I’m just shocked to see Colin Quinn in the first post.
Here’s a complete list of all cast members.
Ok, let’s be reasonable. They average about 8 starring members and about 5 featured cast members.
Starring
Dana Carvey: So many great impressions
Phil Hartman: The master impressionist. His genius Reagan was the funniest piece SNL ever had
Jan Hooks: Very versatile, very funny. Marge Keister is her best character, keep her away from Nora Dunn and she can stay.
Victoria Jackson: Does sweet and slutty very well. And even though she never really had a recurring character still did a great job. I love her singing and dancingin on the news.
Jon Lovitz: If only for Mephistopheles. Another great impressionist able to bring unique twist to them.
Dennis Miller: News, news, news. This is the man who took a chain saw to Central America. I’ve always loved his sense of humor. And he was in the “Penis Song” sketch
Eddie Murphy: One of the few reasons to watch the shows from the early 80s, great range, great timing. He gets in especially for Little Richard Simmons and his James Brown.
Gilda Radner: The only one to beat the range played by Victoria. Gilda was just funny.
Featuring
A. Whitney Brown: “The Big Picture” was one of the highlights of the shows that ran during the years of Bush senior, which is remarkable since they were also some of the funniest shows.
Tina Fey: She’s just funny. And smart. The only person I could see sharing the desk with Dennis.
Al Franken: One of those guys could can show the absurdity of politics without resorting to buffooneristic impressions.
Tim Kazurinsky: Dr. Jack Badofsky was the best thing the news had going in the early 80s.
Anthony Michael Hall: Ok, this one’s probably the most surprising but you need some one to play a male teen and he did a good job in the mid-80s.
A Tippi Turtle cartoon: Sorry Mr. Bill, sorry Robert Smigel but I think I’d have to tip my hat to Tippi Turtle. I mean come on, he told people to go into banks, write “This is a stick-up” on the back of the deposit slips and then sit back and wait for the fun to begin. That cracks me up to no end.
Hosted by Tom Hanks: Alec Bladwin and Candace Bergen are both very funny and know how to be a great host, but Hanks just edges them out. Abe Lincoln calling him a pussy is forever embeded in my mind.