Tag: Tina Fey

The Top 50 SNL Cast Members of All Time: Number 10 – Norm MacDonald

My top 50 list of SNL cast members has been populated with numerous performers who sat behind the iconic Weekend Update desk: Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Dan Aykroyd, Dennis Miller, Kevin Nealon, Tina Fey, Jimmy Fallon, Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers, Colin Jost, and Michael Che. As we enter the top 10 of this countdown, we arrive at the final Update anchor. That means it’s the one I thought did it the best and that is Norm MacDonald.

The Canadian stand-up brought his flawless timing and devil may care attitude to the news desk. It could rightly be said that his Update was the last time SNL felt a little dangerous and that’s thanks to him and Jim Downey, his legendary Update cowriting partner.

No one could deliver a joke quite like Norm. Like Johnny Carson, you often laughed harder when they didn’t land due to his reaction. MacDonald’s relentless mocking of O.J. Simpson during his murder trial infuriated NBC exec Don Ohlmeyer, who was a friend of the disgraced football star. In fact, it is allegedly what got him fired from Update (a colossal error in judgment).

Norm’s contributions to SNL went beyond the signature segment airing after the musical guest’s first song. He had great impressions of Larry King and Senator Bob Dole and delivered a rather biting take on David Letterman, his comedic idol. Then, of course, there’s his 70s era Burt Reynolds who would appear on Celebrity Jeopardy.

You could spend hours going down a YouTube rabbit hole watching Norm be hilarious and I certainly have. Most of his couch work on Conan O’Brien’s shows will split your sides. The late great MacDonald did the same on SNL. #9 will be up soon!

Norm MacDonald

Years on the Show: 1993-98

The Top 50 SNL Cast Members of All Time: Number 12 – Tina Fey

Tina Fey has established herself as one of the 21st century’s preeminent comedic writers and performers by creating 30 Rock, Mean Girls, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. The Second City alum’s storied career took flight with nine years as head writer on Saturday Night Live during a fruitful period.

It was partly her sharp writing that turned Weekend Update into a must-watch experience after a dull couple of seasons with Colin Quinn (a talented performer who never nailed the Update desk). Her six seasons as a cast member was mostly at Update with Jimmy Fallon as her cohost and then Amy Poehler. Both pairings spun comedic gold.

Two years after her departure, she would make one of the most triumphant returns in the program’s history when fate gave her Sarah Palin as the VP candidate in 2008. It resulted in gigantic ratings and an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. There’s simply no doubt that Fey is one of the most important figures in the show’s near half century. She might be on the SNL Mount Rushmore of all contributors when factoring in her behind the scenes contributions. Her on camera work nearly puts her in the top 10 and #11 will be up soon!

Tina Fey

Years on the Show: 2000-06

The Top 50 SNL Cast Members of All Time: Number 14 – Chevy Chase

Coming from the National Lampoon Radio Hour like his costars John Belushi and Gilda Radner and his eventual replacement Bill Murray, Chevy Chase was the original breakout sensation on Saturday Night Live. He was the first person to say “Live from New York, It’s Saturday Night!”. The future star of comedy classics including Caddyshack, Vacation, and Fletch also was the initial anchor giving us the fake news on Weekend Update. And there’s that iconic Landshark sketch. And another with Richard Pryor. And his bumbling Gerald Ford which kickstarted 50 years of unforgettable POTUS impersonations.

With his opener “I’m Chevy Chase and you’re not”, it helped millions of viewers learn his name and brilliant deadpan delivery immediately. Chase’s quick rise to fame kept him on the show just a handful of episodes into season #2. Yet if it not for him, the Norms and Tinas, Colins and Michaels, Jimmys and Seths wouldn’t have followed. #13 will be up soon!

The Top 50 SNL Cast Members of All Time: Number 23 – Amy Poehler

Amy Poehler really (?!?!) pops up in 23rd for my all-time 50 SNLers countdown as the Upright Citizens Brigade alum wasted no time making her mark on the show. Highlights include plenty of material with Tina Fey and Maya Rudolph (particularly Bronx Beat) during a golden age of female cast members. Poehler replaced Jimmy Fallon as Fey’s Weekend Update coanchor in her fourth year. After Fey departed, she would handle Update duties with Seth Meyers that spawned the Really!?!? bits.

There was one-legged Amber and her take on Dakota Fanning hosting a chat program where she was hilariously condescending. She would famously play Hillary Clinton to Fey’s Sarah Palin shortly after both had departed the regular cast and just as Parks and Recreation was readying its run. #22 will be up soon!

Amy Poehler

Years on the Show: 2001-08

The Top 50 SNL Cast Members of All Time: Number 24 – Jimmy Fallon

Prior to taking over the Late Night and Tonight Show franchises, it was on SNL that Jimmy Fallon honed his skills. The Groundlings alum quickly established himself as a crowd favorite in a fertile era for the show with terrific impressions of Jerry Seinfeld, Robert De Niro, Regis Philbin, Mick Jagger, and even former SNL cast members Adam Sandler and Chris Rock. His talents perhaps shone brightest on The Barry Gibb Show portraying a mentally unbalanced version of The Bee Gees frontman alongside his brother Robin (Justin Timberlake), who never had anything to add.

Nearly halfway into his run, Fallon nabbed the Weekend Update desk spot alongside Tina Fey. It made for one of the strongest duos to deliver the fake news. Along the way, the future talk show host tried his best not to break during classic sketches such as “More Cowbell” and Debbie Downer’s visit to Disney. #23 will be up soon!

Jimmy Fallon

Years on the Show: 1998-2004

The Top 50 SNL Cast Members of All Time: Number 31 – Seth Meyers

For 13 years, Seth Meyers served different roles on Saturday Night Live. During the first five, he was a regular featured player and while solid, he would not have made this list if not for his ascension to the Weekend Update chair in 2006 alongside Amy Poehler. They’re “Really!?!” segments were a particular highlight. Meyers would get the Update segment to himself beginning 2008. That was a year in which, as head writer, he was penning Tina Fey’s iconic bits as VP candidate Sarah Palin. He would go onto become the apple of legendary Stefon’s idea by way of Bill Hader’s legendary creation.

His Update duties (with a brief late period where Cecily Strong joined as coanchor) and SNL tenure lasted until 2014 when Meyers left to take over NBC’s 12:30pm Late Night franchise. He would succeed two other notable show vets in writer Conan O’Brien and cast member Jimmy Fallon. Like those two, Meyers is in among the pantheon of SNL’s finest. #30 will be up soon!

Seth Meyers

Years on the Show: 2001-14

The Top 50 SNL Cast Members of All Time: Number 38 – Rachel Dratch

For my #38 entry on the Top 50 SNL Cast Members of All Time, let’s give it up for Rachel Dratch! The Massachusetts native came up at Second City in Chicago alongside Tina Fey before being cast on the legendary sketch show.

Appearing during one of the show’s peak eras, noteworthy impressions included Calista Flockhart and Arianna Huffington. Her upbringing came into play with Boston teen Denise while her “Love-ahs” sketches with Will Ferrell were a bizarre highlight.

Yet any SNL fan knows Dratch’s signature contribution was the brilliant Debbie Downer that resulted in one of the all-time character breaking segments in history. When it comes to characters that have stayed in the consciousness of the public, it’s way up there. #37 will be up soon!

Rachel Dratch

Years on the Show: 1999-2006

The Top 50 SNL Cast Members of All Time: Number 46 – Jane Curtin

Saturday Night Live officially turns 49 years old today and Jason Reitman’s critically appreciated Saturday Night is out in wide release for the occasion. It recounts the 90 hectic minutes leading up to the iconic show’s premiere. Jane Curtin was there for it. She’s the first original Not Ready for Prime Time Player to make this list. As I wrote in my prelude to these posts, not all of them are included in the top 50 (Laraine Newman, Garrett Morris).

Curtin was more of the straight (wo)man in the program’s early years. She got to stretch every once in a while including as Prymaat Conehead alongside Dan Aykroyd in those bits. Yet it was as one half of the Weekend Update team with Aykroyd and then Bill Murray where she paved the way for future stars like Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Some of her cast mates will be showcased later, but Curtin earns placement for her contributions. #45 will be up soon!

Jane Curtin

Years on the Show: 1975-1980

The Top 50 SNL Cast Members of All Time: Number 50 – Chris Parnell

My Top 50 countdown of SNL cast members begins with a glue guy who was present in one of the show’s finest eras. That would be Chris Parnell. Whether rapping about Jennifer Garner or Britney Spears or rapping alongside Andy Samberg in the iconic “Lazy Sunday” short or lead singing beside a cow-belling Will Ferrell, Parnell was always a welcome presence on the show.

A utility player who would also provide hilarious moments on Tina Fey’s 30 Rock, Parnell kicks off the list and #49 is coming your way shortly!

Chris Parnell

Years on the Show: 1998-2006

If you missed my prelude mentioning cast members who just missed the cut, you can find it here:

The Top 50 SNL Cast Members of All Time: A Prelude

Oscar Predictions: Mean Girls

Mean Girls, out tomorrow, is based on the Broadway musical based on a movie that’s originally based on a book. In that sense, it’s much like current Oscar contender The Color Purple. Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr. make their directorial debut with Tina Fey returning to costar and write the screenplay. The cast includes Angourie Rice, Reneé Rapp, Auli’i Cravalho, Christopher Briney, Jenna Fischer, Busy Philips, Tim Meadows, Jon Hamm, and Ashley Park.

The 2004 pic was a box office and critical success (84% RT) that has endured over the past two decades. Reviews for this aren’t as strong, but they’re decent at 71% on the Tomato meter.

Original Song is the only race where this stands any chance at Academy recognition. I doubt the memory of this version will endure long enough for voters to remember them. Since it’s a musical, the Globes could honor it in Musical/Comedy, but the same logic applies there. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…