From audition room to Studio 8H! Watch as we explore the most memorable celebrity impressions that helped launch comedy careers at 30 Rock. These spot-on impersonations proved so good, they became recurring characters that delighted audiences for years. Which impression do you think captured its subject best?
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00:00Life can sometimes turn your greatest successes into your most crushing defeats.
00:07Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best impersonations
00:13that went from the audition to a live SNL episode.
00:2110. Seth Meyers as Hugh Grant
00:26Not known for his impressions, Seth Meyers still utilized them during his audition.
00:40This included a take on a famous British actor.
00:43Before he became a Weekend Update anchor, Meyers played Hugh Grant in the early 2000s.
00:49He got a decent amount of laughs for his accent and timing.
00:56Opposite Gwyneth Paltrow, the performer showed that he clearly had promise as a sketch player.
01:02He also knows how to make the bumbling rom-com star relatable and hilarious.
01:07While he might have turned into a desk anchor, the comedian might have more hidden talents than you'd think.
01:13A 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?
01:199. Vanessa Bayer as Miley Cyrus
01:23Leaning heavy on an accent, Vanessa Bayer stood out on the show for her Miley Cyrus impression.
01:38She came to her audition ready to make fun of the TV actress and singer.
01:42Once she made it on the show, Bayer turned her impersonation into a long-running sketch.
01:47Do you, Liam Hemsworth, take this woman to be your wife?
01:52I do.
01:53And do you, Miley Cyrus?
01:55Oh. My. God.
01:57This is, like, so exciting, because, like, my dress matches my hair,
02:01and, like, it's a secret wedding except for the cameras and pictures and stuff like that,
02:04and, like, every kiss begins to pay, and I'm, like, so emotional that I could cry.
02:09The cast member transformed the entertainer into a talk show host.
02:16Both singing and talking, the comedian banters with Jason Sudeikis' Billy Ray Cyrus.
02:21She even interviewed the pop star while the latter played Justin Bieber.
02:26Without missing a beat, she keeps the energy up alongside major co-stars.
02:30So, how do you like the show so far, Justin?
02:34It's okay.
02:36Would you say it's pretty cool?
02:38No, actually, I wouldn't say that.
02:42Number 8. Daryl Hammond as Phil Donahue.
02:46He's got his remote control, and he's watching Sally, Jesse, Raphael, and Jerry Springer,
02:53and Richard Bay, and Jenny Jones.
02:55And I mean hard copy, and current affair, and American gladiators, and Charlie's Angels bionic woman, and, you know.
03:04During his lengthy tenure on SNL, Daryl Hammond gave some of the most pinpoint impressions ever.
03:11He might be best known for his Sean Connery, but he can also do Phil Donahue.
03:16His audition included the talk show host and figures like Bill Clinton.
03:19The presenter's speech patterns couldn't be closer,
03:23adding to a great appearance on Celebrity Jeopardy.
03:26Little Bobby and little Susie have hung their stockings with care.
03:35Mom and Dad are out looking for Tickle Me Elmo till 5 a.m.,
03:40and all of a sudden, Bobby looks up and he says,
03:44Hey, who is this?
03:47For those that remember the Donahue program,
03:50this impersonation will work even better.
03:52This particular version deserves mention alongside the Impressionist's finest characters.
03:58He eventually played the TV personality six times as a Saturday Night Live cast member.
04:04Phil Donahue, that snooty, peacenek intellectual.
04:07Nobody thinks that.
04:08And Michael Moore, the scruffy, unwashed, sweaty, overweight, rabble-rouser.
04:15I mean, people just don't like us.
04:19Number 7, Kate McKinnon as Penelope Cruz.
04:23Here comes your co-star, this is Miss Penelope Cruz.
04:26Hello, hello.
04:26Thank you for having me.
04:27I'm Penelope Cruz.
04:28I'm ready to film the commercial, okay?
04:31Okay.
04:31And action.
04:33No, no, no.
04:34Hold on, hold on, Penelope.
04:35No.
04:35Not quite yet.
04:36As one of the more versatile performers of her time, Kate McKinnon developed all kinds
04:41of political and celebrity impressions.
04:44She also brought a funny idea to her audition.
04:47Playing Penelope Cruz, McKinnon put the Spanish actress in a fake commercial.
04:52The concept was good enough to make it on the show.
04:55When Sofia Vergara hosted, SNL cast the modern family lead next to this Cruz impression.
05:01The unlikely pair mispronounce ingredients in a silly ad parody.
05:06So it's got everything our hair needs, like aloe.
05:10But without the things it doesn't need, like ammonium-rolesulfate, alkyl-pentine-fosonate,
05:18selenium-sulfide, and tea-dijundi.
05:22And we like that.
05:24And cut!
05:25And cut!
05:26There's elements of the performance that could be considered accurate, with little
05:30nuances for fans of the star's career.
05:33The performer knows how to blend both physical and verbal comedy into one great piece of work.
05:40Refrigerator!
05:41No!
05:43No, sweetie, listen to me.
05:45It's not refrigerator, okay?
05:46Say it with me.
05:47Fido?
05:48Fido.
05:49Good.
05:49Morpho?
05:50Morpho!
05:51Genesis?
05:52Jeff Bridges.
05:53No.
05:54Number 6.
05:56Anna Gesteyer as Martha Stewart.
05:58In keeping with that tradition, I'll be joined tomorrow on Living by my mother.
06:04Get your bangs out of your eyes.
06:07We'll reveal some of the Stewart family's time-honored turkey day secrets.
06:11The hell we will.
06:12Cool it.
06:12Not only was this comedian prepared to do the show, she also had this impression ready to
06:20go.
06:20Anna Gesteyer seemed destined to play Martha Stewart.
06:24Her audition even included her wearing a wig, bringing even more authenticity to the part.
06:29Join us this week on Living when we make ice from water.
06:34When she was cast, Gesteyer made the role one of her signatures.
06:38She's especially skilled at channeling the TV host's laid-back personality.
06:43Through holiday guides, the performer keeps Stewart even-keeled through the likes of a Halloween surprise.
06:49She makes the part her own to such a degree that you wouldn't want anybody else doing it.
06:55Toilet paper has become a staple of the Halloween pranksters' toolkit.
06:59I'll show you how to design, plan, and implement a teepee job that is both visually stunning and full of mischievous good cheer.
07:12Number 5.
07:14Jay Farrow as Denzel Washington.
07:18What's going on?
07:20So, Denzel, are you excited for the Twilight finale?
07:25Am I excited for the Twilight finale?
07:27Have you read the books?
07:29She's asking, have I read the books?
07:32Are you just going to repeat whatever I say?
07:34With an underrated run on SNL, Jay Farrow should be considered among the better impressionists of his era.
07:41His Denzel Washington is one highlight among many other impersonations.
07:46You check your side view mirrors, you check your front mirrors, you check that mirror.
07:49Okay, now what you gonna do?
07:50Capturing the performer's intensity, Farrow locks into his performance.
07:55His ability to channel Washington's training day persona is unmatched.
08:00While he performed this in his role in his audition, he later stole sketches with this intensity.
08:06He can make action movie parodies of Unstoppable even more exciting with his delivery.
08:11When we met, we focused on our differences.
08:14But now it appears we have more in common than we thought.
08:16Nah, what did you want to say?
08:18A nursing home shuttle bus got stuck on the track.
08:20Boom!
08:22For anyone that loves the Oscar winning actor, you'll enjoy hearing this salute to one of the Hollywood greats.
08:28Let me ask you a question, huh?
08:30Are you a sheep or a wolf?
08:32Huh?
08:32Wolf or a sheep?
08:33Answer the question, are you a shark or a turkey?
08:34It's a simple question, are you a corpus or a ma-wolf?
08:37Number 4, Jimmy Fallon as Jerry Seinfeld.
08:41Former television star, Jerry Seinfeld.
08:44Okay, thanks Colin, thanks a lot buddy.
08:48For his successful audition, Jimmy Fallon found a way to make the tough audience laugh.
08:54He also brought out an impression of Jerry Seinfeld.
08:57Fallon knew how to recreate the stand-up comedian's rhythms.
09:01He even did the performance opposite the actual guy.
09:04On a Weekend Update feature, Seinfeld sat next to the cast member and reacted in real time.
09:10It's amazing to watch a performer do one of his original impressions in a funny sketch.
09:15Jerry, what are you talking about?
09:16I love the gap.
09:20It's like going into your closet, except there's a guy in there.
09:23Hey buddy, pocket T?
09:25Really?
09:25Thanks, gap.
09:26What, you refolded?
09:27This place is great.
09:28The impersonation explores the reality underneath all of the exaggeration.
09:35Proving his talent for mimicry, the Tonight Show host was clearly destined to work on SNL.
09:40This also includes his goofy work as Adam Sandler.
09:43Number three, Bill Hader as Al Pacino.
09:59I'm no expert here, but I think you're trying to put a door where a window's supposed to be.
10:03Anderson, we are building a new house in the new New Orleans.
10:08We'll put the doors wherever we want.
10:10In the 2000s and 2010s, Bill Hader was a clear standout on Saturday Night Live.
10:17The cast member unleashed a number of impressions at his audition.
10:21On the show, he brought out one of those great efforts to wow audiences.
10:26Big Ben!
10:27Charlie.
10:28You look like a**.
10:29You smell like a**.
10:31But you're my friend, Big Ben.
10:32The performer did an accurate impression of the Oscar winner in his older years.
10:36With a trademark growl and deeper sound, the comedian appeared as the Scarface star on his first episode.
10:44Oh, there's a shih tzu stuck in a Spanish oak tree.
10:50I go to save that door.
10:56Playing Pacino several times, Hader arguably made it one of his best characters.
11:00He would even return as a host to play the legend.
11:04With multiple appearances, we wish that the SNL favorite got more chances to play the film icon.
11:10All right, Pacino.
11:11Your turn.
11:12Ten seconds on the clock.
11:13Finish this quote, my friend.
11:14Frankly, my dear, I don't give a...
11:16Prostitute my home address.
11:20Number 2.
11:22Will Ferrell as Harry Carey.
11:23Hey, what if...
11:25Hey!
11:29Hey!
11:30If I was a scientist, you know what I would call?
11:33Hot dogs.
11:35Really?
11:36Only this comedian could have turned this sportscaster into a comedic icon.
11:41Will Ferrell brought his Harry Carey impression to his audition, fully prepared with the voice.
11:46It translated well to Ferrell's early appearance on Weekend Update.
11:50The impersonation also worked in a more absurd talk show format.
11:55Hey!
11:56Now, kid, we all know that the moon is not made of green cheese.
12:01Yes, that's true, Harry.
12:03But...
12:03But what if it were made of barbecue spare ribs?
12:07Would you eat it then?
12:09What?
12:10I know I would.
12:11Heck, I'd have seconds.
12:12His version of Carey became more ridiculous with time,
12:15turning into a man that loves to talk science and ask odd questions.
12:20That's why they use sleep deprivation as a form of torture.
12:28With the hair and glasses, the comedian provided plenty of details for audiences to love.
12:34The skits veered far from the original target,
12:37but it became all the more entertaining each time.
12:40Let's not get caught up in a semantics argument, Seth.
12:44Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
12:56Taron Killam as Brad Pitt.
12:58The comedian's unique take on the actor includes a grunt for added emphasis.
13:02Thanks, Seth. Happy to be here. Very happy to be here.
13:08Duh!
13:11Andy Samberg as Alan Rickman.
13:13His one-off impression of the talented actor turned into a funny Hans Gruber.
13:18So, Hans, why are you bad?
13:20Well, my name is Hans Gruber.
13:23And I sound like this, so my options were limited.
13:30Bobby Moynihan as Nathan Lane.
13:33Combining music and comedy, the cast member delivers a commendable impression.
13:37First, from Broadway, he's probably in Shrek, Nathan Lane.
13:43I can see what's happening.
13:45No!
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14:04Number 1. Dana Carvey as Jimmy Stewart.
14:08Mary, Mary, I never realized I had so many friends.
14:10A man who has a friend is a rich man.
14:16That's what Clarence said.
14:17By golly, he was right.
14:18He certainly ranks high among SNL impressionists,
14:22but this one deserves even more attention.
14:25Dana Carvey makes a Jimmy Stewart impression seem easy.
14:28He brought several impersonations to his audition,
14:31but this one could easily be called one of his finest.
14:35Carvey finally utilized the voice when he was on the show.
14:38During a sketch parody of It's a Wonderful Life,
14:41the comedian nearly transformed into the actor.
14:44You're nothing but a scurvy little spider.
14:47Get up!
14:50It might be slightly exaggerated,
14:52but it finds a way to blend the canines and tone of the Hollywood legend.
14:56As a fearless performer,
14:58he also brought out his Robin Williams next to the real man.
15:01Oh, look, brother.
15:02Oh, right now there's two men in San Francisco going,
15:04Oh, did you see the sequel to The Fly?
15:05It's called The Fruit Fly.
15:06Oh, don't be afraid.
15:07Be very afraid.
15:09Oh, yes, don't be afraid.
15:10Did we forget another impression that later made it to the show?
15:13Let us know in the comments below.
15:16Mr. Brokaw, it sounded like you stumbled a little bit on Wealthiest.
15:20Do you want to try that again?
15:21Absolutely not.
15:22Oh, okay, we're done.
15:24Do you agree with our picks?
15:26Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo.
15:28And be sure to subscribe and ring the bell
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15:31Wealthiest.
15:47Bye-bye.
15:50Bye-bye.