TRANSCRIPT:
*SNL clip plays* Saturday Night Live is one of the most iconic shows in American television history. SNL is a 90-minute weekly television show that consists of live and pre-recorded comedy sketches and musical guest performances. Over the years, Saturday Night Live has struck gold with certain characters, making them iconic parts of the show’s history. From a woman ruining fun events with depressing facts to an overly energetic man giving life advice to teenagers, SNL has had a large amount of unique characters on its show that have gone on to become legends. With that being said, let’s take a look back at some of the best characters that Saturday Night Live has created. *SNL clip plays*
David S. Pumpkins first appeared on the October 16, 2016 episode of SNL in the sketch “Haunted Elevator”. David Pumpkins is played by Tom Hanks in the original sketch and voiced by him in the Halloween animated special. David Pumpkins is an eccentric man with curly hair, wearing a suit with a pumpkin image pattern. Pumpkins introduces himself to hotel guests with a “how’s it hanging” before telling them his name. Pumpkins, in the original sketch, was accompanied by two skeletons that stood on opposite sides of him. *SNL clip plays*
Played by Rachel Dratch, Debbie Downer is a character that likes to ruin the fun of others with depressing facts. Downer first appeared on the May 1, 2004, episode of Saturday Night Live in a sketch where she brings up mad cow disease, heat strokes and greenhouse emissions on a family trip to Disney World. *SNL clip plays* The audience loved the character; Ratchel Dratch even broke character to laugh during one of Downer’s sketches. Downer would go on to appear eight other times, not counting an unaired sketch in 2010. *SNL clip plays*
Chris Farley is one of the most iconic cast members in SNL history, so it’s no surprise his Matt Foley character is one of the most well-known characters from Saturday Night Live. Matt Foley is an energetic motivational speaker who gets a little too carried away with his job, often getting physical while giving a motivational speech. In his debut, Foley attempts to steer two teenagers away from smoking marijuana. *SNL clip plays*In the end, Foley would bring the family closer with each other by horrifying them with his plan to move in. The sketch went over so well that Foley would go on to become a recurring character on SNL. *SNL clip plays*
While Jaws patrolled the waters in 1975, a different shark took to land. Landshark was a creature in the first season of SNL that would attack young women with masterful trickery. *SNL clip plays* The killer shark first took form on the November 8, 1975, episode of SNL. In the sketch, Landshark would trick three women to come to the door and devour them. *SNL clip plays* Landshark would go on to appear nine other times on SNL throughout the years due to how well received the sketch was. *SNL clip plays*
The Californians was a soap opera parody featuring Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, and Fred Armisen. The Californians sketches would poke fun at parts of Californian culture like unintelligible valley accents and an overreliance on directions. *SNL clip plays* Bill Hader played the role of Devin, who would feud with Stuart, played by Fred Armisen, for the love of Kariana, who is played by Kristen Wiig. With how overly exaggerated the Californians acted, Wiig, Armisen, and Hader would have issues keeping their composure during the sketch. During one scene, Bill Hader could be seen behind Kristen Wiig on the verge of bursting out laughing. *SNL clip plays* With how popular The Californians became, the characters would appear eight more times over the years.
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