Few TV shows have had a bigger shock on comedy thanSaturday Night Live . Since its debut in 1975 , the sketch comedy series has create film and tv set stars , as well as two current later - Nox TV talk show host . It ’s also a rite of enactment for many comedians on the hike . get onSNLisn’t a guarantee of future achiever , but the breakout cast phallus almost always use the show as a springboard for even bigger lance .

AsSNLcontinues its 49th season in 2024 , we ’re looking back at the seven bestSaturday Night Livecasts of the show ’s nearly five - decade run . observe that this list was n’t ranked for any single performing artist , otherwise Eddie Murphy would be on top for sway the show in the early ’ 80s . or else , this list focuses on the top ensemble that have made SNL appointee television for a very longsighted metre . And you ’re going to see a lot of familiar face here .

7. SNL season 15

time of year 15 marked the publicity of Mike Myers from featured player to one of the principal cast members alongside his futureWayne ’s Worldco - star , Dana Carvey , as well as Jon Lovitz , Kevin Nealon , Victoria Jackson , Jan Hooks , and Nora Dunn . Dennis Miller was also a primary cast member and one of the most memorable hosts ofWeekend Update . Al Franken and A. Whitney Brown were the have role player this season .

6. SNL season 32

As Seth Meyers has level out , only one penis of theSaturday Night Liveseason 32 cast has n’t proceed on to guest host the show after leaving the cast . The person in question is Kenan Thompson , and the only reason he has n’t host yet is because he ’s been a member of the cast since 2003 .

The rest of season 32 ’s card included Will Forte , Barrystar Bill Hader , Kristen Wiig , Andy Samberg , Amy Poehler , Fred Armisen , Darrell Hammond , Maya Rudolph , Jason Sudeikis , and , of course , Meyers himself .

5. SNL season 37

This is the most late time of year ofSaturday Night Liveon our lean , and also theSNLswan song for Andy Samberg and Kristen Wiig . Bill Hader was also in season 37 ’s hurl alongside a power station lineup that include Fred Armisen , Seth Myers , Bobby Moynihan , Jason Sudeikis , Kenan Thompson , Abby Elliott , and Nasim Pedrad . Also featured this season were Vanessa Bayer , Paul Brittain , Taran Killam , Kate McKinnon , and Jay Pharoah .

4. SNL season 27

The season 27 premiere ofSaturday Night Livetook localize only a few weeks after the 9/11 onset , and control this cast back on video really felt cathartic at the time .

This was Will Ferrell ’s last time of year on the show before take off to make movies , but the relaxation of the cast go on to bigger and better things as well , admit Tina Fey , Amy Poehler , Jimmy Fallon , Darrell Hammond , Chris Kattan , Maya Rudolph , Horatio Sanz , Ana Gasteyer , and Rachel Dratch . This time of year ’s featured players also included succeeding late night legion Seth Meyers , as well as Dean Edwards and Jeff Richards .

3. SNL season 22

As any longtimeSaturday Night Livefan can bear witness , the show has its up and down time period . In 1997 , the cast once again had a lineup that could rise up to the occasion .

Will Ferrell , Tim Meadows , Tracy Morgan , Colin Quinn , Chris Kattan , Ana Gasteyer , Jim Breuer , Molly Shannon , and Mark McKinney helped make the show peak again . But for our money , the late Norm Macdonald madeWeekend Updateworth staying up deep for again .

2. SNL season 17

The end of one era onSNLand the beginning of another moderate to one of the most wiz - stud lineups that this show has ever seen . The master cast ofSaturday Night Liveseason 17 included hangover Dana Carvey , Chris Farley , Phil Hartman , Victoria Jackson , Mike Myers , Kevin Nealon , Chris Rock , and Julia Sweeney .

But the support cast admit futureSNLheadliners , including Adam Sandler , David Spade , Rob Schneider , Tim Meadows , and Ellen Cleghorn . There ’s only oneSNLcast that ’s ever been firm than that group .

1. SNL seasons 1-4

There have been many greatSNLcasts over the last five tenner , but the original Not quick for Prime Time Players set the legal profession fabulously high . No comedy Hall of Fame would be complete without first - time of year plaster bandage appendage Dan Aykroyd , John Belushi , Chevy Chase , Jane Curtin , Garrett Morris , Laraine Newman , and Gilda Radner .

George Coe appease for only a single episode , while Michael O’Donoghue and Chase left after the first season . But Bill Murray was added to the cast in season 2 , and most of this sum chemical group rest with the show for the first four seasons .

Getting a mathematical group like this was unfeignedly peculiar , and they paved the way for everyone who came after them .

watch out every season ofSaturday Night LiveonPeacock .