The BEST episodes of Saturday Night Live season 43

Every episode of Saturday Night Live season 43, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Saturday Night Live season 43!

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
Bill Hader/Arcade Fire
star
8.09
323 votes

#1 - Bill Hader/Arcade Fire

Season 43 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/17/2018

Sketches include: Undercover Office Potty, Girlfriends’ Game Night, Weekend Update, Jurassic Park Screen Tests, Kiss Me I’m Irish, Sacred Rock, The Californians, Anderson Cooper 360, CBC Report

Chance the Rapper/Eminem
star
7.79
323 votes

#2 - Chance the Rapper/Eminem

Season 43 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/18/2017

Sketches include: Family Feud: Harvey Family Thanksgiving, Come Back Barack, Wayne Thanksgiving, Sports Announcer, Weekend Update, History of Rap, Career Day, WikiLeaks, Porn Pizza Delivery

Will Ferrell/Chris Stapleton
star
7.72
302 votes

#3 - Will Ferrell/Chris Stapleton

Season 43 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/27/2018

Sketches include: George W Returns, Weekend Update, Chucky Lee Byrd, The House, Office Breakdown, Next: For Men, Dinner Discussion, Flight Attendants, Reality Stars, Clown Penis, Commercial Shoot

Kumail Nanjiani/P!nk
star
7.69
484 votes

#4 - Kumail Nanjiani/P!nk

Season 43 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/14/2017

Sketches include: Kellywise, Bank Breakers, Customer Service, Weekend Update, Women’s Round Table, Hotel Check-In, Nursing Home, Trucker Rally, Office Halloween Party

John Mulaney/Jack White
star
7.68
247 votes

#5 - John Mulaney/Jack White

Season 43 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/14/2018

Sketches include: Switcheroo, Diner Lobster, Drag Brunch, National School Walkout Day, Real Intros of Reality Hills, Horns, Weekend Update, Wild Wild Country

Natalie Portman/Dua Lipa
star
7.64
287 votes

#6 - Natalie Portman/Dua Lipa

Season 43 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/3/2018

Sketches include: Weekend Update, Natalie’s Rap, Revolutionary War, Bunny, Stranger Things 3, Kids’ Choice Awards Orange Carpet, First Ladies, Alien Lover, Fox & Friends

Donald Glover/Childish Gambino
star
7.63
225 votes

#7 - Donald Glover/Childish Gambino

Season 43 - Episode 19 - Aired 5/5/2018

Sketches include: Dirty Talk, A Kanye Place, Weekend Update, Raz P. Berry, Friendos, Jurassic World, Barbie’s Instagram, Inmates Call Center, Galactic Summit For All Black Humans, Cohen Phones Trump

Kevin Hart/Foo Fighters
star
7.50
336 votes

#8 - Kevin Hart/Foo Fighters

Season 43 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/16/2017

Sketches include: Bathroom Excuses, Inside The NBA, Pandora Charms, Weekend Update, Active Jack, Captain Shadow, Gene & Crystal, Nativity Play, A Special Christmas Message From The White House

Gal Gadot/Sam Smith
star
7.42
475 votes

#9 - Gal Gadot/Sam Smith

Season 43 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/7/2017

Sketches include: First Date, Weekend Update, Mirage, The Chosen One, Themyscira, Espionage, E! New Fall Lineup, The Maiden and The Mice, The Naomi Show, Safelite AutoGlass

Tina Fey/Nicki Minaj
star
7.40
218 votes

#10 - Tina Fey/Nicki Minaj

Season 43 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/19/2018

Sketches include: Chicago Improv, Talent Show, Pervert Hunters, Weekend Update, Mean Girls, Royal Wedding, What I Did For Trump, Morning Joe

Sam Rockwell/Halsey
star
7.37
219 votes

#11 - Sam Rockwell/Halsey

Season 43 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/13/2018

Sketches include: My Drunk Boyfriend, Chantix, Science Room, Tucci Gang, Marcus Comes to Dinner, The Look, Weekend Update, Genetics Lab, ATM, Captain Hook

Ryan Gosling/Jay-Z
star
7.35
526 votes

#12 - Ryan Gosling/Jay-Z

Season 43 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/30/2017

Sketches include: Papyrus, Levi’s Wokes, Henrietta & The Fugitive, Italian Restaurant, The Fliplets, Weekend Update, Dive Bar, Another Close Encounter, The Chaos President

James Franco/SZA
star
7.34
284 votes

#13 - James Franco/SZA

Season 43 - Episode 8 - Aired 12/9/2017

Sketches include: Za, Spelling Bee, Christmas Charity, Weekend Update, Sexual Harassment Charlie, A Visit with Santa, Reunion, Scrudge, Gift Wrap

Saoirse Ronan/U2
star
7.27
319 votes

#14 - Saoirse Ronan/U2

Season 43 - Episode 7 - Aired 12/2/2017

Sketches include: The Race, Floribama Shore, Welcome to Hell, Late for Class, Bachelor Auction, Weekend Update, Return Counter, Action 9 News at 5 – Eye on Phoenix, Aer Lingus, Spirit of Trump’s Past

Tiffany Haddish/Taylor Swift
star
7.23
318 votes

#15 - Tiffany Haddish/Taylor Swift

Season 43 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/11/2017

Sketches include: Boo Boo Jeffries, Kyle and Beck, The Dolphin Who Learned To Speak, The Dems Are Back, Weekend Update, Whiskers R’ We, Get Woke With Tamika, Lion King Auditions, Roy Moore Visits Mike Pence, The Last Black Unicorn

Jessica Chastain/Troye Sivan
star
7.22
218 votes

#16 - Jessica Chastain/Troye Sivan

Season 43 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/20/2018

Sketches include: Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Google Talks, Amazon HQ2, Car Hunk, Bogo Tacos, Trump’s Physical, Weekend Update, Doctor’s Orders, What Even Matters Anymore?, Jeffersons Acting Coach

Chadwick Boseman/Cardi B
star
7.19
224 votes

#17 - Chadwick Boseman/Cardi B

Season 43 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/7/2018

Sketches include: Black Jeopardy!, Restaurant Complaint, The Game of Life: DACA Edition, Aidy B & Cardi B, Wakanda Forever, Magic Mirror, Weekend Update, Nike Pro-Chiller Leggings, Outnumbered, Medical Breakthrough, Warehouse Fire

Charles Barkley/Migos
star
7.17
224 votes

#18 - Charles Barkley/Migos

Season 43 - Episode 14 - Aired 3/3/2018

Sketches include: Construction Workers, Last Call, Hump Or Dump, The Champions, The Grabbies, Weekend Update, Homework Hotline, Ned’s Roach Away, Bipartisan Meeting

Sterling K. Brown/James Bay
star
7.16
211 votes

#19 - Sterling K. Brown/James Bay

Season 43 - Episode 15 - Aired 3/10/2018

Sketches include: Family Dinner, Rock or Rap, Dying Mrs. Gomez, Dr. Love, Family Feud, Weekend Update, Line Reader, This Is U.S., Sasquatch, Black Panther, The Bachelor Live

Larry David/Miley Cyrus
star
7.02
356 votes

#20 - Larry David/Miley Cyrus

Season 43 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/4/2017

Sketches include: Beers, Ad Council Awards Dinner, New Wife, Weekend Update, Fresh Takes with Dustin Purcell, The Baby Step, Confident, The Price is Right, Paul Manafort’s Apartment

Amy Schumer/Kacey Musgraves
star
6.94
186 votes

#21 - Amy Schumer/Kacey Musgraves

Season 43 - Episode 20 - Aired 5/12/2018

Sketches include: James Madison High School Graduation, “The Day You Were Born”, Last Call, Mother Knows Best, Lil’ Rent, A Special Mother’s Day Message, Handmaids In The City, Weekend Update, Gospel Brunch