Top 10 Hilarious Maya Rudolph SNL Performances

After the success of "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" proved that pranks weren't just a young person's game, "SNL" came up with the next logical step: a version hosted by legendary author Maya Angelou. In this sketch, Rudolph plays Angelou as the host of a prank show called, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Laughs," and her hilarious impression is perfect for highlighting the absurdity of someone like Angelou doing something as juvenile as tricking Morgan Freeman into sitting in a pie. Rudolph’s impression is clearly done with great affection towards her subject, and we hope that, if Angelou saw it, she enjoyed it.

#9: Shonda the Super Showcase Spokesmodels

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One of the best parts of Maya Rudolph returning to host "SNL" in Season 37 was seeing her reunite with her "Bridesmaids" co-star Kristen Wiig. In this game show sketch, Bill Hader's host informs Vanessa Bayer's losing contestant that she's missed out on some fabulous prizes, including matching luggage and an alleged lifetime supply of frozen chicken, which are then introduced by Shonda and Vonda, two spokesmodels from… somewhere around Norway? Rudolph and Wiig clearly love the ridiculousness of the sketch and soon start breaking, as does Hader. We just have to know what Vanessa Bayer’s secret to not cracking up is

If Maya Rudolph is doing a European accent, it's almost guaranteed to be good. In the Club Traxx sketches, Rudolph plays Beertje Van Beers, host of a "TRL"-style show with Fred Armisen's Leonard, one that gets strangely political at times. If you're too young to remember music video shows like this, know that this isn't too far from reality. But no episode of "TRL" had a moment as great as the premiere of the new video from musical sensation, Chrome, played by Matthew McConaughey. Plus, there’s a lot less screaming in this version. We’d love to watch a full episode of “Club Traxx.”

One of the hardest things about making “SNL” has to be figuring out who should play which political candidates. With the 2020 presidential election, the choice for casting eventual-Vice President Kamala Harris was immediately obvious. Rudolph's Harris introduces herself as "America's fun aunt" or "Funt," more concerned with going viral or getting her own TV show than with getting votes. Since the election and inauguration, Rudolph has continued to play Harris. She’s also received two Emmys for her performance. The Vice President has expressed her admiration for Rudolph's impression. After all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Before she was Kamala, Maya Rudolph was Pamela, a woman who presented her own unique spin on the National Anthem in this sketch. Sportscasters Tim McCarver and Joe Buck introduce Bell, the winner of a grocery store contest, at the 2006 World Series. Bell sings like she doesn’t know where exactly she is and coherent phrases are optional with the “Star-Spangled Banner.” The longer the sketch goes on, the funnier it gets. And despite how ridiculous this performance is, it's still evident that Rudolph is an excellent singer. She is Minnie Ripperton's daughter, after all.

Whitney Houston was a larger-than-life person and singer. So, who better to play her than Maya Rudolph? The two-time musical guest was spoofed a dozen times by Rudolph, between 2002 and 2011, appearing on "Weekend Update" with husband Bobby Brown, played by Tracy Morgan, starring in a GEICO commercial, and pronouncing words in rather unusual ways. These sketches aren’t exactly kind to the late singer and the many troubles she was dealing with, but Rudolph is as committed as ever to the role, and she seems to understand what made Houston such a captivating presence.

Maya Rudolph was born in Gainesville and raised in Los Angeles. But based on this recurring sketch, you might think she was Bronx-born and bred. As Jodi Dietz, the gum-smacking co-host of talk show "Bronx Beat," along with Amy Poehler’s Betty Caruso, Rudolph taps into a specific type of New Yorker, one eager to share her thoughts on love and life, even if it’s a major case of TMI. Despite, or perhaps, because of, her occasional intensity, Dietz is still quite likable, and her chemistry with Poehler is adorable. We’d gladly accept an invitation to this show.

#3: Oprah Winfrey

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Oprah Winfrey was known for occasionally showering her talk show audience with some very luxurious gifts as part of the "Oprah's Favorite Things" segment. In a special "birthday edition," Winfrey presents her religiously devoted audience with such treats as cashmere sweaters, turkeys, and camcorders, name-dropping plenty of celebrity friends along the way. The frenzy that ensues is flat-out ridiculous and hilarious, but if you've watched enough daytime TV, it might not feel like an exaggeration. Rudolph also does an amazing job capturing Winfrey's mannerisms and speaking style. It’s a wonder she didn’t play her more often.

Once again, Maya Rudolph plus Fred Armisen and European accent equals success. In this sketch, Rudolph plays Nuni Schoener, an art dealer, along with her husband, also named Nuni. In each sketch, American characters come over and have trouble getting accustomed to the Schoener’s ways, such as sitting in unconventional chairs, including one made out of hair and another shaped like teeth and a tongue, and trying to pronounce their names to their satisfaction. Rudolph magnificently sends up the absurdity of high art culture with this performance. Her comedic talents deserve an art museum of their very own. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Christina Aguilera Rudolph Perfectly Captured Early 2000s Aguilera Donatella Versace The Fashion Icon Gets an Equally Iconic Impression Lola Fabre The “12 Days of Christmas” Never Sounded So… Something

Playing someone as influential as Beyoncé requires more than just doing an impression. It needs to become an embodiment. Fortunately, that's exactly what Maya Rudolph has done in her eight - and hopefully counting - appearances, as the musical superstar. Most of these appearances have been on the "Prince Show" sketches, where Rudolph's Beyoncé is the talk show sidekick to Fred Armisen’s “Prince,” but Rudolph has also played Beyoncé in sketches about the birth of her and Jay-Z’s daughter, Blue Ivy, and an imagined appearance on “Hot Ones.” Rudolph nails Beyoncé's demeanor, whether singing, speaking, or just standing there. You can never truly replace Beyoncé, but we always cherish getting to see Rudolph play her.