When fans think of Saturday Night Live they often are reminded of classic catch phrases. From “Nevermind!” to “Excuuuuuse me!” to “Isn’t that special?” there are many memorable lines from this iconic late night show.
The voices that carried those catch phrases came from famous SNL characters. For years, in each era of the show, there have been sketches and characters that jumped off the screen and into pop culture. Some became so popular that they spawned films.
A few of the most popular characters SNL have been portrayed by Gilda Radner, Eddie Murphy, Billy Crystal, Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, and Bill Hader.
In this exclusive Saturday Night Live list, we rate the best SNL characters.
10. Drunk Uncle
Portrayed by: Bobby Moynihan
This character is not as well known as most others on this top ten list, but it belongs here. Moynihan’s portrayal of a homophobic, racist, insecure man perfectly captures a mood of the era in which this bit appeared on Weekend Update. It was often a scathing rebuke of the close-mindedness of many modern “know it all’s” while also illustrating the desperate clinging to “traditional” values by many boomers and Gen Xers.
9. Father Guido Sarducci
Portrayed by: Don Novello
For several years following the exit of Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, and before Bill Murray became a TV star, Novello’s Father Guido was the most engaging character on SNL. His cockeyed optimism was always laced with a smirky attitude, and we loved how the Father was enamored with celebrity culture while still lambasting it.
This is the only character on the list performed by a non-cast member. Though Novello was briefly listed as a featured player.
8. Mary Katherine Gallagher
Portrayed by: Molly Shannon
For sheer fun and reckless physical comedy, Shannon’s Mary Katherine is on the short list of fall-down humor in SNL history. Maybe only Chevy Chase is more famous for being wild with his body as Shannon when she put on the Catholic school uniform. Even though these sketches were usually just one-trick bits, they worked every single time. Even when they malfunctioned (famously when a set was half completed for the sketch).
7. Emily Litella
Portrayed by: Gilda Radner
Who was the best character actress in the history of SNL? Any short list has to include Radner, who ranks as the greatest female cast member ever. Litella mirrors many of Gilda’s personality traits: sweet, unassuming, small, and dedicated to her mission. her catchphrase “NEVERMIND” was one of the first to burst onto the pop culture scene from Saturday Night.
6. Matt Foley
Portrayed by: Chris Farley
This character appeared far fewer times than you probably think. Only five times on SNL, and only four times in sketches. Farley portrayed the homeless self-help guru only three times when he was a cast member. The sketch and sketch was written by Bob Odenkirk, who performed alongside Farley at Second City in Chicago.
For wall-to-wall laughs, Foley packs about as many as any recurring sketch and character.
5. Mister Robinson
Portrayed by: Eddie Murphy
A bright spot in the down years of SNL in the early 1980s, Mister Robinson’s Neighborhood was a fantastic satirical parody. Rewatching the appearances reveals how sharp the writing was here: discussing busing, housing, racial stereotypes, and violence. I’m not sure SNL would even touch this type of subject in the 21st century.
4. Roseanne Roseannadanna
Portrayed by: Gilda Radner
Gilda Radner is the only cast member to have two characters in the top ten list. She could also be considered for Lisa Loopner.
This character was formed early in the third season of SNL. Gilda based it on Rose Ann Scamardella, a former anchorwoman on WABC-TV’s Eyewitness News in New York City. Roseanne was a consumer affairs reporter who went on tangents that flustered anchor Jane Curtin on Weekend Update.
Radner later performed this character to great acclaim in her one-woman show on stage.
3. Church Lady
Portrayed by: Dana Carvey
This character could be number one. For a while, a stretch of about two seasons, Church Lady and the Church Chat sketch were the most popular and leaned-on segment of what was a fantastic era of the show. Carvey emerged as a superstar thanks to Church Lady, and later of course, his impression of George H.W. Bush. For a time, Carvey was the unquestioned breakout star, only to later be challenged by running mate Mike Myers.
2. Stefon
Portrayed by: Bill Hader
For the 21st century fans, Stefon is far and away the most popular, and it’s well deserved. Though this bit was ultra-formulaic, Hader was brilliant at using his mannerisms and voice intonation to bring the words written by John Mullaney to life.
The last-minute copy changes were okay once, maybe twice, but after a while that inside joke was stale. Otherwise, we’d probably elevate Stefon to the No. 1 spot.
1. Wayne Campbell
Portrayed by: Mike Myers
By any measurement, Wayne’s World starring Wayne Campbell was the most significant sketch in the history of the show. That’s because it propelled arguably the deepest, most talented cast into the stratosphere. When Wayne’s World got traction, it solidified SNL as being “back” and made Mike Myers a star.
The movies (at least the first one) are arguably the best of any SNL spinoff. The money made from this one idea, which stemmed from the mind of Myers, who was quite possibly the most broad and talented performer the show has ever seen. Either it’s Myers or Belushi.
