NBC’s Saturday Night Live is a staple of American television, and the best SNL seasons feature some of the funniest in small-screen history. Though it has seen many ups and downs, SNL has consistently pleased its fans even when the casts have changed over the years. Beginning in 1975, Saturday Night Live is now in its 50th season and doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. The sketch comedy show has launched the careers of myriad prolific comedians, such as Will Ferrell, Eddie Murphy, Adam Sandler, Mike Myers, and more.
Not only that, but iconic characters created on SNL have often gotten their own spinoff movies. Wayne’s World and Night at the Roxbury are based on SNL sketches, and the same goes for Coneheads and The Blues Brothers. Due to the fact that it is a sketch show, it is hard to judge episodes and seasons as a whole, but audiences have gravitated towards certain eras of the show and they have garnered high ratings and critical accolades. Whenever the cast, host, and musical guest are of a consistent quality, few shows are as hilarious as SNL.
20 Season 22
1996-1997
The cast of Saturday Night Live is always the biggest factor in how well a season goes. They are the constants that have to keep the show going as hosts come and go each week. However, a truly great line-up of hosts can elevate a season from good to great. Season 22 has one of the best collections of hosts from beginning to end as the show seemed to embrace the fact that past cast members of SNL tend to be the best hosts.
Season 22 saw a terrific roster of former cast members return to the show to host, including one stretch in the middle of the season where there were five consecutive episodes in which the host was a former cast member. These hosts included some of the best cast members of all time, like Chevy Chase and Martin Short, those who were misused while on the show but became big stars, like Chris Rock and Robert Downey Jr., and SNL players who had just recently left, like Mike Myers and Dana Carvey.
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However, one of the highlights of the season was the introduction of the Celebrity Jeopardy skit that became an all-time classic.
19 Season 10
1984-1985
The transition years on Saturday Night Live have always been a rocky time for the show. These are seasons in which a large majority of the cast, especially the most popular performers, have left, new cast members are brought in, and new stars have to emerge. The first time there was a large transition like this was in season 6 when all of the original cast members exited and the show nearly fell apart. There was a lot of pressure for season 10 not to make a similar mistake and they achieved this with an inventive solution.
With Eddie Murphy and Joe Piscopo among the five cast members who left the previous year, SNL decided that instead of bringing in new up-and-coming comedic talent, they would hire proven stars of the comedy world. Billy Crystal, Christopher Guest, and Martin Short were among the people hired to join the cast. While the entire cast would be replaced the following year with none of the big stars choosing to return, the star-studded season made for an exciting year in SNL‘s storied history.
18 Season 26
2000-2001
Season 26 was a powerhouse installment for Saturday Night Live. Election years are SNL‘s bread and butter, and with the politically turbulent race between Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore, the sketch series struck comedy gold with Will Ferrell and Darrell Hammond’s hysterical impersonations of Bush and Gore, respectively. The season proved to be yet another where Ferrell dominated, as this was when he and Rachel Dratch debuted their hilarious “Lovers” sketch, in which they play an overly amorous couple.
But what truly made Saturday Night Live season 26 special was that it marked Tina Fey’s debut in front of the camera. While she had been a writer for the show since 1997, season 26 saw her become a featured player. Fey and Jimmy Fallon took over Colin Quinn’s Weekend Update hosting duties and their chemistry was electric.
17 Season 21
1995-1996
Season 21 was another year of change for Saturday Night Live and one that helped push the show forward. The previous season had seen some of the biggest stars like Adam Sandler and Chris Farley fired, which led to a mostly new cast to kick off the season. However, while those were big shoes to fill for new cast members, the fact that season 21 marked Will Ferrell’s first year meant the show was heading in the right direction.
Along with Ferrell, who quickly made a name for himself in the series, Molly Shannon was also given a more prominent role while Chris Kattan was hired near the end of the season and quickly made a splash. The new cast saw Saturday Night Live once again developing characters who could become beloved recurring bits, with season 21 marking the debut of the likes of the Spartan Cheerleaders, Mary Katherine Gallagher, and The Roxbury Guys.
16 Season 34
2008 – 2009
Sometimes the events in the real world become perfect material for Saturday Night Live. Season 34 proved to be one such season, which saw a huge ratings boost as the show covered the presidential election between Barack Obama and John McCain. While that proved to be a historic election for the United States of America, SNL excelled at focusing not on the presidential candidates but rather on a vice presidential hopeful. Season 34 kicked off with Tina Fey returning to the show playing Sarah Palin.
Fey’s performance, which won her an Emmy, gave SNL much-deserved buzz, and excitement in seeing the show tackle such an intriguing political figure grew to astonishing heights. Fey’s appearances were peppered throughout the season, with Palin doing a press conference alongside Hillary Clinton, being interviewed by Katie Couric, and meeting with Will Ferrell’s George W. Bush. The real Sarah Palin also made an appearance, showing the pop culture effect of the impression. Season 34 was also bittersweet, as it marked the final season for Amy Poehler, one of the best SNL cast members of all time.
15 Season 42
2016-2017
A highlight of SNL came in season 42, which aired from 2016 to 2017. The time period itself found the United States in a contentious time socially and politically, which is often when SNL shines with its sharpest writing. Amid division and concern, the show provided laughs and satire to put it all in perspective. While not a main cast member, frequent SNL host Alec Baldwin returned to do a particularly popular imitation of President Donald Trump, often dominating the cold opens.
Outside of the season’s more political slant than usual, delivering sketches like “Trump People’s Court” and “Trump vs Clinton: Round 2” (seeing the hysterical Kate McKinnon as Hillary Clinton), season 42 saw some majorly entertaining celebrity guests, such as Tom Hanks, Margot Robbie, and Emily Blunt. “Black Jeopardy,” “Whiskers R’ We with Kristen Wiig,” and the bizarre “Haunted Elevator (featuring David S. Pumpkins)” were some of the biggest stand-out sketches of the season.
14 Season 8
1982-1983
The years immediately following the dissolution of the original cast were one of the roughest patches for the show. SNL attempted several format changes which didn’t sit well with audiences, and it was quickly slipping in popularity. Season 8, however, reintroduced many of the series’ original hallmarks, and it was seen as a return to form. In many ways, the legendary sketch comedy show might not have continued were it not for season 8 and one standout performer in particular.
While it is notable for being the first season Julia Louis-Dreyfus joined SNL, it was future star Eddie Murphy who stole the show. With iconic characters like Gumby and Mister Robinson, Murphy became the performer whom SNL leaned on the most. Amazingly, when his co-star of 48 Hrs had to pull out of hosting duties at the last minute, Murphy became the first and only cast member to host while they were still on the show.
13 Season 4
1978-1978
Though hard to remember now, the first five years of Saturday Night Live made the show a cultural phenomenon with it feeling electric, risky, and new. Season 4 effectively spelled the end of this era as it was the final season for both Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, which led to the end of the original cast and replacement actor Bill Murray. However, the season showcased some of the biggest moments of the series and standout hosts, like Steve Martin, Elliott Gould, and Buck Henry.
Like the previous two seasons, the cast was in rare form and had gotten the format of the show down well enough to deliver consistently. Many of the previous season’s famous sketches returned, and The Blues Brothers performed on several occasions before Aykroyd and Belushi departed to star in the feature film. Season 4 also spawned the iconic SNL line “Jane, you ignorant slut!” During Aykroyd and Jane Curtain’s “Point/Counterpoint” segment on Weekend Update.
12 Season 39
2013-2014
On the eve of season 40, SNL undertook one of its largest cast overhauls and nearly every featured player was replaced with a fresh face. Despite the change, audiences responded well to the new cast, and with the addition of legendary hosts such as John Goodman and Tina Fey, the season soared beyond many fans’ expectations.
The season is of consistent quality not only because the writing is strong, but because the hosting was top-notch as well. Unlike many other seasons which often featured non-actors in the hosting spot, season 39 featured only hosts who had experience as actors. The series broke its own ground by adding Black female comic Sasheer Zamata, and the season features one of its largest casts. However, this ended up working well, providing wider and more dynamic sketches like “4th Grade Talent Show” and “New Wes Anderson Horror Trailer.”
11 Season 18
1992-1993
Season 18 was a year of transition for SNL, but it seems like some of the best seasons thrive under pressure. Mike Myers was on leave for the first half of the season whereas Dana Carvey was absent for the second half. This also marks Chris Rock’s last season on the show and David Spade was similarly beginning to pick up steam in Hollywood. Between all of these changes and musical guest Sinead O’Connor ripping up a picture of the Pope on stage, it was clear that season 18 would be ruled by chaos.
However, this chaos is part of what makes SNL so great and iconic. Season 18 saw some legendary Chris Farley SNL skits debut, including the first appearance of Matt Foley and his van down by the river. The Gap Girls sketches also made their first showcase in season 18, as did Adam Sandler’s Canteen Boy (something of a precursor to his movie The Waterboy). Though both Sandler and Farley ended up fired from the show, this season helped cement them as SNL legends.
10 Season 17
1991-1992
The early 1990s was another big transitional period for Saturday Night Live. The ’80s had been largely rough for the show, but it saw a glimmer of hope in the latter half of the decade through the inclusion of memorable cast members. Season 17 saw the promotion of Chris Farley and Chris Rock to main cast status and several future stars were featured players as well, setting up one of the most iconic ensembles in the show’s history.
Anchored by established talents like Dana Carvey and Mike Myers, season 17 flourished because it was a balance of old and new. With memorable sketches like “Wayne’s World” having been made into a hit film by that point, SNL had more eyes on it than ever before. “The Mr. Belvedere Fanclub” stands out as one of the show’s weirdest yet funniest sketches to date, and this season also introduced Adam Sandler’s “Opera Man,” and “The Chris Farley Show.”
9 Season 33
2007-2008
Hampered by the writer’s strike, season 33 of SNL still managed to deliver high-quality entertainment week after week. The season was the shortest of the entire run and that allowed the writers to focus and pack each episode with strong content. The cast saw very little turnover which allowed the veterans to really establish themselves as some of the greats of the show, especially the likes of Bill Hader, Andy Samberg, and Kristen Wiig.
The season’s hosts were very strong and featured a few notable alumni such as Tina Fey and old favorites like Christopher Walken. Also, the famous “Weekend Update” was helmed by Amy Poehler and Seth Myers who are considered to be some of the best anchors to ever host the segment. Kristen Wiig was also a huge highlight of the season, coming up with four new characters and generally making the series a barrel of laughs from start to finish every time she got on stage.
8 Season 38
2012-2013
Season 38 was yet another period of cast transition, as this marked the final year for Bill Hader, Jason Sudeikis, and Fred Armisen. However, this saw newcomers Jay Pharaoh and Cecily Strong start to hit their marks in a big way. Hader decided to grace the screen with his iconic Weekend Update character Stefon in one of the best sketches of the season, “Stefon’s Halloween Tips.”
Not only that, but Pharaoh was spot on with his memorable Barack Obama impression and Cecily Strong showed off her comedic skills with “The Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started a Conversation with at a Party.” The best celebrity guests of the season included Ben Affleck, Melissa McCarthy, and Seth MacFarlane. Between “Puppet Class” and Stefon, Bill Hader more than earned his Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
7 Season 37
2011-2012
SNL usually sees an uptick in quality around election years, and season 37 was no exception. With a lot of political material to work with, the season rolled on strong and was the final season of legendary cast members Kristen Wiig and Andy Samberg. Aside from the strong political material, the show’s 37th installment excelled because of the consistency of the cast as it saw very little change from previous years.
Being familiar with the format and having years of experience, the cast of season 37 was able to deliver quality on a weekly basis. This also saw Kate McKinnon becoming the first openly gay female cast member, and the characters she brought with her turned out to be iconic. Maya Rudolph returned to deliver the best sketch of the season, “Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Laughs,” of course there was the revival of “Bronx Beat,” and an appearance from Stefon.
6 Season 27
2001-2002
The early 2000s saw something of a revival for Saturday Night Live as season 27 boasted an impressive lineup. Season 27 entertained with the comedic stylings of Will Ferrell, Rachel Dratch, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Maya Rudolph, among others, leading to some of the show’s most iconic sketches. Much like Chris Farley with his time on the series, Will Ferrell tended to dominate.
“Patriotic Shorts” saw audiences rolling on the floor with laughter as Ferrell took Casual Friday to an extreme and showed off his “patriotic” underwear in an office boardroom. It was so funny that even the cast themselves could barely get through the sketch. “Lovers,” starring Rachel Dratch and Will Ferrell was another highlight of the season. The season also saw incredible celebrity guests, such as Ian McKellan, Winona Ryder, and Drew Barrymore.
5 Season 1
1975-1976
The debut season of SNL had its fair share of growing pains. It was attempting to introduce an entirely new comedy format to audiences and it did so with a cast of relative newcomers. However, it turned out to be one of the best SNL seasons. Many of the show’s most famous alumni such as Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, and Chevy Chase were on hand to help the fledgling series along, and help they certainly did.
Though it may look very different from the Saturday Night Live seasons of recent memory, season 1 laid the groundwork that all seasons would emulate moving forward. Also, several of the hosts would become SNL legends and host the show a multitude of times. Episode 9 of the first season saw the series nominated and win its very first Emmy, proving that the show was off to a head start and that Lorne Michaels had comedy gold on his hands.
4 Season 32
2006-2007
By season 32, SNL had proven that it could keep up with changing forms of comedy and had stepped into the realm of internet humor with Andy Samberg’s Lonely Island sketches and songs dominating early social media culture. Aside from a cast of long-running players like Darrell Hammond and Fred Armisen, the show boasted a handful of up-and-coming talents that would define the show for the next decade, making season 32 one of the best SNL seasons.
As with the previous season, many of the highlights came from Andy Samberg and his Lonely Island comedy group. Together the group produced a handful of notoriously funny internet sketches that aired on the show as well. Season 32 contained the infamous “D**k in a Box” sketch that featured Samberg and notable host Justin Timberlake. “D**k in a Box” ended up winning an Emmy for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics, as well as a Writers Guild Award for Best Comedy/Variety series.
3 Season 2
1976-1977
Whatever issues season 1 struggled with, the show had fully worked out by the debut episode of the second. Resembling much of what SNL still looks like today, the second season garnered the show a much larger audience and introduced some of the show’s most famous sketches, such as the Coneheads. Coneheads helped bring SNL into the Hollywood limelight, as it was so popular that the SNL sketch was made into a movie years later.
SNL also proved its resilience during the season when debut cast member Chevy Chase departed the show suddenly and was later replaced by Bill Murray. By introducing the concept of fluidity within the cast, SNL prepared the audiences for all of the future cast changes to come. Aykroyd’s dubious toy manufacturer Irwin Mainway entertained audiences with the sketch “Consumer Probe,” and cast member Gilda Radner got her due when she won an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program.
2 Season 14
1988 – 1989
Season 14 stands out as one of the best SNL seasons because it maintained solid laughs and ratings from start to finish. Adding cast members Mike Myers and Ben Stiller proved to be a resounding success, as season 14 marks the first appearance of the iconic Myers/Carvey sketch “Wayne’s World.” The sketch proved to be a hit among audiences, spawning two movies and plenty of memorable Wayne’s World catchphrases.
The late Phil Hartman was another strong presence on the series. His more subtle brand of comedy fit right in with the rest of the zany cast, coming up with hysterical characters like the Anal Retentive Chef and the Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer. “Toonces the Driving Cat” remains the zaniest and best sketch of the season. The season won Dana Carvey an American Comedy Award, and an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series.
1 Season 3
1977-1978
By season 3 of SNL, the original cast had solidified into a strong unit and the show had fully established its formula. A majority of the original cast remained, and new addition Bill Murray had found his place in the roster with his own recurring sketch characters. With legendary hosts like Steve Martin making frequent appearances, the show was able to deliver week in and week out.
On top of that, notable alumnus Chevy Chase became the first returning cast member to host the show. The third season introduced the hilarious “Festrunk Brothers” sketch with Aykroyd and Martin, and it would go down as one of the best SNL skits of all time. Other iconic Saturday Night Live characters introduced include the Blues Brothers, Steve Martin’s King Tut, Father Guido Sarducci, and Roseanne Roseannadanna. Season 3 was truly the best season of SNL and the series was officially in its prime.
