We have come to the end of the Best of SNL with top
episodes. There is not much more commentary that is needed, you can scan the
rundowns and see some of the awesome sketches and things that have made their
way onto previous lists. Even though some hosts always knock is out of the park,
only one episode per host. Musical acts are fine, hence three Foo Fighter
episodes. (Spacing of the sketches is based on phone dimensions instead of
computers, in case you were wondering.) Thank you for indulging me with my love
for Saturday Night Live. Enjoy.
30. SEASON 48, EPISODE 16
AIRDATE: April
1, 2023
HOST: Quinta
Brunson
MUSICAL GUEST: Lil
Yachty
RUNDOWN: A
Message from Donald Trump / Monologue praising teachers / Drug Dealers / I Was a
Bridesmaid / Couple Goals gameshow / Traffic Altercation / “the BLACK
Seminole.” / Update – Che’s April Fools Colin, Short Kings, Michelangelo’s
David / Midwife / “drive ME crazy!” /
Bosses / Please Don’t Destroy – Streat Eats
A pretty strong outing for a first-timer.
29. SEASON 22, EPISODE 10
AIRDATE: January
11, 1997
HOST: Kevin
Spacey
MUSICAL GUEST: Beck
RUNDOWN: New
Rating System / Monologue song /
The Late Show / Marijuana Doctor / Star Wars Auditions / Janet Reno’s Dance
Party / Update – Courtney Love / “Where It’s At” / Monkey Lab / The
X-Presidents /
The Joe Pesci Show / Dead Parrot / “Devil’s Haircut” / Home Security
A couple Monty Python actors help out on
this one.
28. SEASON 36, EPISODE 19
AIRDATE: April
9, 2011
HOST: Helen
Mirren
MUSICAL GUEST: Foo
Fighters
RUNDOWN: Presidential
Address / Monologue song /
Mort Mor Feingold / Digital Short – Helen Mirren’s Magical Bosom / Fox &
Friends / Mary Shelley / “Rope” /
Update – James Carville, Jean K Jean / Best of Both Worlds / Crunk-Ass Easter
Festival / The Roosevelts / Perspective Photo Studios / “Walk” / Bongo’s Clown
Room
Helen Mirren is far from prim and proper.
27. SEASON 39, EPISODE 21
AIRDATE: May
17, 2014
HOST: Andy
Samberg
MUSICAL GUEST: St.
Vincent
RUNDOWN: A
Message from Solange & Jay-Z / Monologue impression-off / Camp Wicawabe /
Digital Short – When Will the Bass Drop? / Confident Hunchback / “Digital
Witness” / Update – Get in the Cage, Bruce Chandling / Vogelchecks / Waking Up
with Kimye /
Digital Short – Hugs / Legolas tries to order at Taco Bell / Blizzard Man / “Birth
in Revers” / Porn Starts - Bvlgari
Andy makes a strong return to the stage.
26. SEASON 26, EPISODE 19
AIRDATE: May
12, 2001
HOST: Lara
Flynn Boyle
MUSICAL GUEST: Bon Jovi
RUNDOWN: Vice
Presidential Address / Monologue /
Corn Chip Nail Tips / Physical / Dancer Auditions / MTV Cribs / Save the
Starving Actresses / The Scarlett Letter / “It’s My Life” / Update – Lou Reed /
Moulin Rouge! / MSNBC Investigates / Wake Up Wakefield / A Message from Shaq / “You
Give Love a Bad Name” / Shooters
Great Bon Jovi stuff and first sketch “Physical”
25. SEASON 42, EPISODE 02
AIRDATE: October
8, 2016
HOST: Lin-Manuel
Miranda
MUSICAL GUEST: Twenty
One Pilots
RUNDOWN: Vice
Presidential Debate / Monologue – One Shot / Pine Ridge Campground / Crucible
Cast Party / Substitute Teacher / A Day Off / “Heathens” / Update – Pete Davidson,
Pennsylvania voters / The Music Man / Diego Call His Mom / Stranger Things / “Ride”
/
Melania Moments / A Degree of Valor
Lin-Manuel is so excited to be there.
24. SEASON 44, EPISODE 14
AIRDATE: March
2, 2019
HOST: John
Mulaney
MUSICAL GUEST: Thomas
Rhett
RUNDOWN: Cohen
Hearing / Monologue – standup / What’s That Name / Toilet Death Ejector / Shark
Tank / Chad - The Unknown Caller / Cha Cha Slide / “Look What God Gave Her” /
Update – Smokery Farms / Bodega Bathroom musical / Cinema Classics – To Have
and
Have Not / “Don’t Threaten Me with a Good Time”
All solid sketches, not a fan of the musical act.
23. SEASON 19, EPISODE 02
AIRDATE: October
2, 1993
HOST: Shannen
Doherty
MUSICAL GUEST: Cypress
Hill
RUNDOWN: Scratch
Ticket / Monologue – wedding / Crystal Gravy / The Real World / The Denise Show
/ “Insane in the Brain” / Update – Wacky Sports Bloopers, Ike Turner / Is It
Date Rape? / The Relapse Guy / Dressing Room / Salem Bitch Trials / “I Ain’t
Goin’ Out Like That”/
A Message from Michael Eisner
Lots of Doherty making fun of herself. A good
sport.
22. SEASON 21, EPISODE 18
AIRDATE: April
20, 1996
HOST: Teri
Hatcher
MUSICAL GUEST: Dave
Matthews Band
RUNDOWN: Kaczynski
Defense Team / Monologue – glasses / Old Glory Insurance / Mary Katherine – West
Side Story / Nighttime Music / The Princess and the Homeboy / Cheerleaders –
Math Competition / Update – Greg Norman / “Too Much” / Spade in America /
The Local News / Fuzzy Memories / Rummage Sale /
“So Much to Say” / Petchow
A bunch of commercials and Superman jokes.
21. SEASON 19, EPISODE 05
AIRDATE: October
30, 1993
HOST: Christian
Slater
MUSICAL GUEST: The
Smashing Pumpkins
RUNDOWN: Coffee
Talk / Monologue – trick or treat / Mmmph? / Motivational Speaker / Sassy / “Cherub
Rock” Update – Queen Shenequa, Adam Sandler Halloween Costumes / Teen Band /
Out of Africa / The Vallencourt Boys / “Today” / The Headline Store / Trent
Markham, Lung Doctor
Another great Matt Foley and an appropriate band.
20. SEASON 42, EPISODE 10
AIRDATE: December
17, 2016
HOST: Casey
Affleck
MUSICAL GUEST: Chance
the Rapper
RUNDOWN: Trump
Christmas / Dunkin’ Donuts / Robot Presentation / Jingle Barack / Christmas
Close Encounter / “Finish Line – Drown” / Update – Putin’s best friends, cut
jokes / New York Now / Hillary Actually / “Same Drugs” / Naughty Elves /
Christmas Bar
A solid Christmas ep with Dunkin’ and Hillary
Actually
19. SEASON 47, EPISODE 15
AIRDATE: November
6, 2021
HOST: Kieran
Culkin
MUSICAL GUEST: Ed
Sheeran
RUNDOWN: Justice
with Judge Jeanine / Monologue – want to be lifted / Cancelling Cable / The
Heist / The Dionne Warwick Talk Show / Men’s Room / The Jockey / “Shivers” /
Update – Ice Cube, Goober the Clown / Wake Up Rhode Island / “Overpass Graffiti”
/ Please Don’t Destroy – Calling Angie
Kieran gets his wish to be lifted on shoulders
18. SEASON 29, EPISODE 05
AIRDATE: March
13, 2004
HOST: Ben
Affleck
MUSICAL GUEST: N.E.R.D.
RUNDOWN: Donnie’s
Wedding / Monologue – shirt sale / Z105 / Gigli / Passion of the Dumpty /
Appalachian Emergency Room / Only Bangkok / “She Want to Move” / Update –
Finesse commentary, Diana Ross, Bill Clinton / Top O’ The Morning / Donnie G
and Sidecar / “Maybe” / The Full Moon Killer
Very strong until at least update, lots of
favorites
17. SEASON 35, EPISODE 05
AIRDATE: November
7, 2009
HOST: Taylor
Swift
MUSICAL GUEST: Taylor
Swift
RUNDOWN: End
of an Era / Monologue song / Carter N’ Sons / The View / Digital Short –
Firelight / Hollywood Dish / Teen Raising Awareness About Awful Parent Drivers
/ “You Belong With Me” / Update – Nicholas Fehn, Sarah McLachlan, Really /
Penelope – Wedding Reception / Scared Straight / Roomies / “Untouchable” /
Bunny Business
Taylor shows some good range in this episode.
16. SEASON 39, EPISODE 10
AIRDATE: December
21, 2013
HOST: Jimmy
Fallon
MUSICAL GUEST: Justin
Timberlake
RUNDOWN: Wrappinville
/ Monologue – sing with Paul McCartney / Family Feud / (Do It On My) Twin Bed /
The Barry Gibb Talk Show / “Only When I Walk Away” / Update – Billie Jean King,
Michael Bloomberg / Waking Up With Kimye / Now That’s What I Call Christmas / A
Christmas Carol / Baby It’s Cold Outside / “Pair of Wings”
Don’t know JT’s songs but the sketches rock.
15. SEASON 36, EPISODE 07
AIRDATE: November
20, 2010
HOST: Anne
Hathaway
MUSICAL GUEST: Florence
+ The Machine
RUNDOWN: The
Rachel Maddow Show / Monologue / TSA / The Miley Cyrus Show / Penelope –
Thanksgiving / Royal Engagement / “Dog Days Are Over” / Update – Guy Fieri,
Chris Hunter, Jay Pharaoh raps / The Wizard of Oz / Herb Welch / Mega-Mart /
Camel Tame / “You’ve Got the Love” / Horse Play
Hathaway does a great Katie Holmes and Middleton.
14. SEASON 35, EPISODE 21
AIRDATE: May
8, 2010
HOST: Betty
White
MUSICAL GUEST: Jay-Z
RUNDOWN: The
Lawrence Welk Show / Monologue / MacGruber / Delicious Dish / The Manuel Ortiz Show
/ Gingey / “PSA – 99 Problems – Empire State of Mind” / Update – Whitney Houston,
Sally O’Malley, Really /
Scared Straight / CSI: Sarasota / Digital Short – Thank
You For Being A Friend / “Young Forever” / Census Taker
Fans pushed White to host and she nailed it.
13. SEASON 25, EPISODE 19
AIRDATE: May
13, 2000
HOST: Britney
Spears
MUSICAL GUEST: Britney
Spears
RUNDOWN: Press
Conference / Monologue / Gap Fat / Morning Latte / Boston Teens / Ambiguously
Gay Duo / Woodrow / “Oops!...I Did It Again” / Update – Parnell rap, Angelina
Jolie / Dancer Audition / America’s Worst Moments / Comeback Tour / Uncle
Jemima’s Down
Home Mash Liquor / “Don’t Let Me Be the Last to Know”
Britney’s double duty does not disappoint.
12. SEASON 28, EPISODE 13
AIRDATE: February
22, 2003
HOST: Christopher
Walken
MUSICAL GUEST: Foo
Fighters
RUNDOWN: Hardball
/ Monologue – song / Pranksters / The Continental / Raft Captain /
African-American
Archives / Colonel Angus / Update – Christina Aguilera, Britney & Will
Ferrell / “All My Life” / Cabin Lovers /
“Times Like These” / The Rialto Grande
Minus the last sketch, an almost perfect show.
11. SEASON 35, EPISODE 19
AIRDATE: April
17, 2010
HOST: Ryan
Phillippe
MUSICAL GUEST: Ke$ha
RUNDOWN: Larry
King Live / Monologue / Broadview Security / ESPN Classic / Hip Hop Kids /
Digital Short –Other Man / Mort Mort Feingold / Shake Weight DVD /
“Tik Tok” / Update – James Carville, Anthony Crispino, Father Swimcoach
Scoutmasters / Song Memories /
Teen Talk / “Your Love Is My Drug” / I Got This! / Underground Rock Minute
Great recurring sketches make this one top notch.
10. SEASON 23, EPISODE 02
AIRDATE: October
4, 1997
HOST: Matthew
Perry
MUSICAL GUEST: Oasis
RUNDOWN: Cheerleaders
/ Monologue – fountain dance / Cookie Dough Sport / Jeopardy / Sarcasm 101 /
Ladies’ Man / Space, The Infinite Frontier / Update / “Don’t Go Away” / MTV
News / The Kevin Franklin Show / Friends / The Golords / “Acquiesce” / Good
Morning with Liza / Discovering Faith
My favourite “Friend” kills it and rare Oasis to
boot.
9. SEASON 49, EPISODE 03
AIRDATE: October
28, 2023
HOST: Nate
Bargatze
MUSICAL GUEST: Foo
Fighters
RUNDOWN: Biden
Halloween / Monologue – stand-up / Chef Showdown / A Stab at Love / Washington’s
Dream / Lake Beach / Strike Costumes / “Rescued” / Update – Colin’s agent / Airplane
/ “The Glass” / Please Don’t Destroy – Dawg Food / Memoriam – Matthew Perry
My newest favourite host. Washington’s Dream.
8. SEASON 45, EPISODE 10
AIRDATE: December
21, 2019
HOST: Eddie
Murphy
MUSICAL GUEST: Lizzo
RUNDOWN: Democratic
Debate / Monologue / Mister Robinson’s Neighborhood / Holiday Baking
Championship / Home for the Holidays / The Masked Singer / “Truth Hurts” /
Update – Gumby, Pete Davidson, Jeanine Pirro, Joke Swap / Black Jeopardy / “Good
as Hell” /
North Pole News
A triumphant return for the man who saved SNL.
7. SEASON 16, EPISODE 11
AIRDATE: January
19, 1991
HOST: Sting
MUSICAL GUEST: Sting
RUNDOWN: Wayne’s
World / Monologue / “All This Time” / Hedley and Wyche / Elevator / The Sinatra
Group / Deep Thoughts / Making Copies / Update – Al Franken, In & Out / “Mad
About You” / Dr. Frankenstein / Coffee Talk with Paul Baldwin / First
Impression / “Purple Haze” / Poet
Lots of classics and first time sketches in this
one.
6. SEASON 29, EPISODE 18
AIRDATE: May
1, 2004
HOST: Lindsay
Lohan
MUSICAL GUEST: Usher
RUNDOWN: Preparation
/ Monologue –teen stars / Turlington’s Lower Back Tattoo Remover / Jarret’s
Room / Hogwarts Academy / Riding with Billy Joel / “Yeah” / Update – Jorge Rodriquez
/ Debbie Downer / Club Traxx / Sleepover / “Burn” / 17th Annual
Adult Movie Awards
So many awesome ones and a strong Horatio ep.
5. SEASON 19, EPISODE 11
AIRDATE: January
15, 1994
HOST: Sara
Gilbert
MUSICAL GUEST: Counting
Crows
RUNDOWN: Bobbitt
Trial / Monologue / HiberNol / Roommates / Simon / Gap Girls / “Round Here” /
Update – Norm MacDonald commentary, Sarah Silverman /
Blossom / Lunchlady Land / Family Vacations /
Rob Schneider’s Girlfriend Theatre / “Mr. Jones” /
20 Questions / Apology
Great sketch premises and I love Counting Crows.
4. SEASON 21, EPISODE 20
AIRDATE: May
18, 1996
HOST: Jim
Carrey
MUSICAL GUEST: Soundgarden
RUNDOWN: Nightline
/ Monologue / Cheerleaders / Roxbury Guys / Jacuzzi Lifeguard / Update / “Pretty
Noose” / I’ll See You in Hell / Spade in America /
The Joe Pesci Show / “Burden in my Hand” /
Jimmy Tango’s Fat Busters
Carrey’s first thee sketches are simply amazing.
3. SEASON 36, EPISODE 22
AIRDATE: May
21, 2011
HOST: Justin
Timberlake
MUSICAL GUEST: Lady Gaga
RUNDOWN: Strauss-
Kahn’s Cell / Monologue – “Not Gonna Sing” / Liquorville / Herb Welch / Digital
Short –
3-Way (The Golden Rule) / “Edge of Glory – Judas” / Update – Get in the Cage, Really,
Stefon / What’s That Name / Merryville Love Tunnel / Secret Word /
“Born This Way” / The Barry Gibb Talk Show
Hard to pick one JT ep but this one is near
perfection.
2. SEASON 34, EPISODE 06
AIRDATE: October
25, 2008
HOST: Jon
Hamm
MUSICAL GUEST: Coldplay
RUNDOWN: Biden/Murtha
Rally / Monologue / Trick or Treat / Digital Short / Ras Trent / Two A-Holes /
Barack Obama Variety Half Hour / Don Draper’s Guide to
Picking Up Women / “Viva La Vida” / Update – Nicholas Fehn, Robo-Call / Vincent
Price’s Halloween Special /
Jon Hamm’s John Ham / “Lost!” / Pat Finger / “Yellow”/ “Lovers in Japan”
Lots of Mad Men stuff but also 4 Coldplay
hits.
1. SEASON 31, EPISODE 09
AIRDATE: December
17, 2005
HOST: Jack
Black
MUSICAL GUEST: Neil
Young
RUNDOWN: Santa
Cheney / Monologue – song / Stuart Little Mouse Removal Kit / The Wind /
Appalachian Emergency Room / Christmastime for the Jews / Channel 5 Photo Shoot
/ Digital Short – Lazy Sunday / “It’s a Dream” / Update – Skull Island tourism
/ A Very Downer Christmas / Deserted Moon / Two A-Holes / Spelling Bee / “He
Was the King” / Goodnights on the ice
A legendary Christmas show with multiple classics
