The 15 Greatest SNL Characters in 50 Years of Saturday Night Live

      Here are the top SNL characters from nearly half a century of Saturday Night Live — according to our perspective.

      Comedy is inherently subjective, so our selection of the best SNL characters might differ from yours, and that’s perfectly fine. Share your favorites in the comments section, near the river.

      Lastly, when characters are part of a duo or group, we’re counting them as a single entity. Without further ado, here’s our list of the 15 best SNL characters, presented in no specific order.

      Emily Latella (Gilda Radner)

      NBC – Credit: NBC

      Gilda Radner was the essence of early Saturday Night Live, and the misinformed but well-meaning Emily Latella was among her most lovable characters.

      Her routine could easily fit in a 1920s vaudeville show just as well as it did in the 1970s: She seizes on a distressing news item while at the Weekend Update desk, embarks on a passionate tirade — only to suddenly realize she misunderstood a key detail that undermines her argument.

      This scenario unfolds daily on social media, but few possess Emily's charm when delivering her catchphrase: “I’m sorry. Nevermind.”

      The Samurai (John Belushi)

      NBC – Credit: NBC

      It's acknowledged that John Belushi's Japanese Samurai character might not be acceptable in today’s more progressive climate. However, a white actor portraying a Japanese icon is merely the initial layer of absurdity in the Samurai sketches, showcasing a respectful and earnest samurai, influenced by Toshiro Mifune, engaging in ordinary, often mundane tasks.

      Our favorite of these sketches is Samurai Night Fever, where Belushi pays tribute to samurai cinema while simultaneously parodying John Travolta’s character from Saturday Night Fever, alongside his brother, played by O.J. Simpson. It’s truly one of the most surreal experiences you could witness.

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

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      The lively Czech-born Festruck brothers, Yortuk (Dan Aykroyd) and Georg (Steve Martin), embody a wide-eyed Bicentennial-era enthusiasm for America, and their awkward endeavors to fit into a disco-oriented culture are endlessly charming.

      Their malapropisms, catchphrases, and peculiarly gentlemanly ways of inviting “foxes” back to their “swinging bachelor pad” are equally delightful.

      What elevates them to some of the best SNL characters is their approach: they aren't mocking Czech expatriates, but rather poking fun at the fleeting trends of 1970s New Yorkers.

      Furthermore: When it comes to characters that are part of a duo or group, such as the Festruck brothers, we only acknowledge them once. We also focus on original characters rather than impersonations.

      Gumby (Eddie Murphy)

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

      We know we said no impersonations, but Eddie Murphy reinvented the 1950s clay figure Gumby so distinctly that he transformed into a fully original character: a washed-up, cigar-smoking showbiz curmudgeon with countless grievances and an unidentifiable accent.

      Eddie Murphy was one of the few bright spots during the awkward years following SNL creator Lorne Michaels and the original Not Ready for Primetime Players' exit, and Gumby (alongside Buckwheat) served as one of his many brilliant and meta commentaries on the darker aspects of the entertainment world. It remains delightfully bizarre and we adore it.

      Hans and Franz (Dana Carvey and Kevin Nealon)

      NBC – Credit: NBC

      Kevin Nealon recalled that the Hans and Franz characters emerged while he was watching an Arnold Schwarzenegger interview and called Dana Carvey to join in. They perfected the characters after realizing that despite their dedication to avoiding flabbiness, they would never actually use fitness equipment.

      Conan O’Brien, Robert Smigel, Carvey, and Nealon once envisioned a Hans and Franz movie that would feature Schwarzenegger prominently, but his packed schedule made it unfeasible.

      Luckily, they reunited to reenact it for the Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend podcast.

      Keyrock, Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer (Phil Hartman)

      Credit: NBC

      Phil Hartman, affectionately dubbed “the glue” by his peers for his remarkable ability to excel in any role, often gravitated towards nuanced performances. However, with Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer, he embraced a delightfully absurd character, resulting in one of the strangest and finest SNL personas.

      In a well-crafted twist on what could have been a basic fish-out-of-water narrative, Keyrock exploits his unfrozen status, persuading jurors that he’s merely “a simple caveman.”

      Matt Foley (Chris Farley)

      NBC – Credit: NBC

      Chris Farley’s boisterous motivational