SNL did these celebs dirty. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most memorably brutal, unflattering, and/or exaggerated impersonations on “Saturday Night Live.”
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00:00 Can I finish? Can I finish? Can I finish? Can I finish? Can I finish?
00:04 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most memorably brutal,
00:09 unflattering and/or exaggerated impersonations on Saturday Night Live.
00:14 Do you feel bad about what you've done?
00:17 What have I done?
00:22 Number 20. Burt Reynolds by Norm Macdonald
00:25 Norm Macdonald can make us laugh by doing just about anything, but his "Burt Reynolds"
00:30 impression is particularly legendary.
00:32 Burt, can you please pick a category?
00:36 Pick "sorts."
00:37 Yeah, sure, give me "sorts."
00:40 It's "S" words. It's "S" words. And for how much, Mr. Reynolds?
00:45 Ah, hell, let's go nuts. "Sorts" for $48,000.
00:49 Macdonald lampooned Reynolds, or should we say turd Ferguson, in the first-ever iteration
00:53 of the Celebrity Jeopardy! series on SNL, and returned as the character eight times
00:58 throughout the show's run.
00:59 Hey, uh, check out the podium. Look at this.
01:01 Mr. Reynolds has apparently changed his name to Turd Ferguson.
01:05 Yeah, that's right. Turd Ferguson. It's a funny name.
01:09 He played him as an over-the-top cool guy with not so much in the noggin, who gets a
01:13 kick out of his own half-witted quips. It's hard to say that this portrayal is accurate
01:18 to the actor's real-life intelligence, but it became an iconic impression nevertheless.
01:23 Mr. Reynolds!
01:24 Yeah, don't bother. I didn't write anything.
01:25 Good work.
01:26 Number 19. Kendall Jenner by Gal Gadot.
01:29 In a spoof of the "E" lineup, this sketch takes a look at potential spin-offs for shows
01:34 like Keeping Up With The Kardashians. These include one for Kendall Jenner with an entertaining
01:38 impression from Gal Gadot.
01:39 I'm under a lot of pressure.
01:40 So much pressure.
01:41 You're prettier than me.
01:42 No way. You're so much prettier than me.
01:43 Wait. Which one am I?
01:51 The Wonder Woman star portrays the model as clueless, remaining in a constant state of
01:55 confusion about her life. Gadot also appears in another hilarious show about Jenner trying
02:00 to find her way around a house.
02:02 The house is so big and empty, and she's only there two weeks out of the year.
02:06 Is this the bathroom?
02:08 Jen, close it again.
02:11 With off-the-wall concepts, the writers explore the character through the stereotype of a
02:15 shallow celebrity. Whether or not you think it's accurate, you'll probably laugh as you
02:19 watch the performer get completely lost in the role.
02:22 #18. Brett Kavanaugh by Matt Damon
02:25 For this cold open, the show called in a movie star to channel the energy of Brett Kavanaugh.
02:30 Matt Damon's take on the Supreme Court justice starts in a loud and hilarious way.
02:34 Oh, hell yeah. Let me tell you this. I'm gonna start at an 11. I'm gonna take it to about
02:44 a 15 real quick.
02:46 Referencing the man's apparent love of beer, Damon turns his target into a frat boy with
02:50 a harsh tone. He also brings out real references to the hearing that include props like a calendar.
02:56 Riding an emotional roller coaster, the Oscar winner takes the impression through screams
03:00 and even some crying spells.
03:02 Look at my calendar. And you're gonna see that every night I was lifting weights with
03:10 PJ and squeezed.
03:12 That might even be accurate in places, but ultimately it becomes an enjoyable caricature.
03:17 #17. Kathy Lee Gifford by Kristen Wiig
03:21 If you were to believe this impression of the Today Show host, you'd think she was drinking
03:25 all the time.
03:26 Kristen Wiig's hilarious take on Kathy Lee Gifford is heavy on the wine in a cartoonish
03:31 way.
03:32 I'm Kathy Lee Gifford and I am like Sam and a puzzle. And I'm Hoda Kotb. Hoda Kotb got
03:42 I'm I'm never gonna get past that weird name.
03:44 What? It's weird.
03:46 Lovable and clumsy, this version of the presenter feels like a fantastic train wreck. This imitation
03:52 of Gifford slurs her words and constantly questions her actions, making faces along
03:57 the way.
03:58 Wiig's lighthearted jabs at the TV personality make her an unfiltered mess.
04:01 Potent potables? I'm sorry, I don't know what that is.
04:04 It's about alcohol.
04:05 Oh, in that case, I'll take potent potables.
04:08 For how much?
04:13 How about a glass full, right?
04:15 It's not exactly flattering, but it is a clear example of the SNL star's power as a comedian.
04:21 16. Joe Biden by Jason Sudeikis
04:24 Back during his time as the vice president, Joe Biden was impersonated on SNL by Jason
04:29 Sudeikis. The actor's take on the politician was of a slightly confused man with prominent
04:34 teeth.
04:35 Charge and in charge. The president's away and Joe will play.
04:39 He also leans into the VP's more embarrassing side, talking without a filter most of the
04:44 time. Sudeikis also references the fact that most people in Biden's previous position are
04:49 forgotten. There's also his frequent mentioning of Scranton, just one of the ways the character
04:53 uses to try and connect with the general public.
04:56 It's just a corrupt, barren, backwater hellhole of a place. I mean, it's worse than Scranton.
05:02 Ultimately, the show chose to portray the leader as an uncle who can't always state
05:06 his message well. Jim Carrey would later capitalize on this idea, taking the impression on the
05:11 2020 campaign trail.
05:12 Look, here's the deal. Nope, lost it. Come back to me.
05:20 15. Hillary Clinton by Kate McKinnon
05:23 For the 2016 campaign season, Kate McKinnon brought out a killer Hillary Clinton impersonation.
05:28 I'm sure I will face some stiff competition from my fellow Democrats. People like Martin
05:34 O'Malley, who could really give me a run for my money.
05:41 The caricature delves into the politician's attempts to connect with the youth vote. This
05:45 includes campaign announcements and advertisements, most of which give off an awkward mom energy.
05:51 There are also debates against the likes of Alec Baldwin's Trump that devolve into rants
05:56 from McKinnon's Clinton.
05:57 The performer always knocks it out of the park with excellent comic timing. Whether
06:10 she's about to freak out or trying desperately to hold it together, this take on the former
06:15 Secretary of State is obsessed with winning the presidency.
06:18 14. Julia Child by Dan Aykroyd
06:22 For those that love Dan Aykroyd, they might not have originally envisioned him as Julia
06:26 Child. The performer provides a funny spoof of the chef's cooking show. Instead of showing
06:43 her as a cooking expert, Aykroyd plays her as a clumsy TV personality. He puts on a wig
06:48 and a dress, creating an outrageous take on Child's voice. The best part of the interpretation
06:53 comes when a knife chops part of the host's hand. With blood flying everywhere, the comedian
07:03 has no fear of making his real-life counterpart look crazy. This doesn't stop the sketch either,
07:09 as the SNL legend brings some physical comedy to this impression.
07:13 13. Ross Perot by Dana Carvey
07:16 Dana Carvey's expertise with impressions gives this take on Ross Perot a memorable
07:21 quality. He definitely nails the voice, while also turning up the dial on the presidential
07:25 candidate's unique mannerisms. The character can turn any campaign speech into a one-man
07:38 show with wild proposals and metaphors. In any situation, this version of Perot provides
07:44 hilarious observations about anything and everything. He even appears in a Halloween
07:49 sketch where he criticizes kids in their costumes, showing that there's absolutely no barrier
07:53 between what he thinks and what he says. Carvey once again proves that an exaggerated accent
08:11 and even some dancing go a long way.
08:14 12. Barbara Walters by Gilda Radner
08:17 In the first several seasons of the show, Gilda Radner impersonated legendary interviewer
08:22 Barbara Walters. Well, technically she's called "Baba Wawa," but we all know who she's parodying.
08:35 This version of the presenter makes for an over-the-top and enjoyable experience every
08:40 time. Radner gives Walters a unique way of pronouncing certain consonants, making every
08:44 interview segment extra interesting. This comes out with interviewees that range from
08:48 Henry Kissinger to Marlena Dietrich. The SNL cast member wears a smile through every sketch
09:06 as she plays the journalist like a cartoon. You could call it more of a mean caricature,
09:12 but it's such an exaggerated character that you have to laugh.
09:15 11. Bill Clinton by Phil Hartman
09:18 Arguably one of the most versatile performers in SNL history, there is nothing Phil Hartman
09:23 couldn't do. His run as Bill Clinton in the 1990s is full of gems that are still quoted
09:38 today. Spoofing the president's relationship with his wife, Hartman's performance exaggerates
09:42 the Bill and Hillary dynamic with comedic results. He's able to use the politician's
09:52 charisma and use it against people like in the famous McDonald's sketch. This version
09:56 of Clinton loves fast food and slick speeches that seem to be all jumbled together. The
10:01 comedian utilizes all of the best cliches about politics, giving this interpretation
10:05 an inflated ego and a speech for any occasion.
10:09 10. Justin Bieber by Kate McKinnon
10:12 Yes, this impersonation is savage, but McKinnon's self-professed method behind pulling off the
10:17 perfect Justin Bieber impression isn't exactly a compliment to the singer either. Both the
10:27 physicality of the role and the dialogue are hilarious to watch. As McKinnon nails the
10:32 young pop star's cockiness with pouts and poses while perfectly undercutting that image
10:37 with some particularly childish lines and actions. It might be an exaggerated impression,
10:53 but it's absolutely without fault from a comedic standpoint, proving once again that McKinnon's
10:58 comedy skills know no bounds.
11:05 9. Kanye West by Chris Redd
11:09 All eyes turned to SNL when we learned of Kanye's meeting with the 45th president, and
11:14 boy did they deliver. Chris Redd had big shoes to fill in taking over this role from Jay
11:24 Pharoah, and he did not disappoint. His impression is uncanny, perfectly capturing everything
11:30 from Kanye's intonation and mannerisms to the unpredictability of what he might say
11:34 or do next. SNL didn't have to look too far for inspiration for this sketch either, as
11:47 the material pretty much writes itself. However, Redd's hilarious impression just reminds us
11:52 that a chat with Ye can be a tad… surreal.
11:55 8. Kellyanne Conway by Kate McKinnon
11:58 SNL may have been ruthless with their Kellyanne Conway impression, but there's no denying
12:03 it got people talking. Kellyanne has the tiresome job of excusing all of President Donald Trump's
12:19 outrageous behavior, and McKinnon does an impeccable job of dodging questions and inventing
12:24 her own narrative as Conway often seems to do. Audiences have seen the job take its toll
12:28 on McKinnon's Kellyanne over the last few years, culminating in a Fatal Attraction-style
12:32 sketch that some claim went a step too far. But if anyone sums up the media madness surrounding
12:44 the Trump administration, it's Kellyanne Conway, and McKinnon has her down to a tee.
12:58 7. Janet Reno by Will Ferrell
13:02 This one has a weird premise, with Will Ferrell playing the former Attorney General hosting
13:07 a teen dance show in her basement. Ferrell plays her as a powerful force to be reckoned
13:16 with, highlighting her strongest assets and personality traits. Even surrounded by dancing
13:28 teens, this Reno doesn't let up from her role as Attorney General, and her special
13:33 guests only add to the hilarity. Maybe having Will Ferrell prance around in a dress, dancing
13:38 awkwardly and emphasizing a manly quality isn't the most respectful way to portray her,
13:43 but she reportedly took it well, even becoming a fan.
13:51 6. Monica Lewinsky by Molly Shannon
13:56 When Monica Lewinsky made headlines in the 90s, SNL decided to turn away from the obvious
14:00 Lolita parody and instead present us with an immature young lady who simply got caught
14:05 up in the whirlwind of politics. Not only does Molly Shannon's portrayal of her often
14:17 collapse into nervous giggling, she also comes across as self-centered, attention-seeking
14:21 and not particularly concerned with the consequences. It was a pretty unforgiving impression at
14:30 the time, and it hasn't aged gracefully, making it even more brutal in hindsight.
14:36 5. Sean Spicer by Melissa McCarthy
14:39 It was almost a shame when Sean Spicer left the White House, as it brought an end to Melissa
14:44 McCarthy's hilariously brutish impression. The president reportedly didn't like a woman
14:56 playing a man in his administration, which egged SNL on into bringing us Kate McKinnon's
15:01 unforgettable impression of ex-Attorney General Jeff Sessions. However, McCarthy's Spicer
15:11 takes the spot on our list for her loud, angry and boisterous impression, and constant willingness
15:17 to wage war with the media. While Spicer took it well, he also thought McCarthy could tone
15:22 it down a notch.
15:23 4. Sean Connery by Daryl Hammond
15:26 Celebrity Jeopardy is one of Saturday Night Live's most beloved sketches, and Daryl Hammond's
15:31 unforgettable performance as Scottish actor Sean Connery played a huge role in cementing
15:36 its place both in SNL history and our hearts. For some reason, Hammond's Connery is crude,
15:50 brutish, antagonistic, and like all of his opponents, somewhat dim-witted. He deliberately
16:01 mispronounces phrases and always has a "your mom" joke on hand for disapproving Alex Trebek,
16:07 played by Will Ferrell. We're not sure what Connery did to deserve this, as the impression
16:12 is far from flattering, but we wouldn't have it any other way.
16:21 3. Donald Trump by James Austin Johnson
16:28 With one of the most impressive performances in recent SNL history, James Austin Johnson
16:33 has been knocking it out of the park as Donald Trump. His vocal inflections and rambling
16:37 feel almost too accurate at times, while still being completely silly. It's so precise in
16:54 those aspects that the over-the-top dialogue almost sounds like actual transcripts. Johnson
16:58 goes on rants about everything from politics to pop culture, throwing out opinions about
17:03 celebrities that are especially hilarious. The show knows how to tackle the former president's
17:14 cadence, while still leaving room for this performer to unleash so many crazy lines.
17:20 This interpretation feels like the perfect mix of absurdity and reality, coming after
17:24 notable impressions from Daryl Hammond and Alec Baldwin.
17:32 2. Sarah Palin by Tina Fey
17:35 SNL is great at nailing political parodies, and Tina Fey's portrayal of former Alaska
17:42 governor Sarah Palin was such a hit that it won her an Emmy for her efforts. Fey pokes
17:56 fun at Palin's beauty pageant days, lack of political prowess, and misplaced use of colloquialisms,
18:02 wrapping it all up in an accent and voice that drills itself into your head. Fey has
18:06 reprised this role on several occasions, even in front of former Governor Palin herself.
18:12 It's all in good fun, of course, and never fails to make us laugh, but it is undeniably
18:16 one of SNL's most savage and memorable impressions.
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18:43 1. George W. Bush by Will Ferrell
18:47 Will Ferrell's George W. Bush comes across as likable, while simultaneously reminding
18:52 audiences of all the reasons why George W. Bush was so controversial and heavily criticized.
19:02 He portrays the former president as dopey, simple, and painfully misinformed. The accent,
19:09 language, and mannerisms all feel incredibly accurate, and adding insult to injury, this
19:14 goofy portrayal rarely failed to make audiences laugh.
19:30 The Bush presidency was also a perfect opportunity to bring back Dana Carvey, who nails pretty
19:35 much any impression, but whose overblown George Bush Sr. will always hold a special place
19:41 in both the SNL archives and our hearts.
19:55 Did we forget a savage impression? Let us know in the comments below.
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