Will Ferrell
Cast Member: 1995-2002
Favorite Characters: George W. Bush, Janet Reno, music teacher Marty Culp, Spartan cheerleader Craig Buchanan
Will Ferrell joined the cast in 1995 and was quickly dubbed the worst new cast member by the unforgiving New York press—proving that they wouldn’t know their collective ass from a hole in the ground. By the time he left in 2002, Ferrell was the most beloved member of the cast and one of the few members to ever earn an Emmy nomination.
Ferrell was the undisputed master at finding humor by playing it straight. Whether playing dim-witted President George Bush or over-caffeinated cheerleader Craig Buchanan, Ferrell believed in that character 100-percent—and conveyed that belief to the audience. His characters never told jokes, the humor instead developed from their natural reactions to absurd situations.
The...
January 10th, 2006 at 2:56 am
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.
January 30th, 2006 at 9:33 pm
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.
January 31st, 2006 at 10:17 am
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.
February 9th, 2006 at 11:26 pm
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.
February 9th, 2006 at 11:56 pm
Steve Martin was never a cast member.
Look it up.
February 28th, 2006 at 11:24 pm
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
March 7th, 2006 at 12:52 am
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.
April 4th, 2006 at 10:18 pm
I can’t believe nobody has mentioned Cheri Oteri! Not only does this list need more women… Cheri was CRAZY, but versatile. Anyone agree?
May 31st, 2006 at 3:40 pm
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.
January 14th, 2007 at 2:25 am
January 19th, 2007 at 2:54 am
November 4th, 2007 at 5:51 am
April 7th, 2008 at 3:38 pm