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List of recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches

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The following is a list of recurring Saturday Night Live sketches, organized by the season and date in which the sketch first appeared. For an alphabetical list, see Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches (listed alphabetically).

1975–1976

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Title Premiere date Main actor(s) Description
Weekend Update October 11, 1975 Chevy Chase
Jane Curtin
Dan Aykroyd
A satirical news segment starring that is the longest-running recurring sketch in the show's history. Like the show itself, it has seen many changes over the years and has a revolving door of anchors, including Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Charles Rocket, Gail Matthius, Brian Doyle-Murray, Mary Gross, Christine Ebersole, Brad Hall, Christopher Guest, Dennis Miller, Kevin Nealon, Norm Macdonald, Colin Quinn, Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Horatio Sanz, Seth Meyers, Cecily Strong, Colin Jost, and Michael Che.
The Killer Bees October 11, 1975 First characters to recur on SNL. According to a Lorne Michaels interview for the book Live from New York, "The only note we got from the network on the first show was 'Cut the bees.' And so I made sure I put them in the next show." The bees were played by all the repertory players at the time, who wore yellow and black horizontal stripes, wings, and springy antennas. Much of the humor from these scenes came out of puns or metaphors that had to do with well-known activities and body parts of bees. The bees were a staple of the first season, appearing 11 times. However, the cast and crew quickly became tired of them, and the bees only appeared three more times during the original cast's five-year tenure.
The Land of Gorch October 11, 1975 Jim Henson
Alice Tweedie
Jerry Nelson
Fran Brill
Richard Hunt
Frank Oz
Puppet sketch starring Jim Henson's Muppets, King Ploobis (performed by Jim Henson), Queen Peuta (performed by Alice Tweedie), Scred (performed by Jerry Nelson), Vazh (performed by Fran Brill), Wisss (performed by Richard Hunt), and the Mighty Favog (performed by Frank Oz). Lorne Michaels described the characters as the type of Muppets that can stay up late.
Land Shark November 8, 1975 Chevy Chase Chevy Chase plays a shark attempting to lure his way into a victim's home.
Sherry November 15, 1975 Laraine Newman Laraine Newman plays Sherry, a stereotypical naive valley girl. Newman reprised the role in the 40th anniversary special as part of The Californians sketch in 2015, in which she played Karina's mother who, like Sherry, also spoke valley girl-esque.
Minute Mystery with Mike Mendoza November 15, 1975 Dan Aykroyd Dan Aykroyd is a crime scene photographer who gives the audience a list of clues and 60 seconds to solve a mystery.
Looks at Books November 15, 1975 Jane Curtin A talk show sketch hosted by Jane Curtin interviewing profound authors.
Emily Litella December 13, 1975 Gilda Radner Emily Litella was an elderly woman with a hearing problem who frequently ranted about topics about which she had misread or misheard, such as "Violins on Television," "Canker Research," "Endangered Feces," or "Presidential Erections" (to satisfy the censors at the time, Litella was made to explicitly state that she was referring to erecting statues of presidents). Her catchphrase was "Never mind!", said after she was informed of her mistake.
Saturday Night Live Samurai December 13, 1975 John Belushi John Belushi plays a samurai warrior, who speaks only (mock) Japanese, and wields a katana. He is seen in various occupations ranging from a hotel desk clerk to a tailor.
Mel's Char Palace December 20, 1975 Dan Aykroyd A steakhouse commercial parody featuring Dan Aykroyd. At Mel's, customers are given a chainsaw and are invited to hunt, stun, cut and cook their own cow.
Steve Bushakis January 24, 1976 John Belushi A John Belushi character who hails from Chicago, named after Belushi's childhood friend.
H & L Brock January 31, 1976 John Belushi As Lowell Brock, John Belushi gives reasons why he should do your taxes., "He'll take the time . . because he has the time . . because he's doing time."
Mr. Bill February 28, 1976 Mr. Bill is the clay figurine star of a parody of children's shows. Mr. Bill got its start when Walter Williams sent SNL a Super 8 reel featuring the character in response to the show's request for home movies during the first season. Mr. Bill's first appearance was on the February 28, 1976 episode. Williams became a full-time writer for the show in 1978, writing more than 20 sketches based on Mr. Bill. Each Mr. Bill episode started innocently, but quickly turned dangerous for Mr. Bill. Along with his dog, Spot, he suffered various indignities inflicted by "Mr. Hands," a man seen only as a pair of hands (played by Vance DeGeneres).[1] The character's popularity spawned the 1986 live-action movie Mr. Bill's Real Life Adventures.
Tomorrow April 17, 1976 Dan Aykroyd A parody of The Tomorrow Show, starring Dan Aykroyd as Tom Snyder.
Baba Wawa April 24, 1976 Gilda Radner Gilda Radner impersonates journalist Barbara Walters.
Colleen Fernman April 24, 1976 Gilda Radner Appearing in seven sketches over five seasons, Colleen is usually non-talkative, and appears to be spaced out or in a vegetative state, and it is established in a February 24, 1979, sketch about psychiatrists that she is autistic.
Bobbi Farber July 31, 1976 Gilda Radner Middle-class Jewish-American with a nasal voice, who appeared in eight sketches in various settings over five seasons.

1976–1977

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Title Premiere date Host(s) Description
Mr. Mike's Least-Loved Bedtime Tales October 30, 1976 Michael O'Donoghue O'Donoghue would tell children's bedtime stories with increasingly horrific, nightmarish twists. Appearances from Buck Henry, Dick Cavett, Jodie Foster, Ruth Gordon, Senator Julian Bond and Buck Henry with Miskel Spillman.
Consumer Probe December 11, 1976 Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, Candice Bergen In each appearance, the moderator of the show would interrogate toy maker Irwin Mainway, played by Dan Aykroyd, while he defended his company's extremely dangerous products aimed at children, such as "Bag O' Glass" (with Mainway also acknowledging other products in its line, such as "Bag O' Vipers" and "Bag O' Sulfuric Acid"), "Teddy Chainsaw Bear" (a teddy bear with a working chainsaw in its chest), "Johnny Switchblade Adventure Punk" (an action figure with real retractable switchblades), and Halloween costumes such as the "Johnny Combat Action Costume" (which includes a working rifle, and is allegedly popular in Detroit and Texas), "Invisible Pedestrian" (a black, non-reflective uniform), "Johnny Space Commander Mask" (an airtight plastic bag affixed over the head with a rubber band), and "Johnny Human Torch" (an oil-soaked costume that comes with an oversized lighter). The first host of "Consumer Probe" was Candice Bergen (her character had no name), and then in four subsequent episodes, "Consumer Probe" (twice entitled "On The Spot") was hosted by Joan Face. The sketch was named the 8th best sketch in “The 50 Best Sketches of All Time” by nerve.com, the third highest ranking sketch on Saturday Night Live after “Coneheads at Home” and “Samurai Hotel”.[2]
Coneheads January 15, 1977 Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman a family of aliens stranded on Earth. Appearances from Ralph Nader, Steve Martin, Jack Burns, Elliott Gould, Buck Henry, Charles Grodin, Steve Martin, Jill Clayburgh, Richard Dreyfuss, Frank Zappa, Kate Jackson
E. Buzz Miller and Christie Christina January 22, 1977 Dan Aykroyd, Laraine Newman Sleazy public-access television cable TV host E. Buzz Miller (Dan Aykroyd) made crude and lascivious remarks about otherwise commonplace subjects (such as fine art or exercise) to which his ditzy co-host Miss Christie Christina (Laraine Newman) would giggle and make obtuse responses. Christie appeared once outside the cable TV show, in the Season 5, Episode 15 sketch "Assertiveness Training".
Rhonda Weiss January 29, 1977 Gilda Radner A Gilda Radner character from Long Island, coined as the "Jewish-American Princess"
Leonard Pinth-Garnell March 12, 1977 Dan Aykroyd a recurring character. Pinth-Garnell, always clad in a tuxedo and black tie, would lugubriously introduce a short performance of "Bad Conceptual Theater", "Bad Playhouse", "Bad Cinema", "Bad Opera", "Bad Ballet", "Bad Red Chinese Ballet", or "Bad Cabaret for Children", and then exult in its sheer awfulness. Aykroyd played the character nine times from 1977 through 1979, and returned for a single appearance on November 3, 2001, introducing "Bad Conceptual Theater." (The show was hosted at least one time by Laraine Newman as Lady Pinth-Garnell.) Pinth-Garnell was loosely based on the longtime PBS Masterpiece Theatre host Alistair Cooke. Memorable quotations: "Stunningly bad!", "Monumentally ill-advised!", "Perfectly awful!", "Couldn't be worse!", "Exquisitely awful!", "Astonishingly ill-chosen!", "Really bit the big one!", "Unrelentingly bad!", "Rally socks!", "There ... That wasn't so good now, was it?". Appearances:[3] Sissy Spacek, Julian Bond, Shelley Duvall, Madeline Kahn, Mary Kay Place, Jill Clayburgh, Buck Henry, Carrie Fisher, Kate Jackson, Teri Garr, John Goodman
Colleen Fernman April 9, 1977 Gilda Radner
Nick The Lounge Singer April 16, 1977 Bill Murray one of Bill Murray's most popular recurring characters during his tenure on SNL. The character was a typical 1970s lounge singer who sang current songs in a drawn-out, schmaltzy manner, and was typically accompanied by Paul Shaffer on piano. Nick always had a different 'seasonal' last name (i.e. Nick Summers, Nick Springs, etc.) or sometimes a surname more specific to the sketch (for instance, if he were performing at a prison, he would be "Nick Slammer") and, although he would perform at such unfortunate gigs as airport bars and dives, he would always sing his heart out. He would often take the popular songs of the time and change some of the lyrics to suit the occasion or the setting. In between songs, Nick would schmooze and joke with the audience, chiding them in a harmless showbiz fashion. In one episode, he spotted Linda Ronstadt (that episode's musical guest) in the audience and proceeded to sing a very uncomfortable and unamused Ronstadt a medley of her hits until her bodyguard (played by John Belushi) finally punches him. In probably his most famous appearance, he sang the theme from Star Wars, adding his own lyrics ("Star Wars/Nothing but Star Wars/Give me those Star Wars/Don't let them end!") to the famous John Williams piece. Nearly two decades after Nick debuted on SNL, a recurring skit called The Culp Family Musical Performances featuring Will Ferrell and Ana Gasteyer would gain popularity using the same basic format.
Debbie Doody April 16, 1977 Gilda Radner Doody is the widow of Howdy Doody, complete with strings attached to her arms
Shower Mike with Richard Herkiman May 21, 1977 Bill Murray Herkiman, who at first appears to be taking his routine morning shower and imagining he is hosting a TV talk show. It soon becomes apparent that the TV program is real, as his TV "guests" enter the shower with him fully clothed.

1977–1978

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1978–1979

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1979–1980

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1980–1981

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1981–1982

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1982–1983

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1983–1984

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1984–1985

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1985–1986

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1986–1987

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1987–1988

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1988–1989

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1989–1990

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1990–1991

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1991–1992

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1992–1993

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1993–1994

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1994–1995

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1995–1996

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1996–1997

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1997–1998

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1998–1999

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1999–2000

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2000–2001

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2001–2002

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2002–2003

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2003–2004

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2004–2005

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2005–2006

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2006–2007

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2007–2008

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2008–2009

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2009–2010

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2010–2011

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2011–2012

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2012–2013

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2013–2014

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2014–2015

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2015–2016

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2016–2017

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2017–2018

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2018–2019

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2019–2020

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2020–2021

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Title Premiere date Main actor(s) Description
Edith Puthie October 3, 2020 Ego Nwodim An inappropriately-named middle-aged woman (Ego Nwodim) from the "Name Change Office" and "Boomers Got the Vax" sketches.
Dr. Wayne Wenowdis October 10, 2020 Kate McKinnon Weekend Update's resident medical expert (Kate McKinnon) who always replies with "We know dis". The pieces end with McKinnon breaking character to address her anxieties regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
SmokeCheddaDaAssGetta and Nunya Bizness December 12, 2020 Timothee Chalamet, Ego Nwodim White rapper SmokeCheddaDaAssGetta (Timothee Chalamet) appears on Nunya Bizness' (Ego Nwodim) talk show to voice his opinions on hip hop.
The Dionne Warwick Talk Show December 12, 2020 Ego Nwodim, Punkie Johnson, Andrew Dismukes, Melissa Villaseñor, Pete Davidson, Lauren Holt Dionne Warwick (Ego Nwodim) hosts a talk show while showing how out-of-touch she is with modern pop culture (e.g. pronouncing Billie Eilish as "Billie Eyelash").
Wooden Signs February 13, 2021 Aidy Bryant A middle-aged woman receives decorative signs with quotes from her friends and family with progressively more offensive quotes.
Oops, You Did It Again February 20, 2021 Chloe Fineman Britney Spears (Chloe Fineman) hosts a talk show in which she interviews guests that have been victims of cancel culture and gives them a chance to apologize for their prior incidents.
Pauline, a Weary Mother in Her Darkest Hour May 8, 2021 Ego Nwodim A worn-out woman (Ego Nwodim) appears on Weekend Update to lament her experiences as a mother.

2021–2022

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Title Premiere date Main actor(s) Description
Angelo October 16, 2021 Aristotle Athari "International singing sensation" Angelo (Aristotle Athari) performs at an exclusive venue, performing supposedly improvised songs from word prompts given by exasperated audience members.
TikTok December 11, 2021 Aidy Bryant An unseen teenager scrolls through a series of eccentric videos on TikTok to avoid chores.
Trend Forecasters January 29, 2022 Aidy Bryant
Bowen Yang
Two fashionable people (Aidy Bryant and Bowen Yang) report data on which trends are what's in and what's out.
Shoptv April 2, 2022 Mikey Day
Cecily Strong
Heidi Gardner
Two tv shopping network hosts (Mikey Day & Cecily Strong/Heidi Gardner) present a seller (played by the host) with an inappropriate product which results in sexual innuendos and dirty phone calls
Why'd You Do That April 9, 2022 Kenan Thompson
Chloe Fineman
Danny Donnigan (Thompson) hosts a game show where he grills the contestants (consisting of Fineman, one or two other cast members, and the episode's host) on their questionable social media interactions.

2022–2023

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Title Premiere date Main actor(s) Description
Big Dumb Things November 5, 2022 Chloe Fineman
Heidi Gardner
Three Caucasian blonde women (Fineman, Gardener, the episode's host) advertise the latest comically large item that's become popular among their demographic.
Protective Mom February 4, 2023 Pedro Pascal
Marcello Hernandez
Mrs. Flores (Pascal) disapproves of the women her son Luis (Hernandez) dates, and rants about them in Spanish.
Lisa from Temecula February 4, 2023 Ego Nwodim
Punkie Johnson
Bowen Yang
Lisa from Temecula (Nwodim) disrupts her sister's (Johnson) social life.
Garrett from Hinge March 4, 2023 Bowen Yang Garrett (Bowen Yang) interrupts a couple after being stood up by the woman.
Jingle Pitch March 11, 2023 James Austin Johnson
Andrew Dismukes
Bowen Yang
Chloe Fineman
Devon Walker
Two members of Soul Booth (James Austin Johnson, Andrew Dismukes) try to come up with a new jingle for a company.
Couple Goals April 1, 2023 James Austin Johnson Game show about couple goals, where one couple shares very intense theories and thoughts about what would happen to their partner.
Driving Altercations April 1, 2023 Mikey Day Two people (Mikey Day, the episode's host) get into an argument in a driving scenario and use obscene hand gestures to narrate their argument. Also starts Chloe Fineman as an embarrassed daughter.
Crystal April 8, 2023 Heidi Gardner A co-worker who's busy doing absolutely nothing (Heidi Gardner) who appears on Weekend Update.
Recording Session April 15, 2023 Devon Walker
Kenan Thompson
Ego Nwodim
Two female artists (Ego Nwodim, the episode's host) try to record a producer tag for Young Spicy (Devon Walker), but they end up being derogatory.

2023–2024

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Title Premiere date Main actor(s) Description
Secretary October 14, 2023 Heidi Gardner
Bowen Yang
In a 1960s law office, hyper secretary Trudy (Heidi Gardner) is manically predictive.
Dr. Please October 28, 2023 Bowen Yang Oddball Dr. Please (Bowen Yang).
Washington's Dream October 28, 2023 Nate Bargatze
James Austin Johnson
Kenan Thompson
Mikey Day
Bowen Yang
During the Revolutionary War, general George Washington (Bargatze) tells his troops (Johnson, Thompson, Day, Yang) about his dreams for the new nation they are fighting for, which include a vast amount of idiosyncrasies that make little sense to even Americans (e.g., weights and measures, miles vs kilometers, unique spellings of certain English words, etc.).

2024–2025

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Title Premiere date Main actor(s) Description
Bridesmaid Speech October 12, 2024 Heidi Gardner
Ego Nwodim
Sarah Sherman
Chloe Fineman
Andrew Dismukes
Marcello Hernandez
A woman named Kelsey (Fineman) and a man named Matthew (Dismukes) are celebrating an achievement in their relationship when Kelsey's friends (Gardner, Nwodim, Sherman, the episode's host) perform a poorly-sung parody of a popular song that details a trip they took to another state. The song ends up revealing information about Kelsey having an affair with a man named Domingo (Hernandez), who shows up at the end to clarify the revelations to Matthew.

The first installment, which parodied Sabrina Carpenter's song "Espresso," wound up going viral following its initial airing, with the ending segment featuring Hernandez's Domingo character becoming a popular soundbite on TikTok. Hernandez would later make a surprise appearance as Domingo during Carpenter's Los Angeles performance on November 17th, 2024, which was part of her Short n' Sweet Tour, where he served as the recipient of the show's traditional "audience arrest" segment.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Oh Noooooo! It's Mr. Bill's 20th Anniversary (1995)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
  2. ^ "nerve.com®". www.nerve.com. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  3. ^ Characters snl.jt.org [dead link]
  4. ^ Atkinson, Katie (2024-11-18). "Sabrina Carpenter Surprises LA Crowd With Marcello Hernandez as Domingo From Viral 'SNL' Sketch". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-11-18.