- 6 weeks ago
From stand-up stages to Studio 8H, these impressions sealed the deal! Join us as we count down the most iconic celebrity mimicries that helped comedians land their dream job on Saturday Night Live. These spot-on impressions not only wowed Lorne Michaels during auditions but became fan favorites once they made it to the show!
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00:00Hey, why don't we just do some of our impressions like people like that?
00:02Oh, yeah, yeah, it's a great idea. Okay, what are we gonna do?
00:04Welcome to Ms. Mojo and today we're counting down our picks for the most iconic mimicries on Saturday Night Live that originated during a tryout.
00:13These are impressions that aspiring cast members performed for their auditions and later brought to Studio 8-H.
00:20But what he makes a good point. I like what this guy has to say.
00:26Number 20 Chris Parnell is Tom Brokaw
00:30Before he was on 30 Rock, this famous comedian was at 30 Rock, wowing SNL fans with his repertoire of impressions.
00:38One of his most famous parodies was that of renowned newscaster Tom Brokaw.
00:43This evening on NBC Nightly News, we'll take a look at how the national deficit will impact upon the wealthiest 1%
00:49and on the fleecing of America, a new study that links dyslexia to male pattern baldness.
00:55Parnell whipped out this impression when he was asked to audition for SNL and got the green light, joining the cast in 1998.
01:03They had seen some tape, which I didn't know about. They'd seen me and seen some tape and then I got a call saying they wanted to fly me out for the audition.
01:10Since then, he commendably imitated the NBC legend's authoritative baritone and trademark cadence in several skits.
01:19His impression was instantly recognizable, and he managed to be hilarious without mocking the anchor.
01:26It never failed to give us a good laugh.
01:28Good evening, I'm Tom Brokaw and local news, Cynthia is not in.
01:32However, authorities insist that if you leave your name, number, and a short message, Cynthia will return your call.
01:38More on this important story at 11, which is the freaking local news.
01:41Number 19, Kenan Thompson as Al Sharpton.
01:47No other SNL star has worked on the show longer than the Good Burger actor.
01:52And for the first time in my life, everyone agrees with me.
01:55Folks are high-fiving with me, inviting me places.
01:59This must be what it feels like to be Beyonce.
02:02So how did he bag the gig of his life?
02:05Among other things, Kenan Thompson did a mimicry of Al Sharpton.
02:09Although he admitted that his auditions was, quote, surreal and very stressful, he clearly impressed Lorne Michaels.
02:17Are you serious?
02:18I protect Barack Obama as hard as I can every night from 6 to 7 p.m. on Miss NBC.
02:26Later, Kenan got to bring his impression of the talk show host and activist to multiple episodes of SNL.
02:33One time, he even impersonated the Politics Nation host in front of him and nailed every second of it.
02:40The black vote is crucial this election.
02:42And you've created an algorithm to show where our community is leaning.
02:48That's right.
02:49My algorithm is called the Black Approval Rating Scale.
02:54Number 18, Fred Armisen as Sam Waterston.
02:57During his SNL stint, the Portlandia co-creator became known for playing an array of beloved original characters and delivering the most entertaining celebrity impressions.
03:08You do a killer, Sam Waterston.
03:10It's actually what got you your job on SNL.
03:12That's true.
03:13So I'm going to start with you.
03:14Okay.
03:16Why didn't you call the police?
03:19Why didn't you call 911?
03:22Among them, Armisen's take on Law & Order star Sam Waterston has particularly stuck with fans.
03:30He introduced this parody to Lorne while auditioning for him.
03:34Unlike many other SNL aspirants, he was hardly nervous.
03:38And that confidence must have translated into his act because he made the cut.
03:43How dare you, Amy?
03:45How can you defend that joke?
03:48It's out of order.
03:49And I object.
03:53The Peabody winning comedian then brought the impersonation to a couple of sketches on the show and cracked us up each time.
04:01Testimony.
04:029-1-1.
04:06Number 17, Jimmy Fallon as Adam Sandler.
04:10Doing an impression of the celebrity you're a fan of can go one of two ways.
04:14You either do it better than anyone else or you mess it up because you're too nervous.
04:18Adam Sandler.
04:20Yeah, this one time I was out with some friends on a boat and this guy on the boat was like,
04:25Come to the back of the boat!
04:28Time's up.
04:30Luckily for Jimmy Fallon, his impression of Adam Sandler, whom he admires, kick-started his SNL career.
04:37On his second time auditioning for the show in 1998, he parodied several stars, including the Happy Gilmore actor.
04:44Why don't you go to the store with your mother?
04:47And I would say, I'd say, why don't you shut up?
04:54His version of Adam was so spot on that it was included in a celebrity Jeopardy! sketch that same year.
05:01When Jimmy told Adam he'd been impersonating him on SNL, the older actor asked him to do it for him first and instantly gave him his seal of approval.
05:11Fallon played him again when Sandler hosted in 2019.
05:14How about I sing this Sandler family song I wrote 70 years ago?
05:18No, no, no, no. I don't want to. And nobody wants to hear it.
05:20I just want to. I wouldn't want to do that. That'd be great if I just said, hold on your yarmulke. Here comes the hundred dollars.
05:30Number 16. Daryl Hammond as Bill Clinton.
05:34When it comes to parodying celebrities on SNL, few can rival the range of this actor.
05:39He has over a hundred impressions under his belt.
05:42Good evening. I come before you tonight not to talk about the important business of running the country, but rather to specifically address this huge document.
05:54Among them, he is best known for playing the 42nd president of the United States, Bill Clinton.
06:00It is also the impression he did the most on the show.
06:03After all, his portrayal of the politician is what got him into SNL in the first place.
06:08What? Yeah, I just bit my lip and did the thumb thing. How'd you learn?
06:14Oh, no. No, everything else is great.
06:17He had already auditioned for the show twice and failed both times before a producer discovered his Bill Clinton imitation.
06:24He was called in to audition again, and this time he secured the job.
06:29On the show, Hammond gave audiences his flawless Bill Clinton mimicry over 90 times.
06:34It's so much fun.
06:36Every paper had a picture of me.
06:39Jay Leno was telling all those funny jokes.
06:42I was a real superstar there for a while.
06:45Number 15, Dana Carvey as Robin Williams.
06:49The Master of Disguise star is also the master of impressions.
06:53Dana Carvey's audition for SNL is easily one of the best of all time.
06:58Oh, look, father. A Martian ship.
06:59Oh, look. Oh, coming at you.
07:01Oh, bring us to your leader.
07:02Oh, he's not available.
07:02How about Nancy Reagan?
07:03Oh, yes.
07:05Oh, don't be afraid.
07:06Nail. Nail. Nail.
07:07Oh, look. Telephone.
07:09Oh, Helen Keller.
07:10Wait, I'll try to get him.
07:11An impression he did during the tryout that earned him major laughs was that of Robin Williams.
07:18The two performers had known each other for a while by then,
07:20and Carvey copied the Dead Poets Society star's voice to a T.
07:25I did. Toward the end, I just kept going, picking anything I could have.
07:28And then when you did the Robin Williams, it killed him.
07:29I feel like at that point, you sealed the deal and got the job.
07:32Crazy. For those who are on ESS, this is a frisbee.
07:35Oh, look. The spaceship's coming forward, you know.
07:36When the Oscar-winning actor appeared on SNL in 1988,
07:40the duo even did a sketch together where Dana gave us his take on Williams' celebrated character Mork
07:46from Mork and Mindy.
07:47Needless to say, it was a treat to watch the stars play off each other.
07:51I don't want to give no money to nobody.
07:55Who was that? Who were you just doing?
07:58I was trying to do Dennis Miller, Father. I never could have your...
08:00That's all right, though. You tried, though, boy.
08:03Number 14. Andy Samberg is Alan Rickman.
08:07The Brooklyn Nine-Nine star went through two rounds of auditioning to clinch his spot on SNL.
08:12Well, my name is Hans Gruber, and I sound like this, so my options were limited.
08:22The first time he tried out for the show, he did an impression of Hans Gruber,
08:26the die-hard character played by Alan Rickman.
08:29It did the trick and got him a callback for a second test, which he ultimately passed as well.
08:34The whole impression was just, McClane.
08:39And if you do that and Lorne laughs at that, you're in.
08:42So it only made sense for him to bring back the impression once he had settled in as a cast member.
08:48Viewers got to see Andy's Hans in the 2009 sketch, Bad Guys, Good Conversation, and it was an immediate hit.
08:55What do you guys look for in Significant Others?
08:57Hans.
08:59The opposite of McClane.
09:02Officer John McClane.
09:05Number 13. Taron Killam as Brad Pitt.
09:08The single-parents actor once called trying out for SNL one of the most difficult auditions of his career.
09:15After all, he had to do it three times before he got cast.
09:19In front of Lorne.
09:20Yeah.
09:20Three times in front of Lorne.
09:21Yes.
09:22And how long does this take?
09:23Five minutes?
09:24The actual audition itself?
09:25Yeah, you don't want to go too far past between five and seven minutes.
09:29Across those tests, he presented Lorne with a whole host of impressions, including those of SNL's very own Jimmy Fallon and Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks.
09:39However, it was the Brad Pitt impression he did at the audition that ended up becoming a fan favorite when he brought it over to the show.
09:46You've been running all day.
09:49Sometimes it feels like you've been running your entire life.
09:51Not only did Killam imitate the Fight Club star's facial expressions perfectly, but his delivery was also on point, which made his Brad unforgettable.
10:07It's like pouring a bunch of loose meat and cheese into a bag of Doritos, which, by the way, is a great way to make a quick meal when you have between eight and twenty children.
10:18Number 12.
10:19Bobby Moynihan as Nathan Lane.
10:21Like most people hoping to get into SNL, the Mr. Mayer actor walked into the audition room with a few impressions up his sleeve.
10:29Sorry, Jude. We're just wrapping up here.
10:32Denmark, Denmark! New York, New York!
10:36I'm Hamlet!
10:37Okay, we know.
10:37One of them was a parody of Nathan Lane.
10:41His act was to play on Lane's award-winning turn as pseudolist in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
10:47However, Moynihan wasn't particularly proud of it and even called it, quote, the dumbest joke in the world.
10:54And I sang some song that he was in Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
10:58I did something peculiar, something.
11:01And I was like, something for everyone.
11:02Eat a hamburger tonight!
11:03And that was it.
11:04It was the dumbest joke in the world.
11:06Lauren wasn't laughing?
11:07Well, I think he was laughing at, like, I can't believe you just did that.
11:11After being cast on SNL, he impersonated Lane again a number of times.
11:16Whenever he burst into song with Lane's flair or copied his signature mannerisms, we couldn't help but laugh out loud.
11:23Okay, Mr. Lane, we'll be in touch.
11:26Delightful!
11:28Number 11.
11:29Andy Samberg as Jimmy Fallon.
11:31We know, we know, this is the second time the Lee actor has appeared on this list.
11:37Can you blame us, though?
11:38Andy Samberg's just that good.
11:40For his SNL audition, he played a very specific version of Jimmy Fallon.
11:45Jimmy Fallon at a funeral.
11:47Hey, hey, what's going on, my man?
11:49All right!
11:50Boy, this funeral's so sad, huh?
11:51It's so sad.
11:52Hey, by the way, for the occasion, I got you a sweet gift basket.
11:55It's got, like, four kinds of means.
11:56It's fantastic!
11:57All right!
11:58He apparently picked it because of the contrast between the solemnity of the situation and Jimmy's perpetual liveliness.
12:05Interestingly, it was Jimmy who connected Andy to Lorne Michaels, helping him get his foot in the Studio 8H door.
12:12And I was doing his stuff.
12:13Yeah.
12:14So I was like, oh my god, Batman, we gotta go, you know.
12:16Yeah, yeah, yeah.
12:17He was like, who's this kid?
12:19So he recommended us to Lorne and to the show.
12:22In a full circle moment, when Fallon returned to SNL as a host in 2011, he starred in the same sketch as Andy, with the B99 star playing his mirror image.
12:32The pair matched each other's energy and gave us comedy gold.
12:36What's the deal with Go-Gurt?
12:38Where's Yogurt gotta go all of a sudden?
12:40Come on!
12:40Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah, okay.
12:43What's the deal with Go-Gurt?
12:46No, no, don't do that one.
12:47Number 10.
12:48Seth Meyers as Hugh Grant.
12:50What a marvelous night.
12:52Don't you think, Hugh?
12:53Oh, indeed.
12:54I, you know, just, I, you know, wouldn't be a...
12:58Not known for his impressions, Seth Meyers still utilized them during his audition.
13:04This included a take on a famous British actor.
13:07Before he became a Weekend Update anchor, Meyers played Hugh Grant in the early 2000s.
13:12He got a decent amount of laughs for his accent and timing.
13:16Gwynny, Gwynny, are you alright?
13:21Opposite Gwyneth Paltrow, the performer showed that he clearly had promise as a sketch player.
13:26He also knows how to make the bumbling rom-com star relatable and hilarious.
13:31While he might have turned into a desk anchor, the comedian might have more hidden talents than you'd think.
13:37A lot of people have been asking me, you know, Hugh, why is it that you, you know, sort of can't, you know, get to the end of a sentence?
13:43Number 9.
13:44Vanessa Bayer as Miley Cyrus.
13:47I got guests and a show, and I'm ready to go, so I guess that's pretty cool.
13:56Leaning heavy on an accent, Vanessa Bayer stood out on the show for her Miley Cyrus impression.
14:02She came to her audition ready to make fun of the TV actress and singer.
14:06Once she made it on the show, Bayer turned her impersonation into a long-running sketch.
14:12Do you, Liam Hemsworth, take this woman to be your wife?
14:16I do.
14:17And do you, Miley Cyrus?
14:19Oh.
14:20My.
14:20God.
14:21This is, like, so exciting, because, like, my dress matches my hair, and, like, it's a secret wedding except for the cameras and pictures and stuff like that,
14:28and, like, every kiss begins to pay, and I'm, like, so emotional that I could cry.
14:36The cast member transformed the entertainer into a talk show host.
14:40Both singing and talking, the comedian banters with Jason Sudeikis' Billy Ray Cyrus.
14:45She even interviewed the pop star while the latter played Justin Bieber.
14:50Without missing a beat, she keeps the energy up alongside major co-stars.
14:54So, how do you like the show so far, Justin?
14:58It's okay.
15:00Wouldn't you say it's pretty cool?
15:02No, actually, I wouldn't say that.
15:07Number eight.
15:08Daryl Hammond as Phil Donahue.
15:10He's got his remote control, and he's watching Sally Jessie Raphael, and Jerry Springer, and Richard Bay, and Jenny Jones,
15:19and, I mean, Hard Copy, and Current Affair, and American Gladiators, and Charlie's Angels, Bionic Woman, and, you know.
15:28During his lengthy tenure on SNL, Daryl Hammond gave some of the most pinpoint impressions ever.
15:34He might be best known for his Sean Connery, but he can also do Phil Donahue.
15:40His audition included the talk show host and figures like Bill Clinton.
15:44The presenter's speech patterns couldn't be closer, adding to a great appearance on Celebrity Jeopardy.
15:50Little Bobby and little Susie have hung their stockings with care.
15:58Mom and Dad are out looking for Tickle Me Elmo till 5 a.m., and all of a sudden, Bobby looks up and he says,
16:08Hey, who is this?
16:11For those that remember the Donahue program, this impersonation will work even better.
16:17This particular version deserves mention alongside the Impressionist's finest characters.
16:22He eventually played the TV personality six times as a Saturday Night Live cast member.
16:28Phil Donahue, that snooty, peacenek intellectual.
16:31Nobody thinks that.
16:32And Michael Moore, the scruffy, unwashed, sweaty, overweight, rabble-rouser.
16:40I mean, people just don't like us, Mike.
16:43Number 7. Kate McKinnon as Penelope Cruz.
16:47Here comes your co-star, this is Miss Penelope Cruz.
16:49Hello, hello. Thank you for having me. I'm Penelope Cruz.
16:52I'm ready to film the commercial, okay?
16:55Okay. And action.
16:57No, no, hold on, hold on, Penelope.
16:59No.
16:59Not quite yet.
17:00As one of the more versatile performers of her time,
17:04Kate McKinnon developed all kinds of political and celebrity impressions.
17:08She also brought a funny idea to her audition.
17:11Playing Penelope Cruz, McKinnon put the Spanish actress in a fake commercial.
17:16The concept was good enough to make it on the show.
17:19When Sofia Vergara hosted, SNL cast the modern family lead next to this Cruz impression.
17:25The unlikely pair mispronounce ingredients in a silly ad parody.
17:29So it's got everything our hair needs, like aloe.
17:34But without the things it doesn't need, like ammonium rose sulfate,
17:39alkyl-bentine fosinate, selenium sulfide, and tea dujon-D.
17:46And we like that.
17:48And cut!
17:49And cut!
17:50There's elements of the performance that could be considered accurate,
17:54with little nuances for fans of the star's career.
17:57The performer knows how to blend both physical and verbal comedy into one great piece of work.
18:02Refrigerator!
18:05No!
18:07No, sweetie, listen to me.
18:09It's not refrigerator, okay?
18:10Say it with me.
18:11Fido?
18:12Fido.
18:13Good.
18:13Morpho?
18:14Morpho!
18:15Genesis?
18:16Jeffrey G.
18:17No.
18:19Number six.
18:20Anna Gestire as Martha Stewart.
18:22In keeping with that tradition, I'll be joined tomorrow on Living by my mother.
18:28Get your bangs out of your eyes.
18:31We'll reveal some of the Stewart family's time-honored Turkey Day secrets.
18:35The hell we will.
18:36Cool it.
18:38Not only was this comedian prepared to do the show,
18:41she also had this impression ready to go.
18:44Anna Gestire seemed destined to play Martha Stewart.
18:48Her audition even included her wearing a wig,
18:51bringing even more authenticity to the part.
18:54Join us this week on Living when we make ice from water.
18:58When she was cast, Gestire made the role one of her signatures.
19:02She's especially skilled at channeling the TV host's laid-back personality.
19:07Through holiday guides, the performer keeps Stewart even-keeled through the likes of a Halloween surprise.
19:14She makes the part her own to such a degree that you wouldn't want anybody else doing it.
19:19Toilet paper has become a staple of the Halloween prankster's toolkit.
19:23I'll show you how to design, plan, and implement a TP job that is both visually stunning and full of mischievous good cheer.
19:32Number five, Jay Pharoah as Denzel Washington.
19:41All right, my baby.
19:43What's going on?
19:44So, Denzel, are you excited for the Twilight finale?
19:49Am I excited for the Twilight finale?
19:51Have you read the books?
19:53She's asking, have I read the books?
19:56Are you just going to repeat whatever I say?
19:58With an underrated run on SNL, Jay Pharoah should be considered among the better impressionists of his era.
20:05His Denzel Washington is one highlight among many other impersonations.
20:10You check your side view mirrors, you check your front mirrors, you check that mirror, okay, now what you gonna do?
20:14Capturing the performer's intensity, Pharoah locks into his performance.
20:19His ability to channel Washington's training day persona is unmatched.
20:24While he performed this in his role in his audition, he later stole sketches with this intensity.
20:30He can make action movie parodies of Unstoppable even more exciting with his delivery.
20:35When we met, we focused on our differences.
20:38But now it appears we have more in common than we thought.
20:40Nah, what did you want to say?
20:42A nursing home shuttle bus got stuck on the track.
20:44Boom!
20:46For anyone that loves the Oscar-winning actor, you'll enjoy hearing this salute to one of the Hollywood greats.
20:52Let me ask you a question, huh?
20:54Are you a sheep or a wolf?
20:56Huh?
20:56Wolf or a sheep?
20:57Answer the question, are you a shark or a turkey?
20:58It's a simple question, are you a corpus or a mawool?
21:02Number 4.
21:03Jimmy Fallon as Jerry Seinfeld.
21:05Former television star Jerry Seinfeld.
21:08Okay, thanks Colin, thanks a lot buddy.
21:12For his successful audition, Jimmy Fallon found a way to make the tough audience laugh.
21:18He also brought out an impression of Jerry Seinfeld.
21:21Fallon knew how to recreate the stand-up comedian's rhythms.
21:25He even did the performance opposite the actual guy.
21:28On a weekend update feature, Seinfeld sat next to the cast member and reacted in real time.
21:34It's amazing to watch a performer do one of his original impressions in a funny sketch.
21:39Jerry, what are you talking about?
21:40I love the Gap!
21:42It's like going into your closet, except there's a guy in there.
21:47Hey buddy, pocket T?
21:49Really?
21:49Thanks Gap!
21:50What?
21:50You'll refold it?
21:51This place is great!
21:54The impersonation explores the reality underneath all of the exaggeration.
21:59Proving his talent for mimicry, the Tonight Show host was clearly destined to work on SNL.
22:04Number 3, Bill Hader as Al Pacino.
22:08I'm no expert here, but I think you're trying to put a door where a window's supposed to be.
22:13Anderson, we are building a new house in the new New Orleans.
22:18We'll put the doors wherever we want.
22:19In the 2000s and 2010s, Bill Hader was a clear standout on Saturday Night Live.
22:27The cast member unleashed a number of impressions at his audition.
22:30On the show, he brought out one of those great efforts to wow audiences.
22:35Big Ben!
22:36Charlie.
22:37You look like ***.
22:39You smell like ***.
22:40But you're my friend, Big Ben.
22:42The performer did an accurate impression of the Oscar winner in his older years.
22:46With a trademark growl and deeper sound, the comedian appeared as the Scarface star on his first episode.
22:53Oh, there's a shih tzu stuck in a Spanish oak tree.
23:00I go to save that door.
23:05Playing Pacino several times, Hader arguably made it one of his best characters.
23:11He would even return as a host to play the legend.
23:13With multiple appearances, we wish that the SNL favorite got more chances to play the film icon.
23:20All right, Pacino.
23:21Your turn.
23:21Ten seconds on the clock.
23:23Finish this quote, my friend.
23:24Frankly, my dear, I don't give a...
23:26Prostitute my home address.
23:30Number two.
23:31Will Ferrell as Harry Carey.
23:33Hey, what if...
23:34Hey!
23:38Hey!
23:39If I was a scientist, you know what I would clone?
23:43Hot dogs.
23:45Really?
23:46Only this comedian could have turned this sportscaster into a comedic icon.
23:51Will Ferrell brought his Harry Carey impression to his audition, fully prepared with the voice.
23:56It translated well to Ferrell's early appearance on Weekend Update.
24:00The impersonation also worked in a more absurd talk show format.
24:04Hey!
24:05Now, kid, we all know that the moon is not made of green cheese.
24:11Yes, that's true, Harry.
24:13But...
24:13But what if it were made of barbecue spare ribs?
24:16Would you eat it then?
24:18What?
24:19I know I would.
24:20Heck, I'd have seconds.
24:22His version of Carey became more ridiculous with time,
24:25turning into a man that loves to talk science and ask odd questions.
24:29That's why they use sleep deprivation as a form of torture.
24:38With the hair and glasses, the comedian provided plenty of details for audiences to love.
24:44The skits veered far from the original target,
24:46but it became all the more entertaining each time.
24:50Let's not get caught up in a semantics argument, Seth.
24:55The fact is, it's great.
24:56Well, that's good.
24:58I'm glad to hear it.
24:59Hey!
25:01Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel
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25:17Number 1.
25:18Dana Carvey as Jimmy Stewart.
25:20He certainly ranks high among SNL impressionists,
25:35but this one deserves even more attention.
25:38Dana Carvey makes a Jimmy Stewart impression seem easy.
25:41He brought several impersonations to his audition,
25:44but this one could easily be called one of his finest.
25:47Carvey finally utilized the voice when he was on the show.
25:51During a sketch parody of It's a Wonderful Life,
25:54the comedian nearly transformed into the actor.
25:57You're nothing but a starving little spider.
26:03It might be slightly exaggerated,
26:05but it finds a way to blend the cadence and tone of the Hollywood legend.
26:10Which SNL cast member, past or present, do you think had the best audition?
26:13Tell us in the comments.
26:15I just did like the, you know, the goofy, like,
26:18and you go, all right, that's good.
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