The BEST episodes of Saturday Night Live season 35

Every episode of Saturday Night Live season 35, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Saturday Night Live season 35!

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: 4/20/2024Network: NBCStatus: Continuing
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Betty White/Jay-Z
star
8.47
324 votes

#1 - Betty White/Jay-Z

Season 35 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/8/2010

Sketches include "Lawrence Welk Cold Open," "Betty White Monologue," "NPR," "The Manuel Ortiz Show," "Gingey," "Weekend Update," featuring Molly Shannon as Sally O'Malley and Betty White as Dottie Donigan, "Scared Straight" and "Census 2010."

Zach Galifianakis/Vampire Weekend
star
8.20
165 votes

#2 - Zach Galifianakis/Vampire Weekend

Season 35 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/6/2010

Actor Zach Galifianakis hosts; Vampire Weekend performs "Cousins" and "Giving Up the Gun." Sketches include "Health Care Reform," "The Vogelchecks," "Bidet," "Zach Drops by the Set," "Today," "Weekend Update" with guests Mo'Nique and Will Forte, "What Up with That?" "The Situation Room," and "Pageant Talk."

Tina Fey/Justin Bieber
star
8.13
250 votes

#3 - Tina Fey/Justin Bieber

Season 35 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/10/2010

Sketches include "Obama Census Cold Open," "Brownie Husband," "Masters," "Sarah Palin Network," "Teacher," "Weekend Update," featuring Jason Sudeikis as the devil, "Women's News with Tina Fey," "Ruff, Rugged and Roker," "School Dance" and "Lolene."

Ryan Reynolds/Lady Gaga
star
7.81
234 votes

#4 - Ryan Reynolds/Lady Gaga

Season 35 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/3/2009

Live from New York, it's... Fred Armisen! Sketches include "Obama's Checklist," "Mostly Garbage Dog Food," "Celebrity Family Feud," "Throw It On The Ground" (Digital Short), "Mike's Fountainry," "Deep House Dish," "So You Commited a Crime... And You Think You Can Dance?," "International Masterworks," and "Bubble Dresses Backstage." Lady Gaga performed "Paparazzi" and a medley of "LoveGame," "Bad Romance," and "Poker Face."

Ryan Phillippe/Ke$ha
star
7.79
102 votes

#5 - Ryan Phillippe/Ke$ha

Season 35 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/17/2010

Larry King Live, Broadview Security, Today Sponge Women's Weightlifting Championship 1986, Hip Hop Kids, SNL Digital Short: The Other Man, Mort Mort Feingold: Accountant For The Stars, The Shake Weight Commercial DVD, Musical Performance "TiK ToK", Weekend Update, Song Memories, Teen Talk, Musical Performance "Your Love Is My Drug", I Got This!, Underground Rock Minute

Joseph Gordon-Levitt/Dave Matthews Band
star
7.74
166 votes

#6 - Joseph Gordon-Levitt/Dave Matthews Band

Season 35 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/21/2009

Live from New York, it's... Nasim Pedrad and Will Forte! Sketches include "Obama and Hu Jintao," "Movie Trailer Re-Cut: Palin 2012," "Secret Word," "A Girl Like Reba" (Digital Short), "The Mellow Show," "What's Up With That?," "Thanksgiving Dinner," "Woman To Woman," and "Say Anything." The Dave Matthews Band performed "You and Me" and "Shake Me Like a Monkey."

Jennifer Lopez
star
7.70
126 votes

#7 - Jennifer Lopez

Season 35 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/27/2010

Actress/musician Jennifer Lopez hosts and performs "Pieces" and "Starting Over." Sketches include "A Message from Quincy Jones," "Gyne-Lotrimin Ladies World Cup of Curling," "Digital Short: Flags of the World," "Hollywood Dish Interview," "Telemundo's Olympic Games Coverage," "Undercover Celebrity Boss," "Weekend Update" with guests Bobby Moynihan and Gov. David Paterson, "Besos y Lagrimas," "Office Romance," "Smash Mouth," "Car Horns and More," and "Closet Organizer."

Gerard Butler/Shakira
star
7.66
156 votes

#8 - Gerard Butler/Shakira

Season 35 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/17/2009

Live from New York, it's... Dwayne Johnson! Sketches include "The Return of 'The Rock' Obama," "Fuquay Satin's Grand Hoochie Skank Rose," "Game Time with Randy and Greg," "Beauty and the Beast," "300," "What's Up With That?," "Trina at the Ad Agency," and "Daveheart." Shakira performed "She Wolf" and "Did It Again."

Drew Barrymore/Regina Spektor
star
7.56
189 votes

#9 - Drew Barrymore/Regina Spektor

Season 35 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/10/2009

Live from New York, it's... Fred Armisen! Sketches include "Obama's Nobel," "Gilly and Gigli," "Celebrity Ghost Stories," "University of Westfield," "La Rivista Della Televisione," "Tampax to the Max Ladies' Billards, 1991," "Cooking Al Fresco with Fran and Phil," "Larry King Live," "Brenda and Sean" (Digital Short), and "Debbie Turner Book Signing." Regina Spektor performed "Eet" and "The Calculation."

Sigourney Weaver/The Ting Tings
star
7.49
161 votes

#10 - Sigourney Weaver/The Ting Tings

Season 35 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/16/2010

Sigourney Weaver comes back to host SNL after a 24-year gap between appearances (her first appearance was the 12th season premiere in 1986). Indie rock band The Ting Tings perform "That's Not My Name" and "Shut Up and Let Me Go." Sketches include "Larry King Live," "Grady Wilson's Fifty and Freaky," "Summer's Eve Lady Stars of Darts Championship 1988," "Digital Short: James Cameron's Laser Cats 5," "Disco Booty Junction," "Weekend Update" with Larry the Goose and Meryl Streep, "Avatar," "Riley," "Sigourney Weaver's Internet Addiction," and "Fire and Rice."

James Franco/Muse
star
7.48
101 votes

#11 - James Franco/Muse

Season 35 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/19/2009

Live from New York, it's... Fred Armisen and Kristen Wiig! Sketches include "The Lawrence Welk Show," "What Up With That?," "The Kissing Vogelczeks," "The Tizzle Wizzle Show" (Digital Short), "The Manuel Ortiz Show," "Sigma Lambda Omega," "Vincent Price Christmas Special," "Tree Love," "Christmas Gift Meeting," and "Mark Wahlberg Talks to Christmas Animals." Muse performed "Uprising" and "Starlight."

Jude Law/Pearl Jam
star
7.23
185 votes

#12 - Jude Law/Pearl Jam

Season 35 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/13/2010

Actor Jude Law hosts; Pearl Jam performs "Just Breathe" and "Unthought Known." Sketches include "Eric Massa's Exit Interview," "Ford Commercial," "Secret Word," "Broadview Security," "Seville," "Digital Short: Boombox," "Weekend Update" with guests Whoopi Goldberg and Jerry Seinfeld, "The Twilight Zone," "Hamlet Auditions," "Kickspit Underground Rock Festival," "Court Stenographer," and "Talk Show with Ravish."

Megan Fox/U2
star
7.20
286 votes

#13 - Megan Fox/U2

Season 35 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/26/2009

Live from New York, it's... Fred Armisen! Sketches include "Gadhafi's Second Speech," "Bladdivon," "Flight Attendants," "Russian Brides," "SWAT Commander" (Digital Short), "Grady Wilson's Burning Up The Bedsheets," "Live Lounge," "Biker Chick Chat," "Megan's Roommate" (Digital Short), and "Your Mom Talks to Megan Fox While You Get Ready." U2 performed "Breathe," "Moment of Surrender," and "Ultraviolet (Light My Way)."

Writer: James Downey
Charles Barkley/Alicia Keys
star
7.14
97 votes

#14 - Charles Barkley/Alicia Keys

Season 35 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/9/2010

Former basketball star Charles Barkley comes back (after a 17-year gap) to host the first new episode of 2010; Alicia Keys (who last appeared on the first episode of season 27 with host Reese Witherspoon) comes back to perform "Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart" and "Empire State of Mind." Sketches include "The Situation Room," "Thomas Peepers Insurance," "Reel Quotes," "MacGruber" (three-part sketch), "Shana at the Ski Retreat," "Inside the NBA," "Weekend Update" with James Carville, Nicolas Cage, and Governor David Paterson, "The Haney Project," "Digital Short: Alicia Keys' Booty Call," "Scared Straight," and "Barkley's Bank."

Gabourey Sidibe/MGMT
star
7.09
153 votes

#15 - Gabourey Sidibe/MGMT

Season 35 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/24/2010

Actress Gabourey Sidibe hosts; MGMT performs "Flash Delirium" and "Brian Eno." Sketches include "A Message from the President of the United States ," "The Suze Orman Show," "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" "Mrs. Johnson," "Digital Short: Cherry Battle," "I Did It in My Style," "Weekend Update" with guests Judy Grimes, Stefon, and John Mulaney, "Public Employee of the Year Awards," "Alarm Clocks and More," and "Hamilton."

Alec Baldwin/Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
star
7.07
244 votes

#16 - Alec Baldwin/Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Season 35 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/15/2010

Sketches include "BP Oil Spill Cold Open," "Alec Baldwin Commencement Monologue," an SNL digital short: "Great Day," "Arizona Evenings," "Swim Team Awards," "Grady Wilson," "Timecrowave," "Some Big Shot" and "Snipers."

Jon Hamm/Michael Bublé
star
6.97
109 votes

#17 - Jon Hamm/Michael Bublé

Season 35 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/30/2010

Sketches include "State of the Union Cold Open," "Jon Hamm Monologue," "1920s Party," an SNL digital short: "The Curse," "New Senator," "Sports Show," "Hamm and Buble," "Closet Organizer," "Court Stenographer," "Bar" and "Barnes & Noble."

Taylor Swift
star
6.96
81 votes

#18 - Taylor Swift

Season 35 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/7/2009

Live from New York, it's... Kristen Wiig! Sketches include "Fox News Election Coverage," "Carter n' Sons BBQ," "The View," "Firelight" (Digital Short), "Hollywood Dish," "Teens Raising Awareness About Awful Parent Drivers," "Penelope at the Wedding," "Scared Straight," "Best Friends," and "Bunny Business." Taylor Swift performed "You Belong To Me" and "Untouchable."

Blake Lively/Rihanna
star
6.90
186 votes

#19 - Blake Lively/Rihanna

Season 35 - Episode 8 - Aired 12/5/2009

Live from New York, it's... Fred Armisen, Bobby Moynihan, and Kristen Wiig! Sketches include "Obama and the Salahis," "Carter 'n Sons," "Vagisil Superstars of Bowling Tournament 1989," "The Situation Room," "Shy Ronnie" (Digital Short), "Gossip Girl: Staten Island," "10th Annual Kickspit Underground Rock Festival," "Virginaca Hastings at Barney's," "UPS" (two parts), "Late Night with Chris Hansen," and "NASA Recruitment Office." Rihanna performed "Russian Roulette" and "Hard" (featuring Young Jeezy).

Ashton Kutcher/Them Crooked Vultures
star
6.77
39 votes

#20 - Ashton Kutcher/Them Crooked Vultures

Season 35 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/6/2010

Actor Ashton Kutcher hosts; Them Crooked Vultures perform "Mind Eraser, No Chaser" and "New Fang." Sketches include "On the Record w/ Greta Van Susteren," "Gertrude's Will," "The View," "Cialis for Threeways Commercial," "Roman Slave Boy," "Weekend Update" with guests Liam (a teenager who just woke up), Eliot Spitzer, Jean K. Jean, and Garth and Kat, "What Is Burn Notice?" "Access Hollywood's Oscar Coverage," "An Even-Tempered Apology from Rahm Emanuel," and "Wedding Band."

January Jones/Black Eyed Peas
star
6.74
99 votes

#21 - January Jones/Black Eyed Peas

Season 35 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/14/2009

Live from New York, it's... Jason Sudeikis! Sketches include "Biden's in Control," "Today," "Rear Window," "WIIX," "A Lady's Guide To Throwing a Party" (film), "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde," "Toilet Encounters" (Digital Short), and "Cloud Watching." The Black Eyed Peas performed "I Gotta Feeling," "Meet Me Halfway," and "Boom Boom Pow."

Taylor Lautner/Bon Jovi
star
6.47
127 votes

#22 - Taylor Lautner/Bon Jovi

Season 35 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/12/2009

Sketches include "Gov. Sanford, Sen. Ensign, and Sen. Edwards," "Rose Bowl Shoot," "Sue and the Baby," "A Message from the PGA Tour" (three parts), "Middle School Jingle Jam," "Twilight Science Partners," "Yogurt Shop Flirting," and "Doorbells and More." Bon Jovi performed "Superman Tonight" and "When We Were Beautiful."