# SNL: The definitive cast member rating method **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 17, 2005, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-the-definitive-cast-member-rating-method/336107 "2005-12-17T23:22:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-the-definitive-cast-member-rating-method/336107/1 "2005-12-17T23:22:28Z")
Don’t know if this has been covered before. If so, then it’s high time we revisited, I say. There are 5 different categories of _ **Saturday Night Live** _ cast members (you may include regular hosts in your consideration): **Hall of Famers:** These are the transcendentally gifted of the bunch. Their talent at times surprises you just when you think that isn’t possible, given how good this performer has been. Their influence is such that they often cross over into the zeitgeist, or at least their characters do. They are talked about at the office on Monday, and they may have impact in other media: movies, sitcoms, CDs, books. They aren’t just good, they are _classic_. **Aces:** At least a notch below the Hall of Famers, but still almost never fail to please, with moments of real brilliance. They add something unique to the sketch–they are at least that good, with a talent and style that is recognizable and crowd pleasing. More than just competent; they are capable of both the subtle and the broad comic gesture. **Yeomen:** They have comedy chops at least to the extent that they don’t seem as if they don’t belong on television; they are professional and competent. But they are neither particularly good or bad. Often used to fill out the sketch (but more than just an extra). Tend to be placed in the lesser parts, though on rare occasions they may shine at least a bit. **Duds:** They, well, suck. Whether they are too over the top, one-note performers, low-key to the point of transparency, incompetent, or simply have a characteristic that is annoying to the point of distraction, they exist only for us to wonder what in the world the producers were smoking when they hired this dope. **Other:** A cast member who doesn’t quite fit any of the other categories. Consider the entire run. Who fits into what category, and why? ---
**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:** [December 17, 2005, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-the-definitive-cast-member-rating-method/336107/2 "2005-12-17T23:31:57Z")
This will end in tears. My nominations for HoF, to start us out: Eddie Murphy, Phil Hartman, Chris Rock and Bill Murray. My nominations for Duds: Chris Farley, Al Franken, David Spade, Norm MacDonald Other: Christopher Guest ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-the-definitive-cast-member-rating-method/336107/3 "2005-12-17T23:54:31Z")
HoF: John Belushi Dan Ackroyd Gilda Radner Eddie Murphy Phil Hartman Mike Myers Aces: Joe Piscopo Bill Murray Dana Carvey Tim Kazurinsky Duds: Denny Dillon Charles Rocket Rachel Dratch Horatio Sans Jimmy Fallon Jim Breuer Chevy Chase Gail Mathius Tracy Morgan Ann Risley Danitra Vance Terry Sweeney ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-the-definitive-cast-member-rating-method/336107/4 "2005-12-17T23:55:50Z")
To help your memory, [here’s a list](http://www.epguides.com/SaturdayNightLive/) of current/former members. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-the-definitive-cast-member-rating-method/336107/5 "2005-12-18T00:11:11Z")
So far, I agree with all of the Hall of Famers. I’m sure that won’t last much longer. Dana Carvey and Chris Hammond were probably the two best impersonators SNL ever had, but I think Carvey was an Ace and Hammond just a Yeoman. Carvey could give his impersonated characters distinctive elements of caricature without getting ridiculous; Hammond did good impersonations that didn’t leap to life in the same way. And Phil Hartman did a better Bill Clinton. Actually, I also agree with the Dud nominations, with the possible exception of Norm MacDonald. His material was often bad, but he had a charm that could boost it up a notch. Colin Quinn’s material was no better, but you never forgot that it sucked. He’s a dud. So was Chris Kattan; he’s on par with the punchable Jimmy Fallon. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-the-definitive-cast-member-rating-method/336107/6 "2005-12-18T00:37:47Z")
I think Belushi is probably the most definitive. Other HoF’s include Murray, Ackroyd, Radner, Eddie Murphy, Carvey, Mike Myers and Phil Hartman. The “Aces” for me would be Chevy Chase, Norm McDonald, Darrell Hammond, Chris Farley, David Spade, Adam Sandler, Amy Pohler, Anna Gasteyer, Harry Shearer and Christopher Guest. There’s a lot a mediocre to bad performers who have come and gone and left no lasting impression but the ones who actively, aggressively suck would include Rob Shneider, Chris Kataan and Horatio Sans. A special mention for Tina Fey who is funny, smart and hot. ---
**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:** [December 18, 2005, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-the-definitive-cast-member-rating-method/336107/7 "2005-12-18T01:11:43Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > A special mention for Tina Fey who is funny, smart and hot. I’d like to give a shout-out to Amy Poehler, who we know is at least funny and hot, and very possibly smart as well. Somewhere between Aces and Yeomen are the sadly-underused Chris Parnell and Seth Myers, who never fail to entertain. I love those guys, especially Parnell’s rare white-boy raps on Weekend Update. Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, and Phil Hartman are Hall-of-Famers, no doubt in my mind. Dan Aykroyd gets to be an Ace NOT because he’s so funny by himself, but because he has a gift of working amazingly well with others (such as Murray or John Belushi, who I’d classify as only an Ace). I think Christopher Guest shouldn’t really count, because he has done great things, just not with SNL. I’d classify Janeane Garofalo, Robert Downey Jr., Jay Mohr, Billy Crystal, Joan Cusack, and Anthony Michael Hall in this category as well. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-the-definitive-cast-member-rating-method/336107/8 "2005-12-18T01:43:09Z")
The other women of the original cast, Jane Curtin and Laraine Newman, are Yoemen sort of by default. I think Curtin is a strong performer but the first cast was so dominated by Belushi and Aykroyd, and to a lesser extent Chase while he was there (not so much for his performances but because he opened almost every show and had a big solo spot on Weekend Update), that they were overshadowed. When they had the chance, especially in their final season, they shone. Garrett Morris is a definite Dud. Rarely looked comfortable on-camera, had only one really big recurring character (Chico Esquela), not at all a versatiler performer. Other Duds: Gary Kroger, Brad Hall, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Robin Duke, Tony Rosato, and because I never heard of her, Morwenna Banks. Morwenna Banks? The hell? ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-the-definitive-cast-member-rating-method/336107/9 "2005-12-18T02:08:27Z")
One Ace who deserves mention. Steve Martin. King Tut and Wild and Crazy Guys were enough to boost him into a special category. I think Ackroyd has to be a HOF. Granted he’s not quite to Belishi or Eddie Murphy’s talent level, but he was a irreplacable part of so many incredible bits. He was credited with alot of the creative drive for them and intentionally cast himself as the supporting player in them. The lineup looks like the '27 Yankees of SNL skits. Blues Brothers, Wild and Crazy Guys, Bass-O-Matic and other comercial parodies, “Cheezboiger-Cheezboiger”, “Jane You Ignorant Slut”, Coneheads, and many others that I haven’t mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-the-definitive-cast-member-rating-method/336107/10 "2005-12-18T02:15:19Z")
More Yeomen : Victoria Jackson, Jan Hooks and Jim Belushi. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-the-definitive-cast-member-rating-method/336107/11 "2005-12-18T02:17:15Z")
If you add a Sub-dud category: Colin Quinn Melanie Hutsell ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-the-definitive-cast-member-rating-method/336107/12 "2005-12-18T02:20:15Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > Somewhere between Aces and Yeomen are the sadly-underused Chris Parnell and Seth Myers, who never fail to entertain. I love those guys, especially Parnell’s rare white-boy raps on Weekend Update. Hear, hear. Chris Parnell is a straight-man on par with Phil Hartman; I’d call him an Ace without reservation. I find Horatio Sanz consistently funny, even _very_ funny. I’d put him at Yeoman. Yes, even when he’s mugging shamelessly and breaking up during a skit. I know he does it all the time, and I don’t care; it still makes me laugh. Chris Kattan should be pelted with rotten fruit, except for his “Unintelligible Southern Lawyer” character, which was brilliant. And Jim Breuer was just creepy. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-the-definitive-cast-member-rating-method/336107/13 "2005-12-18T03:55:37Z")
HoF Chevy Chase John and Jim Belushi Dick Martin Ace Nora Dunn (hot, too!) Dan Ackroyd Dud Jan Hucks Gary Bauer ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-the-definitive-cast-member-rating-method/336107/14 "2005-12-18T04:32:33Z")
Excellent rating system! Julia Sweeney would be a Yeoman. The Pat thing was damn funny, but mostly she was just a very dependable female who could fill a lot of roles. Tracy Morgan is a yeoman as well. Cheri Oteri is an Ace. Ana Gasteyer is in the HoF, but that might be a minority opinion. Tim Meadows is a yeoman. On the dud side of yeoman, but a yeoman nevertheless. Kevin Nealon: See Tim Meadows. ---
**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:** [December 18, 2005, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-the-definitive-cast-member-rating-method/336107/15 "2005-12-18T04:34:09Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > HoF > Chevy Chase > John and Jim Belushi > Dick Martin > > Dud > Jan Hucks > Gary Bauer Am I being whooshed? I don’t even know who Dick Martin and Gary Bauer are. And JIM Belushi? ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-the-definitive-cast-member-rating-method/336107/16 "2005-12-18T04:44:45Z")
I’d place Kevin Nealon in the Aces category. I think he has been rather badly underrated, perhaps due to the stellar nature of his company. ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-the-definitive-cast-member-rating-method/336107/17 "2005-12-18T04:48:22Z")
Well, two people here have given her mediocre to bad reviews, but I always thought Jan Hooks was great on the show; in many ways, I think of her as the female Phil Hartman – versatile, a good impressionist, good in every sketch. Based on that, if Harman goes in the Hall of Fame, I would put her there too…though frankly I think I’d put _both_ of them in the Aces category. Hartman, great as he was, didn’t have much of an influence outside of Saturday Night Live (at least nowhere near on par with Murray, Belushi, Murphy, etc.), and he didn’t even have that many great stock characters (Frankenstein?). I guess I’m a fan of the women on SNL, because I’d also nominate Molly Shannon and Cheri Oteri as Aces. I found them consistently good on the show, and often hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-the-definitive-cast-member-rating-method/336107/18 "2005-12-18T04:51:23Z")
Is there anyone who WOULDN’T put Phil Hartman in the “HoF” category? Didn’t think so. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-the-definitive-cast-member-rating-method/336107/19 "2005-12-18T04:52:46Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Is there anyone who WOULDN’T put Phil Hartman in the “HoF” category? > > Didn’t think so. Look above you, dude. BTW, I think Jan Hooks was underrated as well. ---
**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:** [December 18, 2005, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-the-definitive-cast-member-rating-method/336107/20 "2005-12-18T04:58:11Z")
Gah, I couldn’t stand the Gasteyer/Oteri/Shannon ladies. I was so happy when one by one, they all left the cast. They were SOOOO obnoxious! But I love having Tina, Maya, Rachel, and especially Amy around. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-the-definitive-cast-member-rating-method/336107.md?page=2)