From spot-on political parodies to hilariously exaggerated celebrity portrayals, SNL has given us some unforgettable impressions. Join us as we explore the most accurate and the most side-splitting impersonations that have graced the Studio 8H stage. Which ones had you in stitches? Let us know in the comments!
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00:00You gotta hit them with a, no joke, here's a deal. Let me be clear.
00:06Welcome to Ms. Mojo and today we're counting down our picks for five of the most accurate
00:12impersonations on SNL and five that were just plain entertaining.
00:17And don't even get me started on her shoes because these babies are real head turner.
00:25Number five. Accurate. Darryl Hammond as Bill Clinton.
00:31The president of the United States, played by Jane Hackman,
00:34is having a rendezvous with his mistress at the home of her wealthy husband. So far, so good.
00:42As one of the most talented impressionists in SNL history,
00:46Darryl Hammond gave his all to many political roles. This included his exceptional take on
00:52Bill Clinton. The comedian finds the former president's voice and mannerisms,
00:57letting subtle movements influence funny scenes.
01:00This includes biting his lip and using his thumb to great effect.
01:09What? Yeah, I just bit my lip and did the thumb thing. How'd you like that?
01:14Following Phil Hartman's fun impression, Hammond proves himself with a precise
01:19performance of the political leader. He also works well with all of the comedic situations
01:24that surrounded Clinton's presidency. Even when he's talking with Monica Lewinsky or
01:30Saddam Hussein, this version of the character remains an accurate parody of the man.
01:36Just hold on a second. I got another call coming in. Hello? Hey. Hey, Monica.
01:43I was just gonna call you.
01:50Number 5. Hilarious. Andy Samberg as Nicolas Cage.
01:55So, uh, what have you been up to, Nick? Oh, well, it's been a big year for me.
02:00I hit 50 on January 7th. Wow, is that right? Wow, I can't believe you're 50 years old.
02:06No, I mean, I did 50 movies between New Year's and January 7th.
02:10This actor may or may not be known for his bold choices in a storied career.
02:15Andy Samberg takes this as inspiration and then pushes it to the limit,
02:20playing Nicolas Cage in a Weekend Update skit that lampoons the star.
02:24Look, you're a sweet kid, Leslie Nielsen.
02:29But you lack the key qualities of a true movie star. Namely, the skin of a sun-dried gremlin
02:36with the oaky tan and chaotic hairline of a Puerto Rican Beetlejuice.
02:42This wacky segment lets Samberg's impression make fun of the target's career,
02:47voice, and even his hairline. It's such an over-the-top impersonation that the idea
02:52attracted Cage himself. Appearing alongside the comedian, the real guy was inspired to
02:57poke at his own persona and the cast member's outrageous performance.
03:02Science has prevailed and I'm proud to announce that my cloning experiment
03:07has finally come to fruition. I'm sorry, cloning experiment?
03:12Well, that's exactly right, Seth. I am his clone.
03:15Oh.
03:15The SNL cast member employs movie references and some comic exaggeration
03:21to help get the point across.
03:23Everything in the movie is on fire.
03:28I have to say, it sounds great.
03:30Hey, you mind your manners, Hairtail!
03:32Let's just calm down, Nicholas.
03:34Number 4. Accurate. Martin Short as Larry David.
03:38It's not a whole Christmas thing. It's a whole to-do, you know, with the parties
03:42and the presents and the decorating. Eh, it's not for me.
03:45In this parody of a Charlie Brown story, SNL casts Larry David as Linus. Martin Short assumes
03:52the role with the believability of a true master. He finds a way into the curmudgeonly personality,
03:58getting laughs while fighting with the Al Pacino remix of Brown.
04:02Oh, so, so, so, so I'm just supposed to accept what you say?
04:06You know what? You don't know what the hell you're talking about.
04:08It's an absurd concept grounded by Short's ability to mimic the comedian's voice and
04:14cadence. Seeing the man in such a childlike environment only adds to the hilarity.
04:19You even get to see this version of David bleeped out in a tense conversation.
04:24There's also a catchphrase to end it all, adding to this hilarious performance.
04:36Number 4. Hilarious. Melissa McCarthy as Sean Spicer.
04:41Settle down! Before we begin, I know that myself and the press have gotten off to a rocky start.
04:53Sometimes you have to hand it to SNL for their unlikely casting decisions.
04:57The former White House press secretary does not share any notable resemblance or personality
05:02traits with Melissa McCarthy. The film actress does make this a memorable portrayal, however,
05:08choosing to turn the character into a comic fireball.
05:11When it comes to these decisions, the Constitution gives our president
05:17lots of power, and Steve Bannon is the key advisor. Okay? And our president will not be deterred.
05:32This Sean Spicer impression becomes an easily annoyed man fighting with reporters about
05:37anything and everything. This includes some fun prop comedy and some physical
05:42confrontations with the press corps. McCarthy makes use of the space,
05:46playing comedic rage in a wild interpretation of the actual person.
05:51If the appeals court won't do what's right, President Trump will see them in court,
05:56specifically the people's court. That isn't real.
06:00No, that isn't real. I'm Glenn, and I'm not real. It is real, Glenn.
06:14Well, folks, it happened. I got indicted, or as I spell it, indicated.
06:20And frankly, it's time that I come clean, admit that I broke the law, and go quietly to prison.
06:28April fools!
06:30Of all the people who played Donald Trump on SNL,
06:34James Austin Johnson might have the closest impression of them all. He's able to tune into
06:39the politician's speech patterns, turning a recognizable voice into several meandering rants.
06:45Easter is time for basket. It's time for bunny, and frankly, bonnet, okay? And let's not forget,
06:53let's not forget egg. You have Easter egg, Cadbury egg, and my favorite, Reese's egg.
07:00Johnson doesn't need to yell and scream to transform either. The comedian can reproduce
07:06small details about the president, stealing away sketches with an eccentric delivery.
07:10His Trump keeps the audience on their toes, bringing up random topics and references
07:16at lightning pace. The cast member didn't take long to establish himself as a vital
07:20asset with this impersonation. I'm not afraid to testify at all. I'm just not going to out of fear.
07:30You see, they do a terrible thing when you testify, which is,
07:33they write it down, and we don't like that. Uh-oh, that was a juror. Did you see her face?
07:39Number three, hilarious. Chevy Chase as Gerald Ford.
07:44If you know Gerald Ford, you know he looks nothing like Chevy Chase. This didn't stop
07:51the original cast member from delivering a funny impression. Chase decided to avoid any kind of
07:57vocal change or prosthetics, opting to create the clumsiest character ever instead. The
08:02impersonation focused on physical gags that put the performer at risk. Now for my second announcement.
08:14Live from New York, it's Saturday night!
08:18Unafraid to make a fool of himself, the comedian played a version of Ford that makes falling an
08:23art form. You can see the Ford popularity is certainly on a sharp rise here. Whereas the...
08:37This comical take on the president often fumbled over simple lines or with various props.
08:42Chase became a star because of work like this, revealing his knack for comic timing.
08:59Number two, accurate. Maya Rudolph as Kamala Harris.
09:03I'm not gonna worry about the polling numbers. I'm just gonna have fun and see if I can get
09:08some viral moments. Mama needs a jiff. For the 2020 election cycle, Maya Rudolph
09:16stepped up to become then-senator Kamala Harris. Her debut as the character captured the spirit of
09:22the politician and featured multiple gags about social media. Rudolph then came back to play the
09:28vice president and presidential candidate, reminding everyone of her sketch comedy skills.
09:33The American people want to stop the chaos and end the dramala
09:40with a cool new stepmama. Kick back in our pajamas and watch a rom-kamala.
09:48The performer disappears into the political leader at both campaign events and opposite
09:53Andy Samberg's Doug Emhoff. She perfected the voice and delivery of the real woman,
09:58making great strides with every new appearance. Her work with other talented comedians like Dana
10:04Carvey allowed her to shine with awesome scene partners. You know what, Doug? You were right.
10:09Let's watch something more fun. Oh, like a rerun of my debate. Remember when I said his crowds were
10:14tiny and I broke his brain? Number two, hilarious. Gilda Radner as Barbara Walters. You refer to
10:22yourself as a gunswinger, sort of a lone wanger of foreign policy. As a member of the first SNL
10:30cast, Gilda Radner burned bright through her impressions and original parts. Her memorable
10:35take on Barbara Walters, Baba Wawa, interviews notable figures with a notable twist. The
10:41sketches also include comic swipes at the real woman's voice. It's so silly that it transcends
10:46reality at several points, making you question what the character says half the time. This
10:52only becomes more hilarious as Radner's impersonation goes up against the likes of
10:56Madeline Kahn's Marlena Dietrich. Marlena, what is it like to be a living legend?
11:03It has been a wooly witch experience.
11:07I'm so impressed. You're so wide and swender. How do you stay so swim?
11:12With her lovable presence coming through, the cast member uses her every line of dialogue
11:18to create an eccentric version of the journalist.
11:21I want to take this opportunity to apologize to NBC. I don't like weaving. Please trust me,
11:27it's not sour grapes, but rather that another network recognizes in me a great talent for
11:34delivering relevant news stories with crystal clarity to millions of Americans.
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11:57Number one, accurate. Tina Fey as Sarah Palin.
12:01I believe that diplomacy should be the cornerstone of any foreign policy.
12:07And I can see Russia from my house.
12:09Some roles on SNL are just meant to be. This one seemed as if the stars aligned for Tina Fey.
12:14Returning to the show as a guest actress, the comedian gave one of the definitive
12:18impersonations of Sarah Palin. The performer's hair, glasses, and vocal work all add up to a
12:24near-perfect impression.
12:26We're gonna promote freedom, usher in democratic values and ideals,
12:30and fight terror-loving terrorists.
12:33But again, and not to belabor the point, one specific thing.
12:48Katie, I'd like to use one of my lifelines.
12:50Fey conquers sketches by almost entering into a trance,
12:54mimicking the governor's accent and personality.
12:58It's a wonder to watch the former cast member command scenes with her fantastic performance.
13:02Working alongside people like Amy Poehler, she gives a tremendous performance that's
13:07nothing short of accurate and hilarious.
13:10I would now like to give each of you a chance to make a closing statement.
13:15Or are we not doing the talent portion?
13:17No!
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13:32Number 1.
13:34Hilarious.
13:35Daryl Hammond as Sean Connery.
13:37We would have accepted Bow Wow or Ruff.
13:41Oh, Ruff.
13:42Just the way your mother likes it, Travon.
13:45This performer can serve up an accurate impersonation.
13:48He can also have fun with more outlandish characters.
13:52His version of Sean Connery is one example of a role that lets him be the latter.
13:56Hammond frequently steals the show on Celebrity Jeopardy,
14:00tormenting Will Ferrell's version of Alex Trebek with all kinds of unsavory remarks.
14:06This leads to a combative relationship between a contestant and host
14:10that's among the most iconic elements of this recurring SNL skit.
14:14You may notice I'm wearing a different suit.
14:16Apparently, Mr. Connery felt my leg was closer than the urinal.
14:22Oh, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho.
14:25The comedian turns the Scotsman into an evil villain that's unpredictable and super funny.
14:31You can't take your eyes off of him as you anticipate the next joke.
14:35He might not sound exactly like the movie star, but he does get huge laughs anyway.
14:41We can't keep playing if you don't let go of the pickle.
14:44That's what your mother said last night.
14:46Which standout SNL impression did we forget?
14:50Let us know in the comments.
14:51I told him that one country can't violate international law by invading another country,
14:56and he spent the rest of our conversation pretending to sneeze while loudly saying,
15:00I wreck.
15:03Do you agree with our picks?
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