Top 20 Most SAVAGE SNL Impressions
#20: Burt Reynolds
By: Norm Macdonald
Norm Macdonald can make us laugh by doing just about anything– but his Burt Reynolds impression is particularly legendary! Macdonald lampooned Reynolds– or should we say, Turd Ferguson– in the first ever iteration of the “Celebrity Jeopardy” series on SNL, and returned as the character eight times throughout the show’s run. He played him as an over the top cool guy with not so much in the noggin, who gets a kick out of his own half-witted quips. It’s hard to say that this portrayal is accurate to the actor’s real life intelligence, but it became an iconic impression nevertheless!
#19: Kendall Jenner
By: Gal Gadot
In a spoof of the “E!” lineup, this sketch takes a look at potential spin-offs for shows like “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.” These include one for Kendall Jenner with an entertaining impression from Gal Gadot. The “Wonder Woman” star portrays the model as clueless, remaining in a constant state of confusion about her life. Gadot also appears in another hilarious show about Jenner trying to find her way around a house. With off-the-wall concepts, the writers explore the character through the stereotype of a shallow celebrity. Whether or not you think it’s accurate, you’ll probably laugh as you watch the performer get completely lost in the role.
#18: Brett Kavanaugh
By: Matt Damon
For this cold open, the show called in a movie star to channel the energy of Brett Kavanaugh. Matt Damon’s take on the Supreme Court justice starts in a loud and hilarious way. Referencing the man’s apparent love of beer, Damon turns his target into a frat boy with a harsh tone. He also brings out real references to the hearing that include props like a calendar. Riding an emotional rollercoaster, the Oscar winner takes the impression through screams and even some crying spells. It might even be accurate in places, but ultimately it becomes an enjoyable caricature.
#17: Kathie Lee Gifford
By: Kristen Wiig
If you were to believe this impression of the “Today” host, you’d think she was drinking all the time. Kristen Wiig’s hilarious take on Kathie Lee Gifford is heavy on the wine in a cartoonish way. Lovable and clumsy, this version of the presenter feels like a fantastic trainwreck. This imitation of Gifford slurs her words and constantly questions her actions, making faces along the way. Wiig’s light-hearted jabs at the TV personality make her an unfiltered mess. It’s not exactly flattering, but it is a clear example of the “SNL” star’s power as a comedian.
#16: Joe Biden
By: Jason Sudeikis
Back during his time as the Vice President, Joe Biden was impersonated on “SNL” by Jason Sudeikis. The actor’s take on the politician was of a slightly-confused man with prominent teeth. He leans into the VP’s more embarrassing side, talking without a filter most of the time. Sudeikis also references the fact that most people in Biden’s previous position are forgotten. There’s also his frequent mentioning of Scranton, just one of the ways the character uses to try and connect with the general public. Ultimately, the show chose to portray the leader as an uncle who can’t always state his message well. Jim Carrey would later capitalize on this idea, taking the impression on the 2020 campaign trail.
#15: Hillary Clinton
By: Kate McKinnon
For the 2016 campaign season, Kate McKinnon brought out a killer Hillary Clinton impersonation. The caricature delves into the politician’s attempts to connect with the youth vote. This includes campaign announcements and advertisements, most of which give off an awkward-mom energy. There are also debates against the likes of Alec Baldwin’s Trump that devolve into rants from McKinnon’s Clinton. The performer always knocks it out of the park with excellent comic timing. Whether she’s about to freak out or trying desperately to hold it together, this take on the former Secretary of State is obsessed with winning the presidency.
#14: Julia Child
By: Dan Aykroyd
For those that love Dan Aykroyd, they might not have originally envisioned him as Julia Child. The performer provides a funny spoof of the chef’s cooking show. Instead of showing her as a cooking expert, Aykroyd plays her as a clumsy TV personality. He puts on a wig and a dress, creating an outrageous take on Child’s voice. The best part of the interpretation comes when a knife chops part of the host’s hand. With blood flying everywhere, the comedian has no fear of making his real-life counterpart look crazy. This doesn’t stop the sketch either as the “SNL” legend brings some physical comedy to this impression.
#13: Ross Perot
By: Dana Carvey
Dana Carvey’s expertise with impressions gives this take on Ross Perot a memorable quality. He definitely nails the voice, while also turning up the dial on the presidential candidate’s unique mannerisms. The character can turn any campaign speech into a one-man show with wild proposals and metaphors. In any situation, this version of Perot provides hilarious observations about anything and everything. He even appears in a Halloween sketch where he criticizes kids and their costumes, showing that there’s absolutely no barrier between what he thinks and what he says. Carvey once again proves that an exaggerated accent and even some dancing go a long way.
#12: Barbara Walters
By: Gilda Radner
In the first several seasons of the show, Gilda Radner impersonated legendary interviewer Barbara Walters. Well, technically she’s called “Baba Wawa,” but we all know who she’s parodying. This version of the presenter makes for an over-the-top and enjoyable experience every time. Radner gives Walters a unique way of pronouncing certain consonants, making every interview segment extra interesting. This comes out with interviewees that range from Henry Kissinger to Marlene Dietrich. The “SNL” cast member wears a smile throughout every sketch as she plays the journalist like a cartoon. You could call it more of a mean caricature, but it’s such an exaggerated character that you have to laugh.
#11: Bill Clinton
By: Phil Hartman
Arguably one of the most versatile performers in “SNL” history, there’s nothing Phil Hartman couldn’t do. His run as Bill Clinton in the 1990s is full of gems that are still quoted today. Spoofing the president’s relationship with his wife, Hartman’s performance exaggerates the Bill and Hillary dynamic with comedic results. He’s able to take the politician’s charisma and use it against people like in the famous McDonald’s sketch. This version of Clinton loves fast food and slick speeches that seem to be all jumbled together. The comedian utilizes all of the best cliches about politics, giving this interpretation an inflated ego and a speech for any occasion.
#10: Justin Bieber
By: Kate McKinnon
Yes, this impersonation is savage, but McKinnon’s self-professed method behind pulling off the perfect Justin Bieber impression isn’t exactly a compliment to the singer either. Both the physicality of the role and the dialogue are hilarious to watch, as McKinnon nails the young popstar’s cockiness with pouts and poses while perfectly undercutting that image with some particularly childish lines and actions. It might be an exaggerated impression, but it’s absolutely without fault from a comedic standpoint, proving once again that McKinnon’s comedy skills know no bounds.
#9: Kanye West
By: Chris Redd
All eyes turned to “SNL” when we learned of Kanye’s meeting with the 45th President – and boy, did they deliver. Chris Redd had big shoes to fill in taking over this role from Jay Pharoah, and he did not disappoint. His impression is uncanny, perfectly capturing everything from Kanye’s intonation and mannerisms, to the unpredictability of what he might say or do next. “SNL” didn’t have to look too far for inspiration for this sketch, either, as the material pretty much writes itself. However, Redd’s hilarious impression just reminds us that a chat with Ye can be a tad… surreal.
#8: Kellyanne Conway
By: Kate McKinnon
“SNL” may have been ruthless with their Kellyanne Conway impression, but there’s no denying that it got people talking. Kellyanne has the tiresome job of excusing all of Trump’s outrageous behavior, and McKinnon does an impeccable job of dodging questions and inventing her own narrative as Conway often seems to do. Audiences have seen the job take its toll on McKinnon’s Kellyanne over the last few years, culminating in a Fatal Attraction-style sketch that some claim went a step too far. But if anyone sums up the media madness surrounding the Trump administration, it’s Kellyanne Conway – and McKinnon has her down to a tee.
#7: Janet Reno
By: Will Ferrell
This one has a weird premise, with Will Ferrell playing the former Attorney General hosting a teen dance show in her basement. Ferrell plays her as a powerful force to be reckoned with, highlighting her strongest assets and personality traits. Even surrounded by dancing teens, this Reno doesn’t let up from her role as Attorney General, and her special guests only add to the hilarity. Perhaps having Will Ferrell prance about in a dress, dancing awkwardly, and emphasizing a manly quality isn’t the most respectful way to portray her, but she reportedly took it well, even becoming a fan.
#6: Monica Lewinsky
By: Molly Shannon
When Monica Lewinsky made headlines in the ‘90s, “SNL” decided to turn away from the obvious ‘Lolita’ parody and instead present us with an immature young lady who simply got caught up in the whirlwind of politics. Not only does Molly Shannon’s portrayal of her often collapse into nervous giggling, she also comes across as self-centred, attention-seeking, and not particularly concerned with the consequences. It was a pretty unforgiving impression at the time, and it hasn’t aged gracefully – making it even more brutal in hindsight.
#5: Sean Spicer
By: Melissa McCarthy
It was almost a shame when Sean Spicer left the White House, as it brought an end to Melissa McCarthy’s hilariously brutish impression. The President reportedly didn’t like a woman playing a man in his administration, which egged “SNL” on into bringing us Kate McKinnon’s unforgettable impression of ex-Attorney General Jeff Sessions. However, McCarthy’s Spicer takes the spot on our list for her loud, angry and boisterous impression, and constant willingness to wage war with the media. While Spicer took it well, he also thought McCarthy could tone it down a notch.
#4: Sean Connery
By: Darrell Hammond
“Celebrity Jeopardy” is one of “Saturday Night Live’s” most beloved sketches, and Darrell Hammond’s unforgettable performance as Scottish actor Sean Connery played a huge role in cementing its place both in “SNL” history and our hearts. For some reason, Hammond’s Connery is crude, brutish, antagonistic and – like all his opponents – somewhat dim-witted. He deliberately mispronounces phrases and always has a ‘Your Mom’ joke on hand for a disapproving Alex Trebek, played by Will Ferrell. We’re not sure what Connery did to deserve this, as the impression is far from flattering, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.
#3: Donald Trump
By: James Austin Johnson
With one of the most impressive performances in recent “SNL” history, James Austin Johnson has been knocking it out of the park as Donald Trump. His vocal inflections and rambling feels almost too accurate at times, while still being completely silly. It’s so precise in those aspects that the over-the-top dialog almost sounds like actual transcripts. Johnson goes on rants about everything from politics to pop culture, throwing out opinions about celebrities that are especially hilarious. The show knows how to tackle the former president’s cadence, while still leaving room for this performer to unleash so many crazy lines. This interpretation feels like the perfect mix of absurdity and reality, coming after notable impressions from Darrell Hammond and Alec Baldwin.
#2: Sarah Palin
By: Tina Fey
“SNL” is great at nailing political parodies, and Tina Fey’s portrayal of former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin was such a hit that it won her an Emmy for her efforts. Fey pokes fun at Palin’s Beauty Pageant days, lack of political prowess, and misplaced use of colloquialisms, wrapping it all up in an accent and voice that drills itself into your head. Fey has reprised this role on several occasions – even in front of Governor Palin herself. It’s all in good fun, of course, and never fails to make us laugh, but it’s undeniably one of “SNL’s” most savage AND memorable impressions.
#1: George W. Bush
By: Will Ferrell
Will Ferrell’s George W. Bush comes across as likeable while simultaneously reminding audiences of all the reasons why George W. Bush was so controversial and heavily criticized. He portrays the former President as dopey, simple, and painfully misinformed. The accent, language and mannerisms all feel incredibly accurate and, adding insult to injury, this goofy portrayal rarely failed to make audiences laugh. The Bush presidency was also a perfect opportunity to bring back Dana Carvey (who nails pretty much any impression) but whose overblown George Bush Sr. will always hold a special place in both the “SNL” archives and our hearts.
Did we forget a savage impression? Let us know in the comments below.