
| Damon Wayans | 1 | Cast |
| Danielle Ellen | 1 | Guest |
| Danitra Vance | 1 | Cast |
| Danny DeVito | 1 | Host |
| David Lewis | 1 | Civilian |
| Deb Blair | 1 | Civilian |
| Dennis Hopper | 1 | Host |
| Dennis Rodman | 1 | Guest |
| Dick Kneip | 1 | Civilian |
| Dick Smothers | 1 | Host |
| Drew Barrymore | 1 | Host |
| Ed Koch | 1 | Host |
| Ego Nwodim Mom | 1 | Relative of Cast |
| Elizabeth Warren | 1 | Guest Politics |
| Emma Stone | 1 | Host |
| Flip Wilson | 1 | Host |
| Florence Henderson | 1 | Guest |
| Fran Tarkenton | 1 | Host |
| Fred Savage | 1 | Host |
| Fred Wolf | 1 | Cast |
| George Harrison | 1 | Musical Guest |
| George Pataki | 1 | Guest Politics |
| George Steinbrenner | 1 | Host |
| Gerald Ford | 1 | Guest Politics |
| Gina Gershon | 1 | Guest |
| Gunna Wilson | 1 | Guest |
| Heidi Gardner Mom | 1 | Relative of Cast |
| Helen Hunt | 1 | Host |
| Hillary Clinton | 1 | Guest Politics |
| Hulk Hogan | 1 | Host |
| James Corden | 1 | Guest |
| Janet Jackson | 1 | Musical Guest |
| Jason Aldean | 1 | Guest |
| Jason Priestley | 1 | Host |
| Jay Leno | 1 | Guest |
| Jeff Renaudo | 1 | Guest |
| Jeff Richards | 1 | Cast |
| Jerry Lewis | 1 | Host |
| Jimmie Vaughan | 1 | Musical Guest |
| Joan Cusack | 1 | Cast |
| Joe Mantegna | 1 | Host |
| Joe Perry | 1 | Guest |
| John Candy | 1 | Host |
| John Carpenter | 1 | Guest |
| John Cleese | 1 | Host |
| John McCain | 1 | Guest Politics |
| John McLaughlin | 1 | Guest |
| John Mulaney | 1 | Host |
| John Travolta | 1 | Host |
| Jon Rudnitsky | 1 | Cast |
| Julia Stiles | 1 | Guest |
| Kamala Harris | 1 | Guest Politics |
| Kate McKinnon Mom | 1 | Relative of Cast |
| Kenan Thompson Mom | 1 | Relative of Cast |
| Kirsten Dunst | 1 | Host |
| Kyle Mooney Mom | 1 | Relative of Cast |
| Lauren Holt Mom | 1 | Relative of Cast |
| Liam Neeson | 1 | Host |
| Liev Schreiber | 1 | Host |
| Lily Tomlin | 1 | Host |
| Linda Ronstadt | 1 | Host |
| Lorne Michaels | 1 | Producer |
| Luke Null | 1 | Cast |
| Macaulay Culkin | 1 | Host |
| Mark Harmon | 1 | Host |
| Marvin Hagler | 1 | Guest |
| Matt Damon | 1 | Guest |
| Matthew Broderick | 1 | Host |
| Melissa Villasenor Mom | 1 | Relative of Cast |
| Merv Griffin | 1 | Guest |
| Michael Douglas | 1 | Host |
| Michael Keaton | 1 | Host |
| Michael Palin | 1 | Host |
| Mike Ditka | 1 | Guest |
| Mikey Day Mom | 1 | Relative of Cast |
| Miley Cyrus Mom | 1 | Relative of Musical Guest |
| Miskel Spillman | 1 | Civilian |
| Monica Lewinsky | 1 | Guest Politics |
| Mr. T | 1 | Host |
| Nancy Walls | 1 | Cast |
| Nikki Haley | 1 | Host |
| Noël Wells | 1 | Cast |
| Oprah Winfrey | 1 | Host |
| Patrick Stewart | 1 | Host |
| Patrick Swayze | 1 | Host |
| Paul Brittain | 1 | Cast |
| Paul Simon | 1 | Host |
| Paula Abdul | 1 | Guest |
| Paula Pell | 1 | Writer |
| Paul Reubens | 1 | Host |
| Pete Davidson Mom | 1 | Relative of Cast |
| Punkie Johnson Mom | 1 | Relative of Cast |
| Queen Latifah | 1 | Musical Guest |
| Ralph Nader | 1 | Host |
| Ramy Youssef | 1 | Guest |
| Rich Hall | 1 | Cast |
| Ringo Starr | 1 | Host |
| Robert Smigel | 1 | Writer |
| Robin Duke | 1 | Cast |
| Robin Williams | 1 | Host |
| Rodney Dangerfield | 1 | Host |
| Ron Luciano | 1 | Guest |
| Ron Reagan Jr. | 1 | Host |
| Rosanna Arquette | 1 | Host |
| Ryan Gosling | 1 | Host |
| Sabrina Carpenter | 1 | Host |
| Sacha Baron Cohen | 1 | Guest |
| Sam Kinison | 1 | Host |
| Sarah Michelle Gellar | 1 | Host |
| Sarah Palin | 1 | Guest Politics |
| Sean Penn | 1 | Host |
| Shane Gillis | 1 | Host |
| Shaun White | 1 | Guest |
| Siobhan Fallon | 1 | Cast |
| Sissy Spacek | 1 | Host |
| Stephanie Seymour | 1 | Guest |
| Steve Carell | 1 | Host |
| Steve Higgins | 1 | Writer |
| Steven Tyler | 1 | Musical Guest |
| Stormy Daniels | 1 | Guest |
| Teri Garr | 1 | Host |
| New York City Children’s Chorus | 1 | Guest |
| Tipper Gore | 1 | Guest Politics |
| Tobey Maguire | 1 | Host |
| Tom Smothers | 1 | Host |
| Toonces the Driving Cat | 1 | Non-Human |
| Victoria Jackson | 1 | Cast |
| Vince McMahon | 1 | Guest |
| Walter Payton | 1 | Host |
| William Shatner | 1 | Host |
| Woody Harrelson | 1 | Guest |
- Alec Baldwin holds the record for most “Live From New York…” deliveries by a non-cast member. Baldwin holds the record for hosting the show the most times. But he tallied many of his LFNY lines when he was appearing as Donald Trump from 2017-2021 as a special guest performer.
- Current cast member (as of Season 51) James Austin Johnson ranks sixth all-time in LFNY deliveries.
- On 35 occasions, there has not been a LFNY line. Many of those occurred during Season 7 and Season 8. That’s when the show was produced by Dick Ebersol, who mostly shunned the tradition. On 28 occasions in Seasons 7-8, there was no LFNY in the cold open.
- In Season 3, the five finalists in the Anyone Can Host SNL contest uttered the line. That’s one of the few times that “civilians” have started the show with “Live from New York…”
- In Season 46 for the Mother’s Day episode, which was hosted by Elon Musk, there was no cold open sketch. That’s because COVID had changed the production schedule of the show. Instead, musical guest Miley Cyrus sang a song, and most of the cast appeared on stage with their mom’s. That group plus Miley and her mom, said the LFNY line in unison.
- Only one sitting U.S. President has said “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night” to start the program: Gerald Ford for Episode 17 of Season 1.
- The non-cast members who have said “Live From New York…” the most times are: Baldwin (47), Robert De Niro (10), Larry David (7), Steve Martin (6), and Jim Carrey (6).
Live from New York line from Cold Open by Kate McKinnon
Here’s a cold open from the March 4, 2017 episode, featuring all-time record holder Kate McKinnon delivering the iconic LIVE FROM NEW YORK line.
