# Who is the single greatest Saturday Night Live cast member? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 17, 2020, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-single-greatest-saturday-night-live-cast-member/915546 "2020-07-17T03:55:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-single-greatest-saturday-night-live-cast-member/915546/61 "2020-07-18T18:39:50Z")
It’s taken me days to ruminate on this, but I’ve decided to go with Phil. Best host? Justin Timberlake. Maybe. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-single-greatest-saturday-night-live-cast-member/915546/62 "2020-07-18T19:32:17Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Nitpick to several posters in this thread: as I actually learned here on the Dope, the name is spelled “A **y** kroyd”, not “Ackroyd”. > > I’m shocked nobody has yet named Chevy Chase! 😜 You are? Pretty sure nobody else is… ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-single-greatest-saturday-night-live-cast-member/915546/63 "2020-07-18T20:07:00Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > You are? Pretty sure nobody else is… “I’m shocked nobody has yet mentioned Chevy Chase, and you’re not.” ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-single-greatest-saturday-night-live-cast-member/915546/64 "2020-07-18T23:11:34Z")
I think Farley was the funniest and stole most scenes. But he didn’t really have a lot of range as an actor. So it depends on how you define greatest. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-single-greatest-saturday-night-live-cast-member/915546/65 "2020-07-18T23:15:15Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > I think Farley was the funniest and stole most scenes He was certainly the most fearless. The guy would do anything for a laugh. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-single-greatest-saturday-night-live-cast-member/915546/66 "2020-07-18T23:26:19Z")
> [@Dendarii\_Dame](#): > > Bill Murray, in my opinion. Yeah, I second that. But I count what he did after SNL as what made him great. He showed glimmers of it on SNL but forged a unique style and identity in his late work. IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![jebert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ec9cab/32.png) [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-single-greatest-saturday-night-live-cast-member/915546/67 "2020-07-18T23:32:22Z")
I like Hartmann, Belushi, and Murray, and I’ve grown into Kenan Thompson (who is getting his own show - The Kenan Show - this fall). Among the women, Radner, Wiig and McKinnon stand out. I also liked Ana Gasteyer. BTW, Jack Handey was a character, not a cast member, played by Senator Al Franken. Anyone for Luke Null? … Anyone? … Anyone? … ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-single-greatest-saturday-night-live-cast-member/915546/68 "2020-07-18T23:38:46Z")
> [@jebert](#): > > BTW, Jack Handey was a character, not a cast member, played by Senator Al Franken. [What?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Handey) ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-single-greatest-saturday-night-live-cast-member/915546/69 "2020-07-18T23:48:46Z")
> [@jebert](#): > > I like Hartmann, Belushi, and Murray, and I’ve grown into Kenan Thompson (who is getting his own show - The Kenan Show - this fall). Among the women, Radner, Wiig and McKinnon stand out. I also liked Ana Gasteyer. > > BTW, Jack Handey was a character, not a cast member, played by Senator Al Franken. You might be thinking of Stuart Smalley. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2020, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-single-greatest-saturday-night-live-cast-member/915546/70 "2020-07-19T02:12:20Z")
Jane was an ignorant slut… ---
**Author:** ![Acerbic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acerbic/32/3695_2.png) [@Acerbic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acerbic)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2020, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-single-greatest-saturday-night-live-cast-member/915546/71 "2020-07-19T02:47:25Z")
Phil Hartman has a certain quality in that he worked well in almost any sketch you put him in. He could be something wacky like an Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer or he could play the straight man to someone else’s crazy character. I’m going to nominate him simply because he fits into so many different skits. ---
**Author:** ![jebert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ec9cab/32.png) [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2020, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-single-greatest-saturday-night-live-cast-member/915546/72 "2020-07-19T02:50:12Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > > [@jebert](#): > > > > BTW, Jack Handey was a character, not a cast member, played by Senator Al Franken. > > You might be thinking of Stuart Smalley. Whoa!!! You are absolutely correct. Major brain fart. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2020, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-single-greatest-saturday-night-live-cast-member/915546/73 "2020-07-19T05:49:59Z")
John Belushi. The other originals are just behind. Bill Murray is just behind them. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2020, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-single-greatest-saturday-night-live-cast-member/915546/74 "2020-07-19T05:53:17Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > John Belushi. The other originals are just behind. Bill Murray is just behind them Including Larraine Newman and Garret Morris? ---
**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:** [July 19, 2020, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-single-greatest-saturday-night-live-cast-member/915546/75 "2020-07-19T20:46:00Z")
Dan. The answer is always Dan. The best host was Steve Martin. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2020, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-single-greatest-saturday-night-live-cast-member/915546/76 "2020-07-19T21:09:03Z")
I have been watching _SNL_ from the day it premiered – Trivia note: It premiered on Bill and Hillary Clinton’s wedding day – although I missed many seasons. It turned to complete crap after the firing of the original cast, then I was living in Thailand or going to graduate school here in Hawaii or living in Albuquerque with no TV. But I did see quite a few middle episodes and have watched it regularly since returning to the US four years ago. To my mind, the all-time best cast member is a tie between today’s Colin Just and Michael Che. I would dump all the others including the original cast if I could just watch those two all day. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2020, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-single-greatest-saturday-night-live-cast-member/915546/77 "2020-07-19T22:21:27Z")
If the category was great comedians who didn’t do much on SNL, it’s gotta be Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who is might be the greatest comedy actor in TV history but people often forget she was even on SNL. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2020, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-single-greatest-saturday-night-live-cast-member/915546/78 "2020-07-20T00:08:42Z")
Oh this one’s easy: Tim Mazurinsky 🤪 > [@Czarcasm](#): > > I think I would pick Kevin Nealon Quite milquetoast for me, however he’s one of the funniest (dry, self-deprecating) interviewees I’ve ever seen. > [@silenus](#): > > The best host was Steve Martin. I’ll go with Buck Henry or Micheal Palin > [@RickJay](#): > > …it’s gotta be Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who is might be the greatest comedy actor in TV history… Uuuuuuuhhhhhh oooooookaaaaaaaayyyyyeee. > [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > In my opinion Chevy was sometimes amazingly funny for about half of SNL’s first season and has seldom if ever been funny since then in any venue. FWIW a few years ago I rewatched that entire first season and was surprised by how (in hindsight) less impressive he seemed in comparison to John, Dan, and Gilda. Exact same observation. However, he did supply IMO _SNL_’s funniest moment in their history when his Mr. Spock character had a nervous breakdown. > [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Yeah, I second that. But I count what [Murray] did after SNL as what made him great. He showed glimmers of it on SNL but forged a unique style and identity in his late work. IMHO. Agreed. He had probably the most impressive/substantial post-_SNL_ career. Interesting that I can’t think of any of them faring better after leaving the show. [Well, in terms of outright funniness, which, I suppose, is easier to maintain in a shortened sketch format than an extended film one (especially over time)]. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2020, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-single-greatest-saturday-night-live-cast-member/915546/79 "2020-07-20T00:40:52Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > Exact same observation. However, he did supply IMO _SNL_ ’s funniest moment in their history when his Mr. Spock character had a nervous breakdown. That skit also gave us Garret Morris’s funniest line (IMO): “Right on, Buck Rogers. Is that an order, baby?” ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2020, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-single-greatest-saturday-night-live-cast-member/915546/80 "2020-07-20T00:45:04Z")
I think there’s a difference between who was the single greatest cast member, and which cast member was most impressive _after_ SNL. As much as I love Dan Aykroyd, I don’t think he’d win the second category. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-single-greatest-saturday-night-live-cast-member/915546.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-single-greatest-saturday-night-live-cast-member/915546.md?page=5)