When did SNL get funny again?

[Commando]

No love for Mike Meyers?

I loved MM on the show; Sure everyone knows Wayne's World, but he had some of the most awesome weird characters that seemed to elevate the level of comedy- Dieter from Sprockets, Lothar of the Hill People, Middle Aged Man, Johnny Letter, etc etc etc. Much like Phil Hartman(whose Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer is SNL Hall of Fame) he was mostly solid support for the headliners and was a very savvy comedian. Of course his post SNL career is a Supernova compared to Carvey or Jon Lovitz(overlooked), but he was pretty quiet on the show outside of WW's constantly being the opening or leading skit.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

Then why did you bring up carrying a movie?

You brought up these guys' careers after SNL, not me. I was merely pointing out that only a few of these guys have had really great movie careers after they left and it wasn't measure of how great they were on SNL itself. Chevy Chase, for some reason, was the big star when the whole thing started and I watch his skits and I just don't get what the big deal was. He had a pretty good movie career in the 80s.

[Applejack]

I think Kristen Wiig not making the final four is a national tragedy. I'd put her, Ferrell, Hartman, and Carvey in the top four.

Murphy's and Belushi's stuff just doesn't hold up for me. I guess you had to be there.

[beefytee]

I don't get the love for Kristen Wiig. I'm just not a fan of her skits. Target lady, Lawrence Welk girl. They just weren't that funny.

One person I haven't seen mentioned here that would be in my top five is Gilda Radner.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

I think Kristen Wiig not making the final four is a national tragedy. I'd put her, Ferrell, Hartman, and Carvey in the top four.

Murphy's and Belushi's stuff just doesn't hold up for me. I guess you had to be there.

Belushi doing Joe Cocker will always be a top 3 moment for me. BTW, he wasn't lip synching Cocker, Belushi was actually singing With a Little Help From My Friends.

[SteelBlue]

I guess you had to be there.

I think this is often true with comedy in general, and usually true with SNL. So much of it depends on the culture of the time, and what was shocking and funny in one time period might not even register now.

[Applejack]

I don't get the love for Kristen Wiig. I'm just not a fan of her skits. Target lady, Lawrence Welk girl. They just weren't that funny.

One person I haven't seen mentioned here that would be in my top five is Gilda Radner.

That's interesting - I would rate Wiig as #2 overall in my book, just behind Ferrell. She carried the show her entire time on the air, in my opinion. She could carry skits (ala Lawrence Welk, sexy/gross girl, etc) but she does great impersonations (intentionally over the top) and often steals skits in which she is just a supporter (ala Disney Housewives).

The difference is likely generational (although I have no idea how old you are): I don't care for Gilda Radner.

[Northwestcoug]

Will Ferrell won over Phil Hartman. Puhleaze.

[Commando]

I don't get the love for Kristen Wiig.

I do. She is crazy good. A really sexist thing that I think is that she's really funny for such a good looking gal.

[Commando]

Ahh stumbled upon this. Love Phil Hartman-- what a virtuoso.

[RC Vikings]

No love for Mike Meyers?

How about some love for Martin Short and his Ed Grimly character. Also his character Nathan Thurm was very very good.