My SNL Lists

Earlier this week (see A Very Funny Addiction) I promised my readers some lists of my favorite things from 40 years of Saturday Night Live! in preparation for the big anniversary special coming February 15th. Next Wednesday & Thursday will feature my 40 favorite moments from the 40 years, but today I give you three lists of favorites- Hosts, Recurring Characters and Weekend Update Anchors. Remember, these are not meant to be YOUR "best of" lists- they are simply my favorites. And they are in no particular order. But I would love to hear your choices too. Enjoy, and let the debates begin!

Top 10 SNL Hosts (Excluding former cast members)

1. Steve Martin
2. Justin Timberlake
3. Jennifer Aniston
4. Alec Baldwin
5. Paul Simon
6. Christopher Walken
7. Tom Hanks
8. Candice Bergen
9. Buck Henry
10. Britney Spears (Seriously- she was really good!) 

Top 40 Recurring Characters/Sketches
So this was pretty much impossible- kind of like picking out the 40 best M&Ms in a 10 pound bag. The list shows my age as well. But here we go...

1. The Blues Brothers (John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd)
2. The Barry Gibb Talk Show (Fallon, Timberlake)
3. Landshark (Chevy Chase)
4. Wayne's World (Dana Carvey, Mike Myers)
5. Master Thespian (Jon Lovitz)
6. Operaman (Adam Sandler)
7. Emily Litella (Gilda Radner)
8. Two Wild & Crazy Guys (Dan Aykroyd, Steve Martin)
9. Matt Foley, Motivational Speaker (Chris Farley)
10. Sarah Palin (Tina Fey)
11. The Bees (Original Cast)
12. Whitney Houston (Maya Rudolph)
13. The Cheerleaders (Cheri Oteri, Will Ferrell)
14. Lothar of the Hill People (Mike Myers)
15. George Bush & George W. Bush (Carvey, Ferrell)
16. Buckwheat (Eddie Murphy)
17. Church Lady (Carvey)
18. Debbie Downer (Rachel Dratch)
19. Ed Grimley (Martin Short)
20. Hans & Franz (Carvey, Kevin Nealon)
21. Roseanne Roseannadanna (Gilda)
22. Harvey Fierstein (Lovitz)
23. Nick the Lounge Singer (Bill Murray)
24. "I hate it when that happens..." (Billy Crystal, Christopher Guest )
25. The Sweeney Sisters (Jan Hooks, Nora Dunn)
26. Frank Sinatra (Joe Piscopo)
27. In the Cage with Nicolas Cage (Andy Samberg)
28. Hardball with Chris Matthews (Darrell Hammond)
29. The Coneheads (Aykroyd, Radner, Lorraine Newman)
30. It's Pat (Julia Sweeney)
31. Celebrity Jeopardy (Ferrell, Hammond, Norm McDonald)
32. The Nerds (Radner, Murray)
33. The Anal Retentive Chef/Fisherman/Whatever (Phil Hartman)
34. The Boston Teens (Fallon, Dratch)
35. The McLaughlin Group- (Carvey, Hooks, Myers, Farley)
36. The Samurai (John Belushi)
37. Homelessville/Wrapingville/Veganville (Timberlake)
38. Fernando (Crystal)
39. Stephon (Bill Hader)
40. Coffee Talk with Linda Richmond (Mike Myers)

Special mention to Toonces the Driving Cat and Mr. Bill. There are just sooooo many I had to leave out...

Top 5 Weekend Update Anchors

And these are in order, #1 being my favorite!

1. Jimmy Fallon & Tina Fey
2. Chevy Chase
3. Amy Poehler & Seth Meyers
4. Dennis Miller
5. Dan Aykroyd & Jane Curtain

That's it for today...but there's homework! I'd love to hear your favorite SNL catchphrases of all-time. Just leave a comment. Have a blessed Saturday!