The BEST episodes of Saturday Night Live

Every episode of Saturday Night Live ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Saturday Night Live!

Each week, a famous guest host appears in sketches and parodies alongside a roster of up-and-coming comedians. A popular musical guest, short films, and Weekend Update - a recurring satirical newscast - form the backbone of one of the most influential and culturally significant TV shows in history.

Last Updated: 3/22/2024Network: NBCStatus: Continuing
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Dudley Moore/Al Green
star
10.00
1 votes

#1 - Dudley Moore/Al Green

Season 11 - Episode 8 - Aired 1/25/1986

Sketches include ""Monks and Football,"" ""The Pat Stevens Show,"" ""Master Thespian"", ""The Limits of the Imagination"", ""Name That Tune,"" and ""Die Foriegner Die!"" Al Green performs ""Going Away.""

Directors: Dave Wilson
Watch Now:Apple TV
Bill Russell/Chicago
star
10.00
2 votes

#2 - Bill Russell/Chicago

Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/3/1979

Sketches include ""Kennedy in '80,"" ""Banshee,"" ""The Black Shadow,"" ""The Landers Files,"" ""Mr. Bill at Home,"" ""Nick in the Arctic,"" ""Eleanor Roosevelt,"" ""Sports Hot Line,"" and ""Big n' Tall That's All."" Chicago performs their 1970 hit ""I'm a Man"" and their then-current single ""Street Player.""

Directors: Dave Wilson
Watch Now:Apple TV
Rosie O'Donnell/James Taylor
star
10.00
1 votes

#3 - Rosie O'Donnell/James Taylor

Season 19 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/13/1993

Sketches include ""The Packwood Diaries,"" ""Frank Sinatra Duets,"" ""Daily Affirmation With Stuart Smalley,"" ""Forgetful Waiter,"" ""The Tomboy and the Sissy,"" ""Dick Clark's Receptionist,"" ""Will Work For Food,"" ""Homegirls""

Directors: Dave Wilson
Watch Now:Apple TV
Jeff Daniels/Color Me Badd
star
10.00
1 votes

#4 - Jeff Daniels/Color Me Badd

Season 17 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/5/1991

""Johnny Carson's Tonight Show: The 29th and Final Anniversary"", ""Earthies, the Bountiful Diaper Commercial (From Dell Monty)"", ""The Richmeister Vs. The Name Singing Guy"", ""The Chris Farley Show"", ""Community College Bowl"", ""Apex Novelty Guy gets fired for designing bad quality rubber vomit""

Directors: Dave Wilson
Watch Now:Apple TV
Danny DeVito/Bryan Ferry
star
10.00
1 votes

#5 - Danny DeVito/Bryan Ferry

Season 13 - Episode 6 - Aired 12/5/1987

ive from New York, it's... Danny Devito! Sketches include: "Gorbachev-Reagan," "Siskel & Ebert," "Church Chat," "Eddie Spimozo's Jungle Room," "White Trash Appraiser," "Ann Landers' Playhouse," and "Reminiscing with Doorman." Bryan Ferry performs "The Right Stuff" and "Kiss and Tell."

Directors: Paul Miller
Watch Now:Apple TV
Justine Bateman/Terrance Trent D'Arby
star
10.00
1 votes

#6 - Justine Bateman/Terrance Trent D'Arby

Season 13 - Episode 11 - Aired 2/13/1988

""53rd. Debate of the 1988 Republican Presidential Candidates"", ""Learning to Feel with Denise Venetti, Ph.D."", ""Family Ties: If These Old Walls Could Talk (Flashback-Flashback Episode)"", ""Blocked songwriter Derek Stevens loses his Muse"", ""An older man, the bimbo girlfriend Linda and his Judgemental Friends"".

Directors: Paul Miller
Watch Now:Apple TV
Sean Penn/L.L. Cool J., Michael Penn & the Pull
star
10.00
1 votes

#7 - Sean Penn/L.L. Cool J., Michael Penn & the Pull

Season 13 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/24/1987

Live from New York, it's... Sean Penn! Sketches include "Fatal Attraction 2," "Wall Street Week," "Church Chat," "Pitman & Bullock," "The Teeny Cafe," "Keister Family Talk," "Discover," "The Spimozo Brothers," and "Cat Dentist" (film). LL Cool J performs "Go Cut Creator Go." Michael Penn and The Pull performs "This & That."

Directors: Paul Miller
Watch Now:Apple TV
Richard Benjamin/Rickie Lee Jones
star
9.67
3 votes

#8 - Richard Benjamin/Rickie Lee Jones

Season 4 - Episode 16 - Aired 4/7/1979

Sketches include "The Pepsi Syndrome," "The Nerds In Love," and "Scottish Restaurant." Jones performs his hit "Chuck E's In Love."

Directors: Dave Wilson
Watch Now:Apple TV
Conan O'Brien/Don Henley
star
9.61
33 votes

#9 - Conan O'Brien/Don Henley

Season 26 - Episode 14 - Aired 3/10/2001

Live from New York, it's...Will Ferrell Sketches include: Bush's Good Health, Subshack, The Boston Teens At The Liquor Store, Moleculo: The Molecular Man, Napster Testimony, Taint-less Ted, Find The Black People At The Knicks Game, VH-1 Diva-Thon, Democratic National Committee, and Sports Century: The White Boxer Don Henley performs: ""Everything is Different Now"" and ""Heart of the Matter"" (the second performance was cut on the NBC rerun and replaced with a DeMarco Bros. sketch where Chris Parnell, Chris Kattan, and Conan O'Brien audition for Don Henley)

Watch Now:Apple TV
Sigourney Weaver/Buster Poindexter
star
9.50
2 votes

#10 - Sigourney Weaver/Buster Poindexter

Season 12 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/11/1986

Live From New York, it's...Madonna Sketches Include: A Message From Madonna, ""General Dynamics,"" ""Tommy Flanagan,"" ""Quiz Masters,"" ""The Amazing Alexander,"" ""Church Chat,"" ""Bows and Smith Advertising,"" ""Alienses,"" ""Ten Weeks In Jail,"" ""Baby It's Cold Outside"" (musical number), ""Derek Stevens Auditions,"" and ""The Brecht Opera."" Buster Poindexter performed ""Smack Dab in the Middle"" and ""Fool For You.""

Directors: Paul Miller
Watch Now:Apple TV
Rosie O'Donnell/Whitney Houston
star
9.50
2 votes

#11 - Rosie O'Donnell/Whitney Houston

Season 22 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/14/1996

Sketches include ""Bill Clinton and Bob Dole,"" ""Spartan Cheerleaders,"" ""Mary Katherine Gallagher,"" ""Delicious Dish,"" ""Goat Boy,"" ""Rita Delvecchio,"" and ""The Local News with Joe Blow.""

Watch Now:Apple TV
Alec Baldwin/Paul McCartney
star
9.43
7 votes

#12 - Alec Baldwin/Paul McCartney

Season 18 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/13/1993

Sketches include ""Dateline NBC,"" ""The Mimic,"" ""The Chris Farley Show,"" ""Soap Opera Digest,"" ""Gap Girls,"" ""Naked Woman Theater,"" ""Daily Affirmation With Stuart Smalley,"" ""The Bodyguard,"" and ""French Class"".

Directors: Dave Wilson
Watch Now:Apple TV
Mena Suvari/Lenny Kravitz
star
9.33
3 votes

#13 - Mena Suvari/Lenny Kravitz

Season 26 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/20/2001

Sketches include ""Bill Clinton,"" ""Airport Metal Detector,"" ""Janet Reno's Dance Party, ""Rap Street,"" ""Veronica & Co.,"" and ""The DeMarco Brothers.""

Cameron Diaz/Jimmy Eat World
star
9.25
4 votes

#14 - Cameron Diaz/Jimmy Eat World

Season 27 - Episode 16 - Aired 4/6/2002

Live From New York, It's...Will Ferrell & Ana Gasteyer! Sketches include ""The Culps In Lamaze Class,"" ""17th Annual Auto Show Spokeman Awards,"" ""MTV Spring Break 2002,"" ""SNL 530,"" ""Astronaut Jones,"" ""Celine Dion on CBS,"" ""Gorgeous Living,"" ""The First Female Peepers,"" ""MTV 4"", and ""My Big, Thick Novel."" Jimmy Eat World performed ""The Middle"" and ""Sweetness.""

Eddie Murphy/The Honeydrippers
star
9.13
8 votes

#15 - Eddie Murphy/The Honeydrippers

Season 10 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/15/1984

Sketches include ""Buckwheat Lives!"" ""White Like Me"" (film), ""Milestones,"" and ""Newsmakers."" Robert Plant and the Honeydrippers perform ""Santa Claus is Back in Town.""

Directors: Dave Wilson
Watch Now:Apple TV
Sinbad/Sade
star
9.00
1 votes

#16 - Sinbad/Sade

Season 18 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/21/1992

Sketches include ""George Bush and Bill Clinton,"" ""Homosexuals at War,"" ""At Home with Monica,"" ""Blacula,"" ""Gilligan's Bioshpere,"" ""Superman's Funeral,"" and ""The Proud Pattersons.""

Directors: Dave Wilson
Watch Now:Apple TV
Antonio Banderas/Mary J Blige
star
9.00
3 votes

#17 - Antonio Banderas/Mary J Blige

Season 31 - Episode 15 - Aired 4/8/2006

Live from New York (for the 600th time), its... Seth Meyers! Sketches include "Anderson Cooper 360," "Basic Instinct 2: Return of the Beaver," "Deal or No Deal," "Automated-Phone Lady," "Besos y Lagrimas," "13th Annual Women's Basketball Coaches Fashion Awards," "Zorro's Body Double," "Rascals' Karoake," "Immigrants Backstage," and "Wine Snobs." Mary J. Blige performs "Be Without You" and "Enough Crying.

Sean William Scott/Sum 41
star
9.00
2 votes

#18 - Sean William Scott/Sum 41

Season 27 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/6/2001

Live From New York, It's...Will Ferrell Sketches include: Bush Warns bin Laden, Law and Order: Parking Violations Movement, Snotty Department Store Guys, Emmy Awards Pre-Show, Jarrett's Room, The Patriotic Co-Worker, The ""How Do You Say? Ah, Yes"" Show, The Approval Center, and The Porn Star Blind Date Sum 41 performs: ""Fat Lip"" and ""In Too Deep""

Watch Now:Apple TV
Danny DeVito/Bon Jovi
star
9.00
2 votes

#19 - Danny DeVito/Bon Jovi

Season 18 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/9/1993

""The Super Fans Formally Express Their Anger Via Letter: Ditka is fired"", ""BBC1 Presents Simon! - Special Guest: A Foul-Mouthed, Middle-Aged Italian American"", ""The Fourth Amy Fisher Story on Fox: Aaron and Tori Spelling's Amy Fisher, 10516 with Danny DeVito as Joey Buttafuoco"", ""Gap Girls: Buy it large. Just belt it and cinch it!"", ""Black Entertainment Television Presents: Amy Fisher, One Messed Up Bitch"", ""The Privacy-Obsessed Hitman Whose Wife Knew Everything About His Business"", ""Books on Tape: Madonna's Sex Book. Text by Charlton Heston. Photo Interpretation by Al Goldstein"".

Directors: Dave Wilson
Watch Now:Apple TV
Joe Pesci/Spin Doctors
star
9.00
2 votes

#20 - Joe Pesci/Spin Doctors

Season 18 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/10/1992

Sketches include ""Debate '92,"" ""Pinky Ringery,"" ""Single White Person,"" ""Bullies on the Steps,"" and ""Zoriada annoys Joe Pesci."" Spin Doctors perform ""Jimmy Olson's Blues.""

Directors: Dave Wilson
Watch Now:Apple TV
Steve Martin/Sting
star
9.00
3 votes

#21 - Steve Martin/Sting

Season 13 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/17/1987

Sketches include ""Ronald Reagan and George Bush,"" ""Gary Hart Ad,"" ""Common Knowledge,"" ""NFL Today,"" ""Slide Whistle Sound Effects,"" ""Bullets Aren't Cheap,"" ""Permission to Speak Freely,"" ""Adventures in the Lost Realm,"" and ""Pumping Up With Hans and Franz"".

Watch Now:Apple TV
Ringo Starr/Herbie Hancock
star
9.00
2 votes

#22 - Ringo Starr/Herbie Hancock

Season 10 - Episode 8 - Aired 12/8/1984

Sketches include ""Beatles Auction,"" ""Fernando's Hideaway,"" and ""Ed Grimley Meets Ringo.""

Directors: Dave Wilson
Watch Now:Apple TV
Danny DeVito & Rhea Perlman/Eddy Grant
star
9.00
2 votes

#23 - Danny DeVito & Rhea Perlman/Eddy Grant

Season 9 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/15/1983

Sketches are ""Calvin Klein Cream Pies,"" ""Mister Robinson's Neighborhood,"" ""Crazy Edelman,"" ""Book Beat,"" ""What Would Frank Do?"" ""Amos n' Andy,"" and ""Spanish Class."" Eddy Grant performs ""I Don't Wanna Dance,"" ""Electric Avenue,"" and ""Living on the Front Line.""

Directors: Dave Wilson
Watch Now:Apple TV
Michael Sarrazin/Keith Jarrett
star
9.00
2 votes

#24 - Michael Sarrazin/Keith Jarrett

Season 3 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/15/1978

Live From New York, It's...Laraine Newman Sketches include--"A Message From the President of the United States", "Angora Bouquet", "Judy Miller", "E. Buzz Miller's Exercise World", "La Dolce Gilda", "Abraham Lincoln in the Audience", "Archaeologicus"

Directors: Dave Wilson
Watch Now:Apple TV
Michael Palin/Eugene Record
star
9.00
5 votes

#25 - Michael Palin/Eugene Record

Season 3 - Episode 16 - Aired 4/8/1978

Live From New York, It's...Dan Aykroyd Sketches include--"Oscar Awards", "Little Chocolate Donuts", "Tax Deductions", "H&L Brock", "Great Escape", "Nerds Piano Lesson", "The Case of the Scarlet Membrane", "Good Time At Party", "Mr. Bill Pays His Taxes", "Danger Probe"

Directors: Dave Wilson
Watch Now:Apple TV