Return to the NBC StoreThe Best of the Best of SNL
August 20th, 2008 by glenn 
We here at NBCStore.com decided to name our Top 7 All-Time favorite Saturday Night Live cast members. This list does not include Guest Stars or Hosts… which might be our next SNL ‘Best Of’ list.
7. Gilda Radner - Famous for her Roseanne Roseannadanna character, Radner was more than just that. In a male-heavy cast, Radner was not only able to hold her own, but out-shine anyone else in the skit.
6. Phil Hartman - Main Character, Sidekick, Funny-man, Straight-man, Impressionist, Background Extra… Phil Hartman was brilliant in everything he did.
5. Will Ferrell - One of the only bright spots in the late ’90s, Will Ferrell kept us tuned in with his awkward style and man-child antics. More Cowbell? No. More Ferrell!
4. John Belushi - Though he would like to feed your fingertips to the wolverines, you couldn’t help but crack a smile once he entered a scene. Best known as the Samurai Deli-owner and Blues Brother Jake, Belushi starred in many low key sketches that were phenomenal such as ‘Little Chocolate Donuts’.
3. Bill Murray - Unfortunatley, not pictured above…why he doesn’t have his own ‘Best of’ DVD is beyond me. Whether turning the score to Star Wars into a catchy sing-along or nodding incessantly during Robert Klein’s breakfast order at the Olympia Restaurant, Bill Murray could be counted on to nail the scene.
2. Eddie Murphy - James Brown? Mr. Robinson’s Neighborhood? Buckwheat? Eddie Murphy clearly brought the show to a whole new level - insanely hysterical. He was Gumby, Dammit!
1. Chris Farley - Funny is an understatement when describing Farley. Not only did the audience explode when Chris took the stage, but his own castmates couldn’t even hold it together when sharing a scene. Note David Spade and Christina Applegate hiding their faces as they cracked up during the ‘Down By The River’ sketch. (And I’m not talking about ‘on purpose’ laughing as done in later years).
*Please note that we did not take into account what they went on to do after their SNL run (or else Mike Myers would have been added and Eddie Murphy would have been thrown off).
Who’s YOUR favorite Saturday Night Live cast member of All-Time? Submit a comment now.
August 20th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Your list seems pretty sound to me. I’d just like to take a moment to honorably mention the comedy stylings of Jon Lovitz. Surely a more underated SNL castmember does not exist. Whether he was lieing his ass off as ‘Tommy Flanagan’ corrupting the cast as the devil ‘Mephistopheles’ or trying to pick up ladies with Tom Hanks (’…here she comes…..and theeeeere she goes’) Jon Lovitz always had me begging for a few more minutes of the any particular skit he was in. Maybe it was his flawless delivery or maybe just his overall “Acting!”
August 20th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Jon Lovitz is a glaring omission!
August 21st, 2008 at 8:17 pm
all the saturday night live cast membrs ove the shows histery are all goog . thay shuld put all the seasons on dvd .