The 15 Greatest Characters from 50 Years of Saturday Night Live

      Here are the most notable SNL characters from the 50 years of Saturday Night Live.

      Of course, opinions on this topic vary. Comedy, akin to beauty, often depends on individual perspective. If you think we overlooked someone, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

      Additionally, when discussing characters who are part of a duo or ensemble, such as the Bronx Beat ladies, we are counting them as one. We are only including original characters, not impersonations. Let’s dive in...

      Emily Latella (Gilda Radner)

      NBC – Credit: NBC

      Gilda Radner was the essence of early Saturday Night Live, and the charmingly misguided Emily Latella was among her most beloved characters.

      Her routine could have thrived on a vaudeville stage in the 1920s or today, just as it did in the 1970s: she responds to a troubling news item while at the Weekend Update desk, embarks on a passionate rant — and then comes to the realization that she misheard a crucial detail related to her argument.

      This scenario plays out daily on social media, but few possess the poise to deliver Emily’s catchphrase: “I’m sorry. Never mind.”

      The Samurai (John Belushi)

      NBC – Credit: NBC

      We’re not suggesting that John Belushi's Japanese Samurai character would be received well today in a more aware society. However, a white actor portraying a Japanese figure is merely the initial layer of absurdity in the Samurai sketches, which depicted a dignified and sincere samurai, influenced by Toshiro Mifune, holding down regular, often mundane jobs.

      Our favorite Samurai sketch is Samurai Night Fever, where Belushi pays tribute to samurai films while lampooning John Travolta’s character from Saturday Night Fever, alongside O.J. Simpson, who played his brother. It’s one of the most surreal experiences you'll ever witness.

      The Wild and Crazy Guys (Dan Aykroyd and Steve Martin)

      NBC – Credit: NBC

      The enthusiastic, Czech-born Festruck brothers, Yortuk (Dan Aykroyd) and Georg (Steve Martin), displayed a wide-eyed love for America during the Bicentennial era, and their clumsy attempts to fit into a disco-infused culture are incredibly charming.

      Their malapropisms, catchphrases, and oddly gentlemanly methods of inviting “foxes” back to their “swinging bachelor pad” are equally endearing.

      What sets them apart as standout SNL characters is that they’re not mocking Czech expatriates — they’re poking fun at the trendy fads of New Yorkers in the 1970s.

      Gumby (Eddie Murphy)

      Eddie Murphy as Gumby and Joe Piscopo as Pokey. NBC – Credit: NBC

      Although we mentioned not including impersonations, Eddie Murphy transformed the 1950s clay character Gumby into a completely original creation: a washed-up, cigar-smoking showbiz curmudgeon with endless grievances and an unidentifiable accent.

      Murphy stood out as one of the few highlights during the awkward years following the departure of SNL creator Lorne Michaels and the original Not Ready for Primetime Players, with Gumby (alongside Buckwheat) representing one of his many brilliant, meta reflections on the entertainment industry's darker side. It remains bizarre, and we adore it.

      The Californians

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      We couldn't single out one standout from the series of brilliant soap opera parodies featuring recurring characters Stuart (Fred Armisen), Karina (Kristen Wiig), Devin (Bill Hader), along with guest appearances by Trey (Kenan Thompson) and Rosa (Vanessa Bayer).

      We think of it every time anyone asks for directions. The setup is so ingenious that it becomes increasingly delightful with every slight variation in inflection on lines as simple as “What are you doing here?” It's transformed how we say “jammed.”

      Hans and Franz (Dana Carvey and Kevin Nealon)

      NBC – Credit: NBC

      Kevin Nealon mentioned that the idea for Hans and Franz emerged while he was watching an Arnold Schwarzenegger interview and called Dana Carvey to share it with him. They nailed the characters when they recognized their commitment to avoiding any physical exertion while remaining oblivious to fitness equipment.

      Conan O’Brien, Robert Smigel, Carvey, and Nealon once considered a Hans and Franz movie that would have featured Schwarzenegger prominently, but scheduling conflicts made it impossible.

      Fortunately, they came together to reenact it for the Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend podcast.

      Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar (Mike Myers and Dana Carvey)

      NBC – Credit: NBC

      Hard-rocking teens Wayne (Mike Myers) and Garth (Dana Carvey) from Aurora, Illinois may be the most commercially successful SNL characters — the first Wayne's World movie was a huge success, and its sequel also performed admir