OT- SNL 5 best all-time

[UConnfan8]

I'm surprised that Fallon is making people's top 5 lists. He's in my bottom 5 easily. Dude could not do anything well except for breaking and smiling and laughing at his own lines and jokes. Completely unprofessional. He almost singlehandedly ruined the "Cowbell" sketch. It's funny when they break every so often, but Fallon did it every show and at his own lines. I especially hated when he was on the same sketch as Horatio Sanz, because the two could not control themselves. Fallon's great on his current format as a late show host because he's able to get his guests to buy in to the goofy stuff he has them do.

oh come on, fallon and sanz had the most classic breaking character scene in the history of the show..

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/debbie-downer/n11825

 

[Dogbreath2U]

I would put Belushi, Akroyd, Short, Murphy, and Fey. I think Akroyd was really funny, but often played right-hand man to Belushi. I remember him justifying selling plastic bags to young children as toys (you had to be there) and responding to Jane Curtin: "Jane, you ignorant nope." I thought that Ed Grimsley was just ridiculously funny, I must say! Tina Fey as Sarah Palin was hysterically funny--really perfect. Eddie Murphy had such range and I especially remember his "Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood." I thought that Dana Carvey was great and might move him up to 5 (I did love the Church Lady).

Other Honorable Mentions would include Bill Murray, who should really be in the top 3 now that I think about it ("Thank you, Mrs. Lubner"), Gilda Radner, Kristen Wiig, Amy Poehler, John Lovits, Jason Sudeikis (was a good all-around type of guy), Chevy Chase (who was better than I thought at the time), Phil Hartman, Jan Hooks, Michael Myers, Will Forte, and Fred Armison.

Ones others love that I didn't like much includes Will Ferrell, Chris Farley, and Adam Sandler (although I liked Happy Gilmore later on).

I haven't seen the 40th Anniversary show yet...I'm sure it will bring back other funny comedians and characters.

 

[BoatShow]

I was never a huge fan of Armisen but Portlandia is hilarious.

 

[alexd]

Sean Connery "I'll take The Rapist" for 500 Alex

SC: "I'll take le tits now for $600 Alex"
AT: "That's let it snow".

 

[David 76]

Tough choice!
The way I see it, SNL stars, glue guys and gals and role players. I think some of their most talented performers are glue guys like Dan Ackroyd, Phil Hartman, Jan Hooks and Hader.
But the stars that carry the show and that you crack up just thinking about are:
1) John Belushi
2) Will Farrel
3) Eddie Murphey
4) Bill Murray
5) Mike Meyers
5) Martin Short

But this is leaving out Kristin Wiig, Tina Fey, Dana Carvey, Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, etc, Great list.
And my most beloved of all is Gilda.

 

[storrsroars]

Shocked Aykroyd hasn't been mentioned. The guy had so many great characters from Two Wild and Crazy Guys, Fred Garvin Male Prostitute, Sleazy Halloween costume salesman, Bass-o-Matic, Jimmy Carter, Richard Nixon, Julia Child, Tom Snyder. He could play it straight or off the wall, also a great writer. You could make a case he's the best SNL performer ever. "Jane you ignorant nope!"

Yeah. the skits with Jane Curtin's journalist interviewing Irving Mainway, toy manufacturer responsible for "Bag O'Glass" (it says right on the label, 'Not for blind kids'!) were classic, along with Julia Child, Bass-o-Matic, etc. He's in my top 5 along with Belushi, Murphy, Hartman and one of Fey/Carvey/Farley.

Favorite running guest skit was "The Continental". Walken was hysterical in that.

"I'll take 'Anal Bum Cover' for $200, Trebek."

 

[Cheeky]

Dennis Miller? Rolling Stone's comment on his ranking is that two things from the 80s are impossible to believe in retrospect: Elton John married a woman and Dennis Miller was funny.

Well, to each his own, for sure, especially when it comes to comedy. I always thought Dennis Miller was the most gifted comedian I ever saw. The guy is a genius - I don't mean he's a "comedic" genius. I mean he's a genius. His humor reflects that. 20% of what he says goes over my head because I don't get the reference, but I'll take the remaining 80% over a coked up Robin Williams doing impressions of dogs in heat and Richard Pryor saying word every 5 words and Louis CK doing jerk off and bag of Ds jokes and pretty much anybody else playing to the lowest common denominator.

But hey, if John Belushi spitting potatoes out of his mouth doing an impression of a pimple popping is what jellies your toast, then go for it.

Oh, and don't forget that Miller went full-right wing fascist and RS is about as liberal a rag as you'll find, and that ain't gonna help him in the voting. Some other rag voted him best Weekend Update anchor ever, BTW.

Which is why I said, humor, like music, is very individual.

 

[Dove]

With the 40th Anniversary show for SNL it got me thinking who are the best SNL performers of all-time, some had way more success off the show than others, Chris Rock come to mind. Let's do a top 5 of strictly SNL performers, it's hard enough to narrow it down to 5 so they don't have to be in order. I'll start- Dan Akroyd, Phil Hartman, Chris Farley, Will Ferrell, Eddie Murphy.

My list is based on ability to make me laugh and strength of characters. Not in order...

Kenan Thompson (Deandre Cole, Scared Straight convict, Sharpton...)
Bill Hader (Stefon, that interviewer guy...)
Will Farrell (More cowbell!!, GWB, Trebeck...)
Dan Ackyroyd (Jane, you ignorant nope!)
Eddie Murphy (Mr. Robinson, Butwheat)

Kristen Wiig is next.

 

[Taco]

Really liked Martin Short, but he was already known for his work on SCTV (which included John Candy, Etc.) so I don't really think of him as a SNL guy. I know a lot of cast members either had a sketch or comic background, but they're usually relative unknowns when they join SNL - not the case for Martin Short.

 

[superjohn]

Well, to each his own, for sure, especially when it comes to comedy. I always thought Dennis Miller was the most gifted comedian I ever saw. The guy is a genius - I don't mean he's a "comedic" genius. I mean he's a genius. His humor reflects that. 20% of what he says goes over my head because I don't get the reference, but I'll take the remaining 80% over a coked up Robin Williams doing impressions of dogs in heat and Richard Pryor saying word every 5 words and Louis CK doing jerk off and bag of Ds jokes and pretty much anybody else playing to the lowest common denominator.

But hey, if John Belushi spitting potatoes out of his mouth doing an impression of a pimple popping is what jellies your toast, then go for it.

Oh, and don't forget that Miller went full-right wing fascist and RS is about as liberal a rag as you'll find, and that ain't gonna help him in the voting. Some other rag voted him best Weekend Update anchor ever, BTW.

Which is why I said, humor, like music, is very individual.

Dennis Miller is a really bright guy for sure and I used to like his comedy but the last stand up show I saw of him was just bad, old tired references and just seemed out of touch. I saw Louis CK live a month or so ago and he was absurdly funny, I've also seen Chappelle and Bill Burr live and they blow Dennis Miller out of the water. Another brilliant guy that threw out a million references that would go over most people's heads was Greg Giraldo but he did it way better than Miller.

 

[Cheeky]

Dennis Miller is a really bright guy for sure and I used to like his comedy but the last stand up show I saw of him was just bad, old tired references and just seemed out of touch.

Guy is too political for my liking, now, and I don't want to hear either the left or the right going off about what's up their @asses, but hard to picture him being out of touch - he's way into politics.

I saw Louis CK live a month or so ago and he was absurdly funny

Guy is hugely talented. He descends into crass humor too much for me, but I like his observations (guy on plane bitching about wifi going down a few minutes after it premiered, for example).

Chappelle

Extremely talented. Very intelligent, and great delivery. Love his take on black/white race differences (white families all share one bar of soap in the shower. Grape drink.)

Bill Burr

Talented, but not my type - depends too much on F this and rather than letting the material support itself.

Greg Giraldo

Never heard of him - will look him up. Thanks for the cite.

Regarding smarts, I'd put IQs at the following, if I had to guess:

Miller - 145-150
Chappelle - 125
Louis and Burr - 120

Point is, if you listen to any material Miller ever did, he brings in a crazy array of references that fit perfectly. You just can't manipulate data like that without being super smart.

 

[Cheeky]

Greg Giraldo

Just watched some stuff - excellent.

 

[storrsroars]

Point is, if you listen to any material Miller ever did, he brings in a crazy array of references that fit perfectly. You just can't manipulate data like that without being super smart.

Maybe. But for a Pittsburgh kid, you'd think that would get him into Pitt or CMU. He only got into Point Park U. Which, if you've never lived in Pittsburgh, you've never heard of.

I used to listen to Miller's radio show even though I didn't like his politics. It was pretty funny.

Btw, as this is going off topic into other comedians, check out Jerrod Carmichael. Easily the most innovative comedian I've seen in past 5 years. No subject off-limits. Very cerebral.

 

[superjohn]

Just watched some stuff - excellent.

Giraldo is one of the funniest and smartest people I've ever heard. Sadly like many comedians and exceptionally intelligent people his mind took him to some dark places. The guy graduated Columbia and then got a perfect score on the LSAT and went to Harvard Law. He never got the worldwide fame he deserved and it struck me to the core when I heard of his death due to drugs. Another guy I'm sure you would like is Jim Gaffigan, he doesn't have to use a single f word and is incredibly funny, check him out of you haven't already.

 

[Dove]

 

[Stainmaster]

Giraldo is one of the funniest and smartest people I've ever heard. Sadly like many comedians and exceptionally intelligent people his mind took him to some dark places. The guy graduated Columbia and then got a perfect score on the LSAT and went to Harvard Law. He never got the worldwide fame he deserved and it struck me to the core when I heard of his death due to drugs. Another guy I'm sure you would like is Jim Gaffigan, he doesn't have to use a single f word and is incredibly funny, check him out of you haven't already.

Huge Gaffigan fan.

 

[tentoes4rings]

Shocked Aykroyd hasn't been mentioned. The guy had so many great characters from Two Wild and Crazy Guys, Fred Garvin Male Prostitute, Sleazy Halloween costume salesman, Bass-o-Matic, Jimmy Carter, Richard Nixon, Julia Child, Tom Snyder. He could play it straight or off the wall, also a great writer. You could make a case he's the best SNL performer ever. "Jane you ignorant nope!"

And he got DonnaDixon in her prime.

 

[Cheeky]

Maybe. But for a Pittsburgh kid, you'd think that would get him into Pitt or CMU.

If somebody went to Harvard (with no help from quota selection), then you can be pretty certain he's a smart fellow.
If somebody did not go to Harvard, you would be wildly guessing to believe that he is not a smart fellow.

There are plenty of very high IQ people who don't go to good schools.

 

[Matrim55]

Shocked Aykroyd hasn't been mentioned. The guy had so many great characters from Two Wild and Crazy Guys, Fred Garvin Male Prostitute, Sleazy Halloween costume salesman, Bass-o-Matic, Jimmy Carter, Richard Nixon, Julia Child, Tom Snyder. He could play it straight or off the wall, also a great writer. You could make a case he's the best SNL performer ever. "Jane you ignorant nope!"

Akroyd was an amazing writer, but every single character of his would have been funnier with Phil Hartman playing the part.

 

[imno1]

I was never a huge fan of Armisen but Portlandia is hilarious.

I couldn't put him in my top 10 but Fred is underrated probably because he's so peculiar. His creepy Italian guy in Euro Trip was hysterical

 

[ihatepants]

oh come on, fallon and sanz had the most classic breaking character scene in the history of the show.. http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/debbie-downer/n11825

In sketch comedy, breaking is considered a cheap way to get laughs and it also draws attention away from the other performers. Fallon did it all the time on normal dialogue and some of the other cast members hated it, most notably Tina Fey. He and Horatio tried to make each other break on purpose. Completely unprofessional. It's also not like they didnt perform/practice the sketches before, either. At least when Hader broke during Stefan, it was because it was his first time hearing the jokes himself.

One of the reasons that Chris Farley was so great was because he was so good at causing the other cast members to break. Such as Sandler in the Zagat's sketch and everyone in Matt Foley sketches and the Gap Girls.

 

[CallMeBruce]

In sketch comedy, breaking is considered a cheap way to get laughs and it also draws attention away from the other performers. Fallon did it all the ing time on normal dialogue and some of the other cast members hated it, most notably Tina Fey. He and Horatio tried to make each other break on purpose. Completely unprofessional. It's also not like they didnt perform/practice the sketches before, either. At least when Hader broke during Stefan, it was because it was his first time hearing the jokes himself.

One of the reasons that Chris Farley was so great was because he was so good at causing the other cast members to break. Such as Sandler in the Zagat's sketch and everyone in Matt Foley sketches and the Gap Girls.

I know I'm just another person blowing Hartman here, but one of the reasons those Foley sketches worked so well is because Hartman NEVER broke. He was such a pro.

 

[Dove]

I couldn't put him in my top 10 but Fred is underrated probably because he's so peculiar. His creepy Italian guy in Euro Trip was hysterical

He did a native american comedian bit that was hysterical.

 

[BoatShow]

He did a native american comedian bit that was hysterical.

That was a great character too. He was pretty funny in The Californians (although Hader usually stole the show) but that sketch always want on way too long.

 

[David 76]

Oh, and don't forget that Miller went full-right wing fascist and RS is about as liberal a rag as you'll find, and that ain't gonna help him in the voting. Some other rag voted him best Weekend Update anchor ever, BTW.

Which is why I said, humor, like music, is very individual.

Miller's arcane references were pretty funny for a while but he is a one-trick pony. To me, he lost it around the time of the NFL. But don't confuse vocabulary with brilliance. Carlin and Stewart are brilliant.

Then Miller made the mistake of becoming conservative. And for reasons I don't understand, conservatives are incapable of being funny. Strange but true. They have Miller & PJ O'Rourke. Compare that to Carlin. Stewart, Cobert, Maher, Lewis Black, Louis CK etc, etc.

 

[superjohn]

Miller's arcane references were pretty funny for a while but he is a one-trick pony. To me, he lost it around the time of the NFL. But don't confuse vocabulary with brilliance. Carlin and Stewart are brilliant.

Then Miller made the mistake of becoming conservative. And for reasons I don't understand, conservatives are incapable of being funny. Strange but true. They have Miller & PJ O'Rourke. Compare that to Carlin. Stewart, Cobert, Maher, Lewis Black, Louis CK etc, etc.

Obviously there are more funny liberals but saying conservatives can't be funny is ridiculous, also PJ O'Rourke is very funny and bright. Comedy is definitely subjective, as far as I'm concerned Norm McDonald is a genius and was by far the best fake news guy, I think Seth Meyers is one of the least funny people I've ever seen and he's now the host of The Tonight Show.

 

[David 76]

SuperJohn
I don't see PJ as particularly funny or bright.
But the statement was a joke. I don't really think it is impossible for conservatives to be funny.

 

[Cheeky]

But don't confuse vocabulary with brilliance. Carlin and Stewart are brilliant.

Never met a person with below brilliant intellect who had the ability to use very high end vocab. It's not just the vocabulary - any English major can have that - it's the ability to use the perfect word in the perfect spot - diction, as it were. Carlin was brilliant, and I love his later years stuff, but he wasn't nearly as smart as Miller (IMO). Stewart is a talented and funny man with a lot of good writers but not (IMO) particularly intelligent.

 

[Cheeky]

Norm McDonald is a genius and was by far the best fake news guy, I think Seth Meyers is one of the least funny people I've ever seen and he's now the host of The Tonight Show.

Agree that Norm was and is hilarious. His Daily Show humor on the Crocodile Hunter's death was epic.
Also agree on Seth Meyers. I don't get him at all.
Also agree on Hartman - brilliant and a tragic loss. Loved him on the radio show.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Never met a person with below brilliant intellect who had the ability to use very high end vocab. It's not just the vocabulary - any English major can have that - it's the ability to use the perfect word in the perfect spot - diction, as it were. Carlin was brilliant, and I love his later years stuff, but he wasn't nearly as smart as Miller (IMO). Stewart is a talented and funny man with a lot of good writers but not (IMO) particularly intelligent.

While we're on the subject of big words, this sounds like the apotheosis of style over substance. I'll acknowledge that Miller is adept at the rapid-fire obscure references, but with respect to vocabulary, literally anyone can memorize flash cards. I don't think it is any indication whatsoever of "brilliance."