u/Sinister_Legend

SEASON 1
~ George Carlin - first episode that's pretty damn interesting and everyone should check out
~ Richard Pryor - a very important episode
~ Peter Cook & Dudley Moore - I'm a fan of those two so I liked them in this environment

SEASON 2
~ Eric Idle - both times he was great. The first time he hosted was the first episode I loved
~ Candice Bergen - watch for Gilda and Zappa
~ Fran Tarkenton - a very cool sports themed episode where the whole cast was a great team. Check out the Alsatian Restaurant sketch!

SEASON 3
~ Charles Grodin - this was once considered so bad that it was banned, but I think that's apocryphal because it's so clearly staged and well executed.
~ Ray Charles
~ Miskel Spillman - an 80 year old woman hosts the show and, whether you enjoy it or not, it's fascinating to see
~ Robert Klein
~ Christopher Lee
~ Steve Martin & The Blues Brothers - Steve hosted 3 times this year so you can check out the others but this one was my favorite

SEASON 4
~ Carrie Fisher
~ Walter Matthau
~ Eric Idle
~ Michael Palin
~ Margot Kidder

SEASON 5
~ Bea Arthur - great episode for Bill Murray, decent episode for Harry Shearer, Paul Shaffer tries to pretend he's an actor.
~ Martin Sheen - not a classic by any means, but MS held his own really well, and of course, David Bowie's here too.
~ Kirk Douglas
~ The 100th episode
~ Strother Martin - not a great episode, maybe it's just cause The Specials blew the roof off 8H
~ Buck Henry - his first episode has a great running bit about no one liking him, and his second episode is the end of an era and has Lord And Lady Douchebag

SEASON 21
~ Mariel Hemingway - beginning of a new era
~ Christopher Walken - every time he hosts is a classic
~ David Alan Grier - this guy should've been in the cast
~ Phil Hartman - this gave me a better understanding and respect for him
~ Jim Carrey - a slightly overrated episode if you ask me but still worth the watch knowing you won't have to see another Spade in America

SEASON 31
~ Steve Carell
~ Jack Black - stone cold classic
~ Julia Louis-Dreyfus

SEASON 32
~ Dane Cook - one of the best season premieres
~ Hugh Laurie
~ Rainn Wilson

SEASON 33
~ Tina Fey
~ Christopher Walken

SEASON 34
~ Paul Rudd
~ John Malkovich
~ Will Ferrell

SEASON 35
~ Zach Galifiniakis - every time he hosts is great
~ Betty White - a brilliant episode in a rather lackluster year

SEASON 36
~ Jim Carrey
~ Zach Galifiniakis
~ Elton John - kinda just one of those crazy shows you gotta check out and see what you think
~ Ed Helms
~ Justin Timberlake

SEASON 37
~ Alec Baldwin - an outstanding premiere
~ Emma Stone - a pretty solid episode aside from one of the worst Digital Shorts ever
~ Jason Segel
~ Jimmy Fallon
~ Maya Rudolph
~ Eli Manning
~ Mick Jagger - another episode you gotta just see for yourself

SEASON 38
~ Seth MacFarlane
~ Louis CK - say what you want but I loved every time he hosted
~ Anne Hathaway
~ Jamie Foxx
~ Martin Short - one of the best holiday episodes ever
~ Justin Timberlake - a personal favorite of mine
~ Zach Galifiniakis
~ Ben Affleck - the end of an era

SEASON 39
~ Tina Fey - a promising beginning of a short lived new era
~ Josh Hutcherson - the peak before the wheels fell off
~ Louis CK

SEASON 41
~ Tracy Morgan
~ Tina Fey & Amy Poehler - one of the best holiday episodes ever and the last episode in a world that still made sense
~ Larry David

What episodes would you recommend? Are there episodes from these seasons you thought I left out? Are there episodes from other seasons that you consider "must watch"? Let's talk!

How crazy. I wanted change going into it but they immediately made us feel like the show had now become inferior to its past 4 years. The 1st half of the show was a rough start, then gave us a few classics, but for the most part, it underwhelmed the hell out of me. I was ready for this era to end. Now here's the odd thing...

People say that the fatigue became noticeable in the 2nd half of the season, but for me, I found myself enjoying the 2nd half more. Sure, there were some rougher sketches that I didn't wanna sit through (like The Incredible Man or whatever that Leprechaun sketch was), but put it this way - the 1st half of the season seemed like they weren't sure what to do and just wallowed around because they had a show to do, while the 2nd half showed that they knew their time was coming so they just decided to do whatever the fuck, and while it wasn't always good, it was at least interesting! I was more enticed by this change.

Just for fun, let's pretend that not everyone intended to leave and it's only Lorne who did and he sets fire to 8H and he wants yours truly to save people to be part of season 6. This is who I'd save.

SEASON 5

Bill Murray
(MVP - Steve Martin (1), Eric Idle, Bill Russell, Bea Arthur, Howard Hesseman, Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Buck Henry (2))
They really handed the ball to Bill this year and he didn’t disappoint. If you were worried the year was gonna suck, Bill would step in and remind you that you were going to be entertained. His back must’ve hurt from carrying the show.
Best - Lots to choose from. He can be a good straight guy in Shoe Store, a supporting part in The Micro-Dentists, be very silly in a serious way in First He Cries, and showcase his singing in Backer’s Audition, or in Bar Mitzvah, or alongside Chevy when he hosted, or the monologue of the 100th episode, or saving that weird Canadian knock-off Wizard of Oz sketch where he’s a mountie singing about how he wants a wife (best part of a long and confusing sketch).
Worst - Well, I wasn’t too hot on his year on Update and Nick Borealis was one of the weaker Lounge Singer sketches, but he tried his best. I also didn’t care for the Flogging sketch.
Would I save him from the fire? Yes, but I’d also tell him to move on to bigger and better things. I highly doubt he wanted to stay anyways. 

Laraine Newman
(MVP - Teri Garr, Richard Benjamin and Paula Prentiss, Burt Reynolds, Steve Martin (2))
Once again, Laraine’s screen time doesn’t justify her being in 2nd place, but her lack of bad performances certainly does. Looking over her tenure, I only disliked her once in her first year and have always liked her performances otherwise. Despite her inconsistent screentime, she’s had the most consistently good tenure behind Aykroyd.
Best - I like the return of her Child Psychiatrist character, this time she was a movie studio executive who cries when there’s no chocolate milk. She was also solid in The Micro-Dentists and Jesus Crush. I especially liked her in The Dating Zone where she played the kinky Shonda The Cat Lady opposite Colleen and Iris De Flaminio. And while I thought Post Coital Torture (great title) was a little anti-climactic (ironically), I thought Laraine’s performance was just perfect.
Worst - You Can’t Win was an awful sketch due to Chevy’s delivery, but Laraine tried her damndest and I love her for that. I still never disliked Laraine!
Would I save her from the fire? Yes. Laraine is the perfect OG cast member to be in Season 6. She can be a transitional player and then head out when the next group establishes themselves. I’d like to see her perform with Gail Matthius and Denny Dillon, plus it'll spare us from hiring Ann Risley. 

Gilda Radner
(MVP - Buck Henry (1), Ted Knight)
Gilda is still just delightful but it’s clear she was getting ready to start her career off the show.
Best - Jewess Jeans is a classic. Sometimes she could be funny in small roles like Chudd Harassment Case or just playing the French horn really badly in Debs Behind Bars. But I got a big kick out of the 10-1 Women’s Bathroom with Kirk Douglas.
Worst - she played a South Korean woman during Update which was very uncomfortable. I also found her Bel Airabs performance very annoying, in addition to being offensive.
Would I save her from the fire? Yes, but like Bill, I’d encourage her to find the exit and let her career bloom. I wish we got to see her host. 

Harry Shearer
(MVP - Elliott Gould, Kirk Douglas)
I can’t justify ranking him any higher, but I immediately found Harry Shearer to be an enticing live performer. He’s a very good straight utility player. I’m sure people who didn’t like this change at the time saw Harry like Josh Meyers in the final year of That 70s Show, but I think Harry had his place on the show. He wasn’t trying to be Aykroyd or Belushi, he was just doing his thing and did it well. Plus, he just has one of those voices you wanna hear all the time.
Best - Stereo 105, the Micro-Dentists, Reagan, and my favorite, All Time Radio.
Worst - I don’t know Mr. Blackwell but he was amusing…unfortunately he had to perform with Chevy. However, worst moment goes to the gay biker sketch from the Burt Reynolds show.
Would I save him from the fire? Yes. I know it was going to happen and it didn’t work out, but I’d make sure to hold on to this guy. 

Jane Curtin
(MVP - 100th episode)
Jane continued her streak of underwhelming me, but, here and there, she gave some excellent moments where I was wondering why they didn’t try to make better use of her great acting and character skills.
Best - in the 6th episode, she was in the pre-tape First Love and it reminded me that I once liked Jane. The same thing happened in the 100th episode where she played a Dolly Parton lookalike who talked nothing like her but got breast implants from her butt. Then, with just 6 episodes left, she brought us Iris De Flaminio, and I thought, “Jane!! Why didn’t you give us this character sooner?!?!”
Worst - for the last time, Update, but also The Landers Files where she had an annoying voice and The Talking Letter was such a waste of time. Not because of her performance though, it was just a dull sketch she couldn’t save.
Would I save her from the fire? No. 

Al Franken
Franken isn’t the strongest actor, but he’s a naturally funny guy so he makes up for it. I know he blew the chance to be the producer of the next era, but it was a bold move that I have to respect.
Best - I liked his Jack Van Arks correspondence, but I prefer when Al plays himself. That’s how we get the Al Franken Decade and Limo for a Lame-o. He also gave us a funny Henry Kissinger impression that he would continue to do later in his tenure.
Worst - but when he’s acting in sketches like How To Talk To Your Grandparents or Subway Genie, you see why he’s rarely in sketches.
Would I save him from the fire? Yes, but maybe the head writer/Update anchor role would suit him best.

Tom Davis
Tom doesn’t have the name recognition that Franken has and was usually more straight than him in their bits, but in sketches, I preferred Tom.
Best - I don’t know who John Connally is but he was funny.
Worst - I dunno. His conducting in Conductor's Club was a bit extra.
Would I save him from the fire? Sure. I think he’d be helpful in the writers room and do featured player parts when it’s called for. 

Garrett Morris
Garrett was past his prime at this point. Every once in a while, I’d be reminded of the Garrett I knew and loved, but a lot of the time, he gave us some pretty weak and stumbly performances, and other times I just felt bad for him.
Best - I don’t feel good but a drag role in the best place once again. The Black Shadow where he’s Bill Russell’s mom. To be honest, I really didn’t find that sketch very funny and Garrett was the only part of it I enjoyed. Hosting Bad Clams was a highlight and asking for a glass of water after shooting a commercial for Anchovies.
Worst - I don’t get Chico Escuela because I’m missing context but there were some even worst moments for Garrett this year…of course having him play a flying monkey is just borderline offensive and should be his worst moment, but I was just confused why they put in a fucking potato costume. Not that that’s worse, but give that shit to some intern. Or Paul Shaffer.
Would I save him from the fire? No.

Brian Doyle-Murray
I think Brian is a solid character actor and straight guy in film and TV. He wasn’t shown a lot but he was good in the small roles he was given.
Best - He had some crude roles like when he was an old man eating at Pre-Chewed Charlies and playing Judge Crotch.
Worst - I didn’t dislike anything Brian did, but I didn’t like how little he was used. He was featured a lot in the Strother Martin episode, and I almost gave MVP honors, but they gave him very few notable roles.
Would I save him from the fire? Maybe. On one hand, he’s a solid performer, but I know he was pretty awful in Season 7. Just make sure he’s a performer and stays away from the news desk. 

Tom Novello aka Father Guido Sarducci
I’ll admit that I don’t know everything. You can call me ignorant. What’s the point of FGS? He’s a chain smoking priest and rock critic. I’m either reading into it too much or I need more context. Nevertheless, I found myself zoning out when he appeared on Update.
Best - I did find it funny when he tried to share a dressing room with Rodney Dangerfield.
Worst - I could pick a few other pieces he did, but he was also in The Bel Airabs.
Would I save him from the fire? Doubtful. Seeing how he’s such a part of this era, he should move on. 

Jim Downey
You could make the argument that Jim Downey is the most important writer in the history of the show. He didn’t add much with his presence but neither did most of the featured players.
Best - He was good in Craig’s Travelers Checks. I also really liked his George HW Bush impression. Sure, it doesn’t hold a candle to Dana Carvey’s impression and it’s in a different era with a different context, but it showed that Downey was always interested in political humor and used it well.
Worst - Uh, I dunno, playing an audience member in Real Incredible People?
Would I save him from the fire? Yes, but only as a writer. His writing could’ve helped the infamous Season 6 from being less sucky. 

Peter Aykroyd
I honestly wouldn’t have known he was Dan’s brother if it wasn’t for his last name. They look nothing alike and he has no comedic timing. I just kept thinking about how much better his parts would’ve been with Dan.
Best - He was really good in Java Junkie.
Worst - Seeing how he’s Canadian, he should’ve been perfect for The Incredible Man, but he had to sing, so no. Oh, and that dumb Leprechaun sketch.
Would I save him from the fire? No. I shudder to imagine a world where Season 39 had Jason Sudeikis’ brother. 

Paul Shaffer
He’s good if you need a musician in a sketch, but he doesn’t have much of a purpose otherwise.
Best - you might have to know who Don Kirschner is to find it funny, but it made me laugh.
Worst - He just wasn’t good in sketches. For example, I thought Thanksgiving Dinner was a solid sketch but he really took me out of it. Same goes for the sketch where he said fucking. Just like Biker Chit Chat, it was the only interesting part of a bad sketch.
Would I save him from the fire? No flogging way. 

Tom Schiller
The man behind Schiller’s Reel isn’t a performer. Big surprise.
Best - I mean, I do like the occasional Schiller’s Reel. Java Junkie was my favorite.
Worst - playing a South Korean man who shoots Gilda.
Would I save him from the fire? No. If you’re barely on the show and you get cast to play stereotypes, we don’t need you. Okay, so that’s my last ranking…

Alan Zweibel
…wait, you’re telling me someone named Alan Zweibel was a cast member this year? Huh?
Best - he played the director in Video Will and got to do a funny dance. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of him doing the hand wave dance behind everyone else.
Worst - I mean, the way that he handed Bill Murray a coffee was just so weak and unconvincing.
Would I save him from the fire? No. This guy was barely a cast member. 

Non-cast MVP’s - Martin Sheen, The Specials, Bob Newhart

So how do I feel about this era overall? More positive than negative, but a lot more neutral or indifference that I wasn't expecting. I'm not the right person to say what the best era of the show was. This rewatch makes me think any era considered the best is a tad overrated. I'm not confident this was the best era, yet I can confidently say that I think The Not Ready For Prime Time Players were the best ensemble the show ever had. The writing isn't what makes this era stand out, it's how incredible the cast was.

Final ranking of the seasons I've reviewed:
3, 38, 21, 4, 37, 2, 1, 34, 31, 5, 41, 36, 32, 33, 39, 35, 50

How crazy. I wanted change going into it but they immediately made us feel like the show had now become inferior to its past 4 years. The 1st half of the show was a rough start, then gave us a few classics, but for the most part, it underwhelmed the hell out of me. I was ready for this era to end. Now here's the odd thing...

People say that the fatigue became noticeable in the 2nd half of the season, but for me, I found myself enjoying the 2nd half more. Sure, there were some rougher sketches that I didn't wanna sit through (like The Incredible Man or whatever that Leprechaun sketch was), but put it this way - the 1st half of the season seemed like they weren't sure what to do and just wallowed around because they had a show to do, while the 2nd half showed that they knew their time was coming so they just decided to do whatever the fuck, and while it wasn't always good, it was at least interesting! I was more enticed by this change.

Just for fun, let's pretend that not everyone intended to leave and it's only Lorne who did and he sets fire to 8H and he wants yours truly to save people to be part of season 6. This is who I'd save.

SEASON 5

Bill Murray
(MVP - Steve Martin (1), Eric Idle, Bill Russell, Bea Arthur, Howard Hesseman, Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Buck Henry (2))
They really handed the ball to Bill this year and he didn’t disappoint. If you were worried the year was gonna suck, Bill would step in and remind you that you were going to be entertained. His back must’ve hurt from carrying the show.
Best - Lots to choose from. He can be a good straight guy in Shoe Store, a supporting part in The Micro-Dentists, be very silly in a serious way in First He Cries, and showcase his singing in Backer’s Audition, or in Bar Mitzvah, or alongside Chevy when he hosted, or the monologue of the 100th episode, or saving that weird Canadian knock-off Wizard of Oz sketch where he’s a mountie singing about how he wants a wife (best part of a long and confusing sketch).
Worst - Well, I wasn’t too hot on his year on Update and Nick Borealis was one of the weaker Lounge Singer sketches, but he tried his best. I also didn’t care for the Flogging sketch.
Would I save him from the fire? Yes, but I’d also tell him to move on to bigger and better things. I highly doubt he wanted to stay anyways. 

Laraine Newman
(MVP - Teri Garr, Richard Benjamin and Paula Prentiss, Burt Reynolds, Steve Martin (2))
Once again, Laraine’s screen time doesn’t justify her being in 2nd place, but her lack of bad performances certainly does. Looking over her tenure, I only disliked her once in her first year and have always liked her performances otherwise. Despite her inconsistent screentime, she’s had the most consistently good tenure behind Aykroyd.
Best - I like the return of her Child Psychiatrist character, this time she was a movie studio executive who cries when there’s no chocolate milk. She was also solid in The Micro-Dentists and Jesus Crush. I especially liked her in The Dating Zone where she played the kinky Shonda The Cat Lady opposite Colleen and Iris De Flaminio. And while I thought Post Coital Torture (great title) was a little anti-climactic (ironically), I thought Laraine’s performance was just perfect.
Worst - You Can’t Win was an awful sketch due to Chevy’s delivery, but Laraine tried her damndest and I love her for that. I still never disliked Laraine!
Would I save her from the fire? Yes. Laraine is the perfect OG cast member to be in Season 6. She can be a transitional player and then head out when the next group establishes themselves. I’d like to see her perform with Gail Matthius and Denny Dillon, plus it'll spare us from hiring Ann Risley. 

Gilda Radner
(MVP - Buck Henry (1), Ted Knight)
Gilda is still just delightful but it’s clear she was getting ready to start her career off the show.
Best - Jewess Jeans is a classic. Sometimes she could be funny in small roles like Chudd Harassment Case or just playing the French horn really badly in Debs Behind Bars. But I got a big kick out of the 10-1 Women’s Bathroom with Kirk Douglas.
Worst - she played a South Korean woman during Update which was very uncomfortable. I also found her Bel Airabs performance very annoying, in addition to being offensive.
Would I save her from the fire? Yes, but like Bill, I’d encourage her to find the exit and let her career bloom. I wish we got to see her host. 

Harry Shearer
(MVP - Elliott Gould, Kirk Douglas)
I can’t justify ranking him any higher, but I immediately found Harry Shearer to be an enticing live performer. He’s a very good straight utility player. I’m sure people who didn’t like this change at the time saw Harry like Josh Meyers in the final year of That 70s Show, but I think Harry had his place on the show. He wasn’t trying to be Aykroyd or Belushi, he was just doing his thing and did it well. Plus, he just has one of those voices you wanna hear all the time.
Best - Stereo 105, the Micro-Dentists, Reagan, and my favorite, All Time Radio.
Worst - I don’t know Mr. Blackwell but he was amusing…unfortunately he had to perform with Chevy. However, worst moment goes to the gay biker sketch from the Burt Reynolds show.
Would I save him from the fire? Yes. I know it was going to happen and it didn’t work out, but I’d make sure to hold on to this guy. 

Jane Curtin
(MVP - 100th episode)
Jane continued her streak of underwhelming me, but, here and there, she gave some excellent moments where I was wondering why they didn’t try to make better use of her great acting and character skills.
Best - in the 6th episode, she was in the pre-tape First Love and it reminded me that I once liked Jane. The same thing happened in the 100th episode where she played a Dolly Parton lookalike who talked nothing like her but got breast implants from her butt. Then, with just 6 episodes left, she brought us Iris De Flaminio, and I thought, “Jane!! Why didn’t you give us this character sooner?!?!”
Worst - for the last time, Update, but also The Landers Files where she had an annoying voice and The Talking Letter was such a waste of time. Not because of her performance though, it was just a dull sketch she couldn’t save.
Would I save her from the fire? No. 

Al Franken
Franken isn’t the strongest actor, but he’s a naturally funny guy so he makes up for it. I know he blew the chance to be the producer of the next era, but it was a bold move that I have to respect.
Best - I liked his Jack Van Arks correspondence, but I prefer when Al plays himself. That’s how we get the Al Franken Decade and Limo for a Lame-o. He also gave us a funny Henry Kissinger impression that he would continue to do later in his tenure.
Worst - but when he’s acting in sketches like How To Talk To Your Grandparents or Subway Genie, you see why he’s rarely in sketches.
Would I save him from the fire? Yes, but maybe the head writer/Update anchor role would suit him best.

Tom Davis
Tom doesn’t have the name recognition that Franken has and was usually more straight than him in their bits, but in sketches, I preferred Tom.
Best - I don’t know who John Connally is but he was funny.
Worst - I dunno. His conducting in Conductor's Club was a bit extra.
Would I save him from the fire? Sure. I think he’d be helpful in the writers room and do featured player parts when it’s called for. 

Garrett Morris
Garrett was past his prime at this point. Every once in a while, I’d be reminded of the Garrett I knew and loved, but a lot of the time, he gave us some pretty weak and stumbly performances, and other times I just felt bad for him.
Best - I don’t feel good but a drag role in the best place once again. The Black Shadow where he’s Bill Russell’s mom. To be honest, I really didn’t find that sketch very funny and Garrett was the only part of it I enjoyed. Hosting Bad Clams was a highlight and asking for a glass of water after shooting a commercial for Anchovies.
Worst - I don’t get Chico Escuela because I’m missing context but there were some even worst moments for Garrett this year…of course having him play a flying monkey is just borderline offensive and should be his worst moment, but I was just confused why they put in a fucking potato costume. Not that that’s worse, but give that shit to some intern. Or Paul Shaffer.
Would I save him from the fire? No.

Brian Doyle-Murray
I think Brian is a solid character actor and straight guy in film and TV. He wasn’t shown a lot but he was good in the small roles he was given.
Best - He had some crude roles like when he was an old man eating at Pre-Chewed Charlies and playing Judge Crotch.
Worst - I didn’t dislike anything Brian did, but I didn’t like how little he was used. He was featured a lot in the Strother Martin episode, and I almost gave MVP honors, but they gave him very few notable roles.
Would I save him from the fire? Maybe. On one hand, he’s a solid performer, but I know he was pretty awful in Season 7. Just make sure he’s a performer and stays away from the news desk. 

Tom Novello aka Father Guido Sarducci
I’ll admit that I don’t know everything. You can call me ignorant. What’s the point of FGS? He’s a chain smoking priest and rock critic. I’m either reading into it too much or I need more context. Nevertheless, I found myself zoning out when he appeared on Update.
Best - I did find it funny when he tried to share a dressing room with Rodney Dangerfield.
Worst - I could pick a few other pieces he did, but he was also in The Bel Airabs.
Would I save him from the fire? Doubtful. Seeing how he’s such a part of this era, he should move on. 

Jim Downey
You could make the argument that Jim Downey is the most important writer in the history of the show. He didn’t add much with his presence but neither did most of the featured players.
Best - He was good in Craig’s Travelers Checks. I also really liked his George HW Bush impression. Sure, it doesn’t hold a candle to Dana Carvey’s impression and it’s in a different era with a different context, but it showed that Downey was always interested in political humor and used it well.
Worst - Uh, I dunno, playing an audience member in Real Incredible People?
Would I save him from the fire? Yes, but only as a writer. His writing could’ve helped the infamous Season 6 from being less sucky. 

Peter Aykroyd
I honestly wouldn’t have known he was Dan’s brother if it wasn’t for his last name. They look nothing alike and he has no comedic timing. I just kept thinking about how much better his parts would’ve been with Dan.
Best - He was really good in Java Junkie.
Worst - Seeing how he’s Canadian, he should’ve been perfect for The Incredible Man, but he had to sing, so no. Oh, and that dumb Leprechaun sketch.
Would I save him from the fire? No. I shudder to imagine a world where Season 39 had Jason Sudeikis’ brother. 

Paul Shaffer
He’s good if you need a musician in a sketch, but he doesn’t have much of a purpose otherwise.
Best - you might have to know who Don Kirschner is to find it funny, but it made me laugh.
Worst - He just wasn’t good in sketches. For example, I thought Thanksgiving Dinner was a solid sketch but he really took me out of it. Same goes for the sketch where he said fucking. Just like Biker Chit Chat, it was the only interesting part of a bad sketch.
Would I save him from the fire? No flogging way. 

Tom Schiller
The man behind Schiller’s Reel isn’t a performer. Big surprise.
Best - I mean, I do like the occasional Schiller’s Reel. Java Junkie was my favorite.
Worst - playing a South Korean man who shoots Gilda.
Would I save him from the fire? No. If you’re barely on the show and you get cast to play stereotypes, we don’t need you. Okay, so that’s my last ranking…

Alan Zweibel
…wait, you’re telling me someone named Alan Zweibel was a cast member this year? Huh?
Best - he played the director in Video Will and got to do a funny dance. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of him doing the hand wave dance behind everyone else.
Worst - I mean, the way that he handed Bill Murray a coffee was just so weak and unconvincing.
Would I save him from the fire? No. This guy was barely a cast member. 

Non-cast MVP’s - Martin Sheen, The Specials, Bob Newhart

So how do I feel about this era overall? More positive than negative, but a lot more neutral or indifference that I wasn't expecting. I'm not the right person to say what the best era of the show was. This rewatch makes me think any era considered the best is a tad overrated. I'm not confident this was the best era, yet I can confidently say that I think The Not Ready For Prime Time Players were the best ensemble the show ever had. The writing isn't what makes this era stand out, it's how incredible the cast was.

Final ranking of the seasons I've reviewed:
3, 38, 21, 4, 37, 2, 1, 34, 31, 5, 41, 36, 32, 33, 39, 35, 50

For Fathers Day, I asked my dad his personal ranking of the Stones albums, since we're both fans. Here they are!

https://preview.redd.it/y4hbuzh1fo8h1.png?width=1140&format=png&auto=webp&s=ebc88f87dd15eaf000c216a0f8795d0befc8879f

https://preview.redd.it/o2jo4j6vq55h1.jpg?width=452&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=56e843d6a2fec16b9bc238916bc526d9d91981ca

I know I'm pushing my luck by using a film from literally just 10 years ago, but its made like a film from the 60s and so hopefully that will do. This film was heavily inspired by 60s sexploitation films and offers a feminist spin on it. It was also shot on 35mm film, a rarity in the modern era.

Maybe other people who are more articulate and illiterate can do a better job explaining this film, but all I can say is it's very fascinating. The theme, the cinematography, the amount of detail that went into it, the fact that it was made as recently as it was, etc. There’s so much to admire about it. The acting is ridiculous, but it's stylized. It’s very reminiscent of a lot of the films it's channeling.

It's very inspiring that a film was made like this as recently as it has and that's no small feat. More films like this need to be made today. I know it's practically impossible with a 6 figure budget, but I love that it exists and I hope more filmmakers see this and get inspired to shoot for the stars.

I think Palin said he would've loved to have seen him done King Lear since he was such a great actor. I'd be so interested in seeing other projects involving Dr. Chapman.

I don't have that much to say about this season (the entire sub goes "phew!"). On the whole, this era has been difficult to binge just because it wasn't meant to be binged. It has little to do with the quality, which I've enjoyed overall, it's just a very different show from the mid 2000s-early 2010s era. Still, there was some solid stuff here. They made a Colonel Lingus joke long before the Walken sketch!

This cast doesn't really feel like an ensemble anymore. Maybe it's 'cause they dropped the "Not Ready For Prime Time Players" label, but I felt such a divide in the cast this year that irritated me because I love this cast. It just goes to show that SNL needs to constantly have changes in the cast and writing staff (cough cough take the hint, Season 52). I'm excited to see the change in Season 5.

Side note - I like Schiller's Reels more than Gary Weis' films, but once again, Mr. Bill can go straight to hell. In fact, I think they play those shorts in the 10th level of hell.

Side side note - Since I gave you a sketch to recommend from the past 2 years, I'll recommend The Pepsi Syndrome from this year. Okay, moving along...

Dan Aykroyd
(MVP - The Rolling Stones, Steve Martin, Carrie Fisher, Margot Kidder, Richard Benjamin, Milton Berle, Michael Palin (2))
Thank fuck he got the boot from Update. Right off the bat, he showed us that he’s much better than that and, at best, he’s one of the best utility players the show has ever had. I love the guy and I’d hold on to him for as long as I could.
Best - So many. Being the first cast member to moon the audience in The Nerds. Two Guys Who Are Lawyers is a sketch that can work in a newer era. Plus, he gave us Irvin Mainway, Two Wild and Crazy Guys, The Blues Brothers, Julia Child, Nazi Superman, continuing Point/Counterpoint, Going from Rod Serling to George Burns to Alfred Hitchcock all in the same sketch is a Dan highlight for me, BUT one of my favorite Aykroyd sketches is Fred Garvin: Male Prostitute.
Worst - the only time I wasn't too fond was the 3rd return of X Police.
Would I bring him back? I’d try to. If he stayed, he’d earn more MVP honors than any other cast member I’ve ranked. Either way, thank you for your service. 

Bill Murray
(MVP - Fred Willard, Buck Henry (1), Gary Busey, Richard Benjamin)
Have I mentioned I love this dude? He’s continuing his streak of being a dependable team player. I found his delivery on Update quite refreshing and necessary after the big ol’ bore it was last year.
Best - like I mentioned, he added some charisma to Update, but other highlights included jumping through a hoop of fire in Steve Martin’s monologue and then wanting a cracker, Nick The Lounge Singer, that excellent Superman sketch, and the beautifully done Perchance To Dream.
Worst - he wasn’t always great on Update and was kinda held back, but I don’t need to see The Nerds anymore. Yes, it was funny when he made Gilda break, but I didn’t need to see those characters (checks SNL Archives) THIRTEEN times?!?
Would I bring him back? Yes. He’s gonna be the show's biggest star so you gotta hold onto him before Hollywood takes him. 

Laraine Newman
(MVP - Walter Matthau, Elliott Gould, Kate Jackson)
We’re still not letting Laraine show off every episode?? Lorne seriously makes some questionable choices. I don't know how else to explain it, but I’m fully convinced if the show let her show off as much as Gilda or Belushi, she would get more love and I stand by that.
Best - Woman to Woman, Katharine Hepburn, and I got a big kick out of Child Psychiatrist.
Worst - I still don’t dislike Laraine performances. She played Anne Beverly and it was done well but I wasn’t sure of the angle of the bit. And as much as I loved X-Police, the third time wasn’t a charm and I felt bad that she had to play it straight to Dan and Bill.
Would I bring her back? Yes. I want her to get another chance to show us that she really is one of the best performers in this cast. 

Gilda Radner
(MVP - Eric Idle, Ricky Nelson)
I love Gilda but I really wish she was used better. I don’t blame her for that, but I was surprised she wasn’t forced down our throats. Not that I’m advocating for that, but I’m constantly thinking, “this is Gilda Fucking Radner, you know that, right?”
Best - She gave us a nice reserved part as herself on a date with Steve Martin while Aykroyd is an obnoxious waiter, Beach Blanket Bimbo From Outer Space where she introduced herself, her boyfriend, and her breasts, I liked her Roseanne Rosannadanna bit about quitting smoking, and Mother & Daughter was a great performance. But, come on, it has to be Candy Slice.
Worst - The Nerds, but I didn’t miss Emily Litella and did not like her appearing again.
Would I bring her back? Yes. I think one more season would be great and then let her career blossom. 

John Belushi
(MVP - Maureen Stapleton)
Belushi had a great start of the season but it didn’t last. He had a big hit with Animal House the summer before this season, he was getting applause just from entering a sketch, he was ready to become a Hollywood star, and finally put this show behind him. Boy, does it show.
Best - I enjoyed Crossroads, The Blues Brothers, Samurai Optometrist was my favorite adaptation, and his commentary in the Maureen Stapleton reminded me that I really liked his energy.
Worst - didn’t really try with his John Lennon impression and I got a little tired of his other Samurai and “BUT NOOOOOOO” bits, but I have to mention the Kate Jackson episode where he was not in good shape to perform. His voice sounded really bad and apparently his skin was green backstage. The fact that Lorne made him go on is pretty messed up.
Would I bring him back? No, but he wasn’t gonna come back anyway. Belushi has left the building and I don’t think I’ll miss him. 

Garrett Morris
(MVP - Cicely Tyson)
I was kinda offended by the way Garrett was treated this year. He was used sparingly and was given a lot of drag roles. How do you forget how to use someone in their 4th year? I felt his performances kinda suffered as a result.
Best - we opened the season with Garrett and the girls singing an ode to NBC in the style of a 40s orchestra. There was nothing funny about it but it was very well done. We also got Black Perspective with Cicely Tyson, Ant Man, Idi Aman, and my favorite was his classic Update bit calling on Mick Jagger to tell him where to find black girls who wanna…you know.
Worst - well, after that opening, he only appeared once again in the premiere and it was a waitress in the Cheeseburger sketch. One step forward, two steps back. Once I saw him doing Diana Ross, I started to get fed up with these drag bits and I just rolled my eyes whenever it happened. Also letting Jane call him a nice young negro friend. Worst of all, he was unintelligible and out of sync while singing “Bend Over, Chuck Berry”.
Would I bring him back? It would take you a few episodes to realize he was gone. I don’t mind Garrett being there, but I wish he was used better. If he wasn’t, a strong replacement should be hired. 

Jane Curtin
(MVP - Buck Henry (2))
It kinda bugged me that they really didn’t give Jane a lot of funny roles. Once again, I think Jane and Garrett are good performers but they were used completely wrong.
Best - she was good in Beach Blanket Bimbo From Outer Space and Miles Cowperthwaite where she showed her impressive British accent. We also got a funny Dolly Parton and the return of Mama Snyder.
Worst - I tuned out hard during Update this year. Crazy how I’ve rarely enjoyed Update during this binge.
Would I bring her back? I think I’d either just let Bill do Update alone and let her just be a performer or just cut her completely and hire another woman. 

Al Franken & Tom Davis
(MVP - Frank Zappa)
We didn’t get a lot of Franken and Davis but these guys stepped up their game. I’ve seen many male comedy duos in recent years and I think, even if they don’t know it, they’ve been influenced by Franken and Davis.
Best - their bit in the Zappa episode was a highlight in a very weak episode. Also, shoutout to their mime bit in The Pepsi Syndrome.
Worst - with limited options, I’ll pick their appearances in Beach Blanket Bimbo From Outer Space. It was a great sketch, and it was kinda funny seeing them there, but it just reminded me that they’re not natural performers.
Would I bring them back? Sure! I’m interested in seeing their featured player efforts. 

Non-cast MVP’s - Michael Palin (1)

Up next - my final review, Season 5

This is the first true season of SNL. I felt like I was watching the past 2 years waiting for the show to find its voice and now I've been rewarded. While it had its rocky moments, like every year, I can say this season is brilliant and a contender for best season. This year gave us some big hits and plenty of classic episodes I'd recommend (that's a post for another time). Even weak episodes, like the one Chevy hosted, had sketches to recommend, like the last sketch that had many endings. I'd also recommend Josh Ramsey, V.D. Caseworker. It's 11 minutes long and somehow brilliant.

I've yet to do the hypothetical "would I bring them back" because the answer is still yes, despite some issues I have, which I'll get to in a bit, so I might have to ask that when I get to Season 4 due to some cast changes. I love the cast but I didn't love how the cast was used this year. Let's get into that now!

Bill Murray
(MVP - Madeline Kahn, Hugh Hefner, Art Garfunkel, Jill Clayburgh, Richard Dreyfuss, Buck Henry (2))
Looks like Billy The Kid shook off the newbie nerves and became THE Bill Fucking Murray that we all know and love. And boy, do I love the guy.
Best - out of all of his best moments, and there were many, the bestest was him saying “boy my penis sure hurts when I urinate”. I’ll also shout out X Police and Nick The Lounge Singer.
Worst - I knew I loved Bill because there wasn’t a moment I disliked him. His “knucklehead” Update bits were repetitive but that doesn’t feel right to put in the worst place. 

Dan Aykroyd
(MVP - Steve Martin (1 & 3), Robert Klein, Chevy Chase, Art Garfunkel)
Aykroyd has chemistry with everyone and is a valuable character actor. I’ve always loved the guy but this rewatch has me thinking he was the most talented cast member at the time.
Best - He gave us some great hits with Wild and Crazy Guys, Irwin Mainway, X Police, and Tom Snyder.
Worst - his delivery on Update was just not it. Aside from his great News for the Silent Movie Buff bit and calling Jane an ignorant slut, I’m genuinely surprised at how much he stunk. 

Gilda Radner
(MVP - Charles Grodin, Art Garfunkel, Michael Sarrazin)
Another pretty good year for Gilda. Sometimes there was a sense of sameness from her, but I still love watching her.
Best - I knew about Judy Miller and I was fully prepared to hate it. She made me love it. It’s just a wound up child being cutesy, which isn’t something I would normally like. In fact, with anyone else, I might’ve hated it, but only Gilda can make that brilliant. I liked her Roseanne Rosannadanna debut in Hire The Competent, Total Woman, The Gift of the Magi, her good chemistry with Chevy (not an easy task), answering audience questions at the beginning of the OJ episode, Charlie Chaplin, dancing crazy with Steve Martin, and the beautifully done Schiller’s Reel “La Dolce Gilda”.
Worst - I’m not sure I got the joke of Hey You. It was brilliantly performed and edited, but it’s a perfume for one night stands. That’s it? What am I missing? I also don’t love how often Roseanne Rosannadanna appeared, but I’ll take it over Emily Litella. 

John Belushi aka Kevin Scott
(MVP - Buck Henry (1), Mary Kay Place, Miskel Spillman, Steve Martin (2), Art Garfunkel)
I “got” Belushi this year. He had some of his best performances here with some great acting and I thought this was his best season so far.
Best - Roy Orbison, Little Chocolate Donuts, The Gift of the Magi, Don’t Look Back In Anger, and one of my favorites, CHEESEBURGER CHEESEBURGER CHEESEBURGER.
Worst - I kinda cringed when he said he planned on being dead by 30, for obvious reasons. 

Laraine Newman
(MVP - Hugh Hefner, Christopher Lee, Michael Sarrazin)
The underuse of Laraine Newman baffles me. She’s such a versatile performer yet, because she was used the least and had the least successful post-SNL career of her fellow cast members, she’s considered a weak link. It’s unfair. This binge has made me love Laraine more than ever.
Best - an excellent Katharine Hepburn, she was also doing the voice of a baby in a Buck Henry sketch but obviously didn’t get credit for that, Mr. Mike’s Coral Waters Cafe, E. Buzz Miller’s giggly co-host, she was really good in the Gary Weis short The Voice, getting a Nutrifix injection in the ass, and her Update piece where she was the leading lady of American Hot Wax.
Worst - I never disliked Laraine. I didn’t understand the Hugh Hefner opener but her performance was great. And how great did she look in that Playboy bunny regalia? 

Garrett Morris
(MVP - OJ Simpson)
Garrett was pretty hard to find. He was still giving some good performances, but he was used sparingly, sometimes not appearing till later in a show.
Best - Is it bad that my favorite moment of his was his Tina Turner impression? He also gave us Reverse Discrimination, Great Moments in Sports, and he did a funny sports Update report where he made a mistake and then changed the subject by saying “what are you gonna do about it? Oppress me for another 400 years for an honest mistake, huh? Jive crackers!”
Worst - he really didn’t have a good enough Richard Pryor impression. 

Jane Curtin
Jane was ranked lower by default in the past two seasons, but this year, she was someone I was very close to considering a weak link. I’m sure I’d be nicer about Jane if Update was better. Someone described her tenure like it was Jane Pauley reading headlines from The Onion, but that concept is actually funny. Maybe I’m too removed from the material, but it even seemed like the audience didn’t enjoy it like they used to.
Best - I enjoyed her being a Croatian babe with Laraine next to the Festrunk brothers, I found her hilarious screaming in the horror film parodies in Christopher Lee’s monologue, I liked her Pythonesque accent in The Forgotten Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, and I just loved her playing Tom Snyder’s mom who sounds exactly like him.
Worst - the answer is Update. It made me so bored. There also was barely any chemistry between Jane and Dan. 

Al Franken & Tom Davis
I guess Franken & Davis are considered cast members, even though they felt more like guests. Franken obviously has made his mark on the show and Tom Davis slept with someone I know. Oh sorry, wrong place for that.
Best - when Franken had a brain tumor.
Worst - the one where they admitted to having a sexual relationship. Because two men doing it in the 70s is funny. 

Non-cast MVP’s - Ray Charles, Michael Palin

This might be my least controversial ranking to date! Maybe?

This is the first true season of SNL. I felt like I was watching the past 2 years waiting for the show to find its voice and now I've been rewarded. While it had its rocky moments, like every year, I can say this season is brilliant and a contender for best season. This year gave us some big hits and plenty of classic episodes I'd recommend (that's a post for another time). Even weak episodes, like the one Chevy hosted, had sketches to recommend, like the last sketch that had many endings. I'd also recommend Josh Ramsey, V.D. Caseworker. It's 11 minutes long and somehow brilliant.

I've yet to do the hypothetical "would I bring them back" because the answer is still yes, despite some issues I have, which I'll get to in a bit, so I might have to ask that when I get to Season 4 due to some cast changes. I love the cast but I didn't love how the cast was used this year. Let's get into that now!

Bill Murray
(MVP - Madeline Kahn, Hugh Hefner, Art Garfunkel, Jill Clayburgh, Richard Dreyfuss, Buck Henry (2))
Looks like Billy The Kid shook off the newbie nerves and became THE Bill Fucking Murray that we all know and love. And boy, do I love the guy.
Best - out of all of his best moments, and there were many, the bestest was him saying “boy my penis sure hurts when I urinate”. I’ll also shout out X Police and Nick The Lounge Singer.
Worst - I knew I loved Bill because there wasn’t a moment I disliked him. His “knucklehead” Update bits were repetitive but that doesn’t feel right to put in the worst place. 

Dan Aykroyd
(MVP - Steve Martin (1 & 3), Robert Klein, Chevy Chase, Art Garfunkel)
Aykroyd has chemistry with everyone and is a valuable character actor. I’ve always loved the guy but this rewatch has me thinking he was the most talented cast member at the time.
Best - He gave us some great hits with Wild and Crazy Guys, Irwin Mainway, X Police, and Tom Snyder.
Worst - his delivery on Update was just not it. Aside from his great News for the Silent Movie Buff bit and calling Jane an ignorant slut, I’m genuinely surprised at how much he stunk. 

Gilda Radner
(MVP - Charles Grodin, Art Garfunkel, Michael Sarrazin)
Another pretty good year for Gilda. Sometimes there was a sense of sameness from her, but I still love watching her.
Best - I knew about Judy Miller and I was fully prepared to hate it. She made me love it. It’s just a wound up child being cutesy, which isn’t something I would normally like. In fact, with anyone else, I might’ve hated it, but only Gilda can make that brilliant. I liked her Roseanne Rosannadanna debut in Hire The Competent, Total Woman, The Gift of the Magi, her good chemistry with Chevy (not an easy task), answering audience questions at the beginning of the OJ episode, Charlie Chaplin, dancing crazy with Steve Martin, and the beautifully done Schiller’s Reel “La Dolce Gilda”.
Worst - I’m not sure I got the joke of Hey You. It was brilliantly performed and edited, but it’s a perfume for one night stands. That’s it? What am I missing? I also don’t love how often Roseanne Rosannadanna appeared, but I’ll take it over Emily Litella. 

John Belushi aka Kevin Scott
(MVP - Buck Henry (1), Mary Kay Place, Miskel Spillman, Steve Martin (2), Art Garfunkel)
I “got” Belushi this year. He had some of his best performances here with some great acting and I thought this was his best season so far.
Best - Roy Orbison, Little Chocolate Donuts, The Gift of the Magi, Don’t Look Back In Anger, and one of my favorites, CHEESEBURGER CHEESEBURGER CHEESEBURGER.
Worst - I kinda cringed when he said he planned on being dead by 30, for obvious reasons. 

Laraine Newman
(MVP - Hugh Hefner, Christopher Lee, Michael Sarrazin)
The underuse of Laraine Newman baffles me. She’s such a versatile performer yet, because she was used the least and had the least successful post-SNL career of her fellow cast members, she’s considered a weak link. It’s unfair. This binge has made me love Laraine more than ever.
Best - an excellent Katharine Hepburn, she was also doing the voice of a baby in a Buck Henry sketch but obviously didn’t get credit for that, Mr. Mike’s Coral Waters Cafe, E. Buzz Miller’s giggly co-host, she was really good in the Gary Weis short The Voice, getting a Nutrifix injection in the ass, and her Update piece where she was the leading lady of American Hot Wax.
Worst - I never disliked Laraine. I didn’t understand the Hugh Hefner opener but her performance was great. And how great did she look in that Playboy bunny regalia? 

Garrett Morris
(MVP - OJ Simpson)
Garrett was pretty hard to find. He was still giving some good performances, but he was used sparingly, sometimes not appearing till later in a show.
Best - Is it bad that my favorite moment of his was his Tina Turner impression? He also gave us Reverse Discrimination, Great Moments in Sports, and he did a funny sports Update report where he made a mistake and then changed the subject by saying “what are you gonna do about it? Oppress me for another 400 years for an honest mistake, huh? Jive crackers!”
Worst - he really didn’t have a good enough Richard Pryor impression. 

Jane Curtin
Jane was ranked lower by default in the past two seasons, but this year, she was someone I was very close to considering a weak link. I’m sure I’d be nicer about Jane if Update was better. Someone described her tenure like it was Jane Pauley reading headlines from The Onion, but that concept is actually funny. Maybe I’m too removed from the material, but it even seemed like the audience didn’t enjoy it like they used to.
Best - I enjoyed her being a Croatian babe with Laraine next to the Festrunk brothers, I found her hilarious screaming in the horror film parodies in Christopher Lee’s monologue, I liked her Pythonesque accent in The Forgotten Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, and I just loved her playing Tom Snyder’s mom who sounds exactly like him.
Worst - the answer is Update. It made me so bored. There also was barely any chemistry between Jane and Dan. 

Al Franken & Tom Davis
I guess Franken & Davis are considered cast members, even though they felt more like guests. Franken obviously has made his mark on the show and Tom Davis slept with someone I know. Oh sorry, wrong place for that.
Best - when Franken had a brain tumor.
Worst - the one where they admitted to having a sexual relationship. Because two men doing it in the 70s is funny. 

Non-cast MVP’s - Ray Charles, Michael Palin

This might be my least controversial ranking to date! Maybe?

The show is beginning to actually feel like the show now and they're starting to hit a sweet spot, which I think will get even better in Season 3. I'm often feeling a little bored with the stuff I don't fully get, but the best episodes are better than the previous year.

I like how non-traditional and creative the show was. Transitioning between sketches and doing follow ups shouldn't feel groundbreaking, but because SNL has become so mediocre, predictable, and formulaic that when the show just puts in a little effort, I'm so incredibly enticed. I also wish I got to see the Mardi Gras episode but couldn't find a copy.

I wanna single out one of the greatest sketches I've ever seen - If you have Peacock, go to the Fran Tarkenton episode and skip to 24:10. The Alsatian Restaurant sketch is so great and it can work in any era of the show. The cast nails it and the awkward and zany humor is just perfect. I hate that you can't find it on YouTube or the snlreelz instagram. I highly recommend it.

Dan Aykroyd
(MVP - Norman Lear, Eric Idle (1 & 2), Karen Black, Jodie Foster, Candice Bergen, Ruth Gordon, Jack Burns)
Danny wasted no time becoming my favorite cast member. He has that ability to be a team player and make everyone look good while delivering top notch performances. With 9 MVP’s (including one for the whole cast in the Fran Tarkenton show), I think this is the most I’ve awarded any cast member during these reviews. Not bad for a mustached canuck.
Best - It’s hard to argue with Irwin Mainway. He also had a good Jimmy Carter, which was best used in the Ask Jimmy Carter sketch in the Sissy Spacek episode. He can play great anchor roles like Rod Serling, Tom Snyder, the announcer of Don Pardo: The First 50 Years, and the host of You’ve Come A Long Way Buddy. My favorite was probably AM-FM.
Worst - I didn’t dislike any performance he did. He tried really hard in the reunion sketch with Jane but it was long and kinda irritating in an unfunny way. Also, if I’m nitpicking, I wish that his Vincent Price impression was more creepy. 

Laraine Newman
(MVP - Steve Martin (1), Jodie Foster)
It’s hard to rank Laraine because she doesn’t get a lot of airtime but she constantly delivers and is someone who I want to see more from. It might be a bit risky to rank her 2nd, but also, if you’ve seen my reviews before, you know shit like this happens all the time.
Best - she had some great pipes with a German accent in Behind The Lines that when the camera panned to Dan and Eric Idle, I wanted to see more of her character. Then we get wacky stuff like “I AM A LEAF” and playing the melodica (or recorder) awkwardly in Alsatian Restaurant. Her little talent feature in the Jodie Foster episode is probably one of her bigger moments on the show and it made me love her even more.
Worst - I also didn't dislike Laraine, but why have her play Howard Hughes? She also had a late appearance in Bad Cinema, which was covered up well with her and Aykroyd improvising. 

Gilda Radner
(MVP - Dick Cavett, Steve Martin (2), Shelley Duvall, Buck Henry (2))
She was the first dominant woman on the show. I’ve reviewed seasons with Molly Shannon, Amy Poehler, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and more recently Ashley Padilla, and they all take a page from the book of Gilda. When I love Gilda, she’s the best. She can be adorable, outgoing, laid back, wacky, or gross when the sketch calls for it and she can do it better than most.
Best - getting to say the first LFNY after Chevy left, plus Puppy Uppers, Right To Extreme Stupidity League, Debbie Doody, Charo in Hollywood Bingo, and Jackie Kennedy in a weight lifting competition (who writes this stuff?)
Worst - what else does she have in common with the other women I mentioned? Overuse. Some of her characters don’t work for me and it doesn’t help matters when you repeat them as often as she  did with Emily Litella or Baba Wawa. I know, it was groundbreaking to make fun of journalists in the 70s and you could only tune in to see this every week live, but it was still too frequent. I also did not get her playing a Native American in Billy Paul but I also didn’t get anything about that sketch. 

Bill Murray
(MVP - Ralph Nader, Broderick Crawford, Elliott Gould)
I fucking love Bill Murray. His first episode was just filling in for Belushi and it didn’t make me miss him or Chevy, it made me excited to see the new guy. Sometimes he was a bit reserved, but this is the beginning of one of my idols becoming the legend he is.
Best - he came in strong with the one-two punch of Long Distance and TV Execution, followed by plenty of funny Update commentaries, the debut of Nick The Lounge Singer, being the play-by-play commentator in Frank Tarkenton’s monologue, and failing to chug a bottle of grape juice. I can’t mention this season without his straight to camera bit about how he’s not doing well on the show. It was a funny plea and helped him get the audience on his side, but honestly, I didn’t think he had that rough of a start. Maybe the audience was so head over heels about Chevy that they’d just hate anyone who replaced him, but I thought Bill was great. Any doubt I had for Bill was fully gone by the end of the year when he did his classic shower bit.
Worst - there’s the infamous “quintlexia” sketch in the Sissy Spacek episode that probably led to him having that straight to camera bit, but honestly, I didn’t think it was as bad as people said. His delivery was stumbly in You’ve Come A Long Way Buddy, but he more than made up for it when he debuted Nick The Lounge Singer later in the episode. 

John Belushi
(MVP - Sissy Spacek, Julian Bond, Elliott Gould)
This season mostly warranted Belushi’s legacy. I saw a star. The strange thing about him is when he was really on point, he's a genius, but then there are times when he’s either too loud or too reserved.
Best - he gave us The Snakehandling O’Sheas, his Joe Cocker opposite the real Joe Cocker, a drunk Santa in Santi-Wrap, doing the Samurai with Frank Zappa, playing the coach in the Fran Tarkenton show, and taunting us in the beginning of the Jack Burns show about saying LFNY.
Worst - I loved The Bees until Bee History where I was desperate to clock out. I also didn’t get Dino De Laurentiis but maybe his injury got in the way of his performance. Just like his Jack Nicholson last year, I was excited to see him play Elvis but was very underwhelmed. 

Garrett Morris
(MVP - Buck Henry (1))
For a guy who wasn’t much of an actor, Garrett could really deliver in pieces that call for it. I noticed that, later in the year, his performances became a little rough and his delivery was a bit stumbly.
Best - the best part of Peace Talks, reporting from Houdini’s grave, yelling at the TV in Chroma-Trak, saying “all white people are crazyyyy.” I didn’t understand why The King Kong Dirge existed because he’s just singing about King Kong and there’s no humor, BUT it’s a hauntingly excellent song and Garrett sang the hell out of it. Once again, I just love when Garrett sings anything.
Worst - Roots was performed really well but went on for a very long time. I also don’t believe Garrett should play a kid in school like he did in that Amy Carter sketch. Then he played Amy Carter’s nanny and I was surprised it took Garrett this long to play a role in drag.

Jane Curtin
(MVP - Paul Simon)
I like Jane. I think she is a great actor and can be dependable in sketches. I was honestly surprised that she didn’t have much of an acting background before the show. I’m stalling my opinions about Update for a reason.
Best - Quarry was a fun performance and it showcased her acting skills. Same goes for her playing the bearded wife in Steroids. I don’t know who Rose Marie is but apparently she nailed the laugh and I enjoyed it. I especially liked her in Gidget Goes To Shock Therapy.
Worst - did the writers purposefully give Jane bad jokes for Update? I don’t want to fully blame Jane for the decline but she didn’t help matters. She’s someone who can really nail a part and deliver a line, but there wasn’t anything in Update that brought out her best talents. As she reminded us when she flashed her bra, Jane is better than this. 

Chevy Chase
(MVP - Lily Tomlin)
The first star who was the first to do many things, including leave. I admitted to liking Chevy in his first season. When he left, I didn’t miss him. They made it practically hard to miss him because they kept bringing him back. I just kept wanting to see the others get more airtime. Put it this way - the show needed Chevy but also needed him to leave.
Best - when he injured his schmeckle in Debate ‘76
Worst - every time they felt the need to bring him back

Non-cast MVP’s - Eric Idle (both times), the whole cast (in the Fran Tarkenton episode)

Best musical guests - The Band, Frank Zappa, Ron Nasty

Worst musical guests - Leo Sayer, Richard Baskin