The BEST episodes of Saturday Night Live season 45

Every episode of Saturday Night Live season 45, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Saturday Night Live season 45!

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
Eddie Murphy / Lizzo
star
7.82
262 votes

#1 - Eddie Murphy / Lizzo

Season 45 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/21/2019

Sketches include: PBS Democratic Debate, Mr. Robinson’s Neighborhood, Holiday Baking Championship, Home for the Holidays, Masked Singer, Weekend Update, Black Jeopardy, North Pole News Report

Will Ferrell / King Princess
star
7.56
180 votes

#2 - Will Ferrell / King Princess

Season 45 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/23/2019

Sketches include: Trump Impeachment Press Conference, Heinz, 2020 Democratic Debate, First Thanksgiving, Party Song, Pizza Ad, Weekend Update, Cinema Classics: The Wizard of Oz, Ventriloquist

Chance the Rapper
star
7.54
203 votes

#3 - Chance the Rapper

Season 45 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/26/2019

Sketches include: League of Legends, First Impressions Court, Tasty Toaster Tarts, How We Met Our Ends, Weekend Update, Love Hover, Space Mistakes, Dazzle Designs Choir Attire, Dance Studio (1978)

John Mulaney / David Byrne
star
7.51
154 votes

#4 - John Mulaney / David Byrne

Season 45 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/29/2020

Sketches include: The Sound of Music, The meme-ing, The Strip Club Sketch, Say, Those Two Don't Seem to Like Each Other, David Byrne, Weekend Update, LaGuardia Sushi, Forgotten Figures of Black History

Daniel Craig / The Weeknd
star
7.39
151 votes

#5 - Daniel Craig / The Weeknd

Season 45 - Episode 15 - Aired 3/7/2020

Sketches include: The Sands of Modesto, On the Couch, The Deirdre Show, Debbie Downer and Covid-19, Weekend Update, Southern Accent, Quote, The Overnight Salad

Woody Harrelson / Billie Eilish
star
7.38
293 votes

#6 - Woody Harrelson / Billie Eilish

Season 45 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/28/2019

Sketches include: Impeachment Town Hall, Sun's Out Nevada, Weekend Update, Corgi Dogs, Inside the Beltway, Downton Abbey, DAD, Chickham's Apple Farm

David Harbour / Camila Cabello
star
7.34
225 votes

#7 - David Harbour / Camila Cabello

Season 45 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/12/2019

Sketches include: Little Miss Teacher's Friend, GROUCH, Soulcycle, Weekend Update, Folk of the Past, The Father-Son Podcasting Microphone, Horny Italian Grandparents, Dog Court

Harry Styles
star
7.28
143 votes

#8 - Harry Styles

Season 45 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/16/2019

Sketches include: White Get Out, Joan, Iceland Iceland Baby, Airplane!, That's the Game, Weekend Update, Sara Lee, Baby Faye and the Grown-up News Guys, DJ Casket at Nana's Funeral

SNL at Home: Brad Pitt / Miley Cyrus
star
7.28
144 votes

#9 - SNL at Home: Brad Pitt / Miley Cyrus

Season 45 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/25/2020

Live, kinda, from all across America, this is Saturday Night. Sketches include: What Up with That?, In Depth with Brian Sutter, Stuck in the House, Bartenson's Grocery Store, Ooli at an Airbnb, Home from Prison, Weekend Update Home Update, SoulCycle Virtual Sessions, Coronavirus O.J., Cousin Mandy, The Reveal, Here for You, Whiskers 'R' We, Melissa's Big Date, Aidy's Real Journals

Adam Driver / Halsey
star
7.25
167 votes

#10 - Adam Driver / Halsey

Season 45 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/25/2020

Sketches include: Sleepover, Undercover Boss: Where Are They Now? – Kylo Ren, "Aw man, I'm all out of cash", The Science Room, SLOW, Weekend Update, Medieval Times, CHEER, Lily's Diner

SNL at Home: Tom Hanks / Chris Martin
star
7.18
153 votes

#11 - SNL at Home: Tom Hanks / Chris Martin

Season 45 - Episode 16 - Aired 4/11/2020

Saturday Night Live returns April 11, 2020, produced entirely remotely from the cast's, celebrities' and musical guests' homes as they practice social distancing. Sketches include: A Drake Song, Working Out at Home with RBG, Salescorp first Zoom call, A Message from Bernie Sanders, MasterClass Quarantine, Weekend Update at Home, Bailey at the Movies, Middle-Aged Mutant Ninja Turtles, Cam Playz Dat, Sky Sport Report, and more.

Scarlett Johansson / Niall Horan
star
7.15
144 votes

#12 - Scarlett Johansson / Niall Horan

Season 45 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/14/2019

Sketches include: Santa Land, Macy's, Charlie the Security Guard, A Conway Marriage Story, Niall Horan, Weekend Update, Haunted Hot Tub. Hallmark Holiday Matchmaking Contest, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, Choking, Innotech

SNL at Home: Kristen Wiig / Boyz II Men
star
7.06
109 votes

#13 - SNL at Home: Kristen Wiig / Boyz II Men

Season 45 - Episode 18 - Aired 5/9/2020

Live, kinda, from all across America, this is Saturday Night. Sketches include: Deirdre and Ripley, "Let Kids Drink", Masterclass Quarantine, Mt. Methusela Baptist Church Virtual Service, "Danny Trejo", Bouncy Waves with PJ Charnt, Weekend Update, What's Wrong with this Picture?, Eleanor's House, Brandon, Phineas Gale, Lighthouse Keeper, Beer Money, Dreams

JJ Watt / Luke Combs
star
7.02
131 votes

#14 - JJ Watt / Luke Combs

Season 45 - Episode 12 - Aired 2/1/2020

Sketches include: Frozen II: Deleted Scenes, Robbie, Parental intercourse, Oil of Olay Eye Black, Weekend Update, The Pilot Hunk, Madden 21, Food Dudes, My Fair Bigfoot, Big Willie's Pizza

Phoebe Waller-Bridge / Taylor Swift
star
6.97
236 votes

#15 - Phoebe Waller-Bridge / Taylor Swift

Season 45 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/5/2019

Sketches include: What's Wrong with This Picture?, Love Island, WANU Midday News, Words of War, Weekend Update, Royal Romance, Buddy's State Line Bar

RuPaul / Justin Bieber
star
6.95
153 votes

#16 - RuPaul / Justin Bieber

Season 45 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/8/2020

Sketches include: Charades, The Queen, Not going Dutch, Boop-it, RuPaul Reads, Weekend Update, Thirsty Cops, The Old New York Show with Madge and Dickie

Writer: James Downey
Jennifer Lopez / DaBaby
star
6.82
147 votes

#17 - Jennifer Lopez / DaBaby

Season 45 - Episode 8 - Aired 12/7/2019

Sketches include: Surprise Home Makeover, J Lo and Chad, What Do You Figure Is Going on in That House?, Them Trumps, Weekend Update, Hip-Hop Carolling, Hoops, PottyPM, Cidiots, Barry's Bootcamp

Kristen Stewart / Coldplay
star
6.71
189 votes

#18 - Kristen Stewart / Coldplay

Season 45 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/2/2019

Sketches include: Elizabeth Warren Town Hall, America At War!, Duolingo For Talking To Children, Colour, Dog Translator, Corporate Nightmare, Weekend Update