Saturday Night Ladies

In honor of SNL’s 40th anniversary show today, I wanted to spotlight some of my favorite cast members.

Gilda Radner

Rosanne Rosannadanna killing it on “Weekend Update”

I’ve seen every episode of Saturday Night Live. When I started season one, I fell in love with Gilda Radner. She is devastatingly funny. She is expertly committed. She is one of the greatest sketch comedians ever. Period.

Hailing from Detroit, Michigan, Gilda went from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor to Toronto, Canada initiating her professional acting career. She was in a famed production of Godspell in 1972 with fellow soon-to-be-famous stars Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Victor Garber, and Martin Short. She joined the Toronto Second City comedy troupe. Some of her cast members included John Belushi, Chevy Chase and Bill Murray. Sound familiar?

Gilda was cast as a “Not Ready For Primetime Player” in the inaugural season of SNL. It was at SNL that she cemented herself as a valuable performer. Her tenure lasted from 1975-1980. In 1978 she won an Emmy for “Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in Variety or Music.” What a mouthful, however so well deserved.

Some of her most famous recurring characters were Roseanne Rosannadanna (advice expert), Baba Wawa (Barbara Walters parody), and Emily Litella (hearing impaired woman who gives misinformed editorial replies on Weekend Update).

My favorite sketch with Gilda also happens to be my favorite SNL sketch ever. It perfectly shows her dedication. When something looked as though it could fall apart and fail, Gilda wouldn’t let it. The sketch was elevated by a new definition of “Extremely Stupid.” Watch the clip and you’ll see exactly what I mean.

Molly Shannon & Ana Gasteyer

Superstars.

Molly Shannon joined the SNL cast in 1995 after having some small roles in TV and film. She left the show in 2001, but she is one of the longest-serving female cast members. Molly is infectious. Her expressive eyes, her contorting face, her unidentifiable sounds. When I see Molly enter a scene, I’m already giggling. Boy, she’s good. And she’s dedicated to her characters. Some of her most famous original characters on the show were Mary Catherine Gallagher (outcast at Catholic school), Sally O’Malley (“Kick, stretch, and kick!!”), and Terry Rialto (NPR host). The Mary Catherine Gallagher character has her own movie (which is pretty boring, I’ll admit, but there are a few moments enjoyable moments in there somewhere…!).

She plays to win.

Ana Gasteyer started her comedy career at the famed Groundlings in Los Angeles, California. She had a similar time frame at SNL, arriving a year later than Molly and staying until 2002. Ana is probably best known for her Martha Stewart and Hillary Clinton impressions, which are both perfection. Getting in the holiday spirit is so easy now that “Martha Stewart Topless Christmas” exists. 

Did you know she’s a jazz vocalist? Her album I’m Hip is available for download on iTunes. Catch Ana on twitter too! She’s a great follow.

Together, Molly and Ana create the “Delicious Dish.” A parody of NPR, this recurring sketch creates a dynamite team in Molly and Ana. The sketch lives and dies (but hardly ever dies) by the double entendre. In total, there have been 15 “Delicious Dish” sketches, each as dirty as the next.

 Tina & Amy

“On Wednesday the 73rd annual Rockefeller Christmas tree was lit… As was I.”

You know them, you love them, and if you don’t love them, you’re in luck! I lead a committee that travels door to door convincing these clearly sad and confused individuals that Tina and Amy are the greatest ever, of all time, period, no questions asked.

There are probably hundred of thousands of blog posts about Tina & Amy, and I know you read their books, so I won’t go on and bore you with everything you already know. However, I will tell you why I love them together (forever).

1. 

   *entire universe nods in agreement, stands and claps for the rest of eternity*

   Best Friends: When you wake up one morning after a really weird dream where you were a professional derby racer with one arm and Fabio as your husband, and the first thing you think is “I have GOT to tell (insert your BFF’s name here)” then you probably have some deeper insight on Tina’s & Amy’s relationship.

2. Boss Ass Bitches: I already mentioned their books, but also Smart Girls At the Party much? Also between both women, for Emmy Awards and Golden Globe Awards they have a combined 11 wins and 55 nominations. Shut. Up.
3. Badest Weekend Updaters: This is the dream team. Do not argue with me. You will lose.
4. Babes, Total Babes: Have you seen them? Have you listened to them? Did you watch the Golden Globes. These women are role models to young women everywhere. They are setting the example for women everywhere to be a bad bitch in the office without sacrificing a damn thing! Gorgeous, hilarious, smart, philanthropic, fun. FUN.

 

I could go on and on about the amazing women who have made up the cast of SNL over the last 40 years. So I will. Follow-up post style.

Stay Tuned