Top 20 Iconic SNL Characters Ranked: From Stefon to MacGruber

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Saturday Night Live has a history of giving incredibly talented comedians a platform to be boldly creative, week after week. The show is famous not only for the stars who have performed there, but also for the memorable characters they’ve created – characters that have become deeply ingrained in our culture and continue to make us laugh for years. It’s great to look back and appreciate the very best of these iconic moments.

Tiny Horse

Animated Character

NBC

Timothée Chalamet’s “Tiny Horse” sketches are wonderfully absurd and unexpectedly funny. The first sketch features a father and son about to lose their farm when Chalamet unexpectedly sings a heartfelt song about his miniature horse, deciding to set it free. The sequel is even stranger: Tiny Horse magically returns to save the world from disaster. It’s a completely silly idea, and most people wouldn’t think it could be funny even once, but I’m amazed that this running joke actually works – and continues to be funny!

Miss Rafferty

Portrayed By Kate McKinnon

NBC

Kate McKinnon’s character, Miss Rafferty, is known for her unfortunate encounters with aliens. In a recurring sketch, she and other people who claim to have been abducted share their stories. While the others describe peaceful, even spiritual experiences, Miss Rafferty’s tale always becomes a chaotic mess. She sits slouched, often describing terrifying details, and somehow always ends up without her pants. McKinnon is a master of awkward humor and physical comedy, consistently making her fellow cast members crack up.

Barry and Robin Gibb

Portrayed By Jimmy Fallon And Justin Timberlake

NBC

Many consider Jimmy Fallon’s “The Barry Gibb Talk Show” to be one of the funniest sketches in SNL history. Fallon brilliantly exaggerates Barry Gibb’s persona, and Justin Timberlake is perfect as his calm, understated brother. The sketch is hilarious as Barry Gibb flies into angry outbursts with his guests, while Timberlake remains completely unhelpful. Plus, the show’s theme song is incredibly catchy and will stick with you long after you’ve seen it – even with all the chest hair and flashy medallions!

Gene Frenkle

Portrayed By Will Ferrell

NBC

The “More Cowbell” sketch from Saturday Night Live is incredibly famous – so much so that Christopher Walken jokingly claimed in the documentary SNL 50: Beyond Saturday Night that it negatively impacted his life. The humor of the sketch relies on the dynamic between Christopher Walken, playing quirky producer Bruce Dickinson, and Will Ferrell as Gene Frenkle, a cowbell player with excessive energy.

Will Ferrell surprised everyone by wearing an extremely tight shirt that showed off his belly button, causing his co-stars – particularly Jimmy Fallon – to burst out laughing during the sketch. Chris Parnell, however, managed to stay composed. This time, though, no one faulted Fallon for losing it.

The Spartan Cheerleaders

Portrayed By Will Ferrell And Cheri Oteri

NBC

The “Spartan Cheerleaders” sketches were a huge hit on Saturday Night Live in the late 1990s, leading to a total of 17 episodes. These sketches featured Will Ferrell as Craig and Cheri Oteri as Arianna, two incredibly energetic cheerleaders who, despite never making the team, enthusiastically cheered on events like chess matches and bowling tournaments.

What I love about the Spartan Cheerleaders is how utterly unaware they are of how ridiculous they look – it’s that cluelessness that just makes them so lovable! Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri had amazing chemistry, bouncing lines off each other at lightning speed, and even their height difference added to the humor. Seriously, the way they fully committed to the bit, despite how awkward it was, is what makes “Spartan Cheerleaders” one of the most memorable sketches from Saturday Night Live in the ’90s, in my opinion.

Diondre Cole

Portrayed By Kenan Thompson

NBC

Kenan Thompson plays Diondre Cole, the host of “What Up With That?”, a show that starts with the idea of having meaningful conversations. However, it quickly turns into a constant stream of singing and dancing. Cole repeatedly interrupts his guests, and poor Bill Hader, playing Lindsey Buckingham, never actually gets to say anything, even though Cole keeps promising he’ll have a chance “next time.”

Diondre has all the qualities that explain Kenan Thompson’s incredible run as the longest-serving cast member on Saturday Night Live: a playful smile, quick witty lines, expressive reactions, and a captivating stage presence. Considering Thompson’s natural charm and Jason Sudeikis’s memorable, energetic performances, it’s amazing they both managed to keep going without collapsing from exhaustion.

Shy Ronnie

Portrayed By Andy Samberg

NBC

Ronnie, a very shy rapper, failed to make a good impression on Rihanna twice. He’s reminiscent of Andy Samberg’s characters – someone who gets incredibly awkward around people but is actually talented when performing alone. The two “Shy Ronnie” music videos from The Lonely Island on Saturday Night Live are hilarious because they perfectly combine embarrassment and appeal, and Rihanna’s unimpressed expressions make the videos even funnier. Many fans hope Andy Samberg and Rihanna will create a third “Shy Ronnie” video someday.

Gilly

Portrayed By Kristen Wiig

NBC

As a big fan of comedy, I have to say Kristen Wiig is a master of making me laugh and feel deeply uncomfortable, and her character Gilly is a perfect example. Gilly is just a relentless prankster, and the pranks get increasingly wild as the sketch goes on. Everything about her – the bright, bubbly hair, that unsettling smile, even the way she does a little childish dance and mumbles ‘Sorry!’ – is hilarious. Plus, the contrast between her and Will Forte’s serious, straight-man character just makes the whole thing even funnier. She’s definitely one of her best SNL creations.

Harry Caray

Portrayed By Will Ferrell

NBC

I didn’t even know who the actual Cubs announcer was—I had to look it up!—but Will Ferrell’s impression of Harry Caray is so strangely captivating that it doesn’t matter. He delivers every line with a scrunched-up face, huge glasses, and a voice that’s always at full volume, constantly interrupting with obvious and silly comments. The humor comes from how ridiculous he is and how awkward it makes his fellow cast members, making for some of the best sketches on Saturday Night Live.

Herb Welch

Portrayed By Bill Hader

NBC

Bill Hader perfectly captures the spirit of Clint Eastwood when playing Herb Welch, a grumpy, older newsman fed up with the younger generation. Hader brilliantly portrays the classic out-of-touch old man, struggling through live broadcasts and consistently messing up. From speaking too closely into the microphone to reacting with anger and even hitting people with it, Hader’s Herb Welch is completely unpredictable and chaotic.

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2025-11-11 04:42