The BEST episodes of Saturday Night Live season 41
Every episode of Saturday Night Live season 41, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Saturday Night Live season 41!
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.
#1 - Larry David/The 1975
Season 41 - Episode 12 - Aired 2/6/2016
Sketches include Message from Ted Cruz Cold Open, Larry David Monologue, FBI Simulator, Bern Your Enthusiasm, Steam Ship, Totinos, Weekend Update: Sturdy Barbie, Weekend Update: Jon Rudnitsky, Weekend Update: Derek Zoolander & Hansel, Songwriting Class, Peyton & Cam, and Last Call with Larry David.
#2 - Chris Hemsworth/Chance The Rapper
Season 41 - Episode 8 - Aired 12/12/2015
Sketches include Bush Cold Open, Chris Hemsworth Returns Monologue, Star Wars Toy Commercial, On the Record, Time to Bleed, Brother 2 Brother: Wrestling Meet, Christmas Sing Along, Weekend Update: Michael Che and Colin Jost on Donald Trump, Weekend Update: Angela Merkel on TIME Person of the Year, Weekend Update: Leslie Jones on Breaking Bad, Brunch, Pirate Ship, Male Strippers, and Aron's List.
#3 - Ariana Grande
Season 41 - Episode 15 - Aired 3/12/2016
Cold Open: Carson Endorsement of Trump, Kid's Choice Awards; Hillary Campaign Ad, This Is Not a Feminist Song; Shud, the 65% Blobfish Mermaid; Celebrity Family Feud; Maria counters the nuns singing "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria."
#4 - Peter Dinklage/Gwen Stefani
Season 41 - Episode 16 - Aired 4/2/2016
Sketches include At This Hour Cold Open, Peter Dinklage Monologue, Winnie the Pooh, Naked & Afraid: Celebrity Edition, Mafia Meeting, Trendy Restaurant, Game of Thrones Sneak Peek, Weekend Update: Pete Davidson on Hulk Hogan, Weekend Update: David Ortiz's Post-Retirement Plans, Undersea Hotel, Vacation Nightmares, and Corporate Magic Show.
#5 - Ryan Gosling/Leon Bridges
Season 41 - Episode 7 - Aired 12/5/2015
Sketches include Donald and Melania Trump Christmas Cold Open, Ryan Gosling Canada Monologue, Settl, Close Encounter, Santa Baby, Birthday Party, Weekend Update: Jill Davenport, Weekend Update: Anthony Crispino and Angelo Skaggs, Hometown Bar, Nespresso, The Wiz, and Santa & the Elves.
#6 - Fred Armisen/Courtney Barnett
Season 41 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/21/2016
Sketches include Hillary & Bernie Cold Open, Fred Armisen One Man Show Monologue, Expedition, SNL Digital Short: Finest Girl, New Girlfriend, Farewell Mr. Bunting, Weekend Update: Dilma Rousseff on Her Impeachment, Weekend Update: Willie on Summer, Escape Pod, High School Theatre Show with Fred Armisen, and The Harkin Brothers.
#7 - Elizabeth Banks/Disclosure
Season 41 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/14/2015
Sketches include SNL Paris Opening, Elizabeth Banks Monologue, Aron's List, Black Jeopardy with Elizabeth Banks, First Got Horny 2 U, High School Theatre Show with Elizabeth Banks, Weekend Update: Pete Davidson on Transgender Rights, Weekend Update: Bruce Chandling on Women, Weekend Update: Olya Povlatsky on Russia's Track Team, Young Ben Carson, Walk-On Role, Uber for Jen, and So Ghetto.
#8 - Jonah Hill/Future
Season 41 - Episode 14 - Aired 3/5/2016
Sketches include CNN Election Center Cold Open, Jonah Hill Monologue with Future, Voters for Trump Ad, Fond Du Lac News, The Champ, School Auction, Weekend Update: Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party on the Presidential Primaries, Weekend Update: Vanessa Bayer and Flossie Dickey, Weekend Update: Jay Pharoah on Katt Williams and Kevin Hart's Feud, Murder Mystery, Inside SoCal: Newer One, and Silver Star Catering.
#9 - Matthew McConaughey/Adele
Season 41 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/21/2015
Sketches include Fox & Friends: Syrian Refugee Crisis Cold Open, Matthew McConaughey Monologue, A Thanksgiving Miracle, Blues Shack, 3D Printer Man, Star Wars Auditions, Weekend Update: Colin Jost and Michael Che on the Syrian Refugee Crisis, Weekend Update: Laura Parsons, Weekend Update: Colin Jost and Michael Che Exchange Jokes, Weekend Update: David Ortiz on Retirement, Should You Chime In on This?, Right Side of the Bed with Matthew McConaughey, and Town Hall Meeting.
#10 - Miley Cyrus
Season 41 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/3/2015
Sketches include Donald and Melania Trump Cold Open, Miley Cyrus Monologue, Abilify for Candidates, 50's Dance, Hillary Clinton Bar Talk, Weekend Update: Pope Francis, Weekend Update: Pete Davidson's Trumpdate, Weekend Update: Leslie Jones on Texting Etiquette, Millennials, Katz' Deli, The Squad, American Voices, and Miley Wedding Tape.
#11 - Tina Fey and Amy Poehler/Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band
Season 41 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/19/2015
Sketches include GOP Debate Cold Open, Tina Fey & Amy Poehler Christmas Mash-up Monologue, A Hillary Christmas, Meet Your Second Wife, Hoverboards, Movie Set with Tina Fey & Amy Poehler, Weekend Update: Deenie, Weekend Update: Tina Fey & Amy Poehler Return, Special Offer, Tina & Amy's Dope Squad, Bronx Beat 2015
#12 - Amy Schumer/The Weeknd
Season 41 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/10/2015
Amy Schumer makes her hosting debut alongside The Weeknd, who serves as musical guest for the first time. Sketches include Fox & Friends: Speaker of the House Cold Open, Amy Schumer Monologue, Delta Flight, Porn Teacher, Guns, Weekend Update: Colin Jost and Michael Che Talk Gun Control, Weekend Update: Solomon, Weekend Update Presents The Weeknd Update, Weekend Update: Mrs. Santini on Overcrowded Apartments, Ford's Theatre, Hands-free Selfie-Stick, City Council Meeting, and Baby Shower.
#13 - Adam Driver/Chris Stapleton
Season 41 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/16/2016
Sketches include Republican Debate Cold Open, Adam Driver Monologue, NFL Playoff Game, Undercover Boss: Starkiller Base, Aladdin, America's Funniest Cats, Weekend Update: Pete Davidson on Guns, Weekend Update: Laura Parsons on El Chapo, Awareness Seminar, Fred Armisen Remembers David Bowie, Golden Globes, and Porn Doctor.
#14 - Tracy Morgan/Demi Lovato
Season 41 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/17/2015
Sketches include Democratic Debate Cold Open, Tracy Morgan Monologue, Family Feud-Extended Family, Brian Fellow's Safari Planet: A Beaver and a Camel, Mitchell's Fake Cocaine, Weekend Update: Colin Jost and Michael Che on Presidential Candidates, Weekend Update: Tina Fey on Playboy, Weekend Update: Willie on Halloween, Good Morning Song, Standoff, Yo! Where Jackie Chan at Right Now?, and Astronaut Jones: The Martian.
#15 - Drake
Season 41 - Episode 20 - Aired 5/14/2016
Sketches include Donald Trump/Chris Christie Cold Open, Drake More Than a Meme Monologue, Rental Car, American Ninja Warrior, Dennis Walls & The Cookies, Office Boss with Drake, Weekend Update: Olya Povlatsky on Donald Trump, Weekend Update: Leslie Jones on Following Your Dreams, Weekend Update: Jay Pharoah on Rappers Meeting, Black Jeopardy with Drake, Drake's Beef, and Chaperone.
#16 - Ronda Rousey/Selena Gomez
Season 41 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/23/2016
Sketches include Palin Endorsement Cold Open, Ronda Rousey Monologue, Screen Guild Awards, Love Struck, Bland Man, Weekend Update
#17 - Russell Crowe/Margo Price
Season 41 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/9/2016
Sketches include Hillary Clinton Addresses Her Losing Streak Cold Open, Russell Crowe Monologue, Preparation H Ad, Politics Nation: Voter I.D. Disaster, Interactive Museum Exhibit, Match Finders, Weekend Update: Deenie on The People v. O.J., Weekend Update: Bruce Chandling on Sports, 100 Days in the Jungle, Pogie Pepperoni's, Shanice Goodwin, and Oprah.
#18 - Brie Larson/Alicia Keys
Season 41 - Episode 19 - Aired 5/7/2016
It's the Mother's Day episode and Oscar winner Brie Larson makes her hosting debut. Alicia Keys returns as the musical guest. A special appearance is made by Dana Carvey who reprises his Church Lady character.
#19 - Julia Louis-Dreyfus/Nick Jonas
Season 41 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/16/2016
Sketches include Brooklyn Democratic Debate Cold Open, Julia Louis-Dreyfus 2016 Monologue, Heroin AM, Huge Jewelry, Pool Boy, Cinema Classics with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, New Mercedes, Weekend Update: Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal on Kobe Bryant's Retirement, Weekend Update: Animal Annie, Weekend Update: One-Dimensional Female Character on Screen Time, Who Works Here?, Match.com Event, and God Is a Boob Man.
#20 - Melissa McCarthy/Kanye West
Season 41 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/13/2016
Sketches include Hillary Clinton Cold Open, Melissa McCarthy Five-Timers Monologue, The Day Beyoncé Turned Black, Test Screening, Movie Night, Weekend Update: Rachel from Friends, Weekend Update: Von Miller, Weekend Update: Leslie Jones on Her Perfect Man, Pick-Up Artist, Kyle vs. Kanye, Bus, and Whiskers R We with Melissa McCarthy.
#21 - Donald Trump/Sia
Season 41 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/7/2015
Sketches include MSNBC Forum Cold Open, Donald Trump Monologue, White House 2018, Bad Girls, Live Tweeting, Hotline Bling Parody, Weekend Update: Leslie Jones on Gender Roles, Weekend Update: Drunk Uncle on Donald Trump, Rock Band, Crocker Family Dinner, Toots Intro, and Porn Stars: Donald Trump.