Though he had a brief on-screen stint in the early 1990s, Robert Smigel’s true and massive contribution to SNL was as a writer and the creator of the ‘TV Funhouse’ animated shorts. These cartoons, featuring ‘The Ambiguously Gay Duo,’ ‘The X-Presidents,’ and ‘Fun with Real Audio,’ were often the most politically daring and surreal part of the show. Smigel was the show’s satirical secret weapon. Outside of SNL, he is the creator and voice of the iconic character Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, and a key writer for Conan O’Brien. His impact on late-night comedy is immense, with ‘TV Funhouse’ remaining a high point of the show’s history.