Unsurprisingly, Ashley Padilla has been selected as the MVP of Season 51 of Saturday Night Live, according to SNLRankings.com and its experts. Padilla achieved this status in only her second season on SNL, and before she has been named a repertory cast member.
This marks only the third time that a performer has been named MVP when they were not yet a full repertory cast member. The other two occurred in the late 1990s, with Will Ferrell in Season 21, and Molly Shannon in Season 22.
Padilla won’t need to worry about being a “full” cast member for Season 52. It’s clear to observers of late night that SNL is now Padilla’s show. Long-in-the-tooth cast members Mikey Day, Chloe Fineman, Andrew Dismukes, and Sarah Sherman are either soon going to be exiting, or lack the star power to be central to the NBC program. James Austin Johnson and forever-cast-member Kenan Thompson are more like novelty acts on SNL, serving as essentially one-note popup characters.
Padilla is the sun around which SNL is now revolving. Promising season 51 newcomers Jeremy Culhane and Veronika Slowikowska seem destined to slot in with quirky Jane Wickline to form the backbone of a new era of the show.
Culhane came on strong in Season 51 as a new featured player, but Padilla was a star throughout the season. Following the unexpected departures of Heidi Gardner and Ego Nwodim, there was a a vacuum for Padilla to occupy. And occupy she did.
In sketches like “Kathy” (Episode 16 with host Jack Black), “Mom Confession” (Episode 12 with host Alexander Skarsgård), and “Office Birthday Surprise” (Episode 3 with host Sabrina Carpenter), Padilla stamper her brilliance on SNL. It’s been many years since the show had a comedic actress like her. She also made memorable appearances behind the Weekend Update desk at times in Season 51.
Padilla will enter her third season on Saturday Night Live this October as the unquestioned star of the show. As has been the case in the past in the history of the show, SNL is being helmed by a graduate of the Groundlings. Previously, Groundlings alums Phil Hartman, Ferrell, Ana Gasteyer, Cheri Oteri, Maya Rudolph, and Kristen Wiig became stars on SNL. The sketch and acting work that comes with performing in the Groundlings (and other sketch troupes like Second City) is precisely what Saturday Night Live needs to be at its funniest.
Amazingly, Padilla nearly quit comedy three years ago following several years without a big break. But, after nailing her SNL audition before Season 50, only 18 months later she was clearly the biggest talent on the program.
Padilla follows Nwodim, who won SNL MVP for Season 50. She is the 12th different woman to win the honor. The list includes Gilda Radner, Shannon, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Rudolph, Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Vanessa Bayer, Cecily Strong, Gardner, Nwodim, and Padilla.
Awarded by SNL Rankings, ten of the last 12 SNL MVP’s have been won by women.
The only women to win the Saturday Night Live MVP honor more than once are Cecily Strong (three wins), Tina Fey (twice), Vanessa Bayer (twice), and Kate McKinnon (twice).
