Top 10 Times Fred Armisen Broke the SNL Cast

#10: Royal Family Doctor

Anytime that Fred Armisen busts out his British accent, he means business. The comedian joins this royal-themed sketch late as he becomes Queen Elizabeth. Up to that point, audiences have been treated to Martin Short’s wild assistant. Hopping on the exam chair, the cast member enters a compromising position that leaves his co-stars stunned. The audience laughs as Bill Hader struggles to hold back his reaction. Thankfully for Hader, the sketch doesn’t go on for much longer. Both Armisen and Short end up breaking their scene partner. With so many English voices going around, you can see how much everyone enjoys themselves.

#9: Expedition

This might be among the more unexpected history lessons of all time. Playing determined actors, a trio of comedy performers join a class to portray the Lewis and Clark expedition. Fred Armisen and Kyle Mooney are the men in question, with Cecily Strong as Sacagawea. The trio look ready to break at various points as they smile through dances and odd acting choices. By the end, Armisen has Mooney on a desk during a key moment. Strong chuckles to herself as the other comedians try to maintain their composure. We can’t blame any of them considering the material.

#8: New Girlfriend

One of Fred Armisen’s best characters is a menace at dinner parties. Regine always comes with a new suitor, leaving the hosts shaken by her unfiltered comments. Armisen pairs up with Jason Sudeikis to cause chaos in this sketch. The unruly character allows the lead performer to stretch his legs, invading the personal space of his co-stars. The food and set dressing seem to go everywhere. Aidy Bryant and Vanessa Bayer are among the casualties here, breaking during their scene partner’s physical performance. It’s even funnier when the cast members lean into the absurdity of it all.

#7: Cut for Time: Coat Check

Like many underrated “SNL” scenes, they can start simple and gradually unravel into something special. This “Cut for Time” skit follows the misadventures of two people on a date. Fred Armisen’s character goes to get his coat, but a series of misunderstandings complicate matters. This leads to the actor trying on several coats and Cecily Strong reacting to it all. By the time Armisen puts on a fur and mask combo, Strong starts to giggle at the sight of her co-star. The duo have an energy that seems to build until it bursts. With so many elaborate wardrobe changes, this silly idea reaches its conclusion with flying colors.

#6: Short-Term Memory Theater

At the start of this sketch, Bill Hader’s doctor establishes that all of his memory-loss patients can remember their lines. This naturally doesn’t happen as all of them struggle through a play. Fred Armisen’s character then enters, throwing off the scene in even funnier ways. His huge jacket and movements seem to throw off Hader. Not long after that, Armisen makes his fellow cast member break under the pressure. It’s the perfect case of a comedian knowing how to push someone else’s buttons. In the midst of a funny sketch, Armisen still finds a way to subvert expectations with his comedic sabotage.

#5: Kissing Family: Brecken Brings His Boyfriend Home

Any time you see Vogelcheck family in a sketch, you know they’ll be more than eager to show their affection. This particular version includes a reunion of sorts with an awesome ensemble of former, then-current, and guest performers. Fred Armisen plays the dad, eager to make a speech for the new guest. He accidentally hits Bill Hader during his monologue. With Hader reacting, Armisen can barely finish his dialogue. This leads to some breaking from the both of them. With all of the kissing, you’d expect more of them to laugh even sooner. The two once again turn a crazy scene into something even better.

#4: Garth & Kat

No matter the season or the holiday, this singing duo are unprepared for the occasion. Fred Armisen and Kristen Wiig found a way to entertain themselves live on camera. With Armisen usually starting the song off, Wiig has to try and carry on without breaking. We couldn’t be happier to know that it almost always fails. Both performers inevitably crumble, chuckling as their improvised tracks fly off the handle. Seth Meyers is left to watch his co-stars banter and chuckle throughout their “Update” appearances. In a rare concept for such a script-heavy show, this is one of the best “SNL” ideas based around improvisation.

#3: Update: Amy’s Goodbye

When Fred Armisen took on the role of New York governor David Paterson, he went all out in a comical impression. The recurring bit made “Weekend Update” even more enjoyable. As Amy Poehler prepared to leave the show, she said a few words before the character stepped in front of the camera. Armisen knew how to make Poehler laugh during a sentimental sendoff. Paterson allows him to walk everywhere, interrupt the flow of segments, and needle his co-stars. It’s a dream role that clearly makes other cast members happy. Even when he’s interrupting another person’s goodbye, Armisen knows how to draw out a reaction.

#2: The Californian’s: Stuart Has Cancer

Every episode of “The Californians” is a wild ride of melodrama. Parodying soap operas, these sketches teeter between deadly serious and incredibly dumb. We love the precarious mix between styles and especially so in this case. Fred Armisen’s character adds some extra emphasis to his delivery, sending Bill Hader into a tailspin. The two friends once again find themselves competing in a laugh-off. There’s also Kristen Wiig caught in the comedic crossfire. With so much talent in one scene, the only thing left to do is break. Hader looks desperate as he tries to stifle his laughter and make outlandish faces.

#1: Cut for Time: Renaldo & Alexi

Sometimes two friends just like to make each other lose it. This is exactly what this “Cut for Time” sketch seems like, with both performers doing goofy voices throughout. Their accents almost create a chain reaction with such a ridiculous script. Getting things going, Fred Armisen starts the breaking as he tells a kid some Christmas stories. Armisen and Bill Hader can’t keep it together throughout most of this sketch. Their doormen try to spin yarns and talk to guests, but they’re both interrupted by laughter. Things only get crazier as Jamie Foxx comes by and tries to hold in his reaction.

Did we forget another highlight from Fred’s run on “SNL?” Let us know in the comments below.