Even though this year’s Super Bowl is something of a repeat of 2015’s Super Bowl XLIX, with the New England Patriots facing off against the Seattle Seahawks, just about all of the details involved are different, from the coaches to the players to the stadium location. In fact, this year’s telecast will deliver a surprising first, as SNL vet Andy Samberg is making his 2026 TV schedule debut with a hilarious new mayonnaise-filled Hellmann’s ad after years of turning down ad offers for the NFL’s biggest game.

Understandably, this Hellmann’s commercial is about as far away from traditional and normal as can be, with Samberg channelling his inner ‘70s superstar to portray “Meal Diamond,” a Neil Diamond-esque diner dweller whose love for mayo knows no moral or decency bounds. The spot is equal parts surreal and silly, with cameos from Heidi Gardner and Elle Fanning, among others, and truly feels like the Super Bowl ad the Lonely Island co-founder was meant to be in.

Speaking with ScreenRant, Samberg had a fairly capsulized answer for why he agreed to sign on for this campaign despite having “avoided” past opportunities “for a while” prior to this pitch. (Sadly, his favorite team isn’t in the big game this year, though that might have made it an even better decision in hindsight.) As he put it:

As one of the most consistently goofy and offbeat Saturday Night Live vets, Andy Samberg does have a penchant for projects that feel unlike anything else. (Look no further than Lonely Island's fantastic Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience.) So it absolutely tracks that he'd be down to portray a mayo-obsessed anomaly who existence has solely taken place within an L.A. diner.

The actor shared more insight behind what drew him into this weirdo concept, and why the character's non-history was a big plus, saying:

I can't automatically think of any Samberg characters who had perfectly normal childhoods and grew up to be quiet and reflective adults. I guess they just aren't funny enough.

Beyond the general concept, the Hot Rod star was also highly invested in tapping into the iconic looks that Neil Diamond rocked during his reign in the '70s and '80s, and having fun with those fixed-in-time visuals. In his words:

I know we just got the Neil Diamond jukebox musical Song Sung Blue with Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, but is there not still room in the world for a new feature fronted by Samberg's Meal Diamond that takes a "Weird" Al approach to the bulk of the Grammy winner's discography. I guess it would get boring if the whole thing took place in one diner, but still.

Check out the longform version of the Hellmann's ad below.

With this Super Bowl commercial now behind him, I can only imagine what other musical mayhem the comedic mastermind will deliver this year. 2025 brought an unexpected duet with Lady Gaga for “Dick in a Box,” and he'd also filmed the anxiety-filled digital short for SNL50, so I expect a few more surprises as 2026 rolls on.

If James Gunn happens to be listening, let me float this idea into the ethers: "Andy Samberg as the DCU's Condiment King." You're welcome.

Super Bowl LX hasn't even started yet, and it might already be a landmark year for great commercials. We have Clydesdales nursing eagles back to health, Kendall Jenner betting against her exes, and even William Shatner for good measure. We also have Andy Samberg in a wildly fun ad for Hellman's, appearing as "Meal Diamond" to sing "Sweet Sandwich Time."

CinemaBlend had a chance to speak to Andy Samberg about his Super Bowl ad and also ask him about the big game in general. As it turns out, the actor's favorite team made it further than most, but ultimately fell short of the NFC championship. When I asked who he was pulling for, he said this:

I totally get what Andy Samberg is feeling. It's also worth noting we spoke just a few days after the 49ers lost to the Rams 42-26, so I can understand he's a little less enthused about the actual game. That said, obviously he was thrilled to be working with Hellman's on a mayonnaise ad and getting his commercial into the mix on one of television's biggest nights.

Samberg talked for a bit about the various teams that were, at the time we spoke, still in the running to be the Super Bowl LX competitors. I couldn't help but notice after running through the teams that he left one out of the conversation: the New England Patriots. When I mentioned that, he laughed and clarified his stance on one of the Super Bowl teams:

It truly has been a year for Drake Maye, who may not only be second youngest quarterback of all-time to reach the Super Bowl, but also win the regular-season MVP as well. It's quite an accomplishment worthy of an f-bomb, though I do understand the annoyance for the Patriots to return to the big game so soon after Tom Brady's historic run.

All that aside, the game, commercials and Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show have set the stage for what might be the most talked-about night on the 2026 TV schedule. That's what we all want anyway, Andy Samberg included.

While he did confirm to CinemaBlend that he didn't get a lifetime supply of mayonnaise for his Hellman's ad, he did get to dress up like peak Neil Diamond and make a hilarious Super Bowl commercial. The actor assured us he would be watching the big game, but had no definitive plans yet as to what he'd be doing. I know if I made a commercial I'd host a party just to show it off, but Andy Samberg's been on television a lot more than I have, so I can get him probably playing it a bit more lowkey.

Super Bowl LX airs on NBC and Peacock on Sunday, February 8th. I can't wait for the big game, all the fun commercials, and the halftime show that will leave us all talking. Can we just skip next week and get right to the game?

If you’re going to land a comedian to get decked out as a faux Neil Diamond for a goofy song parody about mayonnaise and best friends involving a slightly anthropomorphic hot dog, you might as well shoot for the best. Which is exactly what Hellmann’s did by landing SNL vet and Lonely Island co-founder Andy Samberg for the company’s latest Super Bowl ad campaign.

You may recall 2025’s When Harry Met Sally reunion or Kate McKinnon and Pete Davidson’s silly mayo ads in 2024. Those were great and all, but certainly lacked a particular performance panache, which Samberg brings in full as the, erm, great(?) Meal Diamond! Sending up the beloved crooner’s everpresent hit “Sweet Caroline,” the ad also brings in fellow SNL vet Heidi Gardner, though she manages to steer clear of all the mayo squirting, for better or wor…no, just for better in this case, I think.

Check out the minute-long ad below, which will likely be cut down to 30 seconds when airing during the Super Bowl.

Honestly, if I saw Andy Samberg dressed like that while walking through a mall or something, I don't know if I'd immediately recognize him, though I would definitely be attuned to something being amiss, given how bizarre his entire upper-body hair situation is.

Perhaps all that fluffy hair is part of why the ad gets under my skin in less than savory ways. Particularly regarding the idea of anyone walking around lifting the top bread off of people's sandwiches. That's personal bubble infringement to the nth degree.

Also squirting mayonnaise onto people's food willy nilly is bothersome in ways I can only allude to, as not to actually make myself nauseous. While I can appreciate Meal's blind aim being impeccable, just the idea of mayo potentially being blasted all over people's drinks and clothing is enough to make me run out of this hypothetical diner setting I'm thinking about. Seriously, the foley work in the ad is too good.

Just when you think it's maybe okay to let this Meal Diamond guy keep singing during everyone's meal, then the confessions start. He lives in our walls! Which, ipso facto, means there's all kinds of unused mayonnaise in the walls as well. It's the worst-smelling insulation money can buy.

Super Bowl LX is set to air on NBC (and stream via Peacock subscription) on Sunday, February 9, 2026, with plenty of other ads yet to be revealed. And those who wish to see a more loyal cover band take on Neal Diamond can check out Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson's feature Song Sung Blue.

Two decades after its founding, YouTube is the second most popular website on the internet. It has become one of the biggest cable providers in The United States and has more of the streaming market than Netflix. It’s owned by Google. It has lucrative partnerships with many of the biggest companies in the world. It is a mainstream success by any definition, which is why it’s so nice to see YouTube still paying tribute to its weird roots and more specifically, the OG Andy Samberg SNL sketch that played a “seminal” role in its growth.

CEO Neal Mohan recently talked to The Hollywood Reporter as part of an extensive profile. During the conversation, the subject of late night television came up, and the longtime executive talked about how important it has been for the growth of the platform. Back in 2005, less than a year after YouTube first launched, someone uploaded a video of “Lazy Sunday.” The Andy Samberg and Chris Parnell sketch, an early Digital Short that celebrates eating cupcakes and going to the movies, was viewed more than five million times in just a few months before NBC Universal requested its removal.

How popular it got and NBC’s reaction created a lot of press for the new company, and within six months, it went from doing 8 million views a day to more than 100 million views a day. A few months later, the website was sold to Google for nearly two billion dollars, and it has been growing and getting more popular ever since. You can check out the Samberg and Parnell sketch below…

Now, exactly how much credit “Lazy Sunday” should get for YouTube’s rapid growth in popularity is debatable. Doing 8 million views a day less than a year after launching is obviously a sign that you’ve got a product people want. No doubt plenty of users heard about YouTube for the first time because of the SNL clip, but they would have likely got there eventually. Instead, “Lazy Sunday”’s biggest contribution is likely related to how it reframed the perception of the website, both internally and externally.

During the interview, Mohan called “Lazy Sunday” a “seminal moment” because it caused people to see the platform could be more than just uploading personal videos. It could instead be used as a tool for mainstream companies to get their content seen. Saturday Night Live now uploads nearly all its sketches right after they air to the platform and clearly sees it as a second route to generating views and revenue. Most other late night shows do the same thing, and YouTube is now filled with trailers, clips, sketches, full episodes and even live sporting events.

Here’s a portion of Mohan’s quote…

Yeah, YouTube has done pretty well for itself since it launched twenty years ago, and then again, so has SNL. The long-running sketch comedy show has remained culturally relevant despite all the changes to how people consume TV, and its YouTube account features dozens and dozens of sketches that have been watched tens of millions of times.

"Lazy Sunday" has also remained popular and continues to inspire parody versions, some of which go viral themselves on YouTube.

In House of Guinness, which you can watch with a Netflix subscription, James Norton plays the loyal henchman for the Guinness family, Sean Rafferty. Rafferty is a no-nonsense character who doesn’t shy away from doing the dirty work for his employers. One of the most memorable moments comes in Episode 7 of the Steven Knight-led show when the Raffery and the family begin “cleaning up” the docks around the brewery.

The inspiration for Norton’s reaction in the scene, which features Rafferty (one of the many very cool characters on the show) walking away from an explosion, leaving one of the old tenements in rubble, came from a very unlikely place: a song and a video by Andy Samberg and The Lonely Island called “Cool Guys Don't Look At Explosions.”

Rafferty Looks Back

In an interview with Netflix UK, Norton explained where the idea for his reaction comes from, saying:

The video, one of many great videos from Lonely Island, which features Samberg on co-lead vocals (as Bruce Springsteen) alongside Will Ferrell (as Neil Diamond), and director JJ Abrams on keyboards, is exactly as Norton describes it. Dozens of famous explosions from movies where the heroes and villains never look back at their handiwork. Norton and his partner decided Rafferty was a cut above, explaining:

Of course, they took multiple shots, but in the end, it was one with Rafferty casually looking back that was kept in the show. Norton went on:

We did a few versions of the scene where I didn't look back, and then the last couple, like, Rafferty’s in a league of his own. He looks back, but he doesn’t react. So the cool guys don't look back. Rafferty does.

Fans of the show, which hit the 2025 TV schedule last month, know how “cool” Rafferty is, both in a “cool customer” kind of way and in a character way. He’s a henchman that is easy to root for, because he is so cool, but he is also someone you’d never want to get crossways with. He’s unflinching and occasionally cruel.

His reaction (or non-reaction) to the explosion that almost certainly killed people says it all. He does what needs to be done, in the only way he knows how, brutally and decisively. He’s not doing it for glory, and he’s too cool for the traditional hero shot.

It’s been well documented over the last decade that Andy Samberg does not like Seth Meyers' dog Frisbee. So, when Frisbee’s death was announced, many sent their condolences to the Late Night host and wondered how her nemesis felt about this tragic news. Well, now the Brooklyn Nine-Nine star has reacted to the news, and let’s just say, he’s not dropping the bit he’s held up for years.

While promoting his project on the 2025 movie schedule, The Roses, with his co-star and fellow SNL vet Kate McKinnon, Samberg was asked for his thoughts on Frisbee’s passing. Before the actress could even get the full question out during an interview with ET, the man who has spent years making fun of this dog quipped:

McKinnon was then able to finish the question, and she asked Samberg how he felt about Frisbee’s obituaries focusing on the fact that he’s spent so long roasting her and if he had an alibi at the time of her passing. In response, the Palm Springs actor said:

Man, he really isn’t dropping this bit, is he? I guess we shouldn’t be surprised, though. Not long before Frisbee’s death, Meyers got Amy Poehler to prank Samberg into thinking his dog was dead on her podcast Good Hang. When the Parks and Rec star asked her guest if he knew that Frisbee had died, he said, “Don’t even play, because I’ll be so happy,” and then he roasted the tiny Italian Greyhound.

He also said on that podcast, which was released a little over a month before Frisbee’s passing, that he will “never back off” when it comes to hating on his friend’s pet.

Well, he kept that promise, because when McKinnon asked him why he had beef with Frisbee, he said:

Samberg followed that up by saying he obviously doesn’t want to be rude about anyone’s death. However, considering the public beef he had with this dog, which is reminiscent of Matt Damon and Jimmy Kimmel's faux hatred and Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s fake feud, this whole situation is quite funny. He joked:

Along with the comedian keeping up this bit, Seth Meyers also shared his thoughts on it. In an Instagram story about how the internet covered Frisbee’s passing, he noted that while he is “sad” about the death of this dog, he could acknowledge “that it’s very funny every headline is about how much Samberg hated her guts.” In a tweet, he also hilariously confirmed that this wasn’t a one-sided feud as he joked that the Italian Greyhound “also disliked” his former SNL colleague.

So, all around, this situation highlights how there can be humor in tragic situations. And while we’re very sad that Frisbee tragically passed, it’s hard not to laugh about how big an impact Andy Samberg’s mission to constantly troll her had, even after her death.

It was a sad day for Seth Meyers when his 14-year-old dog Frisbee passed away. He made sure to take to social media to share heartwarming photos of the greyhound cutie that could make any dog-lover cry. However, along with this sad post came a barrage of headlines about Andy Samberg's ongoing bit about how much he hated Frisbee. Now, Meyers has commented on just how much attention his late pet's feud with his SNL colleague has gotten.

We’ve seen celebrity feuds play out before in the most entertaining way, like Matt Damon and Jimmy Kimmel’s classic “feud” moments or Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart always ripping on each other. In the case of Andy Samberg’s beef, it had nothing to do with Seth Meyers, per se. It was more about the host’s dog, Frisbee.

After the passing of the adorable Italian Greyhound, the former Weekend Update anchor posted on his Instagram stories the cover of a NYT article that said fans believed that Samberg is “rejoicing” about Frisbee’s death. Here’s what Seth Meyers’ caption said about his feelings toward the Brooklyn Nine-Nine actor constantly being featured in headlines about his dog’s death:

With the Late Night host being a comedian like Andy Samberg, it looks like he’s trying to find humor in an otherwise sad time in a dog owner’s life. In a way, maybe a constant reminder of the Palm Springs actor’s feud with Frisbee could be uniquely helping Meyers process the loss of his pup.

We all know that Andy Samberg’s “feud” with Frisbee was a classic comedy gag. But according to Seth Meyers’ tweet that he posted after his dog’s death, the feeling hilariously seemed to be mutual:

Burn! It looks like the television host is making sure this "feud" drags on a bit more. In a February Q&A session with his Late Night audience, Meyers spoke about Andy Samberg hating his dog so much that he’d scratch Frisbee out of his family's Christmas cards and mail them back to him like that. That sounds like dark comedy vibes right there.

Seth Meyers said the reason the Hot Rod actor didn’t like Frisbee was because he thought she “looked like a rat.” After the death of Frisbee, I’m really curious if Samberg reached out to his longtime pal and either offered his sympathies or kept his long-running bit alive with one last roast.

With all of these stories about Frisbee’s death relating to Andy Samberg’s hilarious “feud” with the dog, it shows that even in death, the Golden Globe winner will always be connected to Meyers' canine pal. Together, they left behind a story that kept fans entertained and made it so we'll forever remember the comedy actor’s beef with a cute pup.

New episodes of Late Night with Seth Meyers are still part of the 2025 TV schedule every weeknight and can also be streamed with a Peacock subscription.

Our hearts go out to Meyers and his family in their time of grief.

If you know of Seth Meyers’ dog Frisbee, odds are you also know Andy Samberg’s feelings about the little Italian Greyhound. So, when it was announced that the Late Night With Seth Meyers host’s dog had tragically passed, many, including SNL cast members like Kenan Thompson and Rachel Dratch, sent their condolences. However, many also jokingly and lovingly called out the dog’s claim to fame: her ongoing feud with The Lonely Island member.

Many Famous Folks Are Sending Their Condolences To Seth Meyers And His Family

As any dog parent probably would, Seth Meyers took to social media to pay tribute to his beloved little Italian Greyhound, Frisbee. She was 14 years old, and the photo dump he uploaded featured images from her time as a puppy to now. His caption was sweet, reflective and featured a dash of humor too, take a look:

Not long after he posted this, the comments were flooded with kind words and condolences from famous folks, many of whom worked with Meyers during his time at Saturday Night Live. Take a look:

• Oh nooooo!!! So sorry buddy!!! ❤️❤️ -Kenan Thompson
• RIP to my former scene partner. Love you pal xoxo -Ike Barinholtz
• Noooo! Frisbeeee! Sorry for your loss.❤️: -Rachel Dratch
• Frisbee forever 🥏 -Good Hang with Amy Poehler
• So sorry Seth ❤️-Vanessa Bayer
• 🩷🩷🩷 -Aidy Bryant

Now, it’s worth noting that Andy Samberg does not have an active Instagram account, so he did not comment here. However, along with these genuine and kind messages from Meyers' friends and colleagues, many also couldn’t help but lighten the mood a bit by calling out the years-long beef the Brooklyn Nine-Nine star has had with this tiny dog.

Fans Are Sending Their Condolences While Also Pointing Out The Years-Long Feud Andy Samberg Had With Frisbee

Again, I think it’s safe to say that Frisbee’s claim to fame was her ongoing and one-sided feud with Andy Samberg. In fact, when I think of funny rivalries, this one is up there with Jimmy Kimmel and Matt Damon’s feud and Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s rivalry.

For years, and I mean years, Andy Samberg has consistently made his hatred of Frisbee very well known. Even just recently, on Good Hang with Amy Poehler, Meyers asked the Parks and Rec star to try and trick their SNL colleague into thinking Frisbee was dead. When she asked Samberg, he replied with, “Don’t even play, because I’ll be so happy,” and “That dog sucks, dude.”

To prove just how long this has been going on, nine years ago, Meyers said on his show that Andy Samberg can’t stand his dog. Five years ago, Meyers forced Samberg to confront his dog on Late Night, and in return, the Hot Rod actor held up a Post-it that said “Frisbee sucks.” And two years ago, during Samberg’s takeover of “A Closer Look,” he called Frisbee “the worst greyhound since the bus.” And those are just three examples; there are plenty more.

So, you can see why people commented things like the following on Meyers' post about his pet’s passing:

• May her ghost haunt Andy Samberg forever 🙏🏻♥️ -motelsiren
• Very sorry for your loss, I hope she haunts Andy Samberg for years to come 🖤 -lillyhasspoken
• Frisbee dying on Andy's birthday??? Did someone check his alibi? -__anwesharoy__
• Frisbee getting the last laugh by dying for Andy's birthday is diabolical -omgitsjami
• Oh no. Such a cutie. My condolences to you and your family. I hope Andy knows he did more to make us love Frisbee than anyone. -quimbysbookstorenyc
• We love you, Frisbee. Sending love to the Meyers family and glares to Andy Samberg -mugsbugs68

As many of the comments note, the timing of this sad news is quite wild. Andy Samberg’s birthday was, in fact, yesterday, August 18. So, it’s really hard not to draw the connections now.

Hopefully, Frisbee can rest easy knowing that her legacy includes Andy Samberg’s hilarious hatred, because I think a lot of people, myself included, grew to love her as his nemesis. She truly did become a legend, and she’ll be dearly missed.

Now, I hope Seth Meyers pays tribute to his beloved dog when his show airs on the 2025 TV schedule, and to go back and see how Late Night with Seth Meyers has documented the years-long feud between Frisbee and Andy Samberg, you can stream the series with a Peacock subscription and watch clips on YouTube.

Our thoughts and condolences go out to the Meyers family during this tragic time.

While Saturday Night Live’s actual 50^th anniversary is October 11, the long-running variety sketch series put on quite a show with the anniversary special earlier this year amid the 2025 TV schedule. NBC pulled out all the stops for the nearly three-hour event that paid tribute to SNL’s past and present. There were also plenty of stars on hand. From the outside looking in, the event seemed pretty cool, though Andy Samberg dropped an F-bomb while recalling how stressful it was.

Samberg and fellow members of The Lonely Island came together for SNL50: The Anniversary Special in February for a digital short entitled “Anxiety.” Not only was the video a perfect representation of working on the show, but it was also perfect for the special. The actor reflected on the special while appearing on the podcast Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend and admitted how he truly felt throughout the evening. Needless to say, months later, it sounds like Samberg is still anxious over it:

Even though the “Anxiety” video was pre-recorded and not live, Samberg and co. still had a lot of work to do on it. Plus, I can't even imagine being in his shoes and watching various stars react to the video in real time at the anniversary event. The mere presence of so many stars also sounds downright daunting as does the notion of not knowing whether a person will be involved in any more of the show. All in all, just thinking about it is giving me anxiety. However, as challenging as it may have been for Samberg, it seems the experience was par for the course:

Andy Samberg was a Saturday Night Live cast member from 2005 to 2012, and he and The Lonely Island were behind some of the best SNL Digital Shorts. With that, it was unsurprising that Samberg and his cohorts/childhood friends, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone, were able to deliver such a clever short for the anniversary.

As stressful as the situation may have been for Samberg, it sounds like he did have some truly memorable moments throughout the night. He previously spoke about getting to speak to Billy Crystal and Eddie Murphy amid the festivities. The gravity of the occasion was also not lost on Samberg, who took pleasure in the event's "50 years in the making" tagline.

Now that the special has come and gone, it’s unknown whether Andy Samberg will make another appearance in SNL's upcoming 51st season, but I think he is one of many stars who need to host again. Saturday Night Live is known for pulling out surprises, so it’s certainly not impossible that he'll make a return, even despite the anxiety and stress it involves. For now, fans can watch the anniversary special and all 50 seasons with a Peacock subscription.

It’s been over 35 years since Leslie Nielsen made audiences laugh via the original Naked Gun film. Nielsen went on to lead two sequels and, now, the franchise is being revived, this time with Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson as the leads. The ad campaign for Naked Gun has hilarious, promising a goofy tone and crazy energy like the original film. Recently, Andy Samberg revealed that that he was able to see the film early and, while I love that he praised it, there's a deeper reason for this being meaningful.

While speaking with The Hollywood Reporter at San Diego Comic Con, Samberg was asked if he had seen the upcoming Naked Gun film, which is directed by Akiva Schaffer, his good friend and frequent creative partner. Schaffer is notably a member of the comedy band The Lonely Island, which also includes Samberg and Jorma Taccone. The Brooklyn Nine-Nine actor shared some truly sweet sentiments while sharing what he enjoyed so much about the legacy sequel:

While this is one of the most exciting studio comedy films in years, it’s far from Schaffer’s directorial debut. He famously directed Hot Rod and Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, which both star Samberg. Schaffer also has TV credits, as he's directed episodes of I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. He certainly has comedy chops as a performer as well, which makes him the perfect choice to direct The Naked Gun and, based on his rave review, it seems like Samberg agrees.

I also hope that people go see this film, as Andy Samberg said. These days, it's gradual becoming a novelty for a studio comedy to receive a theatrical release or include movie stars like Liam Neeson and Pam Anderson. The film is getting a lot of attention, and early reviews for The Naked Gun are also pretty positive. Some are even calling the film one of the funniest flicks in years.

Aside from the fact that Andy Samberg is hyping the 2025 movie release for the sake of supporting comedy movies, I just have to talk about seeing him support his longtime collaborator. He and Akiva Schaffer go way back and were friends long before their Saturday Night Live days, during which Samberg was a cast member and Schaffer was a writer, who also directed and produced digital shorts.

Even as their professional paths have gone in different directions, Schaffer and Samberg have always supported each other creatively and made a point to continue to work together. It’s a testament to a strong bond and, while I can’t wait for The Naked Gun, I also am excited to see what The Lonely Island does next as a unit.

You can see The Naked Gun sequel when it hits theaters on August 1st. Lonely Island fans should also check out the The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast on Spotify, where Akiva Schaffer, Andy Samberg, and Jorma Taccone recap the SNL digital shorts that made them famous with the titular talk show host. To revisit these digital shorts yourself, you can check out old episodes of Saturday Night Live now with a Peacock subscription.

If you’re remotely familiar with the sitcom, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, it’s relatively safe to assume that you probably fell in love with Andre Braugher’s Captain Holt. The same can be said for those who worked alongside him, as Andy Samberg, who played detective Jake Peralta, revealed what it was like to work with the late actor and the moment he knew they had "kismet."

When Samberg joined Good Hang with Amy Poehler, the two SNL alumni chatted quite a bit about Brooklyn Nine-Nine (which is available to stream with a Peacock subscription or Netflix subscription). The conversation hit on Braugher’s passing in 2023 and how much the Jake actor misses and loves his late co-star. As they remembered the veteran actor, Poehler probed about what he was like, since they’d never met, and Samberg confirmed he was as much of a joy offscreen as he was on by saying:

Add my name to the list of people who miss Andre Braugher’s presence. Though I did love Samberg’s on-screen romance with Melissa Fumero’s Amy Santiago, his relationship with Captain Holt is also ultimate TV relationship goals, in my opinion. And clearly, I’m not wrong based on the Lonely Island member’s thoughts here.

After that, Andy Samberg jumped into their working relationship, noting how the two clicked instantly. Along with it, the Palm Springs star revealed Braugher landed the gig from one meeting and equated it to a golden stamp of approval from the show's legendary creatives. In his words:

Frankly, I’m not surprised by this based on what I know about the Captain Holt actor. Braugher's stellar body of work absolutely speaks for itself, making him an easy pick for someone so humorously dry. That, and Samberg can essentially run with any type of bit or scene partner.

The Brooklyn Nine-Nine lead then expounded on the subject matter, citing a specific instance that showcases the special spark between them that worked for the world, too. Though he couldn’t explain specifics, he knew it was a kismet moment:

The Fox-turned-NBC series still stands as one of the most rewatchable shows because of this magic. As a fan, I couldn’t imagine any cast member being swapped out for someone else, but that's especially true for Peralta and Holt.

What’s even crazier about all this is that Samberg revealed the only bump in the road they experienced while working together was that Braugher didn’t initially trust himself to do comedy!

To be fair, he came up through Juilliard and dramas, so I can see the hesitancy. But I think it’s safe to say a lot of us are thrilled he worked through that quickly. Whatever helped Andre Braugher in that moment, it too must have been kismet, because the world needed him to work alongside Andy Samberg.

Throughout the history of Saturday Night Live, there have been some truly iconic sketches filmed at Studio 8H. “James Brown’s Celebrity Hot Tub,” “More Cowbell” and (the viral) Beavis and Butt-Head” sketches are among the most famous. While a number of the show’s vignettes may manage to penetrate the cultural zeitgeist, there are some that maybe don’t receive as much attention years after they air. As it turns out, there’s actually at least one sketch that series EP Lorne Michaels hated.

Seth Meyers brought up an interesting relic from SNL’s past during a recent installment of The Lonely Island with Seth Meyers podcast. During the chat, he asked his co-hosts if they remembered the “Lamps” sketch, which was performed when Hugh Laurie hosted in December 2008 amid Season 34. Meyers reached out to former head writer Rob Klein about the skit, which involved singing lamps, to receive his and co-writer Andy Samberg’s “side of the story,” and Klein didn’t hold back when sharing his recollections via voice note:

Well, that last sentiment is certainly spine-tingling. “Lamps” isn’t available alongside the best SNL clips on YouTube, but it can be streamed as part of the whole episode with a Peacock subscription. The segment focuses on a lamp store populated by lamps (Andy Samberg, Kristen Wiig and Hugh Laurie), who come to life and sing once the shopkeepers (Fred Armisen and Michaela Watkins) have left for the day. In this instance though, the owners catch them lamps, who then go to extreme measures to maintain their secret.

Rob Klein explained that the sketch was pitched during a week in which there were plenty of excellent sketch ideas on the board. Adding to that pressure was the fact that fellow writers were apparently already “pissed off” by the title of the bit. And, if that weren’t enough, the big man in charge also took issue with the concept:

Lorne Michaels has historically never been one to mince words when it comes to the creative direction of the long-running NBC show, whether it be cast changes or the handling of politically driven bits. As has been revealed, Michaels previously even disliked recurring segments on the show, though he later changed his mind on that. I can’t even imagine being in Rob Klein and Andy Samberg’s shoes when it comes to “Lamps.” Michaels was evidently curious (or worried) about its reception and even uncharacteristically watched the blocking for the sketch.

Against all odds, though, the sketch made it to air. It wasn’t exactly easy for the actors, as they had to wear the hefty lamp costumes. Still, Rob Klein said “Lamps” is one sketch “we'll never live down.” After he finished playing the voice note, Seth Meyers made a comment about how Andy Samberg still feels the effects of the sketch today:

Despite how the creatives behind the sketch feel about “Lamps,” it’s still a part of Saturday Night Live history and might be lovingly remembered as a sketch that is somehow both terrible and amazing. And that’s whether or not Lorne Michaels likes it or not. For more recent sketches, though, you can check out new episodes of SNL, which air on Sundays at 11:30 p.m. ET as part of the 2025 TV schedule.

Andy Samberg and his viral digital shorts are iconic and serve as a major moment in Saturday Night Live history. Over the years, he and The Lonely Island produced hit after hit with hosts and musical guests, including national treasure Paul Rudd. Their 2000s era SNL Digital Short, “Everyone’s a Critic,” centered around a scantily clad and absurd painting of Samberg that an art crowd hated. Now, while the image has never been made public, the location of the 2008 portrait just surfaced with Rudd revealing he’s the one who kept it.

The Lonely Island created-short is a little gory and revealing (a safety warning is attached to the video), but the build-up to the haunting portrait is hilarious. On The Lonely Island podcast, the actors spoke about this wild sketch and silly Studio 8H artifact. Rudd also confirmed he's held onto the piece for all these years and shared his personal saga with it after filming wrapped:

Frankly, I’m not too shocked that the MCU actor willingly accepted the notorious nude gift. I also love that he realized by committing to the bit, he had to live with this weird piece of memorabilia from the pre-taped SNL bit.

After sharing all that, Rudd said he could reveal some of the choice details made in the painting, but he refrained and kept the description brief. He noted the full-on-Lonely-Island-material qualities of it, and said they could have it back if anyone wanted it:

Truly, the whole saga is as good as Samberg's recent reprising of 'Dick in a Box’ with Lady Gaga in my opinion. While the short is very blunt and oddball funny, it still ranks with some of the trio's best. Somehow, though, I’m more enamored with the aftermath.

As mentioned, Rudd going through life with this Samberg painting lurking in the shadows is its own meta skit. Now, I have to wonder if one of the trio will take the Death of a Unicorn actor up on his offer to get it back.

This story is also wonderful because it highlights just how far both Samberg and Rudd have come since that 2008 SNL episode, considering they both will be showing up in the 2025 movie guide. The Brooklyn Nine-Nine star is set to appear in the dark comedy, The Roses, while the Clueless actor has A24’s Friendship and the meta-esque Anaconda movie up next. Plus, we also know he'll be among the cast of Avengers: Doomsday.

However, regardless of Samberg’s or Rudd’s future endeavors, I love to know that the special but weird painting has continued to tie the two together. Now, we'll have to wait and see if its resting place changes, because that would add another hilarious wrinkle to this already funny story.

SNL50 went off with seemingly very few hitches given the myriad celebrities who were roped in (either willingly or unwillingly) and the many, many OG players who worked to punch up characters they maybe hadn’t played in years, if not decades. But just because things went off swimmingly doesn’t mean there weren’t a few things about the making of the special the cast found to be a little ridiculous.

For Andy Samberg (2005-2012) it was the tagline. You may have seen it prior to the release of the special anniversary episode: “A Special 50 Years In The Making.” It’s catchy, I’ll give you that. But Samberg just could not get over NBC's marketing campaign:

Samberg and Seth Meyers (2001-2014) were chatting about the special during an episode of their podcast “The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers” when the story about how the episode actually was thrown together (compared to how NBC was selling it) came up. While Samberg was amused by the tagline, Meyers pushed back a little. In fact, the longtime writer firmly believed that actually, the tagline’s fudging of the truth made it even more accurate. Or as he put it, it was “thrown together like the rest of the show.”

Hilarious. Samberg went on to explain how SNL50 came together, and it sounds like a bit of a sloppy mess, but for anyone who saw Jason Reitman’s Saturday Night, this is just the way Lorne Michaels’ long-running sketch comedy series likes it.

It’s also not like everyone had a literal year to put the episode together, right? I’d imagine that some people, Lorne Michaels included, put thought into what people and sketches would be brought back months in advance, but it’s not like anything was finalized until the last minute, which is pretty typical for Saturday Night Live.

Andy Samberg also made the germane point that one major reason the special wasn’t literally “50 years” in the making was because so many people involved with the show were still doing regular SNL episodes every single week. The main Not Ready For Primetime Players, the writers, and all the BTS folks involved with the show had to put together an episode of brand new material for Timothèe Chalamet like three weeks before they busted out the star-studded affair.

We’d be here all day if I listed the long list of people who appeared onscreen during the episode, but they were not limited to the current cast. A sample? There was Chris Rock, Mike Myers, Tracy Morgan, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively (in a bit of a controversial cameo), Jason Momoa, Jenna Ortega, a tattoo-free-ish Pete Davidson, Eddie Murphy, Adam Sandler (who had one of the most poignant moments the whole night), Bill Murray (who ranked all the Weekend Update hosts), Scarlett Johansson, Kristin Wiig, Sabrina Carpenter, Maya Rudolph, Paul Rudd, John Mulaney, Chris Parnell, Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, Bad Bunny, Tim Meadows, Kim Kardashian and I could go on and on. Suffice to say, a lot of spinning plates were involved.

There’s no doubt it was an epic night of television, but it still cracks me up that Andy Samberg could not get over how over-the-top the tagline was compared to the haphazard way it all came together. It's a pretty perfect story about a show that's never actually able to be perfect due to its live nature.

Some of the greatest feuds in the world of entertainment are ones that blur the lines of reality. We’ve seen the likes of Jimmy Kimmel and Matt Damon, as well as Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman duking it out in the past, and now the 2025 TV schedule has reminded us of an entry that needs to be in the conversation. Apparently there’s beef between SNL vet Andy Samberg and former co-star Seth Meyers’ dog, Frisbee. The NBC late night host has shared a story that makes me question if this is really a bit, or a bitter truth.

If you follow Late Night with Seth Meyers on social media, you may have seen a video where someone asked him about the “Samberg v. Frisbee” feud, and if the former Weekend Update anchor hates anything nearly as much. Here's part of Seth Meyers’ story about this furry fury:

In researching this supposed beef, I had to look up what I could about Samberg v. Frisbee, and I had no idea that this is something that has spanned over years. Not quite as long as the Kimmel/Damon “feud,” but at the very least this has existed since 2020. Maybe it’s because I don’t think that people would beef with a creature as adorable as Frisbee, but it was a blindspot for me.

Thanks to the power of YouTube, I’ve now seen the saga unfold, and…yeah, this is totally a bit. You can’t watch Andy Samberg and Seth Meyers riff on the subject of this Italian Greyhound and take it the least bit seriously.

But if there was a clip that could confuse newcomers, it would definitely have to be the below Instagram video. I don't know about you, but for me, this counts as a great dramatic performance from an SNL star:

Now that we’ve all taken this journey together, we can enjoy Andy Samberg’s slams on Frisbee as much as we do the faux feud between Ryan Reynolds. and Hugh Jackman. Unless we actually see that Christmas card shown on screen, that is, in which case it might be the time to question things a bit.

Either that, or it's time to give Seth Meyers another primetime special to address the matter head on, putting Andy Samberg and Frisbee in a room together for the ultimate showdown. Someone should book Lester Holt to moderate, before he leaves the building.

In the meantime, Late Night with Seth Meyers will continue to entertain your weeknights, at 12:35 a.m. ET on NBC. Just don’t forget that per NBC’s late night shakeups, Fridays are saved for repeats.

Andy Samberg has been a Saturday Night Live icon for years, and he absolutely crushed it while being heavily featured during the SNL 50 broadcast. Specifically, the former Brooklyn Nine-Nine actor starred in a sketch about SNL cast members all having anxiety, which Samberg has been candid about experiencing as a cast member, and it's gone viral. After the broadcast, he reunited with some of the biggest names in the show’s history and got a chance to chat with Billy Crystal. So, Samberg took the opportunity to ask about Crystal’s experience with anxiety during his time on the show, and he offered interesting insight.

After the historic television event on the 2025 TV schedule, Andy Samberg and the rest of The Lonely Island recapped their night on The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast. Samberg mentioned chatting with Billy Crystal after his “Anxiety” sketch, which is quickly becoming one of the best SNL digital shorts. He asked the comedian if he ever felt the nerves during his brief stint as a cast member, explaining:

The SNL work environment is famously intense, especially considering the stressful production schedule and writing traditions that involve pulling all-nighters in the days leading up to the show. The situation has been known to give cast members anxiety, and many have opened up about their mental health during their time on the show.

For example, Bill Hader has been very vocal about his anxiety while starring on SNL, and the experience was relatable enough to result in a whole sketch about the live-TV stress.

However, not many of the older cast members have talked about it, and Seth Meyers was curious if other people experienced this as well. He said:

Upon reflection, Samberg realized that the pressures he and his fellow cast members had during their tenures were very different from what Crystal went through in the '80s.

The Palm Springs actor explained that the When Harry Met Sally star was a part of one of the best single-season SNL casts, but it was mostly made up of established comedians at the time, who had careers outside the show. As a result, there probably wasn’t as much pressure. He explained:

This was a stark difference from what modern SNL looks like, where the cast is made up mostly of unknown comic minds hoping that the NBC sketch show will be their big break. Their airtime and ability to stay on the show is contingent on how many sketches they are in, the virality of their characters, and their ability to write sketches that end up making the show. It is incredibly tense, and naturally results in some mental health challenges.

Even with anxious cast members, SNL still manages to be funny and relevant every week. The 50th anniversary special might be over, but the show still has plenty of exciting hosts and musical guests for the 50th season to get excited about, so make sure to check out SNL on Saturday at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC. You can also revisit the anniversary broadcast and past seasons with a Peacock subscription.

SNL’s 50th Anniversary celebration was filled with memorable moments on Saturday night, from the return (and subsequent drama behind) “Black Jeopardy” with Tom Hanks to Jenna Ortega memorably getting squished. But the whole weekend was an experience for the longtime cast members on the show, as Friday night’s SNL50: The Homecoming Concert also brought in a slew of major names for performances, veteran Andy Samberg included.

In fact, in an iconic moment, he busted out his longtime hit “Dick in a Box” with Lady Gaga, a moment that immediately went viral and was discussed in the days following. This subsequently led into a Digital Short medley that was one of the highlights of the evening.

But, how did Lady Gaga even get involved given she wasn’t the OG “Dick in a Box” singer? And why was Justin Timberlake missing? Thankfully, Andy Samberg addressed this and more in his story of how SNL50 Concert came together.

How Lady Gaga Got Involved With Dick In A Box

Samberg’s less active with SNL than he has been in the past, but his podcast with Seth Meyers, aptly titled “The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers,” addressed how the whole thing came together. Honestly, there was way less preparation in advance than I would have guessed.

The Lonely Island frontman said that’s because they were not doing any new material really. So, it was only a week before the project came to fruition that Lady Gaga even became involved as a musical guest on the docket.

To be clear, Samberg was stoked to create the opportunity with the A Star Is Born actress and pop singer, and they even nodded at her movie gig before the “Dick in a Box” bit. It was very funny. You’d never guess it by the final version that played out onstage, but Samberg was a bit intimidated about working with Gaga.

Oh yeah, so where was Justin anyway?

Why Justin Timberlake Was Out And Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny And Eddie Vedder Were In

Lady Gaga may have been a great get, but Andy Samberg says she only came into the picture after Justin Timberlake declined; the former concurrent SNL host and musical guest currently on his Forgot Tomorrow World Tour. Then other big names got added, including singer (and sometimes WWE star) Bad Bunny, Pear Jam’s Eddie Vedder (in cosplay) and T-Pain, who tragically did not bring a pashmina afghan.

Missing Justin was a bit of a bummer, but Seth Meyers said the medley end result was fantastic, and that largely had to do with those involved --s/o Eddie Vedder -- who really committed to the bit. Meyers said that's really a key to being involved with SNL in general; when people who are not comedians "get the game," the end result is always better.

While Samberg said the songs being written already made things easier, it was actually fairly difficult to rehearse and everyone put in a lot of effort. The medley itself was complicated to compose, and Gaga even had some trouble with learning "the piano parts," so it wasn't just "a given" they could all show up and just execute with no work. It all turned out great, however, and it ended up being one of the highlights of the night.

To be blunt in the best way, SNL’s Homecoming Concert was bangin’. The concert on the 2025 TV schedule celebrated many of the iconic musicians to perform in the legendary Studio 8H and it paid homage to the musical comedy featured on the show. Obviously, The Lonely Island and their videos needed a big moment. However, the internet and I did not expect Lady Gaga to be involved in the said moment, and seeing her sing “Dick in a Box” with Andy Samberg has left us in shock, awe and hysterics.

When The Lonely Island’s performance started, it wasn’t clear that that’s what it was. As I was watching the concert with my Peacock subscription, I thought we were going to see Lady Gaga sing “Shallow” beautifully. However, when Andy Samberg showed up in a bad wig and cowboy hat, I knew something was up.

Quickly, it turned into a big performance about the SNL music group and some of their best digital shorts. And it all kicked off with the “Bad Romance” singer seriously and impressively singing “Dick in a Box” with Samberg, as you can see below:

They also sang part of “Motherlover” before Chris Parnell came out for “Lazy Sunday.” However, Gaga did return at the end with a box on to sing alongside the trio and all their guests to conclude The Lonely Island medley with a bang.

The internet, obviously, was thrilled about this and Gaga and Samberg’s rendition of “Dick in a Box,” as @Melissa_Wasser posted:

Others were understandably shocked by this performance from Gaga, considering she dropped a new single recently. It would have made sense if she performed that, but she went for the significantly funnier option instead, as @AMENARTPOP wrote:

Truly, the internet and I can’t get over this performance. Lady Gaga has hosted SNL before, but this was just further confirmation that she is a musician who needs to host again. So, Lorne Michaels, I hope you are in talks to get the pop star on SNL 50 as host and musical guest, 'cause she just proved in dividends that she would kill it (again)!

Going back to this performance of the iconic Lonely Island song that originally featured Justin Timberlake, @thebravobabe_ posted:

Over on SNL’s Instagram post about this moment, the folks in the comments couldn’t stop praising Samberg and Gaga for this seriously hilarious and exceptional performance, take a look at some of the highlights:

• Gaga playing the song completely seriously and straight-faced is the best thing abt this -@mangociana
• DOUBLE TRUE! 😂😂😂 y’all killed it! Lady Gaga looks awesome! 🔥-@timecapsule_
• This being sang by Lady Gaga is just some epic level comedy 🤣 2010 is knocking at the door -@caheinecke
• The duet we didn't know we needed 😂 -@louisemiller87
• When I say I SCREAMED -@hollyklepcyk
• Ok Jake Peralta and Lady Gaga mashup was not on my 2025 bingo card but I am SO FOR IT! bring in Doug Judy and we have the ultimate trio. -@jennaarayyy

Of course, Samberg has performed “Dick in a Box” with Justin Timberlake live over the years since its release in 2006. However, this was on another level.

Gaga’s commitment to the bit was immaculate, and her vocals were on point. Plus, you can never go wrong when Andy Samberg is singing a silly song.

So, while I never ever expected this to happen, I sure am happy it did, and I think just about anyone who watched it feels the same way too.

2025 marks 50 years since Saturday Night Live first started making audiences laugh. To commemorate the milestone, a documentary has been released, Ladies & Gentleman… 50 Years of SNL Music, which now streamable with a Peacock subscription. The special offers insight into many of the show's most iconic musical moments. On that note, Justin Timberlake reflected on how he helped make the “Single Ladies” parody with Beyoncé happen and, apparently, the songstress needed some convincing to star in the sketch.

During the show’s 34th season in 2008, Paul Rudd hosted the NBC show with Beyoncé as a musical guest. At the time, the singer’s hit album I Am… Sasha Fierce had just been released and the “Single Ladies” song and video were all the rage. In the doc, Justin Timberlake recalled learning about the initial idea for the SNL sketch:

Since Justin Timberlake is one of the best SNL hosts ever, I'm not surprised cast member Andy Samberg had him on speed dial for the “Single Ladies” sketch when it was coming together. Bobby Moynihan's vision for him, Samberg and Timberlake to play rejected backup dancers for the “Single Ladies” music video as downright genius. Despite that, you still have to wonder how you get Beyoncé on board. Well, as Timberlake later explained, he made a bold move in order to get her to cooperate:

Let it be known, Justin Timberlake is a big SNL MVP! Even though the artist wasn’t even host that week or employed on the sketch show, he went above and beyond to make the Beyoncé segment happen. I don't think too many people would've opted to convince Queen Bey by dressing up like a “Single Ladies” dancer and approaching her head on. Kudos for him for sealing the deal!

This would likely be one of the most popular SNL sketches on YouTube… if it was on there. (Oddly enough, the SNL channel hasn’t posted it). But, to refresh your memory, the sketch has Paul Rudd playing the director of Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” music video. However, when the dancers -- played by Timberlake, Moynihan and Samberg -- come out sporting leotards, tights, heels and a lot of confidence, they humorously prove they don't have the necessary skills.

The trio hilariously tries to keep up and grind on Beyoncé, but she stops the shoot. Ultimately, the director fesses up that the dancers are actually his stepsons, who he’s been asked to spend more time with. The Grammy winner tells Rudd's character that it's sweet of him to spend time with them but, when he asks if they can be in the music video, she responds with a “hell no!”

There are tons of fun stories in the Ladies & Gentleman… 50 Years of SNL Music documentary, from how Tom Morello was kicked off the show to the cast reflecting on Kanye West’s political rant. Personally, I just can't believe it's been over 16 years since that "Single Ladies" sketch hit the airwaves. It marks a truly memorable and hilarious moment in Saturday Night Live's history, and I'll remain grateful to Justin Timberlake for working to get Beyoncé on board.

It’s always fun to see when celebs are genuine friends with their co-stars off-screen, in a world where behind-the-scenes drama and celebs' complaints about each other can be so prevalent. And it doesn't hurt when those celebs include a boy band icon Justin Timberlake, his "Dick in a Box" cohort Andy Samberg, and then-future Spider-Man Andrew Garfield. Which is why I couldn't be more cheesed-out by a throwback clip making the rounds involving all three.

Posted to their Instagram, Access Hollywood shared a throwback clip of a Justin Timberlake and Andrew Garfield interview from when the two co-starred in 2010's The Social Network in 2010. In the clip, Timberlake was absolutely floored by the knowledge that Garfield would be the next big-screen Peter Parker. The initial interaction was funny enough, but it's when Timberlake asked about writing the theme song where the hilarious shout-out to Andy Samberg happened.

Check out the yesteryear clip below!

Despite being mentioned in jest, the idea is certainly as itriguing as it is amusing. Mainly because I had the mental image of the Amazing Spiderman end credits visuals but in the vein (no pun intended) of their classic SNL skit, ‘Dick in a Box.' That interview was back in 2010, after the point of Samberg’s botched concert with Timberlake.

More recently Samberg did do a sketch with Charli XCX that rivals his famous ‘Dick in a Box’ sketch, though it almost got more R-rated according to Samberg. As for Garfield, clips from The Social Network have been resurfacing and circulating the internet recently, and he's definitely aware of the Tik Tok trend tied to one of his famous lines from the Best Picture winner.

And of course, every time The Social Network is mentioned, let us not forget that people like me are still upset about Garfield not getting an Oscar nomination for his stellar performance. There are plenty of reasons why both he and Timberlake deserved recognition.

Overall, the clip had a similar energy to when I’m just goofing with my friends, it felt genuine and not forced or exaggerated for the camera. So, I guess that’s why it made me happy, more than just the SNL skit callout, it felt organic and that’s why it made me happy. Also, I didn’t know Timberlake was a big Spider-man fan and my respect for him has grown because of it.

The best Saturday Night Live stars made an impact on the classic sketch comedy series, not just because of their ability to be funny but, more importantly, their ability to act. These comedy icons would go on to prove their versatility by challenging themselves in more serious roles on both the big and small screen, going on to earn widespread praise for their craft. Here, we show our appreciation for these dramatic performances by very funny people, including some that earned these SNL stars Oscar nominations.

Kristen Wiig (The Skeleton Twins)

This one technically counts as a twofer because the eponymous siblings in the 2014 twin movie, The Skeleton Twins, are played by SNL veterans Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader. Wiig has never given a more absorbing performance than in this movie that gets honest about mental illness as Maggie Dean, who is forced to put her own mental health struggles at bay to care for her gay, suicidal brother, Milo.

Robert Downey Jr. (Oppenheimer)

Robert Downey Jr. is already better known for his dramatic roles (and playing Iron Man in the Marvel movies) than his brief SNL stint. However, many agree that his career best so far is his portrayal of Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan's Best Picture Oscar winner, 2023's Oppenheimer, which was his third Academy Award-nominated performance and the first to earn him the gold.

Laurie Metcalf (Lady Bird)

Laurie Metcalf is one of the better examples of an actor with a largely forgotten SNL stint, considering she only made a couple of appearances on the show during Season 6. She is far better known for playing Jackie on Roseanne and The Conners and for her heartbreaking, Oscar-nominated performance in Greta Gerwig's acclaimed 2017 dramedy, Lady Bird, as the mother of the angsty titular role.

Will Ferrell (Stranger Than Fiction)

Director Marc Forster’s 2006 film, Stranger Than Fiction, is still, essentially, a comedy but an undeniably dark one, as it follows an IRS agent named Harold Crick, who can hear the author of his life story foretelling his impending death. The role was one of the first to prove that a goofy actor like Will Ferrell had dramatic chops and his tender performance, one of the strongest of his career, would earn him a Golden Globe nomination.

Will Forte (Nebraska)

Perhaps the best thing outside of SNL to star Will Forte (in addition to the MacGruber movie and his prematurely canceled TV show The Last Man on Earth) is director Alexander Payne's Nebraska. The comedian shows a new rare side of himself in the Oscar-nominated 2013 as a David Grant, who agrees to travel cross-country with his estranged father, Woody (Bruce Dern), to claim a potentially non-existent prize of $1 million.

Eddie Murphy (Dreamgirls)

While Eddie Murphy scored a radio hit in 1985 with "Party All the Time," the moment that truly convinced the world that he was a musically talented SNL star was his performance in Dreamgirls. He received an Academy Award nomination for playing troubled R&B singer, James “Thunder” Early in the acclaimed 2006 musical.

Abby Elliott (The Bear)

Creator Christopher Storer's acclaimed FX original, The Bear, is often billed as a comedy, especially around awards season. However, real fans of the culinary series know that it is truly one of the most emotionally grasping shows of its time and Abby Elliott (daughter of fellow SNL vet Chris Elliott) has contributed to some of its strongest moments as Natalie "Sugar" Berzatto.

Adam Sandler (Uncut Gems)

While he is still beloved for comedies like Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison, both critics and audiences agree that one of Adam Sandler's best movies is the intense 2019 thriller Uncut Gems. Many believed he deserved an Oscar nomination for his performance in the acclaimed A24 movie from Josh and Benny Safdie as self-destructive Manhattan jeweler Howard Rattner.

Sarah Silverman (I Smile Back)

It was not until years after her one-season stint on SNL that Sarah Silverman became one of the biggest names in comedy with her sharp stand-up and roles in popular funny movies. However, she had never received wider and stronger critical acclaim before playing vastly against type in the 2015 drama I Smile Back as a troubled woman struggling to hide her depression and self-destructive tendencies from her husband and young children.

Bill Murray (Lost In Translation)

Many would call Bill Murray (who was part of SNL's Not Ready for Primetime Players) losing Best Actor for one of the best movies of the 2000s, Lost in Translation, at the 2004 Academy Awards one of the biggest Oscar blunders in history. His performance in writer and director Sofia Coppola’s sophomore effort as a lonely veteran actor striking up an unlikely bond with a young woman (played by Scarlett Johansson) in Tokyo is a masterclass in raw honesty and charm.

Chris Rock (Fargo)

No one was more surprised to see Noah Hawley offer Chris Rock one of the lead roles in the fourth season of his hit anthology TV show, Fargo, than the former SNL star himself. Rock – who went on to play a cop in a Saw movie called Spiral and starred in the Oscar-nominated biopic, Rustin – really turned heads with his commanding performance as Loy Cannon, who leads his 1950s-ear, Kansas City crime family with an iron fist.

Bill Hader (Barry)

When he created Barry with Alec Berg, Bill Hader knew people would think the idea of him playing a contract killer who falls in love with acting is pretty funny. That must have motivated the former SNL favorite to prove that he could bring himself to some disturbingly bleak places with his two-time Emmy-winning performance in the title role of the hit HBO series.

Kate McKinnon (Bombshell)

We genuinely believe that one of the most essential reasons why Bombshell is one of Kate McKinnon's best movies is the dynamic SNL star's performance. Her role as Fox News employee Jess Carr – a composite character based on real people involved with the real-life events that inspired the 2019 docudrama – could be written off as comic relief but she does show some real gravitas in its more somber moments.

Dan Aykroyd (Driving Miss Daisy)

Some of Dan Aykroyd's most notable cinematic efforts are actually movies based on SNL characters, namely The Blues Brothers and Coneheads. However, he would earn praise and an Academy Award nomination for his moving turn as Boolie Werthan in 1989’s beloved period drama, Driving Miss Daisy.

Andy Samberg (Lee)

When appearing on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Andy Samberg acknowledged that a movie like Lee – the 2024 biopic about World War II photographer Lee Miller, played by Kate Winslet – is unlike anything the Lonely Island member has done before. However, not only is the SNL vet a dead ringer for Miller's colleague, David Scherman, but he excels in his emotionally heavy portrayal of the man.

Maya Rudolph (Away We Go)

Director Sam Mendes' Away We Go is a sweet, tender-hearted dramedy about a couple (played by John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph) traveling the country in search of a worthy home for their soon-to-be-born child. Carrying most of the emotional weight in the film is Rudolph, resulting in one of her most wonderfully down-to-earth performances from one of SNL's goofiest female performers.

Molly Shannon (A Good Person)

Writer and director Zach Braff's A Good Person – following a young woman (played by Florence Pugh) and her post-accident road to recovery with help from her would-be father-in-law (played by Morgan Freeman) – is led to by heavy-hitting Oscar darlings. Yet, some say the heart and soul of the 2023 dramedy is Molly Shannon's performance as the mother of Pugh's character, for which she gives her most acclaimed, heartfelt dramatic performance yet.

Jay Pharoah (Unsane)

Jay Pharoah only departed from SNL a couple of years breaking into dramatic acting with director Steven Soderbergh's Unsane. The comedian and talented impressionist is electrifying in the mind-bending psychological thriller as a mental hospital patient who befriends Sawyer (Claire Foy), who claims she has been admitted against her will.

Jenny Slate (Obvious Child)

Arguably the most memorable moment from Jenny Slate's one-season SNL stint is when she accidentally dropped the F-bomb during her first show (which she confirmed had nothing to do with her exit, by the way). Years after her time at Studio 8H, the comedian amazed critics with her beautiful and heartbreaking performance in the 2014 romantic dramedy Obvious Child, in which she plays a stand-up comic dealing with an unplanned pregnancy.

Casey Wilson (Gone Girl)

Some might say that a sign of a great actor is the ability to convey all that an audience needs to know just in one's silent expressions. For proof, see Casey Wilson's performance as Amy Dunne's "friend" Noelle Hawthorne in David Fincher's Gone Girl, in which you rarely, if ever, hear her speak but are thoroughly captivated by her body language.

Anthony Michael Hall (The Dead Zone)

In 1984, the same year that Anthony Michael Hall became a teen idol with roles in hilarious, high school movies The Breakfast Club and Weird Science, he became the youngest SNL cast member, coming on at just 17 years old. Years later, he fully reinvented himself as a serious actor as the star of USA's series adaptation of Stephen King's The Dead Zone, in which he plays a man who wakes from a coma with the ability to see the future.

Christopher Guest (The Long Riders)

Christopher Guest joined the SNL cast in 1984, around the same time his career as the most trusted mockumentarian began as one of the writers and stars of This is Spinal Tap. He had shown Hollywood his more serious side years earlier by starring in The Long Riders – a fact-based Western noted for casting real-life siblings as real-life outlaw siblings, such as Guest and his brother, Nicholas, as Charley and Robert Ford.

Jane Curtin (Can You Ever Forgive Me?)

After SNL, Jane Curtin went on to play many great comedic roles – such as her two-time Emmy-winning role on Kate & Allie and an acclaimed stint on 3rd Rock from the Sun – but did not have quite many opportunities to show her more serious side. That would change in 2018 when the one-time "Weekend Update" anchor starred in the biopic Can You Ever Forgive Me? as Marjorie, who works as the agent for author Lee Israel (Melissa McCarthy).

Michael McKean (Better Call Saul)

Interestingly, Michael McKean was already an established comedy actor and had even hosted SNL before he joined as a cast member in the early 1990s. However, his reputation as a dramatic actor was never fully realized before his Emmy-nominated turn on Vince Gilligan's Breaking Bad prequel series Better Call Saul as Chuck, the delusional older brother of Jimmy McGill (former SNL writer Bob Odenkirk).

Joan Cusack (Arlington Road)

Joan Cusack became the first SNL star to earn two Academy Award nominations but both were for comedic roles, namely from 1988's Working Girl and In & Out from 1997. One might argue she deserved similar recognition for her work in 1999's Arlington Road as Cheryl Lang, who, along with her husband (played by Tim Robbins), is suspected of domestic terrorism by their neighbor, a professor (played by Jeff Bridges).

Billy Crystal (Before)

With the exception of, perhaps, the tearjerker ending of When Harry Met Sally..., it is hard to imagine Billy Crystal in a role that doesn't require him to be his signature goofy self. Thus, the comedic genius shocked audiences when he served as the star and showrunner of Apple TV+'s dark thriller Before, in which he plays a widowed child psychiatrist whose newest patient exhibits signs of psychopathy.

Janeane Garofalo (Cop Land)

Janeane Garofalo's time at SNL is largely forgotten but, luckily, did not affect her reputation as one of the smartest and most dynamic comedic actors in the 1990s. She further proved her versatility in 1997 as Deputy Sheriff Cindy Betts in James Mangold's acclaimed crime thriller, Cop Land.

Chevy Chase (Law & Order)

Chevy Chase's bread and butter on and off SNL was playing smarmy jerks. However, he really upped the ante in 2006 for his guest star appearance on Law & Order as an anti-Semitic murder suspect.

Tina Fey (A Haunting In Venice)

In addition to being the Agatha Christie surrogate in Kenneth Branagh's third Agatha Christie adaptation, you could call Tina Fey's clever writer Ariadne Oliver the comic relief of A Haunting in Venice. However, the former SNL star and one-time head writer plays the role in the 2023 mystery thriller with an earnestness that is perfectly suitable for its story and tone.

Jim Belushi (The Principal)

Jim Belushi's stint at SNL was unavoidably a constant source of comparison to his older brother, John Belushi. Luckily, he went on to have a relatively successful run with more dramatic roles, such as a man who takes a job at an anarchic high school in 1987's The Principal.

Rob Riggle (12 Strong)

Rob Riggle's brief time at SNL led to a stint on The Daily Show and scene-stealing turns in comedies like Stepbrothers and 21 Jump Street but his best role might be from 2018's 12 Strong. As he told Stephen Colbert on Late Show, he was uniquely qualified to star in the fact-based military drama, not only because he is a former U.S. Marine but because the person he is portraying, Lt. Colonel Bowers, is his actual former boss.

Randy Quaid (The Last Detail)

One of the few people to become an Academy Award nominee before becoming an SNL cast member is Randy Quaid. He earned the honor from his performance in 1973's The Last Detail as a dishonorable discharged Naval officer who is shown one last good time by his superiors (played by Jack Nicholson and Otis Young) before facing jail time.

Saturday Night Live has jumpstarted dozens of comics' careers over its historic fifty-year run on television, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down as it returns for the 2025 TV schedule. However, landing a job on the iconic variety sketch show is a lot harder than one might seem -- just ask Emmy winner Jennifer Coolidge, who was rejected after auditioning. In fact, many comedy giants who came out of the show, like Andy Samberg, have expressed how terrifying that particular job audition actually is.

For the first time on this scale, many of SNL’s most famous alumni are coming together to talk about what it was like working on the show in the Peacock original documentary SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night. The four-part documentary will cover everything from the history of the show to deep dives into some of the most popular sketches of all time, but it’s also a chance for current and former cast members to reflect back on how they ended up on the all-time great sketch series in the first place.

Only the best of the best make it to Saturday Night Live, which is why the show has such a tremendous track record; however, with that comes an immense sort of pressure not to blow your audition. Andy Samberg gets perhaps the most candid about his tryout experience in the trailer, sharing:

Samberg spent seven years as a cast member on SNL and is largely credited for popularizing the show’s Digital Shorts but judging by his quote; it wasn’t an easy gig to get. Ignoring the fact that he actually threw up, the more interesting tidbit of his quote is the fact that he had to audition more than once. It’s hard to imagine the SNL casting directors not seeing his comedic talent in one audition, but that’s just how serious they are about only casting the best of the best.

Other SNL greats shared similar anecdotes that indicated how terrifying it is to audition for the show, like Pete Davidson, who shared that his audition process was “terrifying.” Even Kenan Thompson, the longest-running Saturday Night Live cast member, cringes at the thought of his initial audition, saying:

Amy Poehler also appears visibly uncomfortable in the trailer when she’s asked to watch her audition tape, telling the documentary producers, “That’s enough,” after simply watching her introduction.

While the highlight of the trailer for me was listening to the comics reflect on the audition process, there’s a ton of great teases for what’s to come in the four-part series. Check it out:

SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night will start streaming on Peacock on January 16th, which is perfect timing since the fifth season of the live sketch show has yet to arrive in post-primetime. However, avid fans of the show should mark their calendars for February 16th, when the official three-hour 50th anniversary special is set to air on NBC.

In the meantime, you can relive every episode of Saturday Night Live by streaming them with an active Peacock subscription.

If there’s one thing Andy Samberg is known for, it’s his comedic chops and his iconic work with The Lonely Island; we’ve even ranked the best Lonely Island music videos if you’re curious. But even comedy greats like Samberg aren’t immune to moments of self-doubt—especially when it involves another beloved comedy institution and one of the best sitcoms of all time. Recently, the Saturday Night Live alum opened up about his initial reaction to Season 3 of The Office’s “Lazy Scranton” video, a parody featuring Michael Scott (Steve Carell) and Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) rapping about Scranton in true Lonely Island-esque style.

For fans who remember, “Lazy Scranton” was a cold open from the episode “The Merger,” where Michael and Dwight introduce new employees to the Dunder Mifflin branch through a cringey-yet-hilarious parody of The Lonely Island’s “Lazy Sunday.” While the skit has become iconic, Samberg admitted in a recent episode of The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers podcast that he wasn’t sure how to take it at first. Sandberg recounted:

It can be tricky to see your work mirrored by others, especially when it’s done with humor. The uncertainty of wondering whether The Office was mocking The Lonely Island or celebrating their influence is a relatable moment for any artist. If you need a reminder of the brilliance of "Lazy Sunday," check it out, linked below.

Seth Meyers clarified the parody was very much rooted in the type of humor that made Michael Scott such a great character you love to hate or hate to love. The Late Night host added:

Samberg further reflected on how the parody tapped into a larger cultural phenomenon. The musically talented SNL veteran continued:

Akiva Schaffer, another member of The Lonely Island, closed out the discussion with a sentiment of appreciation for how far-reaching their work had become. Schaffer chimed in to note, 'we were very flattered.'

Here's The Office's parody:

In the end, it’s clear “Lazy Scranton” wasn’t just a parody but a celebration of the cultural shift–especially when it came to beloved SNL sketches The Lonely Island had created. For Samberg and his team, realizing their work had reached the point of being spoofed by a beloved series like The Office was both humbling and rewarding.

So, next time you watch the cringe-filled brilliance of “Lazy Scranton,” take a moment to appreciate the layers of humor—and the fact that even comedy legends like Andy Samberg sometimes have to pause and ask, “Wait, am I in on the joke?”

The trio of comedy geniuses continues to push comedy and genre. The Lonely Island's next big project is a movie collaboration with Scream’s Radio Silence. Please sign me up.

Check out our 2025 TV schedule to see what is coming to your small screen in the upcoming new year—the entire series of U.S. The Office is available to stream with a Peacock subscription.

One of the most memorable musical acts on Saturday Night Live was The Blues Brothers, which were actually Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. Of course, they are not the only great SNL cast members who have surprised audiences with their musical talents. See for yourself by taking a look at this list of comedic geniuses who can also sing, dance, and play instruments.

Fred Armisen

Fred Armisen has demonstrated his skills with multiple musical instruments on SNL on various occasions, from playing guitar as Prince, drums as Fericito, or piano as Joshua Rainhorn. Outside of Studio 8H, he would perform on his other great sketch comedy TV show, Portlandia, and even served as Seth Meyers' bandleader on Late Night for a while.

Maya Rudolph

Arguably the single funniest SNL sketch led by Maya Rudolph sees her demonstrate her amazing pipes as a woman who overdoes it a little bit with her World Series National Anthem performance. The daughter of famous soul singer Minnie Riperton and composer Richard Rudolph also made a great Beyoncé on the "Prince Show" sketches and, speaking of the late artist, she is part of a cover band called Princess. She even started in music before SNL when she was a keyboardist and backing vocalist for the '90s band The Rentals.

John Belushi

Not only did John Belushi perform with Dan Aykroyd as The Blues Brothers on the Studio 8H stage but the duo also had a record deal, a hit concert tour, and led one of the best SNL movies ever as Jake and Elwood Blues. The late comedian also performed a striking impersonation of Joe Cocker, including once with the "Feelin' Alright" singer himself.

Melissa Villaseñor

One of Melissa Villaseñor's most impressive impersonations on SNL was a spot-on Dolly Parton but she had been matching the vocals of artists like Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears during her earlier stand-up days. Since her SNL exit in 2022, she has continued to demonstrate her singing talent, such as with her collaboration with Wolves of Glendale for the song "Life's Better in Spanish" in 2024.

Dana Carvey

Dana Carvey debuted his character Derek Stevens in an SNL sketch featuring a ridiculous song called, "The Lady I Know," which is concluded with the repeated lyric, "Chopping broccoli." Then and any other time he would appear as the vapid pop star, Carvey would actually play the song on piano, which he would also incorporate into his early stand-up and demonstrated in his audition for the show.

Jimmy Fallon

Before becoming a "Weekend Update" co-host, Jimmy Fallon had a recurring segment with acoustic parodies of hit songs commenting on various topics. He would go on to incorporate his musical talents into his career as a late-night talk show host and has since released a few musical comedy albums.

Eddie Murphy

After his skillful impersonations of artists like Stevie Wonder and James Brown helped save SNL in the 1980s, Eddie Murphy would later prove that his musical prowess was not limited to comedic imitations. He scored a hit single later that decade with "Party All the Time" and became an Oscar-nominated SNL alum with his performance in the 2006 musical, Dreamgirls.

Andy Samberg

Golden Globe-winning former SNL star Andy Samberg is also known as a member of the comedy hip-hop trio The Lonely Island, alongside Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer. Many of the best SNL Digital Shorts, which the group was in charge of, are their music videos, such as "Lazy Sunday" and "I'm On a Boat."

Adam Sandler

Adam Sandler would perform music often on "Weekend Update," whether it was as himself debuting original tunes like "The Hanukkah Song" or as Opera Man, recalling the week's biggest headlines in melody. The Uncut Gems actor continued to make music a part of his career with movies like The Wedding Singer and the musical grown-up animated movie, Eight Crazy Nights, as well as in his stand-up routines.

Dan Aykroyd

If Dan Aykroyd had not introduced John Belushi to the blues, The Blues Brothers would have never taken the Studio 8H stage and experienced the success they had. Outside his performances as Elwood Blues, the Ghostbusters actor also participated in the chorus for the iconic 1985 recording of "We Are the World."

Martin Short

Martin Short's most notable musical contributions to SNL happened after his one-season stint at Studio 8H when he would return as a host. However, the comedian has numerous musical accomplishments outside the show, from his Tony Award-winning performance in Neil Simon's Little Me to an insult-filled duet he and Steve Martin performed while on tour.

Kate McKinnon

While known better for her hilarious physicality and characterizations, Kate McKinnon has had a number of chances to show off her pipes on SNL. For instance, she had host Ariana DeBose in awe when she joined the future Oscar winner for a medley of songs from West Side Story.

Christopher Guest

During his sole season on SNL, Christopher Guest could be seen playing guitarist Nigel Tunfel in one of the best movies about music, the 1984 mockumentary This is Spinal Tap. The fictional English heavy metal group would reunite for subsequent performances and album recordings, namely 1992's Break Like the Wind and 2009's Back from the Dead.

Taran Killam

Very rarely did Taran Killam, who was also a MADtv cast member for a little bit, have much opportunity to sing on SNL. However, he took many opportunities to carry a tune on Broadway, performing in shows like Hamilton and Spamalot.

Ana Gasteyer

Only a singer as talented as Ana Gasteyer could impress Celine Dion with her impersonation of the French-Canadian diva enough to be invited to join her in concert. The SNL star, also known for performing with Will Ferrell as married music teachers, The Culps, has performed on Broadway as well, such as when she played Elphaba in a Chicago production of Wicked.

Kenan Thompson

Many recurring characters played by Kenan Thompson – one of the longest-running SNL cast members – are musically inclined, such as What Up with That? host Diondre Cole. The former All That and Kenan & Kel star for co-writing an R&B parody song called, "Come Back, Barack," which he also performed with Chris Redd and host Chance the Rapper.

Harry Shearer

Harry Shearer, who was on SNL from 1979 to 1980 and once more from 1984 to 1985, has demonstrated his musical talent in movies like This is Spinal Tap and A Mighty Wind. The Simpsons star has also co-written a satirical stage musical called J. Edgar! The Musical and released five solo musical comedy albums.

Garrett Morris

Before he became a Not Ready for Primetime Player, Garrett Morris was a Julliard-trained singer who performed with Harry Belafonte and did various Broadway shows. He utilized these talents in various memorable moments on SNL, such as when he performed a particularly risqué tune as an inmate auditioning for a prison theatre program.

Robert Downey Jr.

Perhaps if Robert Downey Jr. was given a chance to show off his vocal range during his short SNL tenure, he could have lasted a little bit longer. The Oscar winner and Marvel movie star recorded an acclaimed rendition of Joni Mitchell's "River" for a holiday album called Ally McBeal: A Very Ally Christmas and released a studio album in 2004 called The Futurist.

Paul Shaffer

There is really no surprise that Paul Shaffer is musically talented, given his tenure as part of Studio 8H's house band and The Blues Brothers Band and as the bandleader for David Letterman's late-night TV career. What might be surprising to some – despite making history as the show's first F-bomb dropper in an infamous SNL moment – is that he was actually part of the cast during Season 5.

Pete Davidson

Given his popularity, Pete Davidson could probably release a hit album, having debuted some surprisingly good rhymes on SNL and impressed fans with his viral parody of Barbie's "I'm Just Ken," called "I'm Just Pete." The comedian once had the opportunity to perform his favorite song, "Gangster's Paradise," with the legendary rapper who crafted the song, Coolio, for a Comedy Central event.

Jim Belushi

Years after John Belushi's death, Dan Aykroyd teamed up with John's younger brother for an album called Have Love, Will Travel. Jim Belushi would also perform with a more recent iteration of The Blues Brothers Band as "Zee Blues" and he also composed and performed the theme song for his sitcom, According to Jim.

Christine Ebersole

Somehow, SNL never really figured out what to do with Christine Ebersole, whose one-season stint is much forgotten. Luckily, she would still achieve much notoriety for her Tony Award-winning performances in Broadway musicals 42nd Street and Grey Gardens.

Cecily Strong

Before Cecily Strong left SNL in 2022, she had demonstrated her singing talent as one of the main stars of Apple TV+'s musical fantasy comedy series, Schmigadoon! Thus, audiences knew to expect some special when she ended her Studio 8H tenure singing "Blue Christmas" with host and Elvis star Austin Butler.

Chloe Troast

It is a shame that Chloe Troast only lasted one season on SNL because she has one of the strongest singing voices of almost anybody to join the cast. She wowed audiences with songs she performed as a woman posing as a young orphan named Cassidy and as Mama Cass in fake footage from the recording of "Make Your Own Kind of Music."

Michael McKean

Before he joined the cast, Michael McKean appeared on SNL as Spinal Tap's David St. Hubbins and, when he hosted in 1984, was joined by Harry Shearer and Christopher Guest for a special musical performance as their other fictional band, The Folksmen. Speaking of, when The Folksmen reunited for the 2003 mockumentary A Mighty Wind, McKean won a Grammy for its title song, and another track from the film, "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow," earned him an Oscar nomination.

Will Ferrell

Probably Will Ferrell's most famous musically inclined character is Marty Culp but we also know from a certain legendary SNL sketch that he can play the cowbell like no one else. The actor also did all of his own singing in the final act of StepBrothers.

Chevy Chase

There is a great cold open from the first season of SNL in 1976 starring Chevy Chase as future president Ronald Reagan, who tries to prove that the conservative politician and actor could still be "hip" by playing keyboard in a jazz band. The comedian actually plays the keys pretty sloppily in the sketch but that is by design, as he is a very talented piano player in real life. While in college, Chase played drums in a band called The Leather Canary, alongside his college friends Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, a band that would go on to become Steely Dan.

Billy Crystal

Despite blessing SNL with many "mahvelous" memories as a host and brief cast member, none of Billy Crystal's most memorable moments from Studio 8H are particularly musical in nature. However, there are plenty of memorable musical moments throughout his career, such as when he hosted the Oscars and honored the Best Picture nominees with parody renditions of popular songs or when he and John Goodman performed "If I Didn't Have You" for the Monsters Inc. soundtrack.

Phil Hartman

The late Phil Hartman had a million-dollar voice that he put to grand use throughout his time at SNL and in other notable credits from his career but not for anything related to music. However, at the end of his very last show, he participated in a The Sound of Music parody, singing the final "Good night" lyric in such a genuine and endearing fashion.

Jason Sudeikis

During his seven years as an SNL cast member, very rarely did Jason Sudeikis make any musical contributions in a sketch, save when he played possessive '80s pop star "Ocean Billy" in a Worst of Soul Train DVD ad or one-half of Bon Jovi rip-off band, Jon Bovi. He has since gotten more use out of his musical talent on an annual basis by hosting a charity event called Thundergong.

Nasim Pedrad

We heard Nasim Pedrad's singing voice in a few SNL sketches, such as a music video for a song about getting busy with your significant other in your childhood bedroom while staying with family for the holidays. It is a wonder why she never got her own song in Disney's 2019 live-action remake of Aladdin.

Although Andy Samberg has not been one of the SNL hosts in the sketch show’s landmark 50th season, he’s been reliving the glory days lately, between being part of a round of recent viral sketches and making fun of the Olympics, Weekend Update-style on Late Night With Seth Meyers. He was most recently on Charli XCX’s episode in a hilarious digital short called “Here I Go”, which almost could have been called “Dick Out Of The Shorts” instead of a reprise of the iconic "Dick In A Box."

The short has Andy Samberg playing a character who dances around his house singing a song about reporting his neighbors to the cops whatever chance he gets. It’s a funny lil bop that was only made better by Charli XCX having a feature later on the track. However, according to Samberg, he almost had a clothing malfunction while shooting the video. In his words:

Thank goodness this segment wasn’t live! While speaking on The Lonely Island And Seth Meyers Podcast this week, Samberg recalls the conversation around the matching red shorts he wears with Charli XCX later in the song when the duo dance in the streets to “Here I Go.” As he recalled, because the pop singer (who has coined “brat summer” with her viral album) wore some short shorts, he was following her lead, but at one point when he started getting down with Charli and the other dancers, fear started to kick in regarding how much he was revealing.

Crisis averted! Near embarrassment aside, “Here I Go” has been a hit since it aired a couple of weeks ago, earning 1.7 million views on YouTube and tons of hilarious reactions. One person wrote “This the HOA Anthem” while another wrote “this has no business being such a banger.” Tons more of fans are just happy to see Andy Samberg back on the show on a more regular basis lately for Season 50 after years away from the show where he really made a name for himself. And what a time it’s been for the sketch show, especially with Ariana Grande’s Domingo sketch becoming a phenomenon.

Along with his hilarious “Here I Go” sketch, Andy Samberg has been on just about every Season 50 installment, with the actor often depicting Kamala Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff when the presidential election results had yet to be determined. You can catch up on the latest Saturday Night Live episodes now with a Peacock subscription and look forward to the next episode hosted by Paul Mescal on December 7.

It’s somehow been over 12 years since Andy Samberg was a regular on Saturday Night Live, and while he’s popped up a couple of times since then, it’s been a real treat to see him on the season currently airing on the 2024 TV schedule. The Brooklyn Nine-Nine star was cast in a key political role, portraying Kamala Harris’ husband in sketches leading up to the presidential election. Returning for cameos makes for a much more “mellow” experience than being a cast member, Samberg said, but one recent sketch caused all of those stressful feelings to rush back.

SNL is known for its presidential impressions, so with a historic election upon us, it was a no-brainer that the sketch comedy found comedians to represent the biggest players. Lorne Michaels took a big risk in hiring several non-cast members for those roles, and — after second gentleman Doug Emhoff said he hoped someone would portray him — Andy Samberg made a celebrated return. On a recent episode of The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast, he got real about what it’s been like to get back in the swing of things, saying:

Andy Samberg has opened up since his exit about the toll SNL’s schedule takes on its cast members, but it seems his cold opens with Maya Rudolph — another former cast member, who came back to reprise her role as Kamala Harris — have been more relaxed since he's not under that same pressure week after week. However, one bit with Saturday Night Live Season 50 host Michael Keaton really made Samberg feel that anxiety again. He continued:

Being hired to play a specific role is one thing, but apparently it was another for Andy Samberg to be thrown into another random character. On October 19, rather than appearing in a political sketch, Samberg joined cast member Mikey Day in full Beetlejuice dress as part of Michael Keaton’s monologue, which you can see below:

Everything went over just fine for the comedian’s latest appearance, but it seems after what Andy Samberg has been through in the past — “I hadn't slept in seven years,” he said about his exit from the show — I don’t think it takes much for some of that stress to creep back in. Hopefully he’s able to embrace the fun of it, should his appearances continue post-election.

Tune in to see what’s in store for the rest of Saturday Night Live’s historic 50th season, with new shows airing live at 11:30 p.m. ET Saturdays on NBC and streaming with a Peacock subscription.

The idea of having roommates has never been more fun thanks to FOX’s comedy series, New Girl. Even though it’s been over and done with for years, it remains one of the most rewatchable TV shows ever. Aside from hitting play on the hilarious sitcom for all the great bits in the loft, it’s also a blast for all the major actors who guest-starred over the years. While there are way too many for this list to hold, we’ve compiled some of the biggest names that appeared on the show.

Jamie Lee Curtis

Oscar-winner Jamie Lee Curtis guest starred as the mother of Zooey Deschanel’s Jess Day in the Season 2 episode, “Parents.” Curtis was a great pick to match the quirky spirit of the sitcom’s leading character, and she returned to the series five more times after her initial debut on the series in Season 2.

Taylor Swift

When one thinks of Taylor Swift, sure, “actor” isn’t the first title that comes to mind, but over the years the phenomenon of a singer/songwriter has racked up numerous acting credits in projects like The Lorax, Cats and Amsterdam along. Oh, and what about all those epic Taylor Swift music videos? Anyways, Swift made an appearance in the Season 2 finale of New Girl when Cece is getting married to Shivrang. At the altar, the groom calls off the wedding to say that he wants to marry Swift’s character of Elaine instead.

Prince

One of the most memorable moments in New Girl has to be when the cast is invited to go to a party at Prince’s house… and they actually meet Prince. The Season 3 episode came about thanks to the iconic artist expressing interest in appearing in the show as a fan of the comedy. There’s nothing like that scene when Nick and Jess have a freakout when he appears.

Tiffany Haddish

Girls Trip actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish had a small role in the Season 3 episode “Exes” as a date of Damen Wayans Jr’s Coach. She is part of the plotline of Schmidt deciding to get his own apartment and encouraging Winston and Coach to use the place whenever they like for their hookups. In the scene, all three of them have used it at once and it freaks out Haddish’s character of Leslie.

Rob Reiner

All In The Family’s Rob Reiner returned to the sitcom fold as Jess Day’s dad, Bob, in multiple episodes of New Girl. The beloved actor (and director of classics like The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, Misery, This Is Spinal Tap and Stand By Me) was in eleven total episodes of the series, appearing in almost every season of the show.

Lisa Bonet

The Cosby Show’s Lisa Bonet guest starred in the Season 4 episode “Teachers” as an education guru named Brenda Brown. Jess and Coach meet the character while attending together. She calls Coach out for his attitude during the presentation that causes him to stop being Jess’s “buffer” while she tries to ignore her feelings for a British teacher she’s crushing on at her school.

Kaitlin Olson

It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia’s Kaitlin Olson (who is back for Season 17 of the comedy) guest starred in New Girl for two episodes in Season 4. She plays Bob Day’s much younger fiancée, who happened to be the high school rival of Jess and Cece back in the day.

Josh Gad

The Book of Mormon and Frozen’s beloved snowman voice actor Josh Gad guest starred in three separate episodes of New Girl (in Season 2, 3 and 4) as a delivery man named Bearclaw who falls head over heels with Jess. He first appears in the episode “Katie” as a blind date gone wrong before also being in “Birthday” and “Walk of Shame.”

Dermot Mulroney

My Best Friend’s Wedding actor Dermot Mulroney is “Fancyman” in New Girl. The actor appeared as a guest star in eight episodes of the show throughout its run after becoming a favorite in Season 1. In the two part episode “Fancyman,” he is introduced as the wealthy father of one of Jess’s students who she strikes up a romance with.

Olivia Rodrigo

Yes, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series actress turned massive pop star Olivia Rodrigo was on New Girl, but it was before reaching mega-stardom. In the Season 6 episode “Young Adult,” Rodrigo plays one of the students in Jess’s school who becomes a huge fan of Nick Miller’s novel The Pepperwood Chronicles. In an effort for her students (including Rodrigo’s character of Terrinea) to like her better, Jess sets up a meeting between a few of the students and Nick.

Megan Fox

In Season 5 of New Girl, Zooey Deschanel was pregnant in real life and since that was not in the cards yet for Jess Day, the decision was made to have her character leave for a while on Jury Duty while Deschanel went on maternity leave. The creators decided to bring in Megan Fox’s Reagan to take Jess’s place and she ended up being part of 15 episodes of the series. Fox is of course also known for being in the Transformers movies, Jennifer’s Body and the live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie.

Alan Ritchson

Before Alan Ritchson starred in one of the best Amazon Prime shows, Reacher, the actor had a memorable guest spot on New Girl in the episode “Micro”. In the Season 4 episode, Ritchson used his comedic chops as a guy Jess is seeing who she struggles with getting past the fact that Ritchson’s Matt has a micro penis.

Henry Winkler

Happy Days and Barry actor Henry Winkler appeared in New Girl (alongside the incredible Julie Hagerty and Taran Killam) in the Season 5 episode “What About Fred.” In the episode, Jess is dating a guy named Fred (Killam), who she finds very boring, but falls for spending time with his charismatic parents Winkler and Hagerty’s Flip and Nancy.

Parker Posey

Parker Posey, aka the “Queen of the Indies,” especially during the best movies of the 1990s, had a great guest appearance in New Girl during the Season 2 episode “Re-Launch.” Schmidt is having a re-branding party for himself and Posey plays a dishevelled shot girl who was not as advertised.

John Cho

Star Trek’s John Cho appeared on New Girl for the Season 5 episode “Jury Duty.” Jess tries to get out of getting on a case for a chance to be acting principal. She asks her friends to help, but fails miserably in front of Cho’s character, who ends up being the man questioning her for the case after they initially have a flirty meet-cute.

Adam Brody

The OC and Nobody Wants This’s Adam Brody was one of Jess’s ex-boyfriend’s, Berkley, in the Season 3 episode, “Exes.” In the episode, Jess tries to prove to Nick that exes can still be friends by introducing him to Berkley, but she’s proved wrong when she finds out his true intentions.

Quinta Brunson

Before Quinta Brunson was the Emmy-winning creator and star of the hit ABC comedy, Abbott Elementary, she had a brief role in New Girl, in the Season 7 episode “Mario.” When Nick is trying to propose to Jess, she unexpectedly adopts a dog, throwing off his plans. Brunson plays a restaurant host that Nick speaks to on the phone as the plans shift.

Stephen Amell

Arrow star Stephen Amell, who played the Green Arrow for eight seasons on The CW, was on New Girl for a couple of episodes in Season 1. He played Cece’s jerk boyfriend Kyle in “The 23rd” and “Valentine’s Day.” Cece ends things with Kyle in the latter episode after realizing she has feelings for Schmidt.

Jessica Biel

7th Heaven and The Sinner actress Jessica Biel stopped by New Girl for the Season 4 premiere “The Last Wedding.” When the gang goes to yet another wedding, Biel plays a single woman who ends up competing with Jess to earn the affection of its best man (played by Reid Scott).

Justin Long

Justin Long had a memorable guest star arc on the first season of New Girl. He plays Paul Genzlinger, a music teacher co-worker of Jess’s whom she starts dating in time for the show’s first Thanksgiving episode. Paul is often thought of as a male version of Jess. After the couple date for about a month and breakup, Long made a re-appearance in Season 4’s “Walk Of Shame.”

Linda Cardellini

New Girl fans got to meet Jess’s sister, Abby Day, in Season 3 through Linda Cardellini’s three-episode arc. The Dead To Me actress plays Jess’s troublemaker older sibling, who is just about completely opposite to the sitcom’s leading actress. Jess is constantly embarrassed by Abby’s behavior when she comes to stay in the loft after Jess saves her from prison.

Alexandra Daddario

Baywatch and The White Lotus’ Alexandra Daddario played one of the neighbors to the New Girl gang in two episodes of the series. Daddario’s Michelle is deemed as one of the “hot” new neighbors that Schmidt, Winston, Coach scramble to impress after their first meeting left something to be desired. Daddario appears in Season 3’s “Mars Landing” and Season 4’s “Goldmine.”

Andy Samberg

For quite a few years, New Girl and Brooklyn Nine-Nine were both big comedies airing on FOX at the same time. So in Season 6, the networks decided to crossover the comedies with a special New York episode for New Girl. While the friends are in the Big Apple, Jess gets some help from Andy Samberg’s Jake Peralta and the other cast. (The cast of New Girl was also on an episode of B99 called “The Night Shift” that aired the same week in 2016).

Peter Gallagher

The OC’s Peter Gallagher was in multiple episodes of New Girl as Schmidt’s father, Gavin. The vineyard owner first appears in the Season 5 episode “D-Day” when Jess is assisting Schmidt with wedding preparations. Gallagher, who has also been in famous movies like American Beauty and While You Were Sleeping, was a great fit to play Schmidt’s absentee dad.

Randall Park

Before Randall Park became the star of Fresh Off The Boat, Always Be My Maybe and WandaVision, he was briefly in a Season 1 episode of New Girl as an employee at a phone company (with frosted tips), who makes fun of Nick for his crazy low credit score.

Natasha Lyonne

Natasha Lyonne is a famous TV actress for her roles in Orange is the New Black, Russian Doll and Poker Face. Prior to those roles, she had a small role in New Girl’s third episode ever, “Wedding.” She played Gretchen Nelson, an acquaintance of Schmidt, who he ends up sleeping with at every wedding they both attend even though he claims he cannot stand her.

Dylan O'Brien

Teen Wolf star Dylan O’Brien plays the guy Jess Day lost her virginity to on the night of her prom back when she was in high school. In the episode “Virgins” from Season 2, Jess runs into him many years after their first meeting, but what could have been a sexual fantasy turns into an embarrassing moment for the two of them.

Brenda Song

The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody actress Brenda Song was in a few episodes in Season 2 (and one in Season 3) as Daisy, a love interest for Winston. It’s a short-lived romance for Winston, but Song is a guest star in what we consider to be No. 1 of the best New Girl episodes, “Cooler.”

Joey King

Before Joey King was the star of Netflix’s The Kissing Booth movies or the numerous 2024 movies she’s been in like A Family Affair, Uglies and Despicable Me 4, she was a popular child actor who was in Ramona & Beezus with Selena Gomez or the Taylor Swift music video “Mean.” She was also in a Season 1 episode of New Girl called “Bully” as one of Jess’s students.

Carla Gugino

Carla Gugino, known for the Spy Kids movies and being in multiple Mike Flanagan horror projects was in three 2012 episodes of New Girl as Schmidt’s new boss, Emma. In the first episode Gugino stars in “Menzies,” Schmidt gets into a sexual contract with her that doesn’t go as planned.

Nick Kroll

The very funny Nick Kroll is known for starring in The League, along with creating the Kroll Show and Netflix’s Big Mouth. In Season 2’s “Chicago,” where the gang goes to Nick’s hometown for his father’s funeral, Kroll plays one of Nick Miller’s brothers, alongside Bill Burr! You can tell Kroll and Burr had tons of fun with the Chicago accent bringing some levity to a rather emotional New Girl episode.

Fred Armisen

Saturday Night Live favorite (who was behind some of SNL's funniest recurring characters) and Portlandia lead Fred Armisen had a brief role in New Girl for the season five episode “No Girl.” While Jess is at jury duty, the gang rent out her room to random people, and Armisen plays a guy named Brandon. His short time there made a huge impression because of how funny he is with the guys. Remember when he read Schmidt his romance writing or dressed up like Jess at one point?

Saturday Night Live devoted its cold opening last night to the Vice Presidential Debate, and as you’d guess, the sketch ended up being arguably the most talked about segment of the show. It’s already been watched almost a million times on YouTube, and the numbers for smaller clips on X are even higher. Fan response has also been very positive, as it was last week, but even with all those accolades, it’s hard to look at what SNL is doing with election coverage this year and not see an inherent risk.

Let’s run down what looks to be the major SNL players so far this season in election coverage. We have Maya Rudolph as Kamala Harris, James Austin Johnson as Donald Trump, Jim Gaffigan as Tim Walz, Bowen Yang as JD Vance, Dana Carvey as Joe Biden and Andy Samberg as Doug Emhoff. The impressions have all been almost universally praised, but four of those six people doing them aren’t current SNL cast members, which is a big risk for the long-term trajectory of the show.

SNL is, of course, no stranger to bringing in people for specific political impressions. Alec Baldwin’s Donald Trump impression was maybe the most discussed in the history of the show, and Tina Fey continued to play Sarah Palin long after the rest of her duties on the show were done. Getting additional help is definitely not a problem, but this year is particularly notable since there are so many non-cast member impressions happening at the same time. 

On the one hand, it’s easy to see why Lorne Michaels would go in that direction. The goal is to make people laugh, and these impressions are all nailing it. In addition, having a high profile celebrity on the show every week definitely increases the number of eyeballs and makes it a little more culturally relevant. Plus, this year is the famed 50th season of the show, and everyone involved has been very open about their desire to make it special by bringing back former cast members and introducing fun celebrity appearances.

On the other hand, however, the political sketches are typically among the most viewed of the entire season, and they can be a great way to get exposure for the actual cast members. Beloved Not Ready For Prime Time Players like Will Ferrell, Darrell Hammond, Dana Carvey and Phil Hartman all at least partially made their reputations off dynamite political impressions, and there’s a risk in not giving more of that exposure to the next generation of talent. You always need to be building for the future, and while Bowen Yang and James Austin Johnson are able to do that, the other impressions aren’t accomplishing anything toward tomorrow.

You can check out last night’s VP Debate sketch below…

I mean, it’s good. Everything about what they’re doing right now is working. So, I want to make it clear I’m not complaining. I love seeing all these celebrities on SNL, but there is a limited amount of screentime on the show each week. Every minute that goes to a returning celebrity is a minute that doesn’t go to a current cast member. That’s OK in small doses, especially during a milestone year like Season 50, but all involved need to work toward finding a balance because all the increased eyeballs this season could also be a great way to build new stars. 

When one sees Andy Samberg’s name among the cast of a movie, it’s easy to imagine he’ll be in another hilarious comedy, not one of the best war movies in recent memory. And yet, the actor, who memorably was on Saturday Night Live for seven seasons and the star of Brooklyn Nine-Nine for eight seasons, is right there alongside Kate Winslet in Lee. It’s one of the latest 2024 movie releases that tells the true story of one of the few female war photojournalists during World War II, and Andy Samberg portrays her frequent right hand photographer on the ground.

In Lee, Andy Samberg portrays American photojournalist David Scherman, who was alongside Lee Miller for many WWII assignments. After Samberg talked about being out of his comfort zone in his dramatic role, he shared with CinemaBlend his take on being in that headspace with these words:

Kate Winslet has shared how Samberg got the role. Apparently, as a Jewish man himself, the SNL actor really wanted the part of David Scherman and “really went for it” in his audition. Winslet called Samberg herself when they decided to cast him, and the first thing he said was “My mom’s gonna be so proud.”

As the movie portrays, Scherman and Miller’s most iconic collaboration happened when they found themselves inside Adolf Hitler’s apartment in Munich on April 30, 1945 – which is coincidentally the same day the dictator of Nazi Germany died by suicide in Berlin. After the pair of photographers made the realization of where they were, Miller decided to bathe, in what was the first time she’d had hot water on her skin in some time, and posed for the photograph Scherman took. (Check out the photograph in The New Yorker.)

During the filming of Lee, the production had the task of recreating many of the photos Lee Miller took. (In our interview with Kate Winslet, she even told us that she took up film photography with the vintage camera.) While speaking to Samberg, the actor shared what it was like on set when they recreated the image of Miller in Hitler’s bathtub:

Lee is a passion project of Kate Winslet’s that she has been working on getting made for almost a decade. The actress, who also served as a producer on the film, enlisted Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’s cinematographer Ellen Kuras to make her feature directorial debut and do justice to the photojournalist. The movie is now playing in theaters.

Saturday Night Live Season 50 debuted last night and launched with a bang. Unsurprisingly, the first episode of the landmark season kicked off with a political sketch that lampooned the political rallies of U.S. Presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. While it was known that Maya Rudolph would reprise Harris and likely expected that James Austin Johnson would return as Trump, they were joined by some familiar faces. SNL alum Andy Samberg and comedian Jim Gaffigan were revealed to have been cast in key roles, and the Internet is fired up!

Both Andy Samberg and Jim Gaffigan’s roles were connected to the Kamala Harris segments of the cold open. During that portion, Maya Rudolph’s Harris brought out her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who was revealed to be played by Jim Gaffigan. The veteran funnyman effortlessly portrayed Walz, channeling his boisterous personality. And, later on, SNL’s version of Harris brought out her husband, Doug Emhoff, played humorously by Andy Samberg. Check out the sketch in its entirety:

I honestly didn’t have either of these actors on my own bingo card for the Tim Walz and Dough Emhoff roles. When it comes to Wolz, many were thinking that Steve Martin or Parks and Recreation alum Jim O’Heir would be suitable. Ultimately, Martin shot down the notion, admitting he’s not an impressionist, while O’Heir said he didn’t mind being in the mix. However, SNL made a strong choice in the Unfrosted star and the same goes for the Lonely Island co-founder playing Emhoff.

As previously alluded to, fans are also hyped up about these castings. Several of them took to X at some point throughout the broadcast to share their praises for Andy Samberg and Jim Gaffigan. Check out some of the responses below:

• ANDY SAMBERG AS DOUG EMHOFF is killing me so bad lmfao #SNLPremiere - @votekamala
• Holy shit, I hope Kamala Harris and Tim Walz win, because Jim Gaffigan is GREAT as Tim Walz! 😆 - @mmpadellan
• Can yall believe andy samberg and maya rudolph are back together at SNL in 2024[?] - @sqmberg
• Jim Gaffigan as Tim Walz on SNL. Absolutely perfect, no notes. - @consequence
• Andy Samberg playing Doug Emhoff[,] Oh #SNL is so back[.] - @cevanstarshine
• Jim Gaffigan as Tim Walz might be the greatest casting in history[.] - @benjpalmer

On the political comedy front, there were a few more interesting casts during the episode, which welcomed Jean Smart as the first SNL Season 50 host and Jelly Roll as musical guest. Taking on the role of President Joe Biden, as you can see above, was series alum Dana Carvey, whose portrayal of the Commander in Chief was quite humorous. Also, in an interesting development, current cast member Bowen Yang took on the role of Donald Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, during a segment that roasted the senator as a “bad” VP choice.

Much has been said about Saturday Night Live’s method of choosing actors for its political roles. Maya Rudolph opened up about her return as Vice President Harris, saying this marks the first time she’s been in a situation “where the world has determined that I'm doing something before I have.” On the other side of that spectrum, current cast members seemingly have mixed feelings on political sketches utilizing Rudolph and other outside talent. Michael Che opined that it’s probably “frustrating” for someone if they feel they have a better impression.

Still, considering the new castings and plenty of real-life political developments to come in the next several months, fans could be in for some seriously humorous moments on SNL. It never ceases to amaze me how the producers manage to pick and choose such fine talent to portray these real people. Here’s to a great 50th year for the long-running sketch comedy series that’s filled with sharp political satire!

Saturday Night Live airs weekly at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC amid the 2024 TV schedule and is set to welcome Nate Bargatze and Coldplay next week, October 5. Also, you can stream this week’s episode now using a Peacock subscription.

Over the summer, the 2024 Paris Olympics were eventful, to say the least. Between falling in love with the Men’s Gymnastics team (yes, we’re looking at you Pommel Horse Guy), the viral breakdancer Raygun, and Tom Cruise’s wild stunt to close out the games, a lot happened. And as former Saturday Night Live cast member Andy Samberg made apparent, too many of them happened without a parody on Weekend Update. So, of course, he has amended this on Late Night With Seth Meyers.

Andy Samberg Takes Over Late Night With Seth Meyers To Parody An Olympic Moment

Andy Samberg visited his fellow Saturday Night Live alum and real-life friend while promoting one of the latest 2024 movies, Lee. In the middle of the interview segment, Samberg shared he wanted to “hijack” the whole show by working through a Weekend Update idea he had inspired by the 2024 Olympics. Check it out:

As many of the TikTok commentators spoke to, this was giving major Jake Peralta energy from Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and I’m howling with laughter. Samberg basically did a jump scare Weekend Update segment by running out of the interview before coming back in as a stereotypical Frenchman to make all the dick jokes about the viral pole vaulting video that had Anthony Ammarati missing out on the gold because he hit the crossbar with his crotch. Or, as Samberg’s parody put it, with his “gift”, leading him to tumble to the ground.

The Samberg and Meyers’ bit is extra funny because of how ridiculous Samberg's accent is and how excited he is to shoot off a ton of dick jokes one after the other to relive the glory days with Meyers for a moment. We sure do miss these two on Weekend Update!

How The Internet Reacted To Anthony Ammirati's Funny Pole Vaulting Snafu

Just to backtrack a bit, the Anthony Ammarati viral moment happened on August 3, leading him to miss a place in the final for the Olympic sport. If you missed out on the moment when it was happening live, here’s one reaction from Twitter at the time:

At the time of the incident, the 21-year-old pole vaulter called it a “big disappointment,” but as one pole vaulting coach told Today, the viral moment is a “very common occurrence” in the sport. Even so, it’s kind of too good not to make some light of.

Oh, it’s too funny. Hopefully Anthony Ammarati can laugh about the whole thing. It’s surely not the worst thing in the world to go viral for having a sizable bulge. The sketch is a reminder of Andy Samberg being one of the iconic guests on Weekend Update many times in the past during his time on the show from 2005 to 2012. While he’s spoken about the toll SNL took on him over the years, he clearly missed doing a bit of parody with his pal, Seth Meyers.

Andy Samberg is known for his comedic antics, as he's starred in some of the funniest SNL sketches to playing detective Jake Peralta on the critically acclaimed comedy series Brooklyn Nine-Nine. But, last year, Samberg worked on the upcoming book-to-screen adaptation Lee, in which he plays real-life photojournalist David Scherman. Fellow actor Kate Winslet offered the part to him and recently told the story behind giving Samberg his first dramatic role as well as the sweet reaction he had.

The upcoming biopic Lee is based on the biography The Lives of Lee Miller, which is about model-turned-war photographer Lee Miller. She witnesses the horrors of WWII through her camera while capturing photos for Vogue magazine. Kate Winslet, who plays the titular role, told BBC about how taken she was by Andy Samberg’s audition for her new movie:

Aw, that truly was a sweet reaction from Andy Samberg! Considering how movies can highlight Jewish-American experiences, I'd imagine it was a major honor for Samberg to take on the role of David Scherman. I’m sure the Hot Rod actor's mom, family and friends will be proud of what he brings to the big screen a swell.

Though the Lonely Island co-founder is known for being a funnyman, it's still somewhat wild to think that he hasn't truly dipped his toe into the realm of drama before now. Some may be tempted to think that such a switch-up would be hard for him. However, he apparently has a knack for it, as Kate Winslet continued to laud his performance in Lee:

There are so many comedians who were excellent in dramatic roles like Robin Williams, Jim Carrey and Steve Carell. Such stars incredibly talented, considering that they've mastered both sides of the performing arts coin. It's been said by a number of actors across both spectrums of the arts that comedy is very difficult. So one would think that contributes to the ease with which some transition into drama.

Kate Winslet has worked with some incredible actors over the years and clearly knows talent when she sees it. Based on her account, audiences are sure to be moved by Andy Samberg’s performance in Lee. I can’t wait to see the fan-favorite actor's dramatic chops shine through. And here's hoping this won't be the last time he decides to dive into the genre.

Lee opens in theaters on September 27th, and be sure to read up on other titles on the 2024 movie schedule.

For many, Amy Poehler is a guiding light. Her comedic influence is a big one for lots of young comedians, and she is known for often working with some of her closest friends. This was true for Andy Samberg, who starred on SNL with her and made one of the best guest appearances on Parks and Recreation. Apparently, something the Sisters actress said to him during this experience on her NBC comedy ended up being formative for the actor, who went on to star in his own beloved sitcom, Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

Samberg recently sat down with Kevin Hart on his Peacock talk show, Hart to Heart, where he opened up about his experience working on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and what led him to starring in a sitcom. He explained that guest starring on Parks and Rec was very important for him, and it was Amy Poehler who recommended the sitcom life to the Lonely Island frontman. He said:

Saturday Night Live is famously a grind, with crazy schedules that include all-night writing sessions and the pressure of getting your sketches on air. Even the best SNL alums have reflected on the exhausting experience of working on the show, and how it was sometimes anxiety-inducing. The experience and consistency of working on a sitcom is much less taxing, and many comedians have turned to the format after their tenure on the show. It makes sense why Parks and Rec would’ve been a nice reprieve for Poehler after SNL, and why she would recommend the same experience to Samberg.

Also, the Palm Springs star knew he was in great hands with creatives like Mike Schur and Dan Goor. Schur is a modern-day sitcom legend, being one of the minds behind shows like The Office, The Good Place, and Parks and Rec. Dan Goor also had a great reputation for being a comedy writer on shows like Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show, and later Parks and Rec. With such a great experience on Poehler's comedy in the rearview and her words in his mind, Brooklyn Nine-Nine was probably a no-brainer.

The decision ended up being a fantastic one. Brooklyn Nine-Nine is still beloved, and when the show was initially canceled by Fox, a fan campaign quickly led to it being picked up on NBC.

Like the cast of Parks and Rec, the ensemble of Brooklyn Nine-Nine seemed to love working together too. It established Samberg as leading man material, and the actor has since branched out into other creative projects like Palm Springs, Celeste and Jesse Forever, and is about to take on a dramatic role in Lee, which stars Kate Winslet.

Overall, Poehler seems to have had Samberg’s best interest at heart, and we should all be eternally grateful to her that she, in a small way, helped Brooklyn Nine-Nine come to fruition.

Fans of Andy Samberg can revisit him in Brooklyn Nine-Nine now with a Netflix subscription. You can also see his guest appearance in the first episode of the second season of Parks and Recreation titled “Park Safety,” with a Peacock subscription, along with episodes from both their Saturday Night Live tenures.

Saturday Night Live has been running for decades on NBC (and streaming with a Peacock subscription), and is showing no signs of slowing down. The beloved sketch comedy series is a dream job for many comedians, although SNL is a notoriously exhausting job. Andy Samberg recently got real about the toll SNL takes on cast members after years and years, being quoted saying "I just kinda fell apart." Let's break it all down.

Samberg joined SNL back in 2005, and was in the cast for seven seasons until his departure in 2012. He and the folks at The Lonely Island were responsible for some truly iconic digital shorts, including Justin Timberlake's "Dick in a Box." While appearing on Kevin Hart's show Hart to Hart, the Brooklyn Nine-Nine star spoke about how digital shorts became a regular pat of the sketch show, offering:

While at first the Lonely Island boys' digital shorts came organically, it was more difficult when tasked with creating one for every new episode of SNL. And the pressure started really mounting when Andy Samberg's collaborators Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccon departed to work on other projects. 

Later in that same interview, the Palm Springs star revealed how physically taxing the schedule for Saturday Night Live became for him, especially because he was working on digital shorts as well as the live segments. In Samberg's words: 

Sounds pretty brutal, right? The schedule itself is dizzying, especially the lack of sleep on Samberg's part. And that level of exhaustion doesn't even take into account bad shows, or when Lorne Michaels cuts SNL sketches. So who can really blame the 45 year-old comedian/actor for eventually departing the iconic sketch show? 

This look behind the curtain shows just how insanely hard the cast and crew of SNL works for the show every week. And while audiences are quick to criticize bad episodes, there's a ton of effort (and a lack of sleep) going into each new installment. 

Andy Samberg's time on SNL can be streamed by watching Peacock. Check out the TV premiere list to plan your next binge watch. 

Saturday Night Live has become a rite of passage for many comedians, allowing them to hone the craft they’ve already started perfecting in improv groups like The Groundlings while also making them household names in the comedy scene. Unfortunately, most cast members reach a point where they feel the need to leave the show in order to pursue new ventures. According to alumni Andy Samberg, that’s not the case for Kenan Thompson, who is still killing it on SNL while also working on other projects.

Andy Samberg has made headlines recently reflecting on his time on the historic variety show, including opening up about the popular digital short “Dick In A Box,” which he later performed with Justin Timberlake at a concert. Now he’s sitting down with fellow comedian Kevin Hart as part of the Hart to Heart Peacock original series to discuss his career.

While the episode has yet to air on the 2024 TV schedule, the official YouTube account for the series shared an exclusive look at the interview, where Hart talked about Thompson’s illustrious career on SNL. Samberg matched his enthusiasm immediately, sharing his own thoughts about the comedian’s talents on the series:

Unlike some of the greats who have come up through SNL by way of Second City or The Groundlings, Thompson got his start in sketch comedy on the Nickelodeon variety show All That at just 16 years old. He went on to star in a handful of family movies and sitcoms before joining the cast of Saturday Nightly Live in 2003. After two years as a “featured player,” he was promoted to “repertory player,” or full-time cast member, in 2005 where he has remained since. He currently holds the record for the cast member appearing the longest at 21 years and counting.

It’s a tremendous feat, given how difficult live sketch comedy is to get right, and a testament to how much he enjoys the job, which Hart pointed out in the interview. There’s no denying that the Kenan & Kel star loves what he does, but Samberg was also quick to point out how incredibly good he is at it too:

Back in 2022, Thompson made history by appearing in 1,500 sketches — a number that has definitely increased in the last two years. While not all of them go on to be the biggest sketch of the year, landing among the most popular SNL clips on YouTube, they still deserve recognition, specifically for his role in them.

The Brooklyn Nine-Nine star is right to praise the SNL actor for his ability to stay in character even in the most absurd sketches. Case in point: the viral Beavis and Butt-head sketch that had everyone breaking character, except for Thompson.

There’s no denying that Thompson will go down in history as one of the greatest cast members of the variety sketch show — especially if the series ends during Season 50 as rumors suggest. However, Samberg should also hold space for his own talents on Saturday Night Live and his hard work in making the SNL Digital Shorts sketches what they are today.

You can stream Andy Samberg’s full interview with Kevin Hart with a Peacock subscription on July 11th. While you’re there, consider checking out past Saturday Night Live episodes that are also available on the popular streaming service.

Throughout Saturday Night Live’s nearly 50-season run, the series has brought out some very memorable musical guests who rocked the studio and sketches that you can’t help but laugh at no matter how many times you’ve seen it. For example, “Dick in a Box” -- the digital short featuring Andy Samberg and Justin Timberlake, initially aired in 2006 but is shown for every single Christmas compilation episode -- is an irresistible fan-favorite. While it's not one of the most popular SNL clips on YouTube, it's certainly one of the show's incredibly iconic digital shorts. However, Samberg recalled a time he completely botched a live performance of it.

During an episode of The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast, the hosts got to talking about the sketch, and Samberg looked back at the time he performed the song with Timberlake at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden back in 2007. Before the performance, he was pretty jazzed about it, and I can’t say I blame him:

Despite being excited for the performance, it did not go as planned when it came time to actually do it in front of thousands of people. Samberg recalled how the in-ears he had never used before fell off, and he had no idea what to do next, meaning that thousands of people are seeing him absolutely screw up the performance:

That was only just the beginning, unfortunately. The Brooklyn Nine-Nine alum went on to share details of what happened for the remainder of the performance and how people reacted afterward. He did take it like a pro, though, but hopefully, it didn’t crush him too much. However, it does sound like it’s stayed with him for almost 17 years, even if the other members of The Lonely Island were laughing about it:

Since that was Andy Samberg’s first time using the in-ears and doing a live performance at that capacity, it’s not surprising to hear that there were some kinks in the plan.

In-ears are vital to hearing directions and sound, and without them, musicians wouldn’t know how they sound or where to come in. Regardless, even professional artists mess up every once in a while. It is also nice to hear that people were just laughing after Samberg got off stage and they weren't angry that he messed it up because sometimes, you just have to laugh.

Now that much time has passed, maybe Samberg and Justin Timberlake can reunite again and perform “Dick in a Box” live. It's a great sketch featuring an A+ host and it needs to happen. JT is currently on tour through December, so it's not outside the realm of possibilities. Especially after hearing the SNL alum talking about the nightmare performance, it would be fun to see him come back and nail it.

In the meantime, though, the legendary song is available to watch on YouTube whenever or with a Peacock subscription, along with many other festive sketches. “Dick in a Box” remains one of the best SNL sketches and botched performances will definitely not change that.

In recent years, the creatives behind Radio Silence Productions have made a name for themselves in the horror space, including making the most recent Scream movies, V/H/S films, Ready Or Not and 2024’s vampire flick Abigail. Following its directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett no longer helming Scream 7, they are pursuing new projects. Their latest collaboration will be with Andy Samberg, and it sounds like a blast!

We’re already sold just based on the title, which is, get ready for it, called The Robots Go Crazy. According to Deadline, Andy Samberg is getting ready to star and produce in the action comedy that will be helmed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. Samberg’s working with his Lonely Island production company, Party Over Here, and Radio Silence will also produce.

While we don’t know at the moment what the movie will actually be about, the title is, of course, exceptional. Why do the robots go crazy? Is it a futuristic comedy about literal robots or just a wildly outlandish title? Lonely Island has a track record of having great titles, especially with 2016’s Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping.

The script comes from Andrew Lanham, who previously worked on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Michael B. Jordan’s Just Mercy. Lanham is also producing alongside Chad Villella from Radio Silence, and Ali Bell and Jorma Taccone from Party Over Here.

The Lonely Island is composed of Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer, who met in junior high before they were hired by Saturday Night Live in 2005. From there, the group produced a ton of SNL Digital Shorts that went viral. Remember “Dick In A Box”? “I’m On A Boat” with T-Pain? How about “I Just Had Sex” or “YOLO”? That was all Lonely Island’s doing. (We’ve ranked the best Lonely Island music videos, if you’re curious).

From there, they went on to produce a ton of movies and TV shows like Hot Rod, Neighbors and Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special. One of their more recent films was 2020’s Palm Springs, which made our best romantic comedies of all time list and Jake Johnson’s Self Reliance.

I'm super curious about what happens when the creatives behind The Lonely Island and the latest Scream movies get in the same room. The movie struck a deal with Amazon MGM Studios. Aside from this exciting collaboration, there’s been talk that Radio Silence is working on a Ready or Not sequel, and Andy Samberg is working on a romantic comedy with Jean Smart called 42.6 Years, about a man who wakes from an experimental cryogenic procedure over 40 years later to hopes of getting his now-much-older ex-girlfriend back (Smart).

We’ll keep you posted here on CinemaBlend as we learn more about The Robots Go Crazy.

The Parks and Rec cast by itself is legendary. Amy Poehler, Nick Offerman, Rob Lowe, Chris Pratt, Aubrey Plaza, Rashida Jones, Adam Scott and more served as regulars on the series for years, and to this day their characters are beloved. However, what made this show even more special was its constant stream of guest stars played by living legends. Everyone from Bill Murray to Michelle Obama to Ben Schwartz appeared on the NBC classic, and today, we’re here to talk about them. 

Paul Rudd

Now, I know we love Paul Rudd for his movies, but we also need to appreciate his brilliant work as Bobby Newport on Parks and Rec. During Season 4, the actor joined the cast to play the man running against Leslie Knope for a city council position. Overall, Bobby is childish, not smart and spoiled, and Rudd plays this silly idiot brilliantly. 

Bill Murray

Obviously, Bill Murray’s funniest roles include iconic characters like Phil Connors in Groundhog Day and Dr. Peter Venkman in Ghostbusters. However, his guest spot on Parks and Rec was unexpected and incredibly memorable. I write this because, for one episode in Season 7, the Saturday Night Live legend played Walter Gunderson, the dead mayor of Pawnee. 

Kathryn Hahn

Playing the cutthroat campaign manager Jen Barkley, Kathryn Hahn made a glorious (and a smidge evil) impact on Parks and Rec. She played a cutthroat manager who worked for Bobby Newport at first, and across ten episodes she popped in from time to time to both help and harm Leslie’s political career. 

Ben Schwartz 

Arguably, Jean-Ralphio Saperstein is one of the best recurring guest stars in Parks and Rec history. The rich boy who is friends with Tom is ridiculous, scammy and he’s constantly trying to flirt with everyone and sing whenever he can. While he’s 100% the worst, he’s also totally not “the WORRRRRRSSSSSTTTT,” if you know what I mean.  

Jenny Slate

In a stroke of perfect casting, Jenny Slate popped into Parks and Rec to play Jean-Ralphio’s sister Mona Lisa Saperstein. The siblings truly are the most chaotic duo, however, they’re also the two of the funniest extra side characters the sitcom has to offer. Just don’t fall for it when they ask for “money please!”

Henry Winkler

After getting to know Jean-Ralphio and Mona Lisa, we meet their father, Lu Saperstein in Season 6. Played brilliantly by Henry Winkler, the patriarch of the Saperstein family is a successful doctor who is willing to go to any financial length to help his kids. 

Sam Elliott

In the later seasons of the show, we met the Eagleton Parks Department. Ironically, each member of that crew matched up with a member of the Parks and Rec cast, and when it came to picking someone to play Nick Offerman’s Ron Swanson’s counterpart, they cast Sam Elliott as Ron Dunn. While they both have legendary mustaches and an appreciation for the outdoors, that’s where the similarities stop, and seeing Ron and Anti-Ron go head-to-head was hilarious. 

Joe Biden

Leslie loves her politicians and had a massive crush on then-Vice President Joe Biden. As an engagement gift, Ben decided to give her the perfect present and prove that he’s the ideal man, by coordinating a meet and greet between Leslie and Joe Biden.

Patton Oswalt

When Leslie tries to change Pawnee’s charter to get rid of some silly laws – like throwing a Ted into a lake – Garth Blundin makes his disapproval clear. Patton Oswalt plays the historian, and he challenges Amy Poehler’s character to a filibuster and a day of living like a colonial person. Ultimately, he and Leslie find common ground, and he joins forces with her to help preserve the laws…he also volunteers to get thrown in the lake.

Michelle Obama

As Leslie tries to figure out if she should take a job at the National Parks Department and leave Pawnee, Michelle Obama comes in to tell her about why she should take it. Let’s just say if I met the First Lady, I think I’d be just as star-struck as Leslie Knope. How could you not stumble over your words if you casually bumped into the First Lady of the United States?

Bo Burnham

Some of the funniest stand-up on Netflix comes from Bo Burnham, and in his special Make Happy, he sings a “Country Song” that pokes fun at the cliches in the genre and how some artists are masters at pandering to their audiences. On Parks and Rec, he worked with that idea as well by playing country singer Chipp McCapp who Leslie and Andy tried to hire for a performance at the Unity Concert. His songs like “Beautiful Like My Mom (Support the Troops)” were truly hilarious, and they complimented the stand-up comedian's sense of humor very well. 

John McCain

Parks and Rec knows how to do a political cameo, and one of the best ones came when Leslie didn’t even realize she’d just met John McCain in a coat closet. She was so distraught over interacting with #4 and #26 on Leslie’s list of amazing women, that she didn’t even notice she was speaking with the senator. 

Megan Mullally

You know chaos mode has been activated when Ron’s second ex-wife Tammy II enters the chat. She’s constantly trying to simultaneously take Ron down and get back together with her, and his efforts to avoid it are truly hilarious. However, what really makes this dynamic duo so hysterical and one of the best recurring inside jokes on Parks and Rec is the fact that Tammy II is played by Nick Offerman’s real-life wife Megan Mullally. 

Will Forte

Amy Poehler and Will Forte were both in some of SNL’s best casts, and it was such a treat to see them reunite on Parks and Rec. In his episode, Forte played Kelly, a man who really wants to get the Twilight books put in Pawnee’s town time capsule. When Leslie refuses and then agrees, it starts an outcry over what can and can’t go in the capsule via a chaotic town meeting. 

Jon Hamm

According to Leslie, Jon Hamm’s Ed is the “most incompetent person I’ve ever worked with.” He worked for our leading lady when she was at the National Parks Department, and he was swiftly fired by her not long after we met him. 

John Cena

In an epic episode of Andy’s show, the Johnny Karate Super Awesome Musical Explosion Show, Burt Macklin, FBI, arrested John Cena – who was wearing so much of his own WWE merch – and took him to the dunk tank. Talk about a dream come true for Andy and viewers.

Keegan-Michael Key

There’s no question that all our hearts grew a few sizes when Donna married Keegan-Michael Key’s Joe. The comedian played the “Treat yo’ self’ queen’s boyfriend-turned-husband in Seasons 6 and 7, and it’s safe to say that we all adored this music teacher. 

Bradley Whitford

Considering Parks and Rec is a show about government and Rob Lowe is one of its stars, it made perfect sense for a West Wing cast member to pop into the sitcom. It was done perfectly too, because the team brought in Josh himself, as Bradley Whitford played Councilman Pillner, the man Leslie replaces on City Council and a model boat enthusiast. 

J.K. Simmons

Remember Ice Town? Well, Ben’s hometown of Partridge and J.K. Simmons’ Mayor Stice sure do. And that became clear as day when an episode of Parks went back to Adam Scott’s character’s hometown so he could get a key to the city, which ended up just being melted water in a box…because Ice Town. 

Patricia Clarkson

While Megan Mullally’s Tammy II is truly unhinged and chaotic, Tammy I is cold, calculated, and manipulative. She’s played by Patricia Clarkson, and she really adds to the hilarious chaos that is Ron Swanson’s love life. 

Andy Samberg

Back when Andy Samberg was still on Saturday Night Live and before he led his own sitcom, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, he guest starred on Parks and Rec as the incredibly loud Park Ranger Carl. During Season 2, Leslie worked with Carl on a few issues of Parks security, and let's just say that she “might not be so confident, when [she has to] walk a mile in [Carl’s]  size sevens.” 

Rachel Dratch

In the final season of Parks and Recreation, Amy Poehler’s Saturday Night Live co-star Rachel Dratch appeared as Roz Pinwheel, the nanny of Leslie and Ben’s triplets. While a small role, it was such a nice (and funny) nod to the two comedians' time together on the legendary sketch comedy show.

Nick Kroll

If you were looking to get humiliated on the radio look no further than "The Douche." This hilarious and terrible radio host was played by the mastermind behind one of the best animated shows, Big Mouth, Nick Kroll, and anytime he showed up to host a radio spot on the series, you knew something wild was about to go down.

Chelsea Peretti

While Leslie ran for City Council, April filled in for her one time, and during one of her seminars Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Chelsea Peretti showed up as one of the attendees, Zelda. Fun fact: before Peretti was part of the Brooklyn Nine-Nine cast, she actually wrote two episodes of Parks and Rec, which helps explain her lil cameo in the series. 

Kristen Bell

Kristen Bell was quite literally the perfect person to play Leslie Knope’s Eagleton councilwoman counterpart, Ingrid de Forest. It turns out, Bell was born to thrive on a comedy like this, because after Parks and Rec, she went on to lead the cast of The Good Place, which was Michael Schur’s next show after Parks.  

Dax Shepard

When Tom decides to become Andy’s manager as he works on Johnny Karate, they have a run-in with Hank Muntak, a TV executive in Pawnee who is played by Dax Shepard. Before this guest spot, the actor had spent a lot of time on NBC as one of the stars of Parenthood, these days you can find him hosting his podcast Armchair Expert. 

Will Arnett

Before Leslie meets and falls in love with Ben, she goes on some wildly terrible dates, including one with MRI technician Chris. At the time, Amy Poehler and Will Arnett were actually married (they’re divorced now), making this blind date even funnier because they were a real-life couple too. 

Sean Hayes

Bobby Wood was Indianapolis’ best talk show host, and he was played by Sean Hayes. As television appearances tend to go for Leslie and co. her interview with him didn’t exactly go well, and both comedic actors were so funny in the moment. 

Fred Armisen

You can always count on Fred Armisen to play the wildest goofy guys, and he did exactly that on Parks and Recreation. In the episode “Sister City,” the SNL vet appeared as Raul Alejandro Bastilla Pedro de Veloso de Maldonado, the Venezuelan officer who came to represent his city on a trip to Pawnee. 

Tatiana Maslany

Tom Haverford’s love life was always a funny point of interest on Parks and Rec, especially because it was only brought up occasionally. For instance, in Season 6, he had a short-lived relationship with Tatiana Maslany’s Nadia Stasky, a doctor who eventually left Pawnee and moved to Rwanda.  

Parker Posey

Indie darling Parker Posey came on to Parks and Rec to play Lindsay Carlisle Shay. The character was Leslie’s counterpart from Eagleton, meaning she was the Deputy Parks Director in Pawnee’s fancy rival town. The twist here was that Lindsay was actually Leslie’s friend and went behind her back a long time ago to take the job in Eagleton. 

Jason Schwartzman

Jason Schwartzman’s role in Parks and Rec presented an interesting issue for Pawnee when he decided to turn his video rental store into an adult store. Watching Leslie flounder as she figured out how to help the character played by the Asteroid City star was so funny, and the character of Dennis was perfect for Schwartzman.  

Honestly, the guest stars from Parks and Rec are next level. From comedy geniuses to beloved dramatic actors, so many notable names took a quick trip to Pawnee, Indiana and I love that for them, this wonderful show and us. 

It’s been about four months since Andre Braugher died, and the cast of Brooklyn Nine-Nine paid tribute to the late Captain Holt. The love among the cast of the beloved comedy was clear then, and it’s apparent now, as the ensemble, including Andy Samberg, Terry Crews, and more reunited to reminisce and pay tribute to their beloved co-star and captain. 

As Brooklyn Nine-Nine absolutely dominates the Netflix charts, and fans start to discover or re-discover the adored comedy about the crew at the Nine-Nine, Melissa Fumero and the cast got together. Taking to Instagram to post about their reunion, the Amy actress uploaded a sweet group photo that featured OG cast members: Dirk Blocker, Stephanie Beatriz, Terry Crews, Chelsea Peretti, Joel McKinnon Miller, Joe Lo Truglio, Fumero, Andy Samberg and the show’s co-creator David Goor. 

Then, re-posting the sweet group photo on Instagram, Terry Crews reiterated Fumero’s caption, and added:

Adding to the sentimental post, Crews also tagged Braugher, showing that while the beloved actor we lost in 2023 is gone, he will never be forgotten. The comments on the actor’s post couldn’t agree more with the message from the cast. Many noted how much they miss the man behind Captain Holt as well as how heartwarming it was to see the crew back together in the comments of Crews’ post:

• "Oh captain, my captain" -yartharthathwani 
• "his squad forever. nine nine 💙" -briannamckee.x 
• "I miss Andre😢" -1616headzy_ 
• "Nine nine! ♥️ #ripandre" -katyfreitaas 
• "Just the best. ⭐️ Nine-Nine." -beezus218 

While Brooklyn Nine-Nine came to an end almost three years ago, the love for it is still going strong. To this day, iconic moments, like the “I Want It That Way” cold open and Jake’s repeated one-liners like “Cool, cool, cool,” are referenced all the time. 

Now, it seems like Brooklyn Nine-Nine is finding a new audience on Netflix, and Fumero said she hopes it has “another little life” on the streamer. Considering the everlasting love for shows like Friends, Gilmore Girls and Suits, I’d say this Fox-turned-NBC sitcom has a great chance of finding new audiences for years to come. 

It brings me joy to see that even though the cast has moved on to other projects on the 2024 TV schedule, they still find time to see each other. Being able to get an image of the Nine-Nine together again is so heartwarming. While it’s tragic their captain has passed, it’s wonderful to see the ensemble paying tribute to him.

I know I miss seeing Jake, Terry and co. on my screen every week, and I’d give anything to see Captain Holt back in action with the Nine-Nine. However, this wholesome group photo and their lovely tribute to Andre Braugher makes my heart happy!

To go back and reminisce like the cast did, you can stream Brooklyn Nine-Nine with a Netflix subscription or a Peacock subscription. 

In its several decades on air, Saturday Night Live has made icons out of many of its cast members. For some — including some of SNL’s one-season wonders — you might argue that the sketch comedy series is the peak of their careers, until you remember the acclaimed and widely beloved movies and TV shows they would go on to star in. Take a look at our picks for the finest work some of our favorite SNL stars have put out beyond their time at Studio 8H.

Eddie Murphy (Coming To America)

48 Hrs. and Beverly Hills Cop made him a movie star, but Coming to America might be the absolute best Eddie Murphy movie, especially as the first to show just how far the comic’s extraordinary talents extend. He gives his most heartfelt performance as an African prince searching for love in New York City, but that is far from his only role in this dazzling romantic-com from 1988.

Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids)

Along with her writing partner, Annie Mumolo, Kristen Wiig joined the club of Oscar-nominated SNL stars for penning this 2011 instant classic comedy. She also transcends what made her a Studio 8H all-star by leading the Bridesmaids cast with her most down-to-earth performance yet as a baker suffering an existential crisis after her best friend (played by Maya Rudolph) gets engaged.

Adam Sandler (Uncut Gems)

Some argue that an SNL star who should have been nominated for an Oscar is Adam Sandler for his performance in one of the best A24 movies, Uncut Gems. If self-destructive jeweler Howard Rattner had been played by anyone else but the guy behind “The Hanukkah Song” and movies like Happy Gilmore, it might have been tough to root for the protagonist of Josh and Benny Safdie’s anxiety-fueled, 2019 crime drama.

Kate McKinnon (Barbie)

After previously working with Margot Robbie in Bombshell and making the A-lister laugh uncontrollably in an SNL sketch, Kate McKinnon reunited with the Australian actor in the Barbie cast in 2023. The Emmy-winner is perfect as “Weird Barbie” — now a real doll in Mattel’s catalog — in co-writer and director Greta Gerwig’s cleverly satirical and surprisingly moving blockbuster based on the legendary toy.

Will Ferrell (Stranger Than Fiction)

We love Will Ferrell in funny movies like Elf and Talladega Nights, but never has he given a performance as tender, reserved, and relatable as his Golden Globe-nominated role in Stranger Than Fiction. That is only one reason director Marc Forster’s inventive 2006 dramedy is his best movie in our eyes.

Molly Shannon (Wet Hot American Summer)

The Wet Hot American Summer cast is full of actors who went on to become superstars, but one of the biggest names among that ensemble at the time was SNL great Molly Shannon. She stars in the 2001 cult-favorite summer comedy classic as camp counselor Gail, who seeks consolation for her second divorce from surprisingly mature adolescent campers.

Bill Murray (Lost In Translation)

To this day, many believe that Bill Murray should have won the Academy Award for his performance in one of the best movies of the 2000s, Lost in Translation. Also one of the best movies produced by Focus Features, he stars in writer and director Sofia Coppola’s Oscar-winning sophomore effort as a disillusioned actor who strikes up a unique bond with a young woman (played by Scarlett Johansson) who is also struggling to navigate her life after meeting in Japan. 

Tina Fey (Mean Girls)

From her time on SNL as a cast member and head writer to her development of beloved comedies like 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Tina Fey has had one of the most impressive careers in comedy, let alone show business in general. However, her one credit that has best stood the test of time is her sharply satirical high school movie, Mean Girls, which she adapted from Rosalind Wiseman’s book and also stars in as Ms. Norbury.

Dan Aykroyd (The Blues Brothers)

Dan Aykroyd may have a Best Picture Oscar winner under his belt (Driving Miss Daisy, for which he also received an acting nomination) and also wrote and starred in one of the beloved Ghostbusters. However, the movie that he will always be best known for is 1980’s The Blues Brothers, which is arguably the all-time best movie based on SNL characters (Ayrkoyd and John Belushi’s brotherly musicians, Jake and Elwood Blues) and one of the most important movies set in Chicago as well.

Gilda Radner (Haunted Honeymoon)

Highlights of Gilda Radner’s post-SNL career included sharing the screen with her husband, Gene Wilder, such as 1986’s Haunted Honeymoon, in which they play a couple staying in a spooky house to cure the groom’s anxieties. Unfortunately, the fun horror-comedy movie would also be her final film before she passed away in 1989.

Chevy Chase (Community)

After making a huge impact in so little time on SNL (not even two full seasons), Chevy Chase had a memorable film career (especially with National Lampoon’s Vacation movies), but it was his return to the small screen in the late 2000s that really had us especially impressed. He starred in the Community cast as Pierce Hawthorne — one of many Greendale Community College students experiencing often strange circumstances and meta pop-culture references in creator Dan Harmon’s inventive sitcom.

Chris Farley (Tommy Boy)

Perhaps the most influential ‘90s SNL actor was the late Chris Farley, whose one-in-a-million, energetic comedic talent made him a legend. He also made an impeccable team with fellow SNL actor David Spade in the hilarious road trip comedy, and one of the funniest and most iconic movies of the ‘90s, Tommy Boy.

Jimmy Fallon (Almost Famous)

Jimmy Fallon has had a stellar career, from his memorable SNL stint to hosting The Tonight Show, but most of his movies did not quite have the same impact — save his Oscar-winning feature-length debut in 2000. Fallon starred in writer and director Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous cast as the touring manager for Stillwater, Dennis Hope.

Amy Poehler (Inside Out)

Amy Poehler is the kind of performer who brings a sense of joy to everything she does, from her SNL days to the Parks and Recreation cast as Leslie Knope. Thus, it only makes sense that she would star as the personification of “Joy” in one of Pixar’s best movies: 2015’s Inside Out.

Will Forte (Nebraska)

We all know and love the masterfully goofy Will Forte from the “MacGruber” sketches and as the star and creator of a show canceled too soon called The Last Man on Earth, but 2013’s Nebraska showed a rare side of the actor we cherished seeing. He gives a somber, yet beautifully endearing, performance in director Alexander Payne’s Oscar-nominated drama as a man accompanying his estranged father (played by Bruce Dern) on a trip to collect a supposed million-dollar prize.

Maya Rudolph (The Way Way Back)

Maya Rudolph’s career outside SNL has been nothing short of impressive, but we were most impressed by her work in 2013’s The Way Way Back. From the Oscar-winning writing duo behind The Descendants (Nat Faxon and Jim Rash), this winning dramedy features Rudolph as Caitlin, a manager at a water park where teen protagonist Duncan (Liam James) works to escape a miserable summer at his mother’s boyfriend’s house.

Bill Hader (Barry)

Bill Hader never failed to surprise audiences with his impeccable impersonations and excellent commitment to character on SNL, but he surprised us in other ways with his first major small-screen follow-up. He played the title role of HBO’s Barry cast (in addition to co-creating the very dark comedy series), who is a hitman trying to reinvent himself as an actor.

Cecily Strong (Schmigadoon!)

One of the greatest surprises of John Mulaney’s SNL musical sketches was Cecily Strong’s smashing singing voice. It would also come in handy when she and Keegan-Michael Key led AppleTV+’s Schmigadoon! cast as a couple trapped in a world that looks and sounds like a lavish musical production.

Chris Rock (Nurse Betty)

In 2000, Chris Rock teamed up with Morgan Freeman as hitmen searching for a delusional widow (played by Renée Zellweger) convinced she is engaged to a soap opera character in director Neil LaBute’s sharp, quirky dramedy, Nurse Betty. We will, however, give an honorable mention for one of the best sitcoms starring an SNL vet, Everybody Hates Chris, which the comedian created and narrated.

Jane Curtin (3rd Rock From The Sun)

Years after playing an alien in, arguably, her single funniest SNL sketch (“The Coneheads”), Jane Curtin played one of the few human series regulars on a series also about otherworldly visitors trying to blend in. The former “Weekend Update” anchor starred on NBC’s hit sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun as Dr. Mary Albright, a colleague, and later fiancée, of Dick Solomon (John Lithgow) at Pendleton State University.

Andy Samberg (Palm Springs)

There is only so much that we are actually willing to reveal about our pick for Andy Samberg’s best effort outside of SNL, Palm Springs, for anyone who has not seen it yet. What we will say is that the 2020 rom-com — and one of the best movies on Hulu — stars the Lonely Island member and Golden Globe-winning Brooklyn Nine-Nine actor and Cristin Milioti as wedding guests who become embroiled in a very strange predicament.

Mike Myers (Shrek)

We love almost all of the characters Mike Myers has created or portrayed, from Wayne Campbell to Austin Powers, but picking his true all-time best work outside of Studio 8H is easy. Myers put on his best Scottish accent to voice the title role of 2001’s Shrek — the first movie to win the Best Animated Feature Oscar, for its sharp send-up of fairytale tropes and heartwarming unlikely romance.

Pete Davidson (The King Of Staten Island)

There have been some great Pete Davidson movies and TV shows over the years, but the former SNL star’s best work might also be one of his most personal. The Bupkis cast member based The King of Staten Island (which he co-wrote with director Judd Apatow) on his own life as the son of a firefighter who tragically passed on 9/11. 

Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Seinfeld)

Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ time on SNL often goes forgotten, but you cannot say the same about the career she had after the show, which includes Emmy wins for shows like Veep and joining the MCU. However, she really blew up when she joined the Seinfeld cast as Elaine Benes, who was the focus of many classic and hilarious moments on the legendary sitcom.

Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso)

Jason Sudeikis is the kind of SNL performer who could make the Devil himself seem likable, which is why he was the perfect choice for the charming lead of the Ted Lasso cast for Apple TV+. Indeed, his Emmy-winning performance as the titular American football coach hired to manage an English football (a.k.a. soccer) team is key to its jubilant success.

Norm Macdonald (Dirty Work)

In 1998, the same year that the late Norm Macdonald was infamously fired from SNL, the actor came out with one of his best movies, Dirty Work. Also written by Macdonald and directed by Bob Saget, the comedy about a man who literally becomes a specialist in the business of revenge has gained a cult following despite getting bad reviews in the 90s.

Kenan Thompson (D2: The Mighty Ducks)

Before he became one of the longest-running SNL cast members, Kenan Thompson was part of Nickelodeon’s more kid-friendly sketch comedy, All That. However, before then, the Emmy winner made his acting debut in one of the greatest hockey movies, D2: the Mighty Ducks as the inventor of the Knuckle Puck, Russ.

Ana Gasteyer (Happiest Season)

As the creator of beloved sketches like “NPR’s Delicious Dish” and the astonishing ability to hide when sketches don’t go as planned, Ana Gasteyer’s SNL days do not get talked about enough. In 2020, she appeared alongside the Happiest Season cast in a brief, but memorable, role in the acclaimed LGBTQ+ romance dramedy.

Fred Armisen (Portlandia)

While he was still on SNL, Fred Armisen was the driving force of a whole different kind of sketch comedy series called Portlandia. In partnership with non-SNL sketch comedy actor Carrie Brownstein, the pair poked fun at life in Portland in a Monty Python-esque style of quirky and bizarre bits.

Tim Meadows (Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping)

Despite his impressively long tenure, Tim Meadows is one of the most criminally underrated SNL actors and his big-screen presence is no different. Case in point: even one of his most prominent movie roles is from a vastly underrated, mockumentary-style comedy, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, from 2106 as Harry, manager to conner4real (Andy Samberg).

Tracy Morgan (30 Rock)

How fitting that one of Tracy Morgan’s greatest successes after being a sketch comedy show performer was playing a sketch comedy show performer. The comic stole every scene in creator and star Tina Fey’s brilliantly surreal broadcasting satire, 30 Rock, as over-the-top actor, Tracy Jordan.

Aidy Bryant (Shrill)

Even before she left SNL (a bit later than she anticipated as a result of Covid-19), Aidy Bryant had already ventured on with a series of her own called Shrill. The actor received an Emmy nomination for her performance on the Hulu original comedy (which she also co-created) as an overweight journalist aspiring to change who she is inside without changing who she is outside.

Even if Saturday Night Live is what these actors are remembered best for, that does not mean it will always be the best thing they are remembered for.

While Saturday Night Live is constantly changing with the times, one segment that’s remained a constant throughout the decades is Weekend Update. The bit anchored by a cast member or two goes over the headlines of the week, and also features a cast of characters visiting the desk. From Bill Hader’s viral character Stefon and Gilda Radner’s legendary Roseanne Roseannadanna, the list of Weekend Update guests is extensive and incredible, here are 32 of the most iconic characters to appear on the SNL segment.

Stefon (Bill Hader) 

Do you need to know what “New York’s hottest club” is? Well, Bill Hader’s Stefon has you covered. Famously, this beloved character was written by Hader and John Mulaney, after he received a weird email, and the latter would add outrageous lines at the last minute to try and make the actor crack up. It almost always worked, leading to Stefon covering his hands with his face in that signature pose. Overall, the voice, the look, and all those absolutely wild club descriptions are what led to Stefon becoming one of the most iconic SNL characters. 

The Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started A Conversation With At A Party (Cecily Strong) 

While I think it’s safe to say none of us would actually want to run into Cecily Strong’s The Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started A Conversation With At A Party, when she showed up on Weekend Update to bug Seth Meyers, it sure was funny. Her sporadic thinking and sassy tone mixed with the fact that most people have probably been lured into a conversation like this makes her such a fabulous Update guest. 

The Iceberg On The Sinking Of The Titanic (Bowen Yang) 

For the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, Bowen Yang played the iceberg that sank it. However, the iceberg was not there to talk about the tragic event, he was there to promote his new album Music. Eventually, he defended himself though, because, as he put it, the boat “came to where I live, and you hit me.” It’s an ultra-sassy and completely iconic sketch that has easily become a modern SNL classic.

Pete Davidson 

SNL helped launch Pete Davidson’s career in TV and movies, and some of his best bits came when he showed up as himself on Weekend Update. He’d come on to talk about his own life, politics, and more, and every time he’d kill it with his signature sense of humor. 

Marcello Hernández

Before Marcello Hernández’s killer sketches with Bad Bunny made many realize he should be a full-time player, it was his Weekend Update bits that had me convinced he was going to be an SNL star. In his first season on the sketch show (Season 48) he made a few appearances at the desk as himself. His infectious energy and comedic physicality are hysterical.

The Trump Brothers (Mikey Day and Alex Moffat)  

During Donald Trump’s presidency, Alex Moffat played Eric Trump and Mikey Day played Donald Trump Jr., and they would come onto Weekend Update to discuss their father’s political career. Day’s brother takes over, and speaks in a fairly diplomatic way, while Moffat plays the other brother, who never says the right thing. And that’s all funny, but what makes this bit iconic is Eric trying to mimic his brother and his silly comments about his dad and the state of the world. 

Peyton Manning Explaining Emily In Paris

While he wasn’t an A-list host during this episode (although he did nail it when he hosted), Peyton Manning was brought on to Weekend Update as a guest to talk about football in 2022. However, he’d been binge-watching the new season of Emily in Paris, and he needed to talk about it. Using NFL lingo to describe the “plays” that were going on during the Netflix show, he's the last person you ever expected to describe this series, explained it, and the lessons he learned while watching, in the funniest way. To this day, if Emily in Paris is brought up, you better believe that Peyton Manning’s recap is also at the top of mind.

Drunk Uncle (Bobby Moynihan)

It’s highly likely we all know someone who is like Drunk Uncle, which is probably why he’s so funny. Typically, around the holidays, Bobby Moynihan would play this inebriated family member, and he’d come to lament to Seth Meyers about technological advancements, kids these days, and his general frustrations with how the world has changed. 

Sarah Sherman 

Every time Sarah Sherman rolls up to the Update desk, you know you're in for a treat, because she’s about to roast Colin Jost! Sherman and the ensemble of Season 47 were one of SNL’s best casts, and that’s in part because of how committed they are to their bits. And let me tell you, this is on full display when you see the hilarious camaraderie between Sherman and Jost as she absolutely demolishes him. 

Cathy Anne (Cecily Strong)

Any time there was major breaking news (that was typically political) the lady who was always yelling out Michael Che’s window, Cathy Anne, would come up to talk about it. Using a silly Southern accent and wild hand gestures, Cecily Strong’s character would share her hot takes, and some absolutely unhinged stories. 

The Devil (Jason Sudeikis) 

These days we know Jason Sudeikis as the titular character on one of Apple TV+’s best shows, Ted Lasso. However, before that, he was playing tons of fun characters on SNL, including this Weekend Update staple, The Devil. He’d come on to talk about the controversial news of the week, and how it’s impacting his work as the leader of the underworld. 

Trend Forecasters (Aidy Bryant and Bowen Yang) 

If you need to know what is “in” and “out,” Aidy Bryant and Bowen Yang’s Trend Forecasters are here to help. The two self-proclaimed trendy characters would come on Update to aggressively go over the trends of the season, and passionately tell the audience what is “in,” before looking deep into the camera and dramatically explaining what is “out.” 

Garth and Kat (Fred Armisen and Kristen Wiig) 

Even though Garth and Kat were never prepared, they were always hysterical, and that’s why Fred Armisen and Kristen Wiig’s musical bit worked so well. For years, they’d show up at the desk to sing some holiday songs, however, the catch was, that they were never written in advance. What resulted was hilariously chaotic improvised tunes that only these two incredible comedians could have come up with. 

Jacob Silj (Will Ferrell)

Jacob Silj is the state department attache who suffers from voice immodulation. This means whenever Will Ferrell’s character came on to update the world about the state of politics he couldn’t control the pitch or volume of his voice. 

Nicolas Cage and Nicolas Cage (Andy Samberg and Nicolas Cage)

“Get in the Cage with Nicolas Cage” had been an ongoing bit Andy Samberg did for a long time, and then, in 2012, the legendary actor joined him for it. However, the twist is, the real Nicolas Cage is playing a clone of himself, and Samberg’s version is the “real” version. However, throughout the sketch, the real actor, who is well aware he’s a meme legend, roasts both himself and the comedian's impression of him. 

Jebidiah Atkinson (Taran Killam) 

Taran Killam’s 1860s newspaper critic Jebidiah Atkinson would appear from time to time to chat about his passionate takes on both historic moments, like the Gettysburg Address, and more modern pop culture topics, like holiday movies. His opinions were brutal and hysterical, and every moment was always topped off with him aggressively yelling “Next!” and throwing his note card into the wind.  

Adam Sandler's Hanukkah Song

“Put on your yarmulke, it’s time for Hanukkah!” Adam Sandler sang in 1994 to celebrate the Jewish holiday. During the tune, the comedian names various celebrities who are Jewish, half Jewish, a quarter Jewish and not Jewish to an extremely catchy melody.  It was a hit then, and it’s a hit now. Even after all these years, Sandler sings his legendary song live, and it’s always present during SNL’s holiday specials. Talk about iconic.

Jacob the Bar Mitzvah Boy (Vanessa Bayer)

It was always fun when Seth Meyers would welcome his podiatrist’s son, Jacob, to teach the audience about Judaism. Vanessa Bayer played the nervous boy who would bring his little folder to the desk, nervously read it, and then crack some cheesy, yet brilliant, jokes.  

Tim Calhoun (Will Forte) 

Will Forte’s soft-spoken Tim Calhoun would appear on Weekend Update every once in a while to explain why everyone should vote for him for president. However, the thing is, he’s not that good at talking, he would occasionally use song lyrics to convey a point, and he tended to lose his place in his notecards while speaking directly into the microphone using a very funny ASMR-like voice. 

Guy Who Just Bought A Boat And Guy Who Just Joined Soho House (Alex Moffat and Ryan Gosling)

While Ryan Gosling has been serving Ken-ergy ever since Barbie, he was also unintentionally showing off big Ken energy long before he got the role. This happened when he joined Alex Moffat on Weekend Update to play Guy Who Just Bought A Boat’s friend, Guy Who Just Joined Soho House. Greta Gerwig even admitted that she saw his potential to play Ken through his performances on SNL on the SmartLess podcast, specifically referencing this great Weekend Update bit where these two sleazy dudes talk about their bougie lives.  

Roseanne Roseannadanna (Gilda Radner)

One of Gilda Radner’s greatest SNL sketches was her bit as Update’s health correspondent Roseanne Roseannadanna, especially when she came on to talk about smoking. Yelling to the camera, Radner would give audience members advice and tell stories as her outspoken correspondent. Her character is so legendary Emma Stone even recreated the OG Update personality for SNL’s 40th reunion. 

Bennett Brauer (Chris Farley)

Chris Farley’s character Bennett Brauer rolled up to the desk to tell Kevin Nealon his latest commentary. Using lots of air quotes, he spent the majority of his segment commenting on himself, until he quite literally flew away. In true Farley fashion, it was a physical comedy masterclass.

Opera Man (Adam Sandler)

If you want to have your news sung to you, Adam Sandler’s Opera Man has you covered. With a thick accent, a white handkerchief and some very useful captions, the performer relayed the current events, ending every phrase with “oh” so they all rhymed. 

A Grumpy Old Man (Dana Carvey) 

He’s “old” and he’s “not happy” about the world being “improved.” Dana Carvey’s Grumpy Old Man bit has big “back in my day we had to walk uphill both ways” energy, and he brought that aggressive vibe to the Update Desk in the funniest ways. 

Baby Yoda (Kyle Mooney)

Whenever there was Star Wars news to talk about, Kyle Mooney’s Baby Yoda would visit the Update desk to chat about his fame and success. The over-the-top prosthetics the comedian wore were truly impressive and juxtaposed with Baby Yoda’s hype beast mentality, the bit is hysterical. 

Dr. Wenowdis (Kate McKinnon)

Any time Weekend Update needed a medical expert, especially in 2020 or 2021, Kate McKinnon’s Dr. Wenowdis would show up to tell us if “Wenowdis” or “this, we do not nowdis.” While the bit itself is very funny as the comedian talked about various medical situations, what makes it iconic is when both McKinnon and Colin Jost would break and start laughing over it all. 

Bailey Gismert (Heidi Gardner)

Heidi Gardner’s Bailey Gismert is Update’s teen movie critic, and she’s the star of her YouTube channel “Bailey at the Movies.” She’s kind of a nervous wreck, but what teen wouldn’t be if they ended up on Weekend Update? And while she’s there to talk about movies, it almost always ends with her trying to flirt with Michael Che. 

Leslie Jones

Over the course of Leslie Jones' run on Saturday Night Live she appeared on Weekend Update to share her thoughts on topics like “her perfect man,” “vacation,” “being hacked,” “summer beach bodies,” and so much more. She was also the segment’s “relationship expert,” and her commentary on love, dating and relationships was always entertaining. 

Emily Litella (Gilda Radner)

During the first season of SNL, Gilda Radner’s Emily Litella would appear on Update to give her editorial replies. However, she typically misunderstood what she was responding to, which would lead to her creating a response centered around the wrong topic, like violins instead of violence, for example. 

Rebecca LaRue (Kristen Wiig)

If you need a flirting expert, Rebecca LaRue probably isn’t your gal, despite her title, but boy is she funny. During the viral SNL sketch, Kristen Wiig used her physical comedy skills to make the audience crack up as she waved her arms in the air, winked constantly, and tried desperately to flirt with Seth Meyers.

Tommy Flanagan (Jon Lovitz) 

Jon Lovitz’s Tommy Flanagan, the president of Pathological Liars, would come on Weekend Update to talk about the news and how lies play into them. The thing is, he’s also lying the whole entire time.  

Mr. Subliminal (Kevin Nealon) 

Before he started anchoring Weekend Update, Kevin Nealon played Mr. Subliminal. As he shared his take on news, at the end of each sentence, he’d share his hot takes by sliding in one-word quips. 

As you can see, there are so many iconic characters played by legendary comedians, actors and even athletes. Weekend Update has been a constant on Saturday Night Live since the beginning, and it along with the cast of characters who sit at the desk, help make the sketch comedy show what it is. 

There are just as many great and popular Saturday Night Live sketches as there are segments that are not remembered quite as fondly. However, there also exists a strange middle ground of sketches that seem so one-note and infantile that we should feel like our time is wasted, but we don't. This is because the bizarre nature of the bit or even just one unique key component or moment makes it all feel enjoyable and worthwhile. We actually managed to come up with many examples of SNL sketches we believe you will enjoy while not quite understanding why.

Angelo (Season 47)

While he only made it one season on SNL, Aristotle Athari still had an ultra-memorable recurring character whose whole premise seemed like it would get old immediately after his Season 47 debut. Yet, somehow, international lounge singer Angelo’s improvisational songs — all nearly identical ramblings of gibberish — get big laughs every time. Maybe he truly is the genius they say he is.

SNL Digital Short: Anger Problem (Season 32) 

In their infancy, the SNL Digital Shorts were, dare we say, plagued by a shabbily random structure, like this one involving an unstable fast food manager (Fred Armisen), an exploding head mannequin, and a holiday greeting in the Lost font — supposedly in reference to host and Lost cast member Matthew Fox. Armisen’s commitment to every ludicrous threat at his employees — complete with an estimated time of attack — is what keeps this bit amusing.

Chandeliers (Season 31)

This sketch pokes fun at local ads for specialty shops from a few different angles — such as promoting the titular ceiling installation as the highway to a fancy lifestyle and an awkward attempt to include the store owners’ child (host Scarlett Johansson). Above all, however, the funniest part about the sketch might be Fred Armisen’s pronunciation of “chandelier” with a heavy Brooklyn accent.

SNL Digital Short: Daiquiri Girl (Season 33)

This Digital Short — framed as a creepy dude’s (Andy Samberg) poorly produced musical tribute to a woman who shares his love of daiquiris — kind of cheats its way onto this list. It apologetically acknowledges its own objective flaws with a cheeky text scroll explaining that musical guest Gnarls Barkley backed out of the original plan, forcing the creators to turn to alcohol for inspiration.

SNL Digital Short: The Date (Season 35) 

The joke here initially seems to be based on the unlikelihood of a woman, like host Megan Fox, dating a guy as strange as Will Forte’s character, until she appears to like him for being a S.W.A.T. team commander and his heart-wrenching confession about selling his pet lambs’ meat. The twist that even he would refuse to marry her is a bit predictable, but Forte’s unsettling manner of speaking and his tendency to turn his emotions on a dime at least keeps your attention.

Fart Face (Season 34)

When you establish the main idea of a sketch — in this case, a veteran office worker begrudgingly nicknamed “Fart Face” — and the audience responds with dead silence, you know you are in trouble, especially when this playground insult is repeated enough times to play a potentially fatal drinking game with. Leave it to host Josh Brolin to give the bit a slight boost by incorporating the same level of professionalism we have seen in all his best movies though to make it funny.

Haunted Elevator (Ft. David S. Pumpkins) (Season 42)

It is easy to understand why, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Tom Hanks was initially hesitant to play the very bewildering David S. Pumpkins. However, it is equally easy to see how the incomprehensibly charismatic goof instantly became one of Hanks’ most iconic SNL characters. After our first interaction with the silly character, he would also return with his skeleton friends (Bobby Moynihan and Mikey Day) in an animated Halloween special and a Season 48 sequel sketch. 

The Herlihy Boy House-Sitting Service (Season 19)

Sometimes, just putting Chris Farley and Adam Sandler on stage together was enough to ensure comedy gold. I think with any two other SNL cast members, this sketch — starring Sandler as a house-sitter desperate for work and Farley as his extremely supportive boss (or father or rehab sponsor, maybe?) — would have crumbled underneath its thin concept.

SNL Digital Short: Hey! (Murray Hill) (Season 34)

In the history of SNL Digital Shorts sending up modern teen TV dramas, some have been refreshingly clever (i.e., “Dear Sister"), while others offer nothing of the sort. Like this one in which the only joke is that James Franco’s character has a “tiny ding-dong.” If not for the Gossip Girl cast member Blake Lively’s rejuvenating cameo at the end, this Murray Hill episode would have been completely lost in obscurity.

Holes (Season 44)

This musical video in the style of a ‘90s power ballad is just a little too repetitive to earn the honor of being a classic, even with a guitar-shredding Adam Sander flashing some dirty, protrusive teeth for some reason. However, its concept about clothes technically counting as holes with the purpose of covering holes on the human anatomy is oddly fascinating.

I'll See You In Hell (Season 21)

By the end of this sketch — in which Joe (Jim Carrey) gets addicted to saying, “I’ll see you in Hell,” after its use on a thieving colleague earns him respect in the office — you’ll never want to hear the phrase again. That being said, Carrey keeps the one-joke bit somewhat fresh with a new take on the insult almost every time, and the final punchline is not bad either.

Joker Wedding (Season 48)

For the first half of this sketch — in which a Halloween wedding ceremony is nearly ruined by the best man (Andrew Dismukes) dressing as Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight — it seems like the only point is hearing “Joker” repeated ad nauseam. It takes a pretty fun turn, however, when the guests vote on his right to keep the costume Survivor-style, complete with a Jeff Probst cameo.

SNL Digital Short: Lettuce (Season 31)

While the legendary “Lazy Sunday” was The Lonely Island’s breakout SNL moment, their official, much-forgotten debut digital short was “Lettuce.” Honestly, we don’t blame anyone for subconsciously blocking out this bit — nothing more than Andy Samberg and Will Forte discussing a personal tragedy between big bites of leafy green vegetables — but if you can find it, you might find yourself unable to look away.

The Librarian (Season 42)

I imagine the pitch here was, “Let’s make Margot Robbie disgusting!” Well, we can’t say they didn’t nail it, and with some ideas that we truly did not see coming — eating a banana peel, “straight-up murder,” and the random appearance of Beck Bennett with a snake. Plus, setting the scenario to the iconic movie song, Yello’s “Oh Yeah,” from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is an inspired choice.

Meatballs (Season 47)

Maybe it is not entirely fair to call this pre-taped, partially musical bit “terrible” since the concept of a woman (Sarah Sherman) with singing meatballs on her skin is pretty inventive and heightened by the participation of host Oscar Isaac and musical guest Charlie XCX. It’s just that it’s pretty gross and, therefore, not the easiest thing to sit through for the more squeamish.

SNL Digital Short: My Testicles (Season 31)

The subject matter of this ‘90s dance music parody featuring a Right Said Fred-esque duo called Ariel (Andy Samberg) and Efrim (Tom Hanks) makes us thoroughly uncomfortable and their inability to rhyme a single lyric is cringeworthy. Yet, we cannot stop watching it and can’t help but chuckle every time.  

Rap Roundtable (Season 46)

Nunya Bizness (Ego Nwodim) hosts a panel of hip-hop artists including Queen Latifah (Punkie Johnson), Questlove (as himself), and a fresh, young duo (Pete Davidson and Timothée Chalamet) whose primary contribution to the conversation is the sounds “yeet” and “skirt.” Admittedly, some of their mindless ramblings earn a chuckle or two, but Questlove slapping Davidson and then striking Chalamet’s character with his hair pick are the most satisfying moments.

Ratatouille (Season 46)

In our opinion, the night John Krasinski hosted SNL for the first time was what we might call a “terrible, yet amazing” episode, especially with this sketch. It’s a far less kid-friendly take on one of the best Pixar movies, Ratatouille, and instead of a rat helping a man with his performance in the kitchen, this rat helps Krasinski’s character with his performance in bed.

SNL Digital Short: Roy Rules! (Season 32)

Early on, it’s easy to write off this musical short in which Andy Samberg professes his unhealthy attraction toward his sister’s husband, Roy, as an egregiously raunchy one-joke throwaway bit. However, you start to see the clip in a whole new light when Andy reveals the segment is a prank on his actual brother-in-law, as he confirmed in an IGN interview in 2012. 

Potato Chip (Season 35)

When choosing SNL sketches we believed were both terrible and amazing, the first one we thought of was this thoroughly peculiar bit in which an aspiring astronaut (Jason Sudeikis) blows his chance when he steals a potato chip from a NASA recruiter’s (Will Forte) desk. For one, everyone's commitment to this asinine concept — especially host Blake Lively — is legendary, but what really takes it over the edge is when Sudeikis physically returns the chip he ate.

Short Term Memory Loss Theater (Season 38)

This is one of those sketches that is actually enhanced — dare we say, saved — by someone who couldn't stop laughing during a sketch. In this case, it was Bill Hader as a doctor who must constantly assist his patients afflicted with short-term memory loss with their lines in a play. Otherwise, the joke might have gotten too old and too fast, leaving no bearing on our memory.

Spelling Bee (Season 31)

Will Forte plays a young spelling bee contestant so nervous that he spends well over a minute spouting random letters (mostly “q’s”) while attempting to spell the word “business.” It’s a very simple premise, but Forte’s stone-cold, deadpan delivery actually keeps it afloat, and the Tenacious D cameo is a perfect way to end it.

Suitcase Boy (Season 11)

In an otherwise forgettable moment from one of SNL’s most infamous seasons, Robert Downey Jr. performs a “confrontational monologue” while housed in a suitcase for no discernible reason. The one incoherent ramble we found unintentionally interesting was when the future MCU star mentioned that he learned why whales beach themselves from Spider-Man.

Technology Hump: Emma Stone (Season 37)

This sketch featuring Andy Samberg and host Emma Stone is actually just one edition of a recurring bit in which smartphones, cameras, and other forms of technology are used to simulate intimate romance scenarios. Why? We have no idea. Why do we find it entertaining? Still totally stumped.

Waking Up (Season 48)

Pedro Pascal could not help but laugh on SNL a few times during his hosting debut, including in this sketch in which he comes out of a coma with a strange new personality and an even stranger voice. While you could see the voice as a bit annoying, the dialogue maddeningly low-brow, and the entire concept pretty lifeless, it's honestly so hilarious, and that's because the Last of Us cast member makes it charming.

What The Hell Is That? (Season 5)

We have little interest in watching two brainless individuals take turns expressing their bewilderment over an unidentifiable object without any context. We do, however, love Bill Murray (seemingly debuting his Caddyshack character here) and Steve Martin (arguably the all-time greatest SNL host), whose collaboration saves this otherwise empty bit.

America's Funniest Pets (Season 42)

Cecily Strong and Kate McKinnon play hosts of a French show presenting funny homemade clips of domestic animals who prove to have a dark sense of humor (or lack thereof) when visiting its American version. What makes the mostly one-joke premise particularly memorable, however, is that the American host is Oscar-winning filmmaker Ron Howard, portrayed with an overly-animated impersonation by a star of many Ron Howard movies, Tom Hanks.

Big Dumb Hat (Season 48)

This sketch, featuring host Amy Schumer, quickly begins to suffer from being as irritating as the titular fashion trend it is poking fun at. Luckily, it does earn some solid chuckles for a few jokes about the kind of people who do wear “Big Dumb Hats” that, as anyone who knows this kind of person can support, are pretty spot on.

Sarcasm 101 (Season 23)

Host Matthew Perry essentially plays Chandler Bing in this classroom sketch, technically making it one of three Friends parodies from this episode alone (including the monologue), for which we deduct points. Also, many of the funniest moments from this lesson in smart-alecky behavior come courtesy of the late Norm Macdonald, but in ways that almost seem unintentional from his broken cadence, giving the bit a thoroughly awkward aura.

Patrick Kelly and Gunther Kelly (Season 28)

This is actually one of several segments in which Patrick (Will Forte) and Gunther Kelly (Fred Armisen) appear on “Weekend Update” to inform people of a pressing topic with a song that actually offers no valuable information, save Forte’s ability to hit some crazy high notes. We chose to highlight this song asking viewers to “listen up” about SARS because, out of all their greatest hits, it is the weirdest and most irritating, but perhaps the biggest banger, too.

Steve's Beanie Babies (Season 47)

We’d call Lizzo a non-actor who nailed her SNL hosting gig, especially in how her uncontrollable laughter likely enhanced this sketch in which she plays the wife of a man (Andrew Dismukes) who freaks out after learning his Beanie Babies collection is worthless. The ensuing revelation of how he quit his job (talking through his butt like Jim Carrey in Ace Ventura) and ludicrous aspiration to make a living drawing Nintendo’s Mario feel so half-heartedly wedged in, but its the ludicrousness of the situation that also earns laughs.

In retrospect, maybe being a little awkward and bizarre is exactly what makes an SNL a classic.

Hollywood truly lost one of the greats this week with the passing of Pee-wee's Big Adventure star Paul Reubens. Many stars have shared their sweet and funny stories about Reubens in the wake of the loss, showing that his talent and spirit live on. The actor was a true comic at heart, seemingly always down for a bit involving his iconic Pee-wee Herman character. Saturday Night Live demonstrated this when they paid tribute to Paul Reubens by sharing a sketch the actor did with Andy Samberg, and it’s hilariously over-the-top.

In a now-viral Tweet, the official social media account for the variety sketch series shared one of Reubens' most memorable SNL appearances. He only hosted once, in 1985, but the actor was kind enough to lend his talents to a Digital Short with Samberg back in 2011. The collaboration of the two comic minds has outlandish results, truly capturing how funny Reubens was. You can see the sketch below:

The digital piece centers around Andy Samberg and Pee-wee Herman having a crazy night out. They get drunk at a bar together, ride a mechanical bull, play a violent prank on Anderson Cooper and a cop, and end up in an intervention for their behavior. They are confronted by Samberg’s friends Kristen Wiig, Fred Armisen, and Kenan Thompson, and Pee-wee Herman’s friends from Pee-wee’s Playhouse. It’s a much more adult take on the Pee-wee Herman character but has the same whimsy and hilarity we love from the 80’s icon. 

SNL surprisingly played a big role in Reubens' career trajectory. The actor auditioned for the NBC mainstay back in the early 80s. He didn’t end up getting a place in the cast, as Gilbert Gottfried was hired instead. It was then that the actor started performing as Pee-wee Herman in stage shows, which laid the groundwork for his career-defining performances as that character in feature films. If Reubens had been in the SNL cast, we may have not gotten decades of incredible Pee-wee Herman films from him. 

Even though he didn’t join the cast way back when, the Gotham alum still was more than generous to play the role in the 2011 sketch. Reubens was a comedic and creative influence for many, and one could imagine performing alongside the actor was an honor for The Lonely Island member. Seeing Pee-wee up to crazy shenanigans is also a blast to watch for an audience. It’s no wonder the sketch caught on, getting love from fans of the actor and his generation-defining character. 

The comedy star was a treasure, and you can celebrate some of his most memorable on-screen performances by checking out our feature on Paul Reubens' best movies And TV shows. Andy Samberg fans can revisit other great sketches from the comedian’s Saturday Night Live stint with a Peacock subscription. 

It often feels like rom-coms are a dime a dozen, but the truth is that the best romantic comedies are ones built on several things. Fans of the genre enjoy snappy dialogue, inventive and/or realistic complications for the central couple, a swoon-worthy love story, and, of course, main characters portrayed by actors who have more than enough on-screen chemistry to make all of those pieces come together. 

What’s great about romantic comedies is that we’ve gotten more than enough couples like this over the past two plus decades, but some of them have either only partnered one time (which, granted, may be because their pairing is still relatively new), or haven’t been in a film together for many years now. So, let’s take a look at the (mostly) rom-com partners that we really think should make another movie together!

Meg Ryan And Tom Hanks

This duo probably feels like a no-brainer to you, and, well, it should! Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks have memorably joined forces for two rom-com hits, Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail, plus the 1990 cult favorite romantic comedy, Joe Versus the Volcano, so there’s no reason for them not to really round things out with a fourth film. I’d be down for a second chance romance where they learn to love again, wouldn’t you?

Diane Keaton And Keanu Reeves 

Yes, yes… Already I’m cheating here, but only a tiny bit. While the magnetic on-screen coupling of Diane Keaton and Keanu Reeves wasn’t the main focus of Something’s Gotta Give, I have spent the past 20 years wishing they were. So, let's get these adorably crazy kids back together! They could play any kind of couple (bickering marrieds who are clearly still hot for each other, two folks who shouldn’t get together but can’t help themselves, etc.) and I’d be in the theater on opening night.

Lana Condor And Noah Centineo

Honestly, there might not be a cuter couple on this list. The dreamy teen romance movie pairing of Lana Condor and Noah Centineo was, obviously, gifted to everyone with a Netflix subscription in the To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy, and there’s a reason that so many people fell head over heels for them. These two sorta sparkle together on screen, and I’d love to see them reunite in a romance (or any comedy) that’s got more of an adult edge to it.

Alison Brie And Jason Sudeikis

We all adore it when a rom-com gives us something different, and 2015’s Sleeping with Other People does just that with its story of friends who openly acknowledge their sexual tension, but purposely avoid doing anything about it so as to not screw up what they have. Alison Brie and Ted Lasso cast lead Jason Sudeikis are amazing as the friends in question, and I’d love to see them bring their casual, but still sexy, chemistry to another film. 

Jenny Slate And Jake Lacy

A true pleasure of watching Obvious Child was seeing the relationship between Jenny Slate and Jake Lacy’s characters develop as she has trouble revealing that she’s getting an abortion several weeks after their one-night stand. They work great as a duo with a clear attraction that’s impeded by a secret, and we’d really appreciate it if we could watch him warm her butter and make her tea in a movie that sees them as fully coupled characters.

Constance Wu And Henry Golding

I cannot tell a lie; some of the reason for Constance Wu and Henry Golding making the list is simply because we are all dying for the Crazy Rich Asians sequel we’ve been promised for several years now. While we wait, I’m hoping we can at least get those two into another fun rom-com where he can bring his posh, suave energy to meet her adorably spunky, girl-next-door verve.

Emma Stone And Ryan Gosling

What’s not to love about Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, especially when they star opposite each other in a romantic story? They were sweet, sexy, bantery, and slightly goofy together in Crazy, Stupid, Love, then had all of that with more emotional depth in La La Land, and also had the same chemistry in Gangster Squad, but with an added veneer of danger. It’s been a rough few years; the world needs more of their exact thing, OK?

Kate Hudson And Matthew McConaughey

I know, I know! Matthew McConaughey doesn’t make rom-coms anymore, but that’s honestly no reason why he can’t re-team with Kate Hudson, 20 years after they first hit the screen together in How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days. The engaging push-and-pull of their romance in that film can easily be translated to, say, a movie where each is portraying a lawyer on the opposite side of a big murder case. There! Someone make that movie!

Queen Latifah And Common

Just Wright might not be the first movie you think of when it comes to Queen Latifah or romantic comedies, but it’s hard to deny that watching her play off of Common as they slowly go from not-quite-enemies to lovers was a genuine treat. Now all we need is the right vehicle for them so their individual easygoing charm can show us how well-matched they are on screen.

Jennifer Garner And Mark Ruffalo

There’s a reason that 13 Going On 30 is still so popular almost two decades later. That reason is Jennifer Garner’s joyful, weirdo energy as a teen suddenly transplanted to her adult life, sure, but it’s also how Mark Ruffalo calmly reconnects with the childhood friend he’d long ago lost touch with. They're just sweet together, OK? We saw them in The Adam Project. We need more!

Sandra Bullock And Channing Tatum

The luminous and hilarious pairing of Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum was definitely not on my rom-com bingo card, but damn, it was a joy to behold once we got it. In The Lost City, they were perfect as a starchy and grieving romance novelist and her incredibly sweet but somewhat dim cover model who get caught in a life-or-death situation in the jungle, and all I can hope for is that we someday have a sequel to enjoy.

Billy Eichner And Luke Macfarlane

If an opposites attract energy is your thing, there’s no way for you not to enjoy the pairing of Billy Eichner and Luke Macfarlane. The Bros stars only just met up on screen in 2022, but we’d love to see them reunite in a rom-com that switches Eichner’s intense characterization and Macfarlane’s laid-back vibe around for additional laughs.

Meg Ryan And Hugh Jackman

Kate & Leopold is the rare romance where Meg Ryan’s character is less than sweet for much of the film, but watching her early ‘00s driven career woman begin to soften with the attentions of Hugh Jackman’s fancy man from the 1870s was a delight. Now if we can just get them to play off of one another when both are from the modern day, all will be right in the world.

Anne Hathaway And Chris Pine

We all know that The Princess Diaries 2 is so beloved that fans have wanted to bring the cast back for the now in development third movie for nearly 20 years, and part of that was because of the sweet, (sorta) slow burn love story between Anne Hathaway and Chris Pine’s characters. While everyone would love to see them as a long-married couple in a sequel, we’d also take them as, oh, I don’t know, bickering co-workers who can’t deny their attraction, so let’s stop stalling and get this coupling back on the big screen!

Julia Roberts And Hugh Grant

Look, I know that Hugh Grant is fully in his slimy villain era right now and is hilariously against even attempting rom-coms again. But! I think that makes the potential of this Notting Hill pairing coming back together even more appealing. Let him play a con-man who tricks Julia Roberts into falling in love, only to steal all her money and force her to track him down with a hilarious vengeance. I’d buy a ticket for that, OK?

Jennifer Lopez And George Clooney

Sure, sure. I’m cheating this entry a bit because, technically, Jennifer Lopez and George Clooney didn't star in a traditional rom-com together, but who among us can deny that they were HOT in Out of Sight? No one, that’s who! I say we get these two into a proper romantic comedy, but maybe one that’s not another Lopez wedding movie, just to switch things up.

Sanaa Lathan And Omar Epps 

Yes, this is another, more direct, fudging of this article’s concept, because Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps were a romantic drama pairing in Love & Basketball… but they were SO GOOD TOGETHER. Watching them play out a long-term path to eventual happiness was extremely satisfying, but maybe this time we can use that chemistry of theirs for a couple that has more good times than stressful ones.

Cristin Milioti And Andy Samberg

The chances that Cristin Milioti and Andy Samberg will strike time loop movie gold again after Palm Springs is incredibly unlikely, and we wouldn’t want them to try. Instead, why not let these two portray criminals on the run for separate crimes who accidentally cross paths and fall in love while they’re on the lam? They can give us that same adorably wacky enthusiasm that we all loved the first time around that way!

Kristen Stewart And Aubrey Plaza

If you saw Happiest Season, then you saw the undeniable spark between Kristen Stewart and Aubrey Plaza as their characters (Who weren’t even dating!) dealt with a lot of toxicity during Christmastime. They managed to genuinely bond (and look great doing it) over their similar relationship trauma, so I say we go ahead and give these two an even bubblier romantic comedy where they can actually freakin’ end up as a couple! 

Gemma Chan And Harry Shum Jr. 

Obviously, we didn’t get a real romance between the characters played by Gemma Chan and Harry Shum Jr. in Crazy Rich Asians, but the movie sure did set up the promise of fulfilling the epic love story that was a part of Kevin Kwan’s novel trilogy. Fans got a very brief scene of them looking all cute and dreamy with each other and dancing during the mid-credits scene, so hear me now: WE NEED THAT ASTRID AND CHARLIE SPINOFF, ASAP!

Issa Rae And Kumail Nanjiani

It may be hard to cast two people who have perfect romantic chemistry, but it could be even harder to find a duo who can portray the first glorious blush of falling in love, that same couple once they’ve begun to fall apart, and then play them as they start to get closer… because they’re on the run after being accused of murder. Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani are those people, and we’ve been wanting them back on screen since The Lovebirds to do something just as crazy and rom-commy again.

Reese Witherspoon And Josh Lucas

If you’re looking for a bickering duo who are hot together no matter what, that’s Sweet Home Alabama’s Reese Witherspoon and Josh Lucas, for sure. I’m sure they’d be great doing anything on screen, but also doubt anyone would mind if they paired for a story that would let them fight (and fight through) their attraction until they finally admit their feelings for each other.

Rachel McAdams And Domhnall Gleeson

You know what’s coming, right? After being apart for a decade, it’s About Time that Rachel McAdams and Domhnall Gleeson join forces again to bring fans another lovey dovey couple, and we don’t even care what the set up is!

Sarah Hyland And Tyler James Williams

Never has it been more enjoyable to watch a woman who’s not sure about the whole marriage thing date a man who’s very much ready for a long-term commitment than in The Wedding Year, and that was because of the well-matched chemistry/comedic energy of Sarah Hyland and Tyler James Williams. I think these two would be fantastic in an action/adventure rom-com like The Lost City!

Kristen Bell And Dustin Milligan 

Though Kristen Bell and Dustin Milligan starred in The People We Hate at the Wedding, which was more of a straight ahead comedy, they had a definite romantic comedy storyline and played off of each other beautifully. I’m imagining a cinematic rematch for them that involves both of their characters being messy and a bit angry this time, and I think they’ll be a delight to watch once again.

Vivian Oparah And David Jonsson

Even though Vivian Oparah and David Jonsson are a very new rom-com pairing, as their starring vehicle, Rye Lane, debuted in early 2023, there’s no doubting the fizzy joy one gets from watching their characters meet cute and end up slowly becoming attracted to each other over the course of one eventful day. These two can do anything together next, but I don’t think anyone would mind a sequel where we get to see this romance progress!

If nothing else, while we wait to see if these rom-com partners get back together on the big screen, we can all at least go back and enjoy the amazing films they’ve already given us!

At long last, Chip ’n Dale, the fearless co-founders and leaders of the Rescue Rangers are back together, and in action, together again for another set of adventures in the new Disney+ movie bearing their name. The fun-filled and reference-heavy animated/live-action hybrid in the vein of Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Tom and Jerry is finally streaming on the popular platform, meaning everyone with a Disney+ subscription can give the new film a spin. 

But, after doing so, you may be wondering exactly where you have seen and heard the Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers cast before. Worry not, because we are about to break down all the stars of the highly-anticipated project, starting with the two leads, former Saturday Night Live greats John Mulaney and Andy Sandberg.

John Mulaney (Chip)

Starting off, we have John Mulaney who appears in the Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers cast as the voice of Chip, the fearless leader and co-founder of the Rescue Rangers, and the member who didn’t elect to be converted to CGI.

Mulaney, who long served as a writer on Saturday Night Live before becoming one of the best guest hosts of all-time with his hilarious and catchy musical skits, has etched out a place for himself as one of the greatest modern stand-up comedians with specials like The Comeback Kid and John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City. 

On top of that, Mulaney has appeared on shows like Documentary Now!, Kroll Show, Big Mouth, and even had his own short-lived sitcom simply titled, Mulaney. And let’s not forget his hilarious portrayal of Peter Porker, a.k.a. Spider-Ham, in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and various short films in the franchise.

Andy Samberg (Dale)

Next up is Andy Samberg, who provides the voice of Dale, the more happy-go-lucky and free-flowing co-founder of the Rescue Rangers who has undergone a procedure to transform himself from traditional animation to CGI prior to the events of Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers.

Just like his co-star, Samberg first made a name for himself as one of the funniest members of the Saturday Night Live cast of all time, with memorable skits like “Lazy Sunday,” “I’m on a Boat,” and various others, including an iconic digital short featuring Justin Timberlake. Since then, Samberg has found success on shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Comedy Bang! Bang!, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, and Never Have I Ever.

Over the course of his career, Samberg has also found success in cinema, with a major role in the Hotel Transylvania animated franchise, the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs movies, and the 2020 time-loop romantic comedy, Palm Springs. And let’s not forget his work with his comedy music group The Lonely Island (who were responsible for some of those great SNL shorts).

KiKi Layne (Ellie)

Stepping in as one of the human roles in Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers is KiKi Layne, who portrays a rookie police detective (and Rescue Rangers superfan) named Ellie in the new Disney+ streaming exclusive.

Ever since giving her outstanding portrayal of Tish Rivers in Barry Jenkins’ 2018 drama, If Beale Street Could Talk, Layne has been one of young Hollywood’s brightest stars. In the years following her breakout role, Layne has given incredible performances in movies like Native Son, Captive State, The Old Guard, and Coming 2 America.

Will Arnett (Sweet Pete)

Taking on the role of Sweet Pete, a down-on-his-luck former Disney star who has turned to a life of crime in Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers, is Will Arnett, whose character makes a vow to bring his former employer down to Earth.

Arnett, who has appeared in live-action movies like Let’s Go to Prison, Semi-Pro, and Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, and shows like Arrested Development, 30 Rock, and Murderville, is perhaps best known for his long list of voice-over credits on the silver screen and small screen alike. Over the years, Arnett has voiced characters in The Lego Movie (and its various sequels and spinoffs), The Nut Job franchise, Despicable Me, and most recently, Rumble, as well as shows like King of the Hill, The Simpsons, and most importantly Bo-Jack Horseman, which saw him portray the titular character in the decorated Netflix animated series.

Eric Bana (Monterey Jack)

Stepping in to voice Chip ’n Dale’s former partner-in-crime, Monterey Jack, in the Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers cast is Eric Bana, who brings new life to the iconic cheese-obsessed Australian mouse once voiced by Peter Cullen.

Although he has spent most of his career in live-action roles, Bana has provided his voice for a few animated film projects over the years, including Finding Nemo, Mary and Max, and Back to the Outback. However, Bana is best remembered for performances in movies like Munich, Hanna, Star Trek, The Other Boleyn Girl, Troy, and Ang Lee’s 2003 Marvel movie, Hulk, which saw him portray Bruce Banner and his supersized alter-ego. Bana has also appeared on a number of shows in his native Australia like Full Frontal, Something in the Air, and The Eric Bana Show Live.

Dennis Haysbert (Zipper)

Providing the voice for Zipper, the housefly and trusty member of the original Rescue Rangers in Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers is Dennis Haysbert.

Although younger members of the audience will recognize Haysbert’s voice from his portrayal of King Grayskull on Masters of the Universe: Revelation or from those Allstate insurance commercials, others will remember the actor from his roles in movies like Major League, Waiting to Exhale, and Heat, or his various shows that include Now and Again, The Unit, or 24, a performance that earned the actor a number of nominations for his portrayal of President Donald Palmer throughout the show’s run.

Keegan-Michael Key (Bjornson The Cheesemonger)

Providing the voice for the puppet character Bjornson the Cheesemonger on the Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers cast is Keegan-Michael Key.

One of the most recognizable voices featured in the new Disney+ movie, Key is perhaps best known for his longtime sketch comedy program, Key & Peele, alongside Jordan Peele. In the years following the Comedy Central show’s conclusion, Key has found success with an assortment of animated series including BoJack Horseman, SuperMansion, Archer, and Green Eggs and Ham. He has also shown up in movies like the Hotel Transylvania franchise, Toy Story 4, The Prom, and most recently, as a member of The Bubble cast.

Tress MacNeille (Gadget)

Taking on the role of Gadget in Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers is Tress MacNeille, who originally voiced the character during its original run, as well as voicing Chip during that same stretch.

Over the years, MacNeille has consistently been one of the hardest-working voice actors in the entertainment industry, working on shows like The Simpsons, Rugrats, Tiny Toon Adventures, Animaniacs, and Futurama. If you are a fan of an animated series released anywhere between 1980 and now, chances are you’ve heard MacNeille’s voice more than a few times. And, it’s not just TV, as MacNeille has provided her voice for some of the most iconic Studio Ghibli films, like Kiki’s Delivery Service, Castle in the Sky, and My Neighbor Totoro.

Seth Rogen (Bob The Warrior Viking)

Seth Rogen appears in Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers as Bob the Warrior Viking, the awkwardly-animated CGI character featured in the wacky trailer.

Since breaking out as a multi-talented star in the early part of the 21st century, Rogen has become one of the most entertaining names in Hollywood with a variety of great roles in movies like Knocked Up, Superbad (which he co-wrote), Steve Jobs, 50/50, and other unforgettable movies. He is also no stranger to voice roles, as he appeared in animated movies like The Lion King and the Kung Fu Panda franchise. He is set to provide the voice of Donkey Kong in the upcoming Mario movie.

J.K. Simmons (Captain Putty)

Taking on the role of the claymation police officer named Captain Putty in Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers is J.K. Simmons, who knows a thing or two about playing iconic cops.

Over the years, Simmons has been in movies like the Spider-Man franchise, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Palm Springs, Juno, and Whiplash, which earned him an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and numerous other accolades. His TV work includes roles on shows like Oz, Law and Order, The Closer, and BoJack Horseman.

Da’Vone McDonald (Jimmy The Polar Bear)

Taking on the role of Jimmy the Polar Bear in Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers is Da’Vone McDonald.

Throughout his career, McDonald has appeared in movies like Funny People, Drillbit Taylor, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, as well as shows like Drunk History, The PET Squad Files, and Dads.

Flula Borg (DJ Herzogenaurach)

And, rounding out the Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers cast is Flula Borg, who shows up as DJ Herzogenaurach.

An accomplished actor, comedian, and musician, Borg has appeared on shows like Mr. Mayor, The Boss Baby: Back in Business, and Tangled: The Series throughout his career, as well as in movies like Ferdinand, Pitch Perfect 2, and a little movie called The Suicide Squad.

This is just a portion of the Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers cast as there are all sorts of cameos and other surprises in the new Disney+ streaming movie.

Your favorite animated chipmunks are back, with the Disney+ reboot of the popular ‘90s series Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers. This time, however, it’s not a series, but instead it's a movie that will reunite the titular rodents with their old gang to save a friend. Critics have had the opportunity to screen the live action/animated film ahead of its May 20 release to Disney+ subscribers. The trailer makes it look like viewers are in for some wacky, meta weirdness, but what are the reviews saying?

John Mulaney and Andy Samberg star as the titular duo, with The Lonely Island’s Akiva Schaffer directing. Along with as the Saturday Night Live vets in the leading roles, Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers boasts an impressive cast, with names including Will Arnett, Keegan-Michael Key, Tim Robinson, Seth Rogan and J.K. Simmons, just to name a few. Let’s take a look at what the reviews are saying about the Disney+ reboot, starting with CinemaBlend’s review of Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers. 

Our own Mike Reyes rates the movie 3.5 stars out of 5, saying it pushes its PG rating to the limit and gives a nod to the nostalgic ‘90s vibe while still remaining firmly in the present day. It’s a reboot that mocks reboots, and it gets it right:

Petrana Radulovic of Polygon says in a reboot-weary world, this movie is a refreshing antidote. The jokes are witty, the nostalgia is fun, and the movie finds a good balance in being sweet but not saccharine and sharp but not mean-spirited:

While many critics seem to think the Disney+ original will appeal to both children and their parents, the AV Club’s Courtney Howard thinks it misses the mark on both ends and grades it a C-, predicting that this movie will fade from our memories like the series of 30-plus years ago did:

Charles Pulliam-Moore of The Verge agrees with the above review, saying the movie feels like it isn’t sure what it wants to be. The meta humor falls flat for this critic, and instead of coming off as self-deprecating humor, it just serves as a reminder of Disney’s behemoth power, likely looking for crossover opportunities: 

Kate Erbland of IndieWire grades Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers a B, saying it’s more clever than outright funny, but a welcome reminder that reboot culture can still bring fresh ideas to the table. This review warns that adults may be more into this than the little ones, though: 

The critics presented a couple of different angles that audiences might see this movie from, and if it sounds like something you and your family might enjoy – and you don’t have to wait long or go far to give it a watch. Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers premieres Friday, May 20, on Disney+. While you can enjoy this and other Disney+ movies from your own living room, be sure to check out our 2022 Movie Release Schedule to start planning your next trip to the theater.

I’m sure when you think of some of the best modern comedic actors, there are some names that always automatically pop up, such as the brilliant Adam Sandler, or maybe Kevin James, or even the talented Bill Hader, but one that I feel has been just as amazing in both movies and TV is Andy Samberg. 

From his early days working on Saturday Night Live to some of his latest ventures in movies and television, Samberg has continued to prove his comedic talents for all to see, and today, we’re going to give him the justice that he deserves. Here are some Andy Samberg movies and TV shows that you should watch if you’re a fan of the actor. 

The Hotel Transylvania Movies (Amazon Rentals)

First off on this list, we have a great animated kids franchise, Hotel Transylvania. The series takes place in a hotel run by Dracula (Adam Sandler) in Transylvania, where each movie follows his adventures with not only his family, but his ghoulish friends as well. 

Andy Samberg has voiced Johnny, the only human character in the film series, from the first movie to the 2022 entry, and he falls in love with Mavis (voiced by Selena Gomez) in the first film, and you can definitely tell that this is Samberg from the moment you hear his voice. He adds so much personality and energy to the character that you can’t help but like Johnny, despite Dracula (at first) not being the biggest fan. It’s a great film series, and you can stream the Hotel Transylvania movies if you're ready to watch 

Buy The Hotel Transylvania series on Amazon.

Saturday Night Live (Hulu)

If you haven’t heard of Saturday Night Live, otherwise known as SNL, you’ve been living under a rock. Saturday Night Live is a long-running primetime sketch series that has aired on Saturday night for more than forty seasons now, with sketches about pop culture, politics, and more. 

Andy Samberg was a cast member on SNL from Seasons 31-38, constantly showing off his talents as not only an actor, but a writer as well. His skillful timing, funny characters, and more helped pave the way for him to star in many other shows and movies, many of which I’m sure you’re going to see after reading this list. But, nothing can quite beat his time on the popular sketch show. 

Stream Saturday Night Live on Hulu.

Hot Rod (Tubi)

Next up, we have one of Andy Samberg’s first big movies, Hot Rod. This comedy tells the story of Rod Kimble, a young man who is looking for his father’s approval, and sees his way in when his father falls ill, and Rod decides to raise money for his heart surgery by doing one of the biggest stunts ever. 

Andy Samberg is truly at his goofiest in Hot Rod, and I mean that in the best way. The story is a little out there and silly, but what more were you expecting from a movie about a stunt man trying to do something ridiculous? Samberg is great in his role as Rod and gives a hilarious performance from the moment he steps on the screen. It’s certainly a fun time. 

Stream Hot Rod on Pluto.
Rent/buy Hot Rod on Amazon.

Palm Springs (Hulu)

One of my favorite movies of 2020 - and not just because there weren’t that many. Palm Springs is a Hulu original that follows two strangers who are both in Palm Springs for a wedding. However, their lives take a turn when suddenly, they are stuck in a time loop, and must find a way out. 

There are so many amazing time loop movies out there, but Palm Springs is just so funny. Not only is the story genuinely enjoying to follow, but Andy Samberg (who received a Golden Globe nomination for his role in the film) and Cristin Milioti have some of the best chemistry in a rom-com I’ve seen in some time, while also working well with the awesome sci-fi aspects of the movie. There are so many cool behind-the-scenes stories as well, so be sure to watch the film first before checking those out. 

Stream Palm Springs on Hulu.

I Love You, Man (Paramount Plus)

You want to talk about a funny comedy? Check out I Love You, Man. This film, starring Paul Rudd and Jason Segel, tells the story of a man who doesn’t seem to have any friends, so he decides to go on the hunt to look for a best man for his upcoming wedding. Even when he appears to find the perfect person, however, it causes problems in the rest of his life. 

This film is just wacky from the moment it starts, but so funny. There are so many stars here, like Rashida Jones, J.K. Simmons, and more, but Andy Samberg as Robbie, Peter Klaven’s (Paul Rudd) younger brother, takes the cake. Their scenes together are so hilarious and perfect and really capture the sibling relationship in such a funny way. I could re-watch this film over and over again just for their moments. 

Stream I Love You, Man on Paramount Plus.
Rent/buy I Love You, Man on Amazon.

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (Cinemax)

I know, that title alone is so silly, but hear me out. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping is a mockumentary musical movie that follows a pop star who’s career is failing, and now, he must do anything in order to bounce back in the music industry. 

The film, acting more as a commentary on the pop music industry, definitely parodies a certain artist whom we won’t get into for the sake of staying on topic, but Andy Samberg is really great in this. He perfectly captures that attitude and ridiculousness that we would see in music from certain stars, and truly makes this film so hysterical. It’s a shame the movie didn’t do well at the box office, because it certainly deserved more praise. 

Stream Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping on Cinemax Go.
Rent/buy Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping on Amazon.

Celeste And Jesse Forever (Starz)

If you’re looking for a great romantic dramedy, be sure to check out Celeste and Jesse Forever. This movie follows a couple that married young, but as they grow older, they drift apart to the point of divorce, and try to maintain their friendship despite pursuing other people. 

It doesn’t sound like the film would be funny, but trust me, it really is. Celeste and Jesse Forever is certainly one of Rashida Jones' best movies, but it’s also a shining example of Andy Samberg’s talents as well. His chemistry with Jones is brilliant, and their relationship in the film is a sad yet realistic tale that does, indeed, have a happy ending somehow. I truly do love it. It’s such an underrated movie, in my opinion. 

Stream Celeste And Jesse Forever on Starz.
Rent/buy Celeste And Jesse Forever on Amazon.

The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance (Netflix)

The second voice role on here, we take a look at The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. Acting as a prequel to the 1982 film, The Dark Crystal, this Netflix series follows three Gelflings who are on a journey together to reunite their clans in order to try and save their planet from disaster. 

While I do believe that you should give The Dark Crystal a watch first before this, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is truly an outstanding show with master puppetry and brilliant voice acting, including Andy Samberg’s character, The Heretic (a.k.a. skekGra). His eccentric attitude is perfect for Samberg, and you can tell he fully puts every part of his personality into voicing this incredible fantasy character. I’ll still never forgive Netflix for cancelling it after only one season. 

Stream The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance on Netflix.

Baking It! (Peacock)

What do you get when you combine two former SNL stars and a baking competition? Baking It! This Peacock original, starring Maya Rudolph and Andy Samberg as the hosts, follows several teams of amateur bakers who team up to try and take home a wonderful prize in the spirit of the holidays.

While Baking It is focused on the holidays, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it during any time of year, as it really is some of the best feel-good television out there right now, and that’s due in part to the wonderful hosting skills of Rudolph and Samberg. These two have such amazing chemistry and crack some of the best jokes that you’ll be laughing so hard your side will hurt. Plus, this show has grannies in rocking chairs. What’s not to love?

Stream Baking It! on Peacock.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Peacock)

You knew it would be on here. This iconic comedy is one of the best out there. Brooklyn Nine-Nine, starring Andy Samberg, tells the story of Jake Peralta, a detective in a fictitious police precinct known for his immaturity, and follows his daily life alongside his coworkers, as well as his no-nonsense leader, Captain Holt. 

The Brooklyn Nine-Nine cast is phenomenal, but man, Andy Samberg is just something special on this show. This series combines his comedic timing from Saturday Night Live with brilliant storytelling. The jokes hit, the couples make you smile, the character development is fantastic, and there’s so much more than that to love. If, for some reason, you haven’t seen this show, please, check it out now. 

Stream Brooklyn Nine-Nine on Peacock.

I’m sure that as time goes on, I’ll be able to add more to this list to celebrate Andy Samberg, but until then, you have some awesome movies and TV shows that you can watch. Now, I’m going to go and re-watch Brooklyn Nine-Nine and laugh my butt off once more.  

When it comes to some of the most iconic sitcoms of the last decade, one that always pops into my mind is the hilarious Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Taking place at a fictional police precinct in Brooklyn, this comedy ran for eight seasons, switched to a new network, and captured the hearts of fans everywhere until it ultimately came to an end in 2021.

There have been some awesome Brooklyn Nine-Nine episodes, hysterical moments, and so much more that we could talk about when it comes to the acclaimed comedy, but today, we’re going to be talking about the cast. From Andy Samberg to Terry Crews, here is what the Brooklyn Nine-Nine cast has been up to since the show’s ended, and what they have coming up.  

Andy Samberg (Jake Peralta)

As the star of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, it’s understandable that Andy Samberg has done plenty of movies and television shows throughout his lifetime as an actor, and that’s certainly the case since his hit sitcom has come to an end. 

Since the ending of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Samberg has appeared in a variety of movies and TV shows, including reprising his role in the Hotel Transylvania: Transformania cast, as well as a small voice role in The Boys Presents: Diabolical. Samberg has also stepped into the video game world with a voice role in a popular video game spinoff of the Borderlands series, called Tiny Tina’s Wonderland, where he voices Captain Valentine. 

Coming up, Samberg is going to be in the upcoming Disney+ original movie, Chip ‘n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers, where he’ll actually be voicing Dale himself, so it’s certainly going to be a fun year for him indeed when that releases on the streaming platform. 

Stephanie Beatriz (Rosa Diaz)

Next up, we have Stephanie Beatriz, the actress who portrayed Rosa Diaz in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, the hard as nails cop with some of the best one-liners in the series. Beatriz has been keeping herself busy with big movie roles since the show ended, appearing in huge projects. 

Some of her biggest roles in the last year were when she was a part of the In the Heights cast, as well as the lead role of Mirabel as part of the Encanto cast. Beatriz has also appeared in many other TV shows such as Maya and the Three, American Dad!, Bob’s Burgers, the Apple TV+ original series, Central Park, and more. 

Coming up, Beatriz is going to be starring in several new movies, including Bob’s Burgers: The Movie as Chloe Barbash, Trans Los Angeles, and History of Evil, so this actress is only going to become even more recognizable and show up in some of what are sure to be our favorite new movies soon enough. 

Terry Crews (Terry Jeffords)

If you watched Brooklyn Nine-Nine, there was just no way you couldn’t love Terry Jeffords, who was amazingly portrayed by Terry Crews. And, of course, this charming actor has been hard at work since his role in the popular sitcom came to an end. 

While his hosting gig on America’s Got Talent was going on before Brooklyn Nine-Nine ended, Crews has continued to host the popular competition series for NBC. Besides this, he’s been active in both movies and television, with some of his biggest roles being a guest role in Space Force, a recurring role in Side Hustle, and voicing Duane in the animated TV series, Craig of the Creek. 

If you’re wondering what Terry Crews has coming up next, be sure to keep an eye out for summer 2022, as Crews will be starring in an episode of the upcoming anthology series, Tales of the Walking Dead, where we’ll truly get to see him embrace his badass self in the popular and expanding zombie universe.  

Melissa Fumero (Amy Santiago) 

Next up, we have Amy Santiago, one of the best cops on Brooklyn Nine-Nine and always on time for her job (except for that one instance where she was at the bank), played by the lovely Melissa Fumero. Since the show has come to an end, Fumero has been hard at work making new stuff that is sure to impress. 

For starters, she will star in a new film called Bar Fight, according to Deadline, alongside other stars like Rachel Bloom, Luka Jones, and more. Fumero is also set to star in a new Netflix comedy series called Blockbuster, according to Variety, which takes place at - you guessed it - a Blockbuster video store. I, for one, can’t wait to see this series - because who else misses Blockbuster as much as I do?

Joe Lo Truglio (Charles Boyle)

Moving on, we have Charles Boyle from Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Jake’s best friend and a bit of a weirdo, especially with his love of interesting and unusual foods. He was portrayed by Joe Lo Truglio, who is truly a comedic genius and has been in some awesome movies and TV shows. 

Since Brooklyn Nine-Nine ended, Truglio has continued his voice-work in many shows, including American Dad! Bob’s Burgers, and Robot Chicken. He also portrayed Deputy Frank Rizzo in Reno 911! 

Chelsea Peretti (Gina Linetti)

Moving on, we have Chelsea Peretti, who played Gina Linetti in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, a friend of Jake’s from a long time ago and the assistant to Captain Holt. While she was a regular in the series for six seasons, she ended up leaving Brooklyn Nine-Nine for a bit until she returned as a special guest star for the series ending, and it was great to see her return. 

Peretti has been very busy in Hollywood since leaving Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which includes both roles in movies and television. Some of her biggest parts have been having a voice role in The Great North, being a part of the Netflix animated adult series, Big Mouth, and having a main role as part of the Sing 2 cast. 

Peretti doesn’t have anything new coming up soon, but I’m sure it won’t be long until we get to see her in films and TV shows once again, showing off her skillful comedic talent. If you want to keep up with what she is doing, be sure to check out her Twitter.  

Andre Braugher (Raymond Holt)

Captain Holt, otherwise known as Raymond Holt, in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, was a hard-ass for a reason but a freaking great captain and an even better character to love, and the only person I could ever see portraying him is Andre Braugher. From the moment we first meet him until the very end, you can’t help but like this man. 

Understandably, Braugher has done some great things since Brooklyn Nine-Nine came to a close. He had a guest spot on the popular Paramount+ series, The Good Fight, where he played Ri’Chard Lane. Coming up soon, Braugher is set to star in She Said, according to Variety, a film about the New York Times editor, Dean Baquet.

Keep in mind that there haven’t been many updates since this was announced back in 2021, so take that news with a grain of salt, but I do hope we get to see this portrayal soon enough. 

Dirk Blocker (Michael Hitchcock)

Next up on this list, we have Michael Hitchcock, a cop who usually focuses more on his paperwork so he doesn’t need to deal with the constant daily action of actually being a police officer in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and was also best friends with Scully (who we'll get to in a little bit). In the show, he was portrayed by the wonderful Dirk Blocker. 

Since the series ended in 2021, Blocker hasn’t been as active in the industry as some of his other co-stars, but that doesn't mean he still hasn’t been active on social media and promoting his work. If you’d like to keep up with what Blocker has been up to, be sure to check out his Twitter page, where he posts regularly. 

Joel McKinnon Miller (Norm Scully)

Last but not least, we have Norm Scully from Brooklyn Nine-Nine, another accident-prone police officer who works as Hitchock’s partner, often trying to avoid the same type of police work that his partner likes to avoid as well. In the series, Joel McKinnon Miller portrayed Norm Scully, making us love the character through his great comedic timing. 

Since Brooklyn Nine-Nine ended, Miller has been working on some new things in Hollywood, some of which might excite you. He portrayed Frank in the short, Snow Globe & The Cat, but the bigger news is that he will play a recurring role in the upcoming series, The Staircase, where he will portray Larry Pollard. 

While it does feel a bit unlikely that Brooklyn Nine-Nine will even return, we can at least take solace in the fact that all of these actors have been working their butts off to make new and impressive stuff that will only continue to further their legacy. 

I, for one, can’t wait to see what they do next and will be supporting them every step of the way. Now, if you don’t mind me, I’m going to go and watch Terry Crews be an absolute gem as the host of America’s Got Talent again. 

In the past decade or so, Disney has had a great deal of success with live-action remakes of some of the studio’s most iconic properties. During that same time, we’ve begun to see more and more live-action/CGI hybrid movies from other studios, with the most recent examples being Tom & Jerry and Clifford the Big Red Dog. Well, Disney is keeping those trends going for the forthcoming Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers movie, a star-studded and meta comedy that looks to be taking inspiration from the original series of the same name and some of the show’s contemporaries.

If this is the first you are hearing about the new Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers movie, worry not, because we’re about to break down when you can watch the Disney+ movie, who’s in it, and what you can expect from its story. There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s get up to speed with those adorable and wise-cracking chipmunks.

Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers Premieres May 20 On Disney+

Starting Friday, May 20, anyone with a Disney+ subscription will be able to watch Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers on the popular streaming service. Even though it would have been nice to see Chip and Dale return to the big screen after not having a theatrical release for nearly 40 years, seeing the pint-sized adventurers from the comfort of your own home isn’t all that bad.

John Mulaney and Andy Samberg Lead Chip ‘N Dale’s All-Star Cast

The Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers movie has one hell of a cast with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, but before we get into all the supporting players, we have to talk about the two leads, who just so happen to be responsible for some of the best Saturday Night Live moments of the 21st Century (and perhaps of all time).

Providing the voice of Chip is former SNL writer and one of the best hosts each year, John Mulaney, who previously voiced Peter Porker, a.k.a. Spider-Ham, in 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Taking on the role of Dale in the upcoming Disney+ movie is Andy Samberg, who has appeared in animated movies like the Hotel Transylvania franchise, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and several others on top of his run on shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

Disney has also announced that KiKi Layne (The Old Guard), Will Arnett (Arrested Development), Eric Bana (Munich), J.K. Simmons (Whiplash), Seth Rogen (Pam & Tommy), Keegan-Michael Key (Key & Peele), David Tennant (Doctor Who), and numerous others will appear in the Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers movie in some capacity.

Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers Follows The Titular Pair As They Team Up For The First Time In 30 Years

When Disney unveiled the cast and trailer (more on that next) in February 2022, the studio also provided key details about Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers and what audiences can expect from its story later in the year. Set 30 years after their show was cancelled and they went their separate ways, the upcoming Disney+ movie follows Chip and Dale (who has since undergone CGI surgery) as they get back together to rescue a former castmate who has disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

But, before former best friends can save their old colleague, they must first repair their own relationship, which has been broken and neglected over the course of the past few decades.

The Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers Trailer Is Full Of Meta-Humor, Classic Characters, And Wacky Situations

Disney could have very well taken a safer route with Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers and treated it like the Alvin and the Chipmunks movies or Tom & Jerry, but thankfully, the studio took a different direction and instead created something that is wackier, full of meta-humor, and features all kinds of cameos and callbacks to the property and studio’s past. And, all of this is on full display in the first trailer that came out in February 2022.

This two-minute trailer touches on everything from stars falling from the heights of fame and settling in on the convention meet-and-greet circuit, to the ways in which intellectual properties have become commodities, and how CGI technology has vastly improved over the years (as seen with Seth Rogen’s hilarious and poorly-animated character), and so much more. There are even cameos by Roger Rabbit, MC Skat Cat, the Three Little Pigs, and Scrooge McDuck (swimming in a sea of gold coins).

Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers Is Directed By The Lonely Island’s Akiva Schaffer

If the Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers trailer felt a lot like something you would see in Pop Star: Never Stop Never Stopping, there’s a good reason for that: both were directed by Andy Samberg’s longtime creative partner, Akiva Schaffer, who won a Primetime Emmy Award for perhaps the most iconic Saturday Night Live song, “Dick in a Box.” This means we can expect a lot of that humor that has made The Lonely Island one of the most notable comedy music groups of the 21st Century.

The Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers script was written by Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, who wrote Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and was based on a story by Barry Schwartz.

The Chip ‘N Dale Live Action Movie Was In The Works As Of 2014

The Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers movie is just now being prepared for release, but work on the project, or a version of the live-action/CGI hybrid adaptation, has been been in the works for nearly a decade at this point. Back in January 2014, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Robert Rugen was in the process of adapting the animated franchise, though no concrete details were made available at the time. 

That version of the Chip ’n Dale adaptation never came to fruition, and in 2019, THR reported that the film that will soon land on Disney+ had been given the go-ahead with Akiva Schaffer sitting in the director’s chair. How much, if any, of the original version made it into the upcoming streaming exclusive remains to be seen.

Expect to hear more about Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers as we get closer to its May 20 release date. In the meantime, check out CinemaBlend's 2022 movie releases schedule so you don't miss a thing in theaters and on all the major streaming platforms.

After what seems like an eternity spent locked up in a spooky castle, Hotel Transylvania: Transformania has finally premiered (on Amazon after skipping a theatrical release), kicking off the next chapter in the beloved animated franchise from Sony Pictures Animation. And, even though Adam Sandler didn’t return as Hotel Transylvania founder Count “Drac” Dracula, several longtime members of the series are back, along with some new additions.

So, after watching the movie for yourself, there’s a good chance you’re wondering where you’ve seen (or heard) the Hotel Transylvania: Transformania cast before and why some of those monstrous characters sound so familiar. Well, you’ve come to the right place. Just check in and we’ll get started on this wild and crazy bunch of monsters-turned-humans.

Andy Samberg (Jonathan “Johnny” Loughran)

Back again as Jonathan “Johnny” Loughran in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania is Andy Samberg, who has been part of the franchise since it first opened back in 2012. One of the biggest Saturday Night Live stars of the past couple of decades, Samberg has managed to find success with various film and television projects, as well as having a successful music career.

Whether he’s showing up in movies like the delightful time-loop romantic comedy Palm Springs, leading the acclaimed comedy series Brooklyn Nine-Nine, or releasing hit albums with his comedy troupe The Lonely Island, there isn’t much Andy Samberg can’t do. And, with that Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers reboot in the works over at Disney+, we’ll be seeing (or hearing) a lot more of him in the near future.

Selena Gomez (Mavis Dracula)

Selena Gomez is also back in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania as Mavis Dracula, the daughter of Count “Drac” and wife of Johnny Loughran. Already a major star by the time she joined the voice cast of the first movie 10 years ago (thanks to Wizards of Waverly Place and several other projects), Gomez has somehow become an even bigger name since then.

With movies like The Dead Don’t Die, A Rainy Day in New York, and The Fundamentals of Caring all giving her room to show off her talents, the former Disney Channel star has also stayed true to her TV roots as one of biggest names in the star-studded Only Murders in the Building cast. And there’s more where that came from, as Selena Gomez is set to reprise her role in the Hulu murder mystery’s upcoming second season, which sounds bigger than the last.

Kathryn Hahn (Ericka Van Helsing)

Kathryn Hahn is back for a second round of action after her character, Ericka Van Helsing, was introduced in Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation as the wife of Count “Drac” and great-granddaughter of Abraham Van Helsing.

Over the course of the past few years, Kathryn Hahn has gone from a successful and hilarious film and television actress to one of the most prolific names in Hollywood, with the Bad Moms franchise and one hell of a portrayal of Olivia Octavius is Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Also, let’s not forget her amazing turn as Agatha Harkness on WandaVision, a role she will soon reprise in her own spinoff series Agatha: House of Harkness which will land on Disney+ at some point in the near future.

Jim Gaffigan (Professor Abraham Van Helsing)

Taking on the role of Professor Abraham Van Helsing, the former monster hunter and Count Dracula's great-grandfather-in-law who is responsible for the all the Transformania in the Hotel Transylvania 4, is again Jim Gaffigan. 

One of the funniest comedians around (and superb CBS Sunday Morning commentator), Jim Gaffigan has also made a name for himself while not talking about his food obsessions and kids as a stand-up comic. With appearances in movies like Troop Zero, Tesla, and Luca, Gaffigan has been all over the place on the big screen. Gaffigan has also had his own comedy series, The Jim Gaffigan Show, in addition to appearances on other shows, such as Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and even Stargirl.

Steve Buscemi (Wayne)

Wayne the Werewolf has been a major player in the Hotel Transylvania film franchise from the very beginning, and even though he’s still voiced by Steve Buscemi, he appears like nothing we’ve seen before in Transformania. 

Throughout his career, Steve Buscemi has been in everything from gritty dark comedies like Fargo to zany family-friend action spectacles like Spy Kids: The Island of Lost Dreams, and just about anything and everything in between. His voice work alone, which also includes The Boss Baby and Monsters, Inc., and other successful film and television franchises, is also definitely something worth mentioning.

Molly Shannon (Wanda)

Back again as Wanda the Werewolf in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania is former Saturday Night Live superstar Molly Shannon, who has been a part of the franchise since its beginnings back in 2012.

Outside of SNL and movies based on characters from the long-running sketch comedy series, like Night at the Roxbury and Superstar, Molly Shannon has also popped up in movies like Promising Young Woman, Other People, and Bad Teacher, to name only a few. Her TV work includes The White Lotus, The Other Two, and the Wet Hot American Summer continuation series, First Day at Camp and Ten Years Later.

David Spade (Griffin)

Another longtime franchise star, David Spade, is back once again for Hotel Transylvania: Transformania where he provides the voice of Griffin, the invisible man.

Over the years, David Spade has been in some of the most unforgettable comedies, the most notable being Tommy Boy and Joe Dirt. Spade has also spent a large portion of his career working with former Saturday Night Live co-star Adam Sandler (including the first three movies in the Hotel Transylvania franchise). 

Keegan-Michael Key (Murray)

Keegan-Michael Key is back in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania as Murray the mummy, a character he first voiced in the second installment of the franchise back in 2015. 

The former Mad TV  cast-member and co-creator of Key & Peele has gone on to find a tremendous amount of success as a voice actor in recent years, including SuperMansion, Green Eggs and Ham, The Lion King, and Toy Story 4. His live-action work includes titles like Keanu, Playing with Fire, and The Prom. Keegan-Michael Key is also set to appear in the upcoming Wonka remake as well as the long-awaited Super Mario Bros. animated movie, both of which have impressive cast lists.

Brian Hull (Count "Drac" Dracula)

Taking on the role of Count “Drac” Dracula in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania is Brian Hull, who stepped in after Adam Sandler departed the franchise. But, don't worry, Hull is a master impressionist who is more than capable of pulling this off.

Brian Hull doesn’t currently have all too many voice-acting credits in feature films, though he did appear in the Pup Star franchise. However, Hull has a massive following on YouTube, where he has gained 2.3 million followers for his insane impressions that include everything from various animated characters singing “Bohemian Rhapsody” to Disney and Pixar characters singing “Let it Go.”

Fran Drescher (Eunice)

Appearing once again as Eunice, a.k.a. Frankenstein’s wife, in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania is none other than Fran Drescher, who happens to have one of the most recognizable voices in all of show business.

In the years since becoming a massive star as the main attraction of The Nanny cast, Fran Drescher has continued to work on various television projects over the years, including Happily Divorced, Broad City, and most recently, Indebted. Her film work, which goes all the way back to a small role in Saturday Night Fever, also includes The Creatress, After Class, and The Christmas Setup.

Brad Abrell (Frankenstein)

Taking on the role of Frankenstein (who was previously voiced by Kevin James) in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania is veteran voice actor Brad Abrell. 

With credits going all the back to the original Swamp Thing series in 1990, Brad Abrell has provided the voices for characters in Men in Black (the movies and the 1998 animated series), The Bold and the Beautiful, and Green Eggs and Ham, to name just a few. And, if you've played a video game in the past decade or so, there's a good chance you've heard Abrell's voice on more than one occasion.

Asher Blinkoff (Dennis)

Returning for his third round of action in the animated franchise, Asher Blinkoff again provides the voice of Dennis, the dhampir son of Johnny and Mavis, in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania.

In the years since joining the Hotel Transylvania franchise with the second installment in 2015, Asher Blinkoff has gone on to show up in Bling, Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs, and Sing 2, in which he provided the voice of one of the Rosita’s (Reese Witherspoon) piglets.

Hopefully, all of this helps you out in the event you’re scratching your head trying to figure out why the voices of the Hotel Transylvania: Transformania cast sound so dang familiar. If you’re looking for even more ideas of what to watch after you finish streaming the new Amazon animated release, take a look at all the promising upcoming 2022 new movie releases that will be coming to theaters and streaming platforms in no time at all.