The BEST episodes of Saturday Night Live season 42

Every episode of Saturday Night Live season 42, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Saturday Night Live season 42!

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: 12/14/2024Network: NBCStatus: Continuing
Tom Hanks/Lady Gaga
star
7.84
615 votes

#1 - Tom Hanks/Lady Gaga

Season 42 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/22/2016

Sketches include: The Presidential Debate, Black Jeopardy, Halloween Show, Broken, Haunted Elevator, Weekend Update, Cockpit, A Girl's Halloween, America's Funniest Pets.

Dave Chappelle/A Tribe Called Quest
star
7.81
978 votes

#2 - Dave Chappelle/A Tribe Called Quest

Season 42 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/12/2016

Sketches include: Hallelujah, Election Night, Walking Dead Chappelle's Show, Weekend Update, Jheri's Place, Kids Talk Politics, Last Call, Love and Laslie, Football Party

Melissa McCarthy/Haim
star
7.80
587 votes

#3 - Melissa McCarthy/Haim

Season 42 - Episode 20 - Aired 5/13/2017

Sketches include: Kyle and Leslie, Amazon Echo Silver, Film Society of Lincoln Center, Weekend Update, First Birthday, Production Logo, Press Conference, Trump Interview, Just Desserts!

Kristen Stewart/Alessia Cara
star
7.70
577 votes

#4 - Kristen Stewart/Alessia Cara

Season 42 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/4/2017

Sketches include: Totino, Press Conference, U.S. Customs Welcome Video, Weekend Update, Meet Cute, Family Feud, Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, UConn Dry Fridays, Oval Office

Aziz Ansari/Big Sean
star
7.68
513 votes

#5 - Aziz Ansari/Big Sean

Season 42 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/21/2017

Sketches include: Dirty Talk, Five Stars, Broderick & Ganz, Interrogation, Weekend Update, Kellyanne Conway, Beat The Bookworm, Pizza Town, A Paid Message From The Russian Federation

Dwayne Johnson/Katy Perry
star
7.68
554 votes

#6 - Dwayne Johnson/Katy Perry

Season 42 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/20/2017

Sketches include: International Mad Scientist Society, Cartier Fidget Spinner, One Voice, Xentrex, Wrestlemania Promo, Weekend Update, Wingman, Senior Skit, Jurassic River Rapids, Scorpio, RKO Movie Set, Hallelujah

Alec Baldwin/Ed Sheeran
star
7.67
707 votes

#7 - Alec Baldwin/Ed Sheeran

Season 42 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/11/2017

Sketches include: Leslie Wants To Play Trump, Russell Stover’s Black History Heart Shaped Box, Weekend Update, Press Conference, Jake Tapper, Pitch Meeting, Beyoncé’s Babies, Drill Sergeant, The People’s Court, Gym Class

Lin-Manuel Miranda/Twenty One Pilots
star
7.61
560 votes

#8 - Lin-Manuel Miranda/Twenty One Pilots

Season 42 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/8/2016

Sketches include VP Debate Cold Open, Lin-Manuel Miranda Monologue, Crucible Cast Party, Substitute Teacher, A Day-Off, Weekend Update: Pete Davidson on Gonig Bald, Weekend Update: Denise McDonough and Doreen Troilo, Wells Fargo Wagon, Diego Calls His Mom, Stranger Things, Melania Moments No. 78: The Dream, and WWII Scene.

Jimmy Fallon/Harry Styles
star
7.59
606 votes

#9 - Jimmy Fallon/Harry Styles

Season 42 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/15/2017

Sketches include: Take Me Back, Weekend Update, Basketball Scene, Family Feud, Civil War Soldiers, Harvard Tour, A Message From The White House Easter Bunny, Before The Show, Turtle Shirt, Oval Office

Louis C.K./The Chainsmokers
star
7.57
570 votes

#10 - Louis C.K./The Chainsmokers

Season 42 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/8/2017

Sketches include: Sectional Sofa Emporium, Pepsi Commercial, Weekend Update, Tenement Museum, Lawyer Lashes, Thank You, Scott, Soda Fountain, The O’Reilly Factor, Trump’s People, Birthday Clown

Margot Robbie/The Weeknd
star
7.47
599 votes

#11 - Margot Robbie/The Weeknd

Season 42 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/1/2016

Sketches include Donald Trump vs. Hillary Clinton Debate Cold Open, Margot Robbie Monologue, Live Report, The Librarian, Celebrity Family Feud: Political Edition, Weekend Update: Undecided Voter Cathy Anne, Weekend Update: David Ortiz on Yankee Stadium, The Hunch Bunch, Melania Moments, Actress Round Table, and Mr. Robot.

Kristen Wiig/The xx
star
7.45
571 votes

#12 - Kristen Wiig/The xx

Season 42 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/19/2016

Sketches include: The Bubble, Target, Weekend Update, Anderson Cooper 360, QVC Auditions, Thanksgiving Parade, Trump National Golf Club, Whiskers R’ We, Surprise, Secret Word

Casey Affleck/Chance the Rapper
star
7.41
441 votes

#13 - Casey Affleck/Chance the Rapper

Season 42 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/17/2016

Sketches include: Dunkin’ Donuts, Jingle Barack, Hillary Actually, Christmas Bar, Weekend Update, Christmas Miracle, Trump Christmas, Robot Presentation, New York Now, Mrs. Claus and the Christmas Feast

Emily Blunt/Bruno Mars
star
7.36
452 votes

#14 - Emily Blunt/Bruno Mars

Season 42 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/15/2016

Skits include Trump versus Clinton debate, 2 virgins respond to a sex ad, rap song mimicking Trumps women, limo drive-by to Burger King window, Honda robotic demo, and a hamster cage dispute.

Scarlett Johansson/Lorde
star
7.34
606 votes

#15 - Scarlett Johansson/Lorde

Season 42 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/11/2017

Sketches include: A Sketch For The Women, Olive Garden, Good Day Denver, Complicit, Weekend Update, Shanice Goodwin: Ninja, Cherry Grove, Pet Translator, Funeral Service, True Tales From The Sea, Alien Attack

Emma Stone/Shawn Mendes
star
7.30
477 votes

#16 - Emma Stone/Shawn Mendes

Season 42 - Episode 8 - Aired 12/3/2016

Sketches include: Wells For Boys, The Christmas Candle, Theater Showcase, Weekend Update, Paley Center Event, The Hunt For Hil, Posters, The Nativity, Retweets, Cleaning Crew

John Cena/Maren Morris
star
7.24
464 votes

#17 - John Cena/Maren Morris

Season 42 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/10/2016

Sketches include: Through Donald’s Eyes, Erotic Bookstore, Weekend Update, Dyke & Fats Save Christmas, Where’d Your Money Go?, Science Presentation, Hook A Hunk, The Karate Teen, The Office Tree, The Lead with Jake Tapper, United States of Talent

Benedict Cumberbatch/Solange
star
7.18
484 votes

#18 - Benedict Cumberbatch/Solange

Season 42 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/5/2016

Sketches include: Erin Burnett Outfront, The Koohl Toilet, Why is Benedict Cumberbatch Hot?, Office Hours, Surprise Bachelorette Party, Weekend Update, Gemma & Ricky, Criminal Mastermind, Meeting with Mr. Shaw

Chris Pine/LCD Soundsystem
star
7.18
473 votes

#19 - Chris Pine/LCD Soundsystem

Season 42 - Episode 19 - Aired 5/6/2017

Sketches include: Song For Peace, The House, SWAT Recon, Weekend Update, Where In The World Is Kellyanne Conway?, TV Land Future Classics, Auto Shop, Morning Joe, The Boy Is Mine, The Handmaid’s Tale, Couples Game Night

Felicity Jones/Sturgill Simpson
star
7.04
421 votes

#20 - Felicity Jones/Sturgill Simpson

Season 42 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/14/2017

Sketches include: Shondra & Malik, Theatre Donor, Weekend Update, Fandango All Access, Trump Press Conference, Beard Hunk, Corporate Retreat, Susan B. Anthony House, The Princess And The Curse

Octavia Spencer/Father John Misty
star
6.75
529 votes

#21 - Octavia Spencer/Father John Misty

Season 42 - Episode 15 - Aired 3/4/2017

Sketches include: Weekend Update, Youngblood, Zoo-opolis Voice Actors, Spencer’s Gifts, Girl At A Bar, Sticky Bun, Jeff Sessions Gump, Courage, Compassion, Country: The TBD Story, The Chocolate Man, Drug Company Hearing, Bar Centrale