The BEST episodes of Saturday Night Live season 34

Every episode of Saturday Night Live season 34, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Saturday Night Live season 34!

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: 5/3/2024Network: NBCStatus: Continuing
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Steve Martin/Jason Mraz
star
8.75
40 votes

#1 - Steve Martin/Jason Mraz

Season 34 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/31/2009

Obama Remembers, Chewable Pampers, Superbowl Night Out, SNL Digital Short: Laser Cats! 4 Ever, Issues, Madoff Invites, Steve and the Ladies, Musical Performance "I'm Yours", Weekend Update, Make-Up Counter, Musical Performance "Late for School", Forefathers Of The Game, Musical Performance "Lucky"

Anne Hathaway / The Killers
star
8.75
16 votes

#2 - Anne Hathaway / The Killers

Season 34 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/4/2008

Sketches include "The Vice Presidential Debate," "The Lawrence Welk Show," "The Wall Street Bailout," "Nightclub Flirting," "Extreme Activities Competition" (Digital Short), "Mary Poppins," "Sioux City News 3," "Mark Wahlberg Talks to Animals," "Pretending To Be Gay," and "The Less Provocactive Songs of Katy Perry." The Killers performed "Human" and "Spaceman."

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Tracy Morgan/Kelly Clarkson
star
8.25
8 votes

#3 - Tracy Morgan/Kelly Clarkson

Season 34 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/14/2009

Tracy Returns, Chewable Pampers, Brian Fellow's Safari Planet, The View, Scared Straight, Dateline, Astronaut Jones, Musical Performance "My Life Would Suck Without You", Weekend Update, Big Love, SNL Digital Short: Party Guys, Suppressex, High IQ, Musical Performance "I Do Not Hook Up", Family Flix, Gas Right

Justin Timberlake/Ciara
star
8.06
81 votes

#4 - Justin Timberlake/Ciara

Season 34 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/9/2009

The Bank Stress Test, Mom Celebrity Translator, Target, Immigrant Tale, SNL Digital Short: Mother Lover, Surgery Center, Musical Performance "Love Sex Magic", Weekend Update, The Barry Gibb Talk Show, Pirates, Musical Performance "Never Ever"

Alec Baldwin/Jonas Brothers
star
8.05
71 votes

#5 - Alec Baldwin/Jonas Brothers

Season 34 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/14/2009

Actor Alec Baldwin hosts; Jonas Brothers perform "Tonight" and "Video Girl." Sketches include "Republican Congressional Leadership Meeting," "The Fourth Jonas Brother," "The Cougar Den," "Digital Short: The Jonas Brothers' Secret," "Sir Mix-a-Lot's Photo Shop," "Weekend Update" with guests Oscar Rogers, Angelina Jolie, Angie Tempura, and Joaquin Phoenix, "Vincent Price's Valentine's Day Special," "Planning a Meeting," "Wii," "Chewable Pampers Commercial," "Virgania Horsen's Hot Air Balloon Rides," and "First Coughs."

Jon Hamm/Coldplay
star
7.86
14 votes

#6 - Jon Hamm/Coldplay

Season 34 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/25/2008

Live from New York, it's... Jason Sudeikis! Sketches include "Biden and Murtha," "Pedophile Trick-or-Treater," "Ras-Trent" (Digital Short), "Two A-Holes at an Ad Agency in the 1960s," "The Barack Obama Variety Half-Hour," "Don Draper's Guide to Picking Up Women" (film), "Vincent Price's Halloween Special," "Jon Hamm's John Ham," and "Pat Finger." Coldplay performed "Viva la Vida," "Lost," "Yellow," and the first five seconds of "Lovers in Japan."

Zac Efron/Yeah Yeah Yeahs
star
7.79
72 votes

#7 - Zac Efron/Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Season 34 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/11/2009

Obama Returns, Today, Gilly, The Alliance of Direct Mail Marketers, Underage Drinking, Musical Performance "Zero", Weekend Update, High School Musical 4: New Senior Class, Leaving for War, Gino's Pizza Rolls, Musical Performance "Maps", Foot Rub

Bradley Cooper/TV on the Radio
star
7.79
14 votes

#8 - Bradley Cooper/TV on the Radio

Season 34 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/7/2009

Bipartisanship, Today, I'm Gonna Have Sex With Your Wife, SNL Digital Short: I'm On A Boat, Song Memories, Musical Performance "Golden Age", Weekend Update, Locker Room, Bad Guys Good Conversation, Intervention, Musical Performance "Dancing Choose", No Bruce! Let Me Finish! The Best Of Celebrity Tirades

Will Ferrell/Green Day
star
7.68
99 votes

#9 - Will Ferrell/Green Day

Season 34 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/16/2009

Cheney in Makeup, Wade Blasingame, The Lawrence Welk Show, Jeopardy!, Inside The NBA, Musical Performance "Know Your Enemy", Weekend Update, Remembrances, Musical Performance "21 Guns", Goodnight Saigon

Dwayne Johnson (The Rock)/Ray LaMontagne
star
7.64
11 votes

#10 - Dwayne Johnson (The Rock)/Ray LaMontagne

Season 34 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/7/2009

Sketches include "1-800-IDEAS?," "MacGruber" (three parts), "The Rock Obama," "Activia Testimonials," "Hawaiians," "Game Time with Dave and Gary," "NBC Promos," and "Lighthouse Date."

Ben Affleck/David Cook
star
7.63
68 votes

#11 - Ben Affleck/David Cook

Season 34 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/1/2008

QVC, Jar Glove, The View, Countdown, Target, Staten Island Zoo, Musical Performance "Light On", Weekend Update, Night School Musical: Senior Year Equivalent, Grady Wilson's Put The Fire Back In Your Marriage Techniques, Movie Pitch, Musical Performance "Declaration", Bierhoff Bros. House Of German Coats

Hugh Laurie / Kanye West
star
7.50
44 votes

#12 - Hugh Laurie / Kanye West

Season 34 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/13/2008

Live from New York, it's... Jason Sudeikis! Sketches include "Blagojevich Testimony," "Bronx Beat," "Sarcastic Christmas Dinner," "Culhane Wedding Toasts," "Magical Lamps," "Cat Christmas Letter," and "Cookie Crimes" (Digital Short). Kayne West performed "Love Lockdown" and "Heartless."

John Malkovich / T.I.
star
7.26
43 votes

#13 - John Malkovich / T.I.

Season 34 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/6/2008

Live from New York, it's... Darrell Hammond and Amy Poehler! Sketches include "Secretary Clinton," "Gas Right," "Sexy Shannon," "Obama Keeps It Cool" (film), "La Rivista Della Televisione," "Virgania Horsen's Pony Express" (Digital Short), "Calculators," "The Lost Works of Judy Blume," "Jizz In My Pants" (Digital Short), and "J'Accuzzi." T.I. performed "Whatever You Like" and "Swing Ya Rag" (featuring Swizz Beatz).

Anna Faris/Duffy
star
7.20
41 votes

#14 - Anna Faris/Duffy

Season 34 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/27/2008

Live from New York, it's... Tina Fey! Sketches include "Sarah Palin Interview," "New Friends," "The First Presidential Debate," "Rowboat Date," "Scores," "Deep House Dish," "Googie Rene's Slightly Stained Wedding Dress Basement," and "Superior Ex-Boyfriend." Duffy performed "Mercy" and "Stepping Stone."

Tim McGraw / Ludacris, T-Pain
star
7.00
7 votes

#15 - Tim McGraw / Ludacris, T-Pain

Season 34 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/22/2008

Live from New York, it's... Fred Armisen! Sketches include "The Big Three Automakers," "Clear Rite," "Dateline NBC," "Turkey Chase," "Live Another Death," "Blizzard Man," "Jeff Montgomery," "Dale Britches' Down-Home Phony Phone Calls," and "Mark Payne."

Neil Patrick Harris/Taylor Swift
star
6.96
100 votes

#16 - Neil Patrick Harris/Taylor Swift

Season 34 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/10/2009

Actor Neil Patrick Harris hosts; Taylor Swift performs "Love Story" and "Forever & Always." Sketches include "The Rachel Maddow Show," "The Today Show," "Save Broadway," "Penelope in Group Therapy," "Digital Short: Doogie Howser Theme Song," "Weekend Update" with guests Charles Barkley and Will Forte, "Two First Names," "Air Traffic Controllers Fran and Freba," "Frost/Other People," and "Whopper Virgins."

Michael Phelps/Lil' Wayne
star
6.92
13 votes

#17 - Michael Phelps/Lil' Wayne

Season 34 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/13/2008

Live from New York, it's... Tina Fey and Amy Poehler! Sketches include "A Non-Partisan Message from Governor Palin and Senator Clinton," "Quiz Bowl," "Jar Glove," "Swim Team Pep Talk," "Stacia and Cousin Craig," "The Charles Barkley Show," "T-Mobile," "Space Olympics 3022" (Digital Short), "Mark Payne," and "The Michael Phelps Diet." Lil' Wayne performed "Got Money" (featuring Mack Maine) and "Lollipop."

Directors: Don Roy King
James Franco/Kings of Leon
star
6.73
49 votes

#18 - James Franco/Kings of Leon

Season 34 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/20/2008

Live from New York, it's... Darrell Hammond! Sketches include "McCain Voiceovers," "The Cougar Den," "Agent 420," "Simpson Jury Selection," "Murray Hill" (Digital Short), "The Looker," "New York Times Reporters," "Of Mice and Men," "Yankee Stadium Stories" (film), and "James and Willam Dafoe." Kings of Leon performed "Sex on Fire" and "Use Somebody."

Paul Rudd / Beyonce
star
6.44
39 votes

#19 - Paul Rudd / Beyonce

Season 34 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/15/2008

Live from New York, it's... Jason Sudeikis! Sketches include "Vice President-elect Joe Biden," "Sproingo," "Kissing Family," "Scared Straight," "Everyone's a Critic" (Digital Short), "Tom and Tonya Peoples," "Garden Party Road Trip," "Beyonce Video Shoot," "Suicide Negotiation," "Proposition 8," and "Clearing the Air" (film). Beyonce performed "If I Were a Boy" and "Single Ladies."

Josh Brolin / Adele
star
6.05
43 votes

#20 - Josh Brolin / Adele

Season 34 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/18/2008

Live from New York, it's... Gov. Sarah Palin! Sketches include "Palin on Palin," "MacGruber" (three parts), "Sue and the Engagement," "The Suze Orman Show," "Mark and Andy Backstage," "I'm No Angel," "Fart Face," "Narc School," "ReadiTrade.com," "New York Underground" (film), and "Fall Foliage." Adele performed "Chasing Pavements" and "Cold Shoulder."

Seth Rogen/Phoenix
star
5.88
42 votes

#21 - Seth Rogen/Phoenix

Season 34 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/4/2009

Obama's Business Rulings, The Fast & The Bi-Curious, Save The Funnies, La Rivista Della Televisione, SNL Digital Short: Like A Boss, Phone Voices, Musical Performance "Lisztomania", Weekend Update, Corporate Meeting, Milestone High, Clancy T. Bachleratt and Jackie Snad Sing Easter Songs, Musical Performance "1901", Muppet Bus, Musical Performance "Too Young"

Rosario Dawson/Fleet Foxes
star
5.67
36 votes

#22 - Rosario Dawson/Fleet Foxes

Season 34 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/17/2009

Actress Rosario Dawson hosts; Fleet Foxes perform "Mykonos" and "Blue Ridge Mountains." Sketches include "Vice President Dick Cheney: The Final Interview," "North American Savings Commercial," "Da Learnin' Train," "Guantánamo Bay Liquidation Sale," "Aladdin and Jasmine's Anniversary," "Digital Short: Singing Narrator," "Gilly," "Weekend Update" with guests Bernard Madoff, Judy Grimes, and Larry the Goose, "La Policia Mexicana," "The View," and "Good Excuse!"