Yesterday I posted my thoughts on who I felt were the greatest cast members in the history of Saturday Night Live, which of course got me thinking about its current cast. While they had an up and down season last year in my opinion, every cast member will be returning next season. With that in mind, I'll give you my thoughts on how the current SNL cast members stack up, so you'll be well aware of who you're most likely going to see...again.
The Current SNL Cast
14. Paul Brittain (2010 - Present) - Paul who? Exactly
13. Abby Elliot (2008 - Present) - Just did not get a lot of material on this year, and it's really been hit or miss when she does
12. Taran Killam (2010 - Present) - Doesn't do a bad job in supporting roles, but give him his own sketch (Les Jueves de Paris) and it might not go so well.
11. Jay Pharoh (2010 - Present) - Does he do anything that isn't a black celebrity impression? His impressions are brilliant, but he needs to broaden his range a lot.
10. Vanessa Bayer (2010 - Present) - The best of the newbies, the only one with a recurring sketch (The Miley Cyrus Show) along with several nice supporting roles. Easily the most visible of the new cast members this past season.
9. Nasim Pedrad (2009 - Present) - Still seen more in supporting roles, Nasim is a nice well rounded cast member that just needs to write herself better material for a hit sketch (because that girl who won't leave her parents is definitely never going to be a hit)
8. Bobby Moynihan (2008 - Present) - The guy still doesn't have a recurring sketch or hit character, but he breathes energy into every single one of his sketches and you can tell how excited he still is to be on Saturday Night Live. He looks like a great guy to hang out with, but still not the guy you'd give a movie deal.
7. Jason Sudekis (2005 - Present) - Ordinarily Sudekis would be much higher on this list, but this year he really took a step backward in his visibility on the show, most likely due to Will Forte's departure (Sudekis had partnered with him many times before) and Sudekis's focus on his movie career. It was a genuine shock that Sudekis returned for another season, but I don't think he'll stick around too much longer.
6. Kenan Thompson (2003 - Present) - Kenan has the opposite problem of Pedrad and Moynihan in that he has quite a few recurring characters, but they all have been sucked dry already. What Up With That and Scared Straight have been done, and it's time for them to go into retirement. While Kenan may drag out some sketches too long, his little bit character parts on Update or in a sketch are always a delight (Charlie Wrangle, The Rent is too Damn High)
5. Fred Armisen (2002 - Present) - The main reason that Armisen stays relevant every week on the show is because of Obama. If you think of what Armisen has been doing on the show minus Obama is hasn't been a lot this past year. Most likely he's suffering a little burnout seeing he's been on the show for quite some time. However, when he does get a sketch or two on he rarely disappoints.
4. Seth Meyers (2001 - Present) - Seth Meyers has the potential to be number 1 on this list: if he would just get a freakin' co-anchor. Update character pieces have become a little more frequent, because Meyers is simply at his best when he has someone to play off of. When Amy Poehler returned to host this season Update was awesome because the two have great chemistry, but when he's going solo the Meyer's Update is usually good, not great. It's still the most solid portion of the show most weeks, but it has the potential to be so much more.
3. Andy Samberg (2005 - Present) - The master of The Digital Shorts turned out some impressive shorts this year, three of which are now up for Emmys. Not only that, but Samberg did just about every role imaginable this year, he did impressions, big sketches, small Update pieces, and of course The Digital Shorts, and he was pretty dang good in most of them. Like all cast members he had some ups and downs, but Samberg definitely grabbed some more spotlight following Forte's departure.
2. Kristen Wiig (2005 - Present) - The star of the show for the past couple of years didn't do as much as usual this past year, probably because she was focused on her big movie Bridesmaids, which as many of you know opened to critical acclaim. Wiig has been retiring some of her old characters and sketches (take note Kenan) which has given her less to do, but she is still your best bet to turn a crappy sketch around. Wiig breathes an astonishing amount of life into each character she does, all while being really funny.
1. Bill Hader (2005 - Present) - No doubt about it, Hader was the big man on campus this year. He had Julian Assange, Charlie Sheen, and John Boehner for great impressions, as well as great turns in sketches that would have most likely failed without him. In my opinion, he was also the star of the funniest sketch of the year (Don you go rounnin my roun to re ro). Along with a number of great characters, Stefon now being the most recognizable but Herb Welch is one of my favorites, it's not suprise that Hader wants to come back and clean up some more.
Those of my thoughts on SNL's current cast, feel free to give me yours!
Friday, August 12, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Thoughts on Television - Greatest Saturday Night Live Cast Members
Since 1975, the best to way to launch yourself into comedic stardom has been to be a cast member on Saturday Night Live. The show has produced a staggering amount of famous alumni, spread throught the entertainment industry in television, film, stand-up and many more fields. One of the favorite things to do of longtime fans of the show is to create their "dream cast," assembled of who they feel are the greatest performers to ever grace the stage of studio 8H. As a longtime fan of the show, I also like to play this game, which is why I created the list you see below. The list is based solely on the cast member's contribution to Saturday Night Live, whether they became famous afterwards or flirted with obscurity afterwards is irrelevant. Current cast members are also being left off the list, as their contributions as a cast member will only be judged after they have left the show. The list is based solely on what they could do live from New York on Saturday Night.
Honorable Mentions
These are cast members that found themselves with just not enough to make it into the top ten, but that in no way belittles their contribution to the show. Just being among the best in a television show that produces the greatest comedic talent in the world is quite an accomplishment, I must say.
15. Molly Shannon - The first real female performer to really break out since Gilda Radner from the original cast. She started the new female revolution where the women on the show started to contribute just as the men, and soon the women began to overtake the men, though Shannon would not be present for that. Her iconic character Mary Katherin Gallagher also helped restore confidence in the show after its low ratings peak in the 94-95 season. However, Shannon was often still overshadowed by her male co-workers, specifically Will Ferrell.
14. Adam Sandler - Arguably the most unique voice to ever come on the show, Adam Sandler did Adam Sandler pieces, and he did them well. Sandler created some of the most original characters ever on the show, and while he worked his way up into becoming a major player on the show, his reputation is hurt by the fact that he and Chris Farely couldn't maintain the show during the 94-95 season and were both fired by NBC.
13. Billy Crystal - Billy was the star of Saturday Night Live from 84-85, but that was it. In one year Billy Crystal led the charge of what is considered one of SNL's best seasons, but unfortunately he was only around for one, which prevents him from moving up higher on this list. If he would've been around for another year or two, he would've solidified his reputation as one of the show's all time greatest cast members.
12. Amy Poehler - Taking over for Molly Shannon, Amy Poehler presided over a period of SNL where the girls weren't just as good as the boys, they were better. Throughout her time on the show, Poehler show us all that she didn't want to be considered the damsel in distress or the hot prize, she wanted to be the funny one. And she was.
11. Phil Hartman - One of the most versatile performers the show's had, Phil would do anything, and he did it well. It helped that he also had a golden voice to back up his tremendous acting skills. Hartman was good in everything, but he didn't have too many amazing stand out moments that would put him higher on the list. Still, every moment was a great one with Phil Hartman.
The Greats
10. Chevy Chase - SNL's original breakout star got the show off the ground, and lauched it 10,000 feet in the air. Though like Billy Crystal he was only on for one year, Chase's year on the show is much more iconic, famous for his prat falls, his bumbling impression of Gerald Ford, and his gig as Weekend Update Anchor. Chase helped make the show what it is today, which almost no other performer could do. But hey, after all, he's Chevy Chase, and we're not.
9. Chris Farley - The big man had skills. He created a bunch of the most famous recurring characters in the early 90's, and was head of the shows demographic swing to a younger generation. The guy seemed to be able to do it all, but even he couldn't keep the show afloat in the 94-95 season and was fired as a result. However his legacy lives on through all the tremendous energy and passion he would put in each sketch, so that a common way of fixing bad sketches was to just add "Farley enters."
8. Dan Akyroyd - One of the greatest writer/performers in SNL's history, Akyroyd would write some of the show's most inventive sketches while also creating a nice pile of recurring characters. His writing will always stick out more than his performing however, limiting his upward mobility on this list, but he will forever be a legend in 8H for all his contributions to making SNL a hit.
7. Gilda Radner - Everybody loved Gilda. While the later women of SNL would break out when the male talent started to dwindle a little, Gilda was among the best of the best, and still broke through the mold. Gilda helped carry the show each year during the show's five year run, and never ran out of steam. She was actually the show's only original star to have stuck around for those first five years, and it served her reputation well.
6. Mike Meyers - Meyers wasn't the kind of guy who would be in other people's sketches just so he would get on air that week. Mike Meyers just stuck to his Mike Meyers pieces, and he was never hungry for airtime. The creator of some of the most popular sketches the show's ever had, Meyers was also the star of the most successful SNL movie. It's also interesting to note that by the end of his run, Meyers had already become more famous than most of the SNL hosts.
5. Dana Carvey - During his run on the show, Dana Carvey was forced to compete with some of the show's greatest talents for airtime, and he won. Carvey was able to be on the show from top to bottom, starting with his George H.W. Bush impression. then starting the show strong with Church Chat or Garth from Wayne's World. (even though Wayne's World is Mike Meyers piece, it wouldn't be the same without Carvey) Unfortunately, while Carvey wasn't as successful outside of SNL as some of its stars have been, but his tenure on the show still remains absolutely brilliant.
4. Bill Murray - The first SNL replacement cast member, Bill Murray taught us that you not only have to equal the contributions of the person you replaced (a tall order for replacing Chevy Chase) but in order to be well like you have to surpass them. While Murray struggled at first, he finally found he way into our hearts, by telling us he was struggling. Not too long after that Murray found his spotlight on SNL as the show's first true everyman, as well as creating classic characters like the Nerds and Nick the Lounge Singer. The fact that the show could also lose two more of its stars, Belushi and Akyroyd and be able to stay alive and a hit is thanks to the amazing talents of Bill Murray.
3. Will Ferrell - While Carvey was able to be on the show from top to bottom, Will Ferrell could dominate a show. In the late 90's and early 2000's, there was no question: Will Ferrell was the star of SNL. Ferrell led the charge of restoring the show's glory after the disastrous 94-95 season, and he not only helped bring it back but made it one of the greatest times in the show's long career. Ferrell was able to walk the line perfectly between being known for characters and being known for impressions. In characters he had the Spartan Cheerleaders, A Night at the Roxbury, and his famous patriot that wore a very interesting outfit out of pride for his country. In impressions he had George W. Bush, Alex Trebek, Harry Carry, Neil Diamond and Robert Goulet. Ferrell had it all, and he had fun with it.
2. Eddie Murphy - There is no question about this, is the early 80's Eddie Murphy WAS SNL. Not just the star of it, he was it. After all the show's comedic talent moved away after the first five seasons Eddie gave us a reason to still care about SNL. He had Gumby, Buckwheat, and spent a day among white men in White Like Me. Eddie Murphy was a bundle of pure comedic genius, and he started out at only 18 years old.
1. John Belushi - Belushi was a very messed up man, but a brilliant performer. The greatness of John Belushi was that he could star in one sketch the entire night, and the rest would be Akyroyd, Radner and Murray, but all you could talk about the next day was John Belushi. He treated almost every moment of his time of the air as if it was his last, which was theoretically possibe, knowing his lifestyle. With perfect impressions and characters, Belushi lead the original cast of SNL to greatness and never looked back. An isatiable man, Belushi was as close as it comes to perfection.
Honorable Mentions
These are cast members that found themselves with just not enough to make it into the top ten, but that in no way belittles their contribution to the show. Just being among the best in a television show that produces the greatest comedic talent in the world is quite an accomplishment, I must say.
15. Molly Shannon - The first real female performer to really break out since Gilda Radner from the original cast. She started the new female revolution where the women on the show started to contribute just as the men, and soon the women began to overtake the men, though Shannon would not be present for that. Her iconic character Mary Katherin Gallagher also helped restore confidence in the show after its low ratings peak in the 94-95 season. However, Shannon was often still overshadowed by her male co-workers, specifically Will Ferrell.
14. Adam Sandler - Arguably the most unique voice to ever come on the show, Adam Sandler did Adam Sandler pieces, and he did them well. Sandler created some of the most original characters ever on the show, and while he worked his way up into becoming a major player on the show, his reputation is hurt by the fact that he and Chris Farely couldn't maintain the show during the 94-95 season and were both fired by NBC.
13. Billy Crystal - Billy was the star of Saturday Night Live from 84-85, but that was it. In one year Billy Crystal led the charge of what is considered one of SNL's best seasons, but unfortunately he was only around for one, which prevents him from moving up higher on this list. If he would've been around for another year or two, he would've solidified his reputation as one of the show's all time greatest cast members.
12. Amy Poehler - Taking over for Molly Shannon, Amy Poehler presided over a period of SNL where the girls weren't just as good as the boys, they were better. Throughout her time on the show, Poehler show us all that she didn't want to be considered the damsel in distress or the hot prize, she wanted to be the funny one. And she was.
11. Phil Hartman - One of the most versatile performers the show's had, Phil would do anything, and he did it well. It helped that he also had a golden voice to back up his tremendous acting skills. Hartman was good in everything, but he didn't have too many amazing stand out moments that would put him higher on the list. Still, every moment was a great one with Phil Hartman.
The Greats
10. Chevy Chase - SNL's original breakout star got the show off the ground, and lauched it 10,000 feet in the air. Though like Billy Crystal he was only on for one year, Chase's year on the show is much more iconic, famous for his prat falls, his bumbling impression of Gerald Ford, and his gig as Weekend Update Anchor. Chase helped make the show what it is today, which almost no other performer could do. But hey, after all, he's Chevy Chase, and we're not.
9. Chris Farley - The big man had skills. He created a bunch of the most famous recurring characters in the early 90's, and was head of the shows demographic swing to a younger generation. The guy seemed to be able to do it all, but even he couldn't keep the show afloat in the 94-95 season and was fired as a result. However his legacy lives on through all the tremendous energy and passion he would put in each sketch, so that a common way of fixing bad sketches was to just add "Farley enters."
8. Dan Akyroyd - One of the greatest writer/performers in SNL's history, Akyroyd would write some of the show's most inventive sketches while also creating a nice pile of recurring characters. His writing will always stick out more than his performing however, limiting his upward mobility on this list, but he will forever be a legend in 8H for all his contributions to making SNL a hit.
7. Gilda Radner - Everybody loved Gilda. While the later women of SNL would break out when the male talent started to dwindle a little, Gilda was among the best of the best, and still broke through the mold. Gilda helped carry the show each year during the show's five year run, and never ran out of steam. She was actually the show's only original star to have stuck around for those first five years, and it served her reputation well.
6. Mike Meyers - Meyers wasn't the kind of guy who would be in other people's sketches just so he would get on air that week. Mike Meyers just stuck to his Mike Meyers pieces, and he was never hungry for airtime. The creator of some of the most popular sketches the show's ever had, Meyers was also the star of the most successful SNL movie. It's also interesting to note that by the end of his run, Meyers had already become more famous than most of the SNL hosts.
5. Dana Carvey - During his run on the show, Dana Carvey was forced to compete with some of the show's greatest talents for airtime, and he won. Carvey was able to be on the show from top to bottom, starting with his George H.W. Bush impression. then starting the show strong with Church Chat or Garth from Wayne's World. (even though Wayne's World is Mike Meyers piece, it wouldn't be the same without Carvey) Unfortunately, while Carvey wasn't as successful outside of SNL as some of its stars have been, but his tenure on the show still remains absolutely brilliant.
4. Bill Murray - The first SNL replacement cast member, Bill Murray taught us that you not only have to equal the contributions of the person you replaced (a tall order for replacing Chevy Chase) but in order to be well like you have to surpass them. While Murray struggled at first, he finally found he way into our hearts, by telling us he was struggling. Not too long after that Murray found his spotlight on SNL as the show's first true everyman, as well as creating classic characters like the Nerds and Nick the Lounge Singer. The fact that the show could also lose two more of its stars, Belushi and Akyroyd and be able to stay alive and a hit is thanks to the amazing talents of Bill Murray.
3. Will Ferrell - While Carvey was able to be on the show from top to bottom, Will Ferrell could dominate a show. In the late 90's and early 2000's, there was no question: Will Ferrell was the star of SNL. Ferrell led the charge of restoring the show's glory after the disastrous 94-95 season, and he not only helped bring it back but made it one of the greatest times in the show's long career. Ferrell was able to walk the line perfectly between being known for characters and being known for impressions. In characters he had the Spartan Cheerleaders, A Night at the Roxbury, and his famous patriot that wore a very interesting outfit out of pride for his country. In impressions he had George W. Bush, Alex Trebek, Harry Carry, Neil Diamond and Robert Goulet. Ferrell had it all, and he had fun with it.
2. Eddie Murphy - There is no question about this, is the early 80's Eddie Murphy WAS SNL. Not just the star of it, he was it. After all the show's comedic talent moved away after the first five seasons Eddie gave us a reason to still care about SNL. He had Gumby, Buckwheat, and spent a day among white men in White Like Me. Eddie Murphy was a bundle of pure comedic genius, and he started out at only 18 years old.
1. John Belushi - Belushi was a very messed up man, but a brilliant performer. The greatness of John Belushi was that he could star in one sketch the entire night, and the rest would be Akyroyd, Radner and Murray, but all you could talk about the next day was John Belushi. He treated almost every moment of his time of the air as if it was his last, which was theoretically possibe, knowing his lifestyle. With perfect impressions and characters, Belushi lead the original cast of SNL to greatness and never looked back. An isatiable man, Belushi was as close as it comes to perfection.
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