Bill Murray
Cast Member: 1977 – 1980
Favorite Characters: Nick (the lounge singer), Counterboy at Olympia Cafe, Todd LaBounta/DiLaMuca
Like many SNL cast members, Bill Murray got his start in Second City in Chicago. After an aborted effort at college, he joined the National Lampoon Radio Hour where he worked with future SNL cast members Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner and John Belushi. Instead of following those three to SNL. Murray joined the ill-fated Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell on ABC. (It wasn’t until this show failed miserably that our Saturday Night Live became “Saturday Night Live“.)
When Chevy Chase made his bone-headed decision to leave SNL after only one season, Murray got a second chance to make the right decision. Critics openly wondered if SNL could survive without its first breakout star. But Murray soon silenced the critics, won over the audience and highlighted just how big a mistake Chase had made. (Another Chase mistake: getting into a fist-fight with Murray backstage during a guest-host stint in the late ’70s.)
Although in recent years he has become highly regarded for his almost minimalist dramatic acting, during his time on SNL, Murray perfected an on-screen persona that was half charm and all smarm. Murray was perhaps the ultimate smart-ass. He specialized in playing rogues — both lovable and otherwise – doing everything but winking at the camera while performing. He was 100-percent ham on SNL – and America ate him up.
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.