In 1975, 27 people died in Vietnam's Operation Babylift, NASA launched Viking 1 and on Oct. 11, Saturday Night Live debuted. The show has reached 37 seasons and counting.
With the material America provided in 1975, Saturday Night Live created space for the public to breathe—the sketch comedy provided not just an iconic party in television history but a way for Americans to come together and exhale one collective, unabashed laugh.
We had 716 episodes and 37 years to pore over, and in honor of America's favorite variety show, we give you our top 30 SNL characters.
Judy Grimes is a travel expert—just kidding, Weekend Updater—just kidding, who suffers from—just kidding, stage fright and just kidding, fast-paced sentences—just kidding, but not really, just kidding—because she's nervous. Just kidding, SNL loves her.
The Master Thespian returned 13 times between 1985 and 1989. Jon Lovitz played the egomaniacal actor who delivered a consistent Shakespearean accent in his ruthlessly ambitious acting career. His presence consisted of overacting, oblivion to the actor's craft and a clear misunderstanding for disguises. His "reputation" became a running of joke for what he is not, as opposed to what he is.
Don Novello made the chain-smoking, tinted-eyeglasses-wearing priest who works as a rock critic and gossip columnist a household name. In 1973 Novello created the character himself after purchasing the entire outfit (for under $8), conjuring Catholic dialects and writing the role for himself, by himself. He has appeared 31 times on SNL making him not only the most seen priest on SNL, but also the most recurring character in the show's history.
Chevy Chase made us realize there's no reason to fear the ocean. It's door-to-door salesmen we need to consider. If you're young, female and single, don't you dare open that knocking door. And if you do, you better make sure you've settled all your affairs. Your last image might be a man with an undeniable shark head.
The Killer Bees were the first characters to reappear on SNL. 1975 brought their debut, and since then hospital bees, dramatic scene bees, killer bees, grandparent bees, bee-capades and bad news bees emerged with their black and yellow stripes, overly enthusiastic antennae and charming sense of humor.
A 1977 Steve and Dan. There's nothing more to say.