The WORST episodes of Saturday Night Live
Every episode of Saturday Night Live ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Saturday Night Live!
Each week, live from New York, a famous guest host appears in sketches and parodies alongside a company 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 comedy shows in history.
#1 - Amy Poehler / Role Model
Season 51 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/11/2025
Amy Poehler hosts, and Role Model performs.
#2 - Molly Shannon / Jonas Brothers
Season 48 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/8/2023
Molly Shannon will return to Studio 8H to host "SNL" for the second time on April 8. Shannon stars in "A Good Person", currently in theaters, and the third season of "The Other Two", premiering May 4 on HBO Max. Jonas Brothers will take the stage as musical guest for the third time. Their new album, "The Album", featuring the upcoming single "Waffle House", is set to be released May 12.
#3 - Winona Ryder/Moby
Season 27 - Episode 20 - Aired 5/18/2002
Live From New York, It's...Maya Rudolph and (for the final time) Will Ferrell Sketches include ""Jimmy Carter In Cuba,"" ""Celebrity Jeopardy: Music Edition,"" ""Dueling Wedding Singers,"" ""Botox"", ""Bear Researchers,"" ""Girl Next Door: The Search For a Playboy Playmate,"" ""Jacuzzi Lovers II,"" ""Mango, Winona, and Moby Go Shoplifting,"" and ""Farewell To Will Ferrell."" Moby performs: ""We Are All Made Of Stars"" and ""South Side""
#4 - Bea Arthur/The Roches
Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/17/1979
Sketches include ""Sex Change,"" ""The Backers' Audition,"" and ""First, He Cries.""
#5 - Malcolm McDowell/Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band
Season 6 - Episode 2 - Aired 11/22/1980
Live from New York, it's...Gilbert Gottfried! Sketches include: Sitting Up Straight In The Electric Chair, Mutually Omaha's Wild Kingdom: In Search of the Negro Republican, Tobacco Growers of America, Serf City, Amy Carter Gets Adopted To The Reagans, Alex DeLarge For The American Milk Association, SNL Film: Showdown, Gothic Novel Shop, The 100 Years War, The Leather Weather Report, Commie Hunting, The Rocket Report, Jack The Stripper, SNL Film: Someone Is Hiding In My Apartment, and The Wine Cellar With Caroline Parker Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band perform: ""Hothead"" and ""Ashtray Heart""
#6 - Sally Kellerman/Jimmy Cliff, Sally Kellerman
Season 6 - Episode 9 - Aired 2/7/1981
Sketches include Rocket Report, Italian Audition, Name That Sin, Ear, Nose, and Throat, Was I Ever Red, Iranian Joke Book, Jimmy Cliff performs "I Am The Living." Weekend Update with Charles Rocket & Gail Matthius, Parent & Child, A Day in the Life of a Hostage, Lean Acres, Jimmy Cliff performs "Gone Clear." Iranian Student Council, New York, Pillow Pets, Televised Trial, Sally Kellerman performs "Starting Over Again".
#7 - Louise Lasser/Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Season 1 - Episode 23 - Aired 7/24/1976
Live from New York, It's...Chevy Chase Sketches include--Belushi thinks Chevy has a big head, Louise Lasser locks herself dressing room, General "V.D" Amin, Sven and Inger, John Belushi tries to sell his clothes, Ode to Television, Louise apologizes to her dog, Jimmy Carter talks about the campagin.
#8 - Tom Green/David Gray
Season 26 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/18/2000
Sketches include ""Decision 2000,"" ""Bald Eagles,"" ""Rap Street,"" ""Lorne and Tom in a Tub,"" ""Hardball,"" ""Dog Show,"" ""Oprah,"" ""Story Tellers,"" ""TV Funhouse: Sex and the Country"", ""Rock Around the Clock,"" and ""Tom and Drew's Wedding."" The NBC rerun replaces the ""Sex and the Country"" TV Funhouse with the one from the Charlize Theron episode where Mr. T lands a job doing a tampon commercial.
#9 - Linda Hamilton/Mariah Carey
Season 17 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/16/1991
Sketches include ""Weekend Update Special Report,"" ""Toonces, the Cat Who Can Drive a Car,"" ""It's Pat,"" ""Annoying Double Date,"" and ""The Chris Farley Show.""
#10 - Fred Savage/Technotronic
Season 15 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/24/1990
Sketches include ""Church Chat,"" ""Left Alone with a Gun,"" ""The Pat Stevens Show,"" ""Imaginary Friend,"" and ""Hooked on Sushi"" (film). Technotronic performed ""Pump Up The Jam.""
#11 - John Larroquette/Timbuk 3
Season 12 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/18/1987
Live from New York, it's... Dana Carvey! Sketches include "Pagan Easter Special," "Sold-Out Gold," "Collecting Evidence," "Heaven Has The Answers," "Instant Coffee," "ICM Meeting," and "Grab Bag Store." Timbuk 3 performs "Just Another Movie" and "Hairstyles & Attitudes."
#12 - John Lithgow/Anita Baker
Season 12 - Episode 16 - Aired 4/11/1987
Live from New York, it's... John Lithgow! Sketches include "Embassy Spies," "Laramie Vice," "The Pat Stevens Show," "World's Meanest Methodist Minister," "Master Thespian," "Discover," "Cab Ride," and "The Fighter." Anita Baker performs "Sweet Love" and "Same Ole Love."
#13 - Ron Reagan/The Nelsons
Season 11 - Episode 9 - Aired 2/8/1986
Live From New York, it's...Ronald Reagon, Jr. Sketches include: White House Risky Business, You're Going To Hell: A Message From The Almighty (repeat from the Madonna/Simple Minds episode), The Pat Stevens Show, Dalkon Shield Trout Lure, Back To The Future, Penn And Teller Guest Performance, Limits of the Imagination, Shakespeare In The Slums With Flotilda Williams, and The Woody Allen Fan The Nelsons performs: Walk Away and Do You Know What I Mean
#14 - Deborah Harry/The Funky Four Plus One More
Season 6 - Episode 10 - Aired 2/14/1981
Sketches include "Is Frank Sinatra a Hoodlum?" "Don't Look In The Refridgerator," "Where's Cooder?" "Paulie in the Card Shop," "Sweethearts" (film), "Newsbreak," and "The Waxmans in SoHo." Deborah Harry performs "Love T.K.O." and "Come Back Jonee." And "The Funky Four + One More" performs"That's The Joint."
#15 - Cicely Tyson/Talking Heads
Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 2/10/1979
Sketches include "Cicely Confronts Garrett Monologue," "Nick Rails, the Train Lounge Singer," and "The Widettes."
#16 - Ray Sharkey/Jack Bruce and Friends
Season 6 - Episode 6 - Aired 1/10/1981
Live from New York, it's…Eddie Murphy! Sketches include ""The Real Jimmy 'The Weasel' Fratiano,"" ""Work Time Beer,"" ""WASP Couple Interpretation,"" ""Citizens For A Better America,"" ""Jimmy Carter At The Bar,"" ""January 11th Celebration,"" ""Filming Lazlo's Confession,"" ""Have A Nice Day,"" ""White Baby Salesman,"" ""Surrogate Mothers,"" ""The Man With The Black Hat"" (film), ""Stop-A-Nut,"" ""The Waiter-Maker,"" ""Nonexsistant Product,"" and some stand-up by Eddie Murphy. Jack Bruce performed ""Dancing On Air"" and ""Livin' Without Ja.""
#17 - Robert Hays/Joe King Carrasco & The Crowns, 14 Karat Soul
Season 6 - Episode 8 - Aired 1/24/1981
Sketches include ""America Not Held Hostage Anymore,"" ""Dazola,"" ""Love American Style,"" ""Disco Meltdown,"" ""Reaganco,"" ""Sports Central,"" ""Ballpark Organist at a Funeral,"" and ""Eddie Gets Promoted."" Joe Carrasco performs ""Don't Bug Me Baby.""
#18 - Donald Trump/Toots and the Maytals with Bootsy Collins and The Roots
Season 29 - Episode 16 - Aired 4/3/2004
Live from New York, it's...Donald Trump Sketches include 'The SNL Apprentice,' 'Fear Factor Junior,' 'Live with Regis and Kelly,' 'The VIP Seats,' 'Donald Trump's House of Wings,' 'Weekend Trump-Date,' 'Prince and the Pauper '04,' 'Fathers and Sons,' '9/11 Hearings,' and 'Donald's Band Rehearsal.' Toots and the Maytals perform 'Love Gonna Walk Out on Me' (with Ben Harper and Jack Johnson) and 'Funky Kingston' (with Bootsy Collins and The Roots).
#19 - Rosario Dawson/Fleet Foxes
Season 34 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/17/2009
Actress Rosario Dawson hosts; Fleet Foxes perform "Mykonos" and "Blue Ridge Mountains." Sketches include "Vice President Dick Cheney: The Final Interview," "North American Savings Commercial," "Da Learnin' Train," "Guantánamo Bay Liquidation Sale," "Aladdin and Jasmine's Anniversary," "Digital Short: Singing Narrator," "Gilly," "Weekend Update" with guests Bernard Madoff, Judy Grimes, and Larry the Goose, "La Policia Mexicana," "The View," and "Good Excuse!"
#20 - Milton Berle/Ornette Coleman
Season 4 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/14/1979
Sketches include "Texaco Star Theater Intro," "The Widettes," "On The Spot," and "Milton's Writers." Ornette Coleman played "Times Square."
#21 - Karen Black/Cheap Trick, Stanley Clarke Trio
Season 6 - Episode 7 - Aired 1/17/1981
Live from New York, it's...Ann Risely Sketches include: White House Move Out, The Legendary Composers, Foundation For The Tragically Hip, The Livelys, Reagan's Vice President, The Rocket Report, Mona Lisa In Love, 60 Minutes, Patient Thoughts, Fair Dinkum Championship Finals, Neighbor Confrontation, Paulie Herman At The Diner, Saturday Night Live Action Figures, What's It All About, and National Handgun Association Cheap Trick performs: Baby Loves To Rock and ""Can't Stop It But I'm Gonna Try"" Stanley Clarke Trio performs: Wild Dog
#22 - James Van Der Beek/Everlast
Season 24 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/16/1999
Sketches include ""Clinton and Flynt,"" ""Spelling Bee Finals,"" ""7 Degrees Celsius,"" ""Dog Show,"" ""Harry Connick Jr.,"" ""The War Abroad and at Home,"" ""Frankenstein,"" and ""Maria and Anthony.""
#23 - Susan St. James/The Kinks
Season 7 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/10/1981
Sketches include ""McDonald & Wife,"" ""The Bizarro World,"" ""Buckwheat Sings,"" ""Skanky Fiancee,"" ""Cheap Laffs,"" and ""The Alan Alda Guide to Sensitivity."" The Kinks performed ""Destroyer"" and Christine Ebersole performed ""Single Bars and Single Women."" Also featured is an Anwar Sadat tribute film.
#24 - David Carradine/Linda Ronstadt with Rex Smith, George Rose
Season 6 - Episode 5 - Aired 12/20/1980
Live from New York, it's...Joe Piscopo Sketches include ""Joe Piscopo Impersonates Don Pardo,"" ""Gun City,"" ""The Menswear Store,"" ""Vicky and Debbie at the Mall,"" ""The Rocket Report,"" ""Dylan and Guthrie,"" ""The Home Version of Dallas,"" ""Mr. Bill's Christmas,"" ""Kung Fu Christmas,"" ""The Harlem Heroin Experience,"" ""The Virgin Search"" (film), ""Dopenhagen and Happy Daze,"" ""Colonel Sanders' Funeral,"" ""The Dancing Man"" (film), and ""Welfare Counseling."" George Rose, Linda Ronstadt, Rex Smith and the cast of ""The Pirates of Penzance"" perform Christmas carols.
#25 - Buck Henry/The Grateful Dead
Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/11/1978
Sketches include--"Concession Speech,", "Rovco Chinch Canch" commercial parody, "Samurai Optometrist," "Uncle Roy #1," "The Death Of Rasputin," "Nick Sands, the Lounge Singer," More Flu To Worry About, and "St. Mickey's Knights of Columbus."