In 1975, Lorne Michaels assembled seven talented improvisational actors from the U.S. And Canada and put them on late-night television. Saturday night has never been the same. Saturday Night Live was the first television program that showcased the talents of the baby-boomer generation. Daring and insightful, the “Not-Ready-For-Prime-Time Players” consistently produced edgy, topical humor that radically redefined what it meant to be funny on television.
For the past 30 years, dozens and dozens of people have entertained us (or tried to entertain us) every Saturday night. The original cast were pioneers – boldly inventing a new brand of comedy. But some of those who followed were equally talented, if not more so.
That begs the question: If you were able to pick anyone you wanted to create the ultimate SNL cast, who would you choose? Of course, we must have some criteria:
- The person must have been a SNL cast member.
- Potential cast members will be judged solely on their contributions to SNL, not outside work.
- We are limiting ourselves to seven members – just like the original cast.
Without further ado, Badmouth presents the Ultimate Saturday Night Live Cast in alphabetical order:
Tags: bill murray, eddie murphy, gilda radner, john belushi, mike myers, night live, phil hartman, saturday, snl, will ferrell
I see what you mean. I’d like to have Chris Farley on that list, but not bad enought to clear a spot for him. Good choices.
I agree with all of them but maybe a better judge of their talent: what are the top ten skits that endeared over the years?
A talented list, true, but the one adjustment I’d make would be replacing one of the actors with another actress for the sake of versatility. Whom to replace? Tough call, but I see Mike Myers getting the boot. In favor of whom? There’s the problem: SNL is much better at developing male stars. Jane Curtin or Jan Hooks seem the most likely choices.
I considered that, but in the end decided to judge solely on merit and impact to the show, rather than a quota system.
If I was to put another woman on, I’d probably go with Molly Shannon or Tina Fey before Curtin or Hooks — although Hooks was pretty damn funny.
It’s hard to take people off… I would love to add Dana Carvey, Steve Martin, Chris Farely or Martin Short… but I don’t know who I could take off. All I know for certain is the only funny thing on Saturday Night Live this season was the Chronic(what?)cles of Narnia. I really think the cast has suffered horribly.
Steve Martin was never a cast member.
Look it up.
Hmm it is hard to narrow down but I would have to say that I would dump Will Ferrell for Chris Farley anyday. Ferrell has his moments but Farley was something special, like Belushi those guys are once in an all too short lifetime.
I might also drop Gilda Radner for Dana Carvey.
Still its a funny group
I completely agree with you James. Ferrell had a lot of great moments, but Farley was one of a kind funny.
I would definately take off Will Farrell and flush him in the toilet. He is an unfunny creep that I imagine in my nightmares slowly trying to drive me insane.
I can’t believe nobody has mentioned Cheri Oteri! Not only does this list need more women… Cheri was CRAZY, but versatile. Anyone agree?
Great list, buddy. Phil Hartman never gets the credit he deserves. What a talent! I would have to say that I would drop Gilda for Cheri O’ teri as suggested, and I would definatley love Farley to be in there, but I couldn’t decide who to drop.
I’d cut Myers and Ferrell for Ackroyd and Curtin.
I would include Dan Akroyd over Mike Meyers
Will Farrell is fun, but still a light weight in the SNL pantheon of classics. Replace wih Dan Akroyd. Akroyd, as comedian AND writer, gave us memorable characters: The Blues Brothers; “Fred Garvin-Male Prostitute”; the Coneheads; Dick Nixon in 1975; Julia Child bleeding [a scene included in the recent movie "Julie and Julia"); Two "Wild-and-Crazy Guys" [w Steve Martin]; scum-bag toymaker Elliot Mainway and his “Bag-o-Broken Glass”, etc.. And who can forget the entire genre of pseudo-ads, like Akroyd’s “Bass-o-Matic” or the luxury automobile that rode so smoothly you could do a circumcision in the back seat at 60 mph! If you can hold up the charming but limited Will Farrell to Dan Akroyd, then maybe time will make the difference in opinion.
I would exclude Will Ferrel and add Kristen Wiig. she is hilarious
Why don’t you add a tenth spot and put in dana carvey. Chopin Broccolie!!!
I agree about Kristen Wiig. She’s a riot.
I’d boot Mike Myers for her.