# Assemble your SNL Dream cast **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 5, 2005, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assemble-your-snl-dream-cast/293096 "2005-03-05T17:13:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assemble-your-snl-dream-cast/293096/1 "2005-03-05T17:13:20Z")
Here are the rules: You can have up to 8 cast members (9 really, but Eddie Murphy is accepted as a _given_ No more than 4 can come from the original NOT READY FOR PRIME-TIME PLAYERS Regardless of what era the cast members appeared, for the Dream Cast they are in their prime My choices: John Belushi (he was crazy and obnoxious and a junkie but he had the talent) Gilda Radner Bill Murray (probably on everybody’s) Garrett Morris (I always thought that he was majorly underrated- he didn’t get much time to shine, but when he did it was incredible {the “shotgun/whiteys” song, Chico Escuela, etc.- I think it’d be interesting to see what he could do) Phil Hartman Tina Fey Martin Short Maya Rudolph Who would yours be? ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assemble-your-snl-dream-cast/293096/2 "2005-03-05T17:21:54Z")
My cast: Will Ferrell Darrell Hammond Bill Murray Gilda Radner Phil Hartman Jane Curtin Tim Meadows Norm MacDonald (for Update) Tina Fey, Dan Aykroyd and Al Franken are definitely leading my writing team. Now all of you can tell me how wrong I am for including Ferrell and Hammond. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assemble-your-snl-dream-cast/293096/3 "2005-03-05T17:25:29Z")
Dan Aykroyd Dana Carvey Jane Curtin Tina Fey Janeane Garafalo Mike Meyers Bill Murray Eddie Murphy Damon Wayans ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assemble-your-snl-dream-cast/293096/4 "2005-03-05T17:42:25Z")
Bill Murray Eddie Murphy Phil Hartman Tina Fey Amy Poehler Maya Rudolph Will Ferrell Horatio Sanz for the obligatory fat clown (let the flaming commence!) Toss-up: Jon Lovitz, Darrell Hammond, or Damon Wayans First host: Christopher Walken ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assemble-your-snl-dream-cast/293096/5 "2005-03-05T17:46:51Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > Toss-up: Jon Lovitz, Darrell Hammond, or Damon Wayans I maintain that you can’t have Ferrell without Hammond, or vice versa. Look at how well they worked off each other even before the 2000 election, and how Hammond hasn’t been quite the same since Will left for Hollywood. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assemble-your-snl-dream-cast/293096/6 "2005-03-05T17:55:20Z")
I was surprised to see one without Phil Hartman! I need to preface my list. It does NOT include Eddie Murphy. I freely admit that his time on SNL far outshines ANYONE who has EVER been on the show. He is the SNL and post-SNL gold standard. But he was a one man show. The cast I am assembling is an ensemble. Eddie’s enormous talent wouldn’t fit in well. Or be needed like it was in the early 80’s. So here is my cast: 1. Hartman 2. Carvey 3. Ferrell 4. Hammond 5. Nealon 6. Meadows 7. Fay (will have to do more than just the news) 8. Rudolph 9. Hooks First Host: Tom Hanks (followed by John Goodman) First Musical Guest: Ashlee Simpson ---
**Author:** ![RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RancidYakButterTeaParty)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assemble-your-snl-dream-cast/293096/7 "2005-03-05T17:55:59Z")
Phil Hartman Dana Carvey Mike Myers Bill Murray Eddie Murphy Chris Farley Jane Curtin Will Ferrell Jon Lovitz ---
**Author:** ![DocJon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@DocJon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocJon)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assemble-your-snl-dream-cast/293096/8 "2005-03-05T18:05:07Z")
Too many I know, but WTF, it’s my list: Darrel Hammond Will Ferrell Phil Hartman Eddie Murphy Dan Ackroyd Martin Short Tina Fey Maya Rudolph Julia Sweeney Dennis Miller (update) A. Whitney Brown (The Big Picture/writer) The Waste of talent group(good talent, did little): Jay Mohr Janeane Garofalo Joan Cusack Mark McKinney Damon Wayans Robert Downey, Jr. Brian Doyle-Murray Chris Rock “What were they thinking?” group: Gilbert Gottfried Brad Hall Rich Hall Anthony Michael Hall Charles Rocket Gary Kroeger ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assemble-your-snl-dream-cast/293096/9 "2005-03-05T18:10:34Z")
Let’s see . . . almost anyone who has touched the show in the last 10 years is unfunny, and most of the people before that have become unfunny since then (for instance, Dan Akroyd and Eddie Murphy will never do anything else funny for the rest of their lives. Bet on it.) So this is going to be tough… Bill Murray Chris Farley Phil Hartman Norm MacDonald Sarah Silverman David Spade (I’m grasping in the dark here, but if I get Farley I want Spade) Jon Lovitz Eh . . . I guess Myers and Carvey will make 9, since I am not picking that hack Eddie Murphy. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assemble-your-snl-dream-cast/293096/10 "2005-03-05T19:00:46Z")
> [@DocJon](#): > > “What were they thinking?” group: > Gilbert Gottfried > Brad Hall > Rich Hall > Anthony Michael Hall > Charles Rocket > Gary Kroeger Kroeger (who to my knowledge has done _nothing_ worth talking about since), Hall and Julia Louis Dreyfuss (aka Mrs. Brad Hall) were a package deal, which is why they took all three. (Personally I’d have passed on all three.) Rocket at least had one memorable moment (the first use of the ‘F’ word I can think of on TV other than _Scared Straight_). ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assemble-your-snl-dream-cast/293096/11 "2005-03-05T19:20:36Z")
Saturday Night Dead: John Belushi Gilda Radner John Candy Phil Hartman Chris Farley ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assemble-your-snl-dream-cast/293096/12 "2005-03-05T19:47:58Z")
There’s just too many to pick from. How about we just start categorizing them into class A, B, and C? The grades could be determined like this: A - people who have created numerous iconic characters, or who were consistently hilarious, who routinely elevated skits they were in, and who left a lasting impact on the history of SNL and comedy in general B - people who are consistently funny or otherwise talented (singing, acting, etc), but for some reason didn’t ‘break through’. They either didn’t have the creativity to create truly unique and funny characters, or they couldn’t consistently stay at the top of the pack and were often forgettable through entire episodes C - people who should never have been on the show. ## A Grade Dana Carvey John Belushi Dan Ayckroyd Bill Murray Will Ferrel Eddie Murphy Chris Farley Mike Meyers David Spade Phil Hartman Gilda Radner Chris Rock Martin Short Jon Lovitz Adam Sandler ## A - Weekend Update anchors Dennis Miller Chevy Chase Norm MacDonald Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon Tina Fey and Amy Poehler ## B Grade Jane Curtin Amy Poehler Tina Fey Julia Sweeney Jan Hooks Darrell Hammond Christopher Guest Billy Crystal Chevy Chase Garret Morris Maya Rudolph Kevin Nealon Tim Meadows Jimmy Fallon Horatio Sanz Mary Gross Brian Doyle-Murray ## B Grade Update Hosts Kevin Nealon Colin Quinn Dan Ayckroyd Bill Murray ## C - Grade Brad Hall Rich Hall Anthony Michael Hall Charles Rocket Gary Kroeger Christine Ebersol (anyone remember her?) Gail Matthias (remember her?) Brad Hall ## C - Weekend Update Anchors Charles Rocket Mary Gross Brad Hall Christopher Guest (what a waste of talent) There’s lots more to add, but I’m burned out now. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assemble-your-snl-dream-cast/293096/13 "2005-03-05T22:18:39Z")
Phil Hartman Phil Hartman Dana Carvey Eddie Murphy Mike Meyers John Belushi Julia Sweeney John Lovitz Chris Farley Phil Hartman ---
**Author:** ![DocJon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@DocJon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocJon)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assemble-your-snl-dream-cast/293096/14 "2005-03-06T00:15:56Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Let’s see . . . almost anyone who has touched the show in the last 10 years is unfunny, and most of the people before that have become unfunny since then (for instance, Dan Akroyd and Eddie Murphy will never do anything else funny for the rest of their lives. Bet on it.) So this is going to be tough… > > Bill Murray > Chris Farley > Phil Hartman > Norm MacDonald > Sarah Silverman > David Spade (I’m grasping in the dark here, but if I get Farley I want Spade) > Jon Lovitz > Eh . . . I guess Myers and Carvey will make 9, since I am not picking that hack Eddie Murphy. Unusual list, in part. I have a soft spot for Norm’s humor, and I can see where his unique, only-halfway-trying style adds something truly unique. . .plus he could do nothing else but impersonate Burt Reynolds and still be worth keeping. That never got old for me. Sarah Silverman? Belongs in my “waste of talent” category. I was excited when she joined the cast, as I thought she was very funny, but I can’t remember anything she ever did on the show. . .but she’s so attractive, I could EASILY be persuaded to keep her 😃 -DocJon ---
**Author:** ![DocJon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@DocJon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocJon)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assemble-your-snl-dream-cast/293096/15 "2005-03-06T00:29:44Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Kroeger (who to my knowledge has done _nothing_ worth talking about since), Hall and Julia Louis Dreyfuss (aka Mrs. Brad Hall) were a package deal, which is why they took all three. (Personally I’d have passed on all three.) > > Rocket at least had one memorable moment (the first use of the ‘F’ word I can think of on TV other than _Scared Straight_). Heh, that explains a lot. I hate Brad Hall. He reminds me of a game-show host. A bad one. Thanks for the info, and I remember the ‘f’ word incident. I couldn’t believe I’d heard that right. Those were more genteel times, and you just didn’t hear that on tv. -DocJon ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assemble-your-snl-dream-cast/293096/16 "2005-03-06T03:28:59Z")
All these lists are good, but they lack a certain “Piscopoglian” quality. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assemble-your-snl-dream-cast/293096/17 "2005-03-06T03:34:29Z")
I’d have to violate the OP’s rule about original cast, and add Murphy and Hartman to Season One. Period. Everything since has been awful, as a whole. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assemble-your-snl-dream-cast/293096/18 "2005-03-06T03:57:15Z")
Chris Parnell Darrell Hammond Will Ferrell Phil Hartman Amy Poehler Ana Gasteyer Jane Curtin Gilda Radner Update: Dennis Miller Host: Buck Henry or Christopher Walken. Whoever wins the coin toss. Musical Guest: Lorne, I’ll see your $3200, and raise you an extra million. That’d be $1,003,200.00 (split 4 ways, of course) if the Beatles would come on and do one song. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assemble-your-snl-dream-cast/293096/19 "2005-03-06T08:06:40Z")
Phil Hartman John Belushi Mike Myers Dana Carvey Eddie Murphy Jane Curtin Christopher Guest Bill Murray Jon Lovitz And Steve Martin as host, back in his White Suit period when he was there all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2005, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assemble-your-snl-dream-cast/293096/20 "2005-03-06T09:57:53Z")
[ol] [li]Gilda Radner[/li][li]Gilda Radner[/li][li]Gilda Radner[/li][li]Gilda Radner[/li][li]Gilda Radner[/li][li]Gilda Radner[/li][li]Gilda Radner[/li][li]Gilda Radner[/li][/ol] 'kay, so I’m biased. 😛 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assemble-your-snl-dream-cast/293096.md?page=2)