The Funniest SNL Impression of Each Year (2000-2024)

The Funniest SNL Impression of Each Year Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most hilarious “SNL” impersonations of each year from 2000-2024. 2000: Will Ferrell as George W. Bush Will Ferrell has a way of bringing out the most entertaining aspects of the 43rd president. In the year 2000, fans were treated to Ferrell’s funny performances as George W. Bush. The comedian was especially good at delivering notable catchphrases. Sparring against Darrell Hammond’s Al Gore, the performer knows how to play each moment with a mix of seriousness and silliness. He even got to show off his skills next to Dana Carvey’s legendary George H.W. Bush. For years afterward, the comic kept captivating audiences in this fruitful role. He’s always been able to turn this divisive figure into a comedic foil. 2001: Ana Gasteyer as Martha Stewart During her time at “SNL,” this comedian created a fantastic impression of Martha Stewart. Her version of the celebrity chef is laidback in a chaotic way. Ana Gasteyer keeps her impersonation poised and proper, but everything seems to be breaking at the seams. It’s a subtle piece of comedic acting that few people could pull off in the same way. Who knew that such a calm personality could be such a great source of comedy gold? It’s no wonder the character became one of her staples on the show. Gasteyer’s talents bring out the darker, funnier, more complicated side of the TV presenter. 2002: Maya Rudolph as Donatella Versace With her ability to transform, Maya Rudolph becomes the fashion icon with shocking detail. This starts with the comedian’s vocal impression. It’s the perfect mix of a deep affectation and dry wit. Rudolph’s Donatella Versace turns any situation into a fun-filled moment, making even an advertisement more entertaining. The comic star’s vocal delivery plays perfectly over the top of a commercial for fake Hot Pockets. With her steely gaze and a champagne glass, the actress turns this socialite into a comedic powerhouse. The character’s appearance in surprising locations and overall confusion only adds to her mystique. 2003: Jimmy Fallon as Barry Gibb Showing the full showcase of his talents, Jimmy Fallon plays Barry Gibb in one of his best recurring sketches. He channels the British singer for this outrageous talk show. Fallon can sing, dance, and match the vocal qualities of the Bee Gees member. He also gets to play along with Justin Timberlake and make the latter laugh. His version of Gibb is quick to get angry, turning interviews into wild affairs full of strange vocalizations and outbursts. It’s a tour de force that keeps you guessing and giggling in equal measure. There’s even an opening and closing number to entertain audiences. Thankfully for all of us, this skit became a long-running role in the comedian’s catalog. 2004: Kenan Thompson as Esther Rolle If you love the show “Good Times,” you’ll find something to enjoy about this accurate sketch. Chief among those things might just be Kenan Thompson as Esther Rolle. The comedian does a surprisingly accurate version of the TV matriarch Florida Evans. Thompson’s impersonation rolls through the punches and even stops to deliver a killer catchphrase. With so many great performers around him, Thompson shines with his delivery and ability to bounce off co-stars like Maya Rudolph. He even makes good use of a portrait of Jesus. Fans of this 1970s sitcom might be shocked at the level of detail here, with Thompson taking center stage in a well-acted scene. 2005: Bill Hader as Vincent Price In the comedian’s early years on “SNL,” Bill Hader showed off his talents as an impressionist. This included his funny take on horror legend Vincent Price. His take on the actor throws holiday parties and invites all sorts of crazy celebrities. While he gets to play off eccentric versions of Judy Garland, Hader’s impersonation also generates huge laughs with his combative personality. It’s a comedic disaster in the best way as this Price struggles against everyone. The performer’s impressive skills also match the unique quality of his target’s voice. The cast member juggles so many details, leads the sketch, and satisfies fans of old Hollywood. 2006: Alec Baldwin as Tony Bennett Every so often, an “SNL” host comes around who possesses the same skills as the cast members. This includes frequent host Alec Baldwin and his ability to play the likes of Tony Bennett. The actor can play the crooner as a talk show host and a singer, managing to nail down the music legend’s trademark voice. This is all more miraculous when Baldwin works alongside the real man. Even with the celebrity next to him, the actor and his impersonation stay the course in a fantastic sketch. The “30 Rock” star’s craft couldn’t be more clear, showing that he can dive into a comedic character as well as any dramatic performance. 2007: Amy Poehler as Dakota Fanning Playing up the concept of a child star, this remix of Dakota Fanning is as precocious as ever. She hosts her own show and prefers to talk about adult topics. Amy Poehler keeps the energy up as the actress, with both a childlike innocence and a drive to be smarter than anyone else. This Fanning even likes to put down her band leader, with Kenan Thompson’s Reggie helping to create more comedic tension. The host also interviews Daniel Radcliffe and Abigail Breslin while trying to appear mature at every turn. Poehler finds a way to combine a bubbly outer shell with a more evil interior. She even makes sipping a juice box funny, turning this concept into another winning performance. 2008: Tina Fey as Sarah Palin In one of the most popular impressions of the 2008 election season, Tina Fey transformed into Sarah Palin. She returned to the show for one of her finest performances. This includes using glasses and her best Alaskan accent to become the vice-presidential candidate. She addresses audiences with funny catchphrases, playing next to Amy Poehler’s admirable work as Hillary Clinton. Fey is super convincing as Palin throughout all kinds of speeches and interviews. She also makes an interview sketch with Poehler’s Katie Couric wonderfully awkward. The former cast member never fails to bring smiles as this folksy politician, reminding everyone of her comedic abilities. 2009: Various Cast Members as “The View” Hosts In the late 2000s, “SNL” tackled the then-current lineup of “The View.” This included plenty of enjoyable impersonations of the opinionated hosts. Kenan Thompson’s Whoopi Goldberg is just one standout, with a hard stare being one noteworthy move. Michaela Watkins might do the best impression of them all as an accurate version of Barbara Walters. Guest host Tracy Morgan plays a clueless take on Sherri Shepherd next to Fred Armisen’s self-effacing Joy Behar. This collection of performances keeps things loose and goofy as the hosts sail through topics. Kristen Wiig gives an intense turn as Elisabeth Hasselbeck, rounding out the ensemble with her funny rants. Another incarnation of this skit from 2009 allowed for someone like Taylor Swift to join the fun. 2010: Vanessa Bayer as Miley Cyrus Turning this pop star into a talk personality, Vanessa Bayer knows how to get the best out of this impression. Her Miley Cyrus is filled with a contagious and optimistic outlook. While hosting her own show, the popstar also gets to banter with her dad Billy Ray. This makes for some silly moments with both Bryan Cranston and Jason Sudeikis playing the father. Bayer also gets to do various celebrity interviews that let her test out her convincing vocal impersonation. Exaggerating the singer’s personal life, the performer also gets to make funny rants about all kinds of toxic subjects. 2011: Jay Pharoah as Denzel Washington As a talented impressionist, Jay Pharoah deserves a lot more love for his amazing voices. One of his greatest might be his accurate Denzel Washington. It basically encapsulates the last twenty years of the “Training Day” star’s career, full of detailed inflections, vocal tics, and facial expressions. Pharoah sounds almost exactly like the real star at points, delivering what could easily turn into dialogue for an upcoming movie. It’s even funny to watch the character appear in segments that he shouldn’t be. As a potential replacement for a morning show, this take on Washington keeps using his powerful voice for comedic effect. 2012: Kristen Wiig as Liza Minnelli With a stroke of comedic genius, Kristen Wiig embodies the singular artist Liza Minnelli. This quickly goes from a standard impression to a gloriously absurd one. Wiig’s character desperately tries and fails to turn off a lamp. The trouble only builds as her methods become more ridiculous, making for some off-the-wall comedy. There are plenty of dance moves, hand movements, and even a fun reference to Bob Fosse. The comedian doesn’t stop in a firecracker performance full of explosive energy. It doesn’t make sense in the slightest, but it’s hilarious nonetheless. The performer taps into a manic persona that you can’t look away from. 2013: Taran Killam as Christoph Waltz During his awesome run on “SNL,” Taran Killam amassed numerous solid impressions. He also played Christoph Waltz in an audition sketch. Killam finds a way to replicate the Austrian actor’s refined speech. Channeling the accent and mannerisms, the comedian finds laughs in this segment about people trying out for “Fifty Shades of Grey.” His character also works with Miley Cyrus’ Scarlett Johansson through some suggestive material. The role also lets the performer say some funny catchphrases for good measure. By the end of this skit, we kind of wish we could see the real Waltz in the steamy romance series. 2014: Various Cast Members as Jim Carrey Rather than have one person tackle Jim Carrey, “SNL” decided to have multiple cast members bring out their best impersonations. The result is a family reunion sketch that brings out all kinds of characters from Carrey’s career. This includes references from the likes of “Ace Ventura” to “The Cable Guy,” with pure entertainment from start to finish. There’s enough talent here to bring a smile to your face even if some impressions aren’t as accurate. The real performer is a good sport, playing the straight man to wacky roles and even Jeff Daniels. It’s an effective concept that the show used several times to equal success. 2015: Kate McKinnon as Justin Bieber Kate McKinnon absolutely transforms into Justin Bieber, proving to audiences that she can find the singer’s charisma like nobody else. In a Calvin Klein ad parody, McKinnon poses and makes use of the space. The scene quickly gets out of control as the fake Bieber loses it. With this skit in particular, the comedian shows she’s mastered playing the vocalist down to his individual moves. She’s always a delight when she pokes fun at the performer’s public persona. This impression also translates to a boxing sketch, where even a brief cameo brings out the “SNL” cast member’s best impulses. 2016: Larry David as Bernie Sanders In one of the better decisions in “SNL” history, Larry David assumes the role of Bernie Sanders. It seems like the part he was born to play given his reputation for being grumpy. He’s able to use his persona from “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” morphing the latter into a political impression. It also helps that they’re related and look similar. With the sketch show imitating David’s HBO program, the actor satirizes the grounded and unkempt look of Bernie Sanders. It’s also funny to imagine Sanders in the same kind of situations that make for great comic observations. Sometimes the best casting choices are plainly obvious. 2017: Melissa McCarthy as Sean Spicer It seems that Melissa McCarthy can do just about any comedy role. Her dedication gives her a leg up in this exciting piece of casting. As the White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, the comedian utilizes every part of her comedic tool belt. She’s able to get angry, go on rants, and do a little bit of show and tell for audiences. This all adds up to a series of amazing guest appearances on “SNL.” Her Spicer likes to get angry with an aggressive style that makes for some of the funnier political satire in recent memory. If only the real conferences went this way, we might have been half as entertained as we are watching these scenes. 2018: Matt Damon as Brett Kavanaugh Digging into the emotion of his part, Matt Damon is unafraid to make Brett Kavanaugh into a beer-loving bro. The result is nothing short of funny. During this tense questioning, his version of Kavanaugh quickly turns from angry to sad in a series of mood swings. The actor really goes for it in a big comedic swing that pays off. His bold character manages to find the comedy in Cavanaugh’s testimony while playing up the controversial moments from the trial. The performer creates a memorable presence in just one appearance, not even needing to stand up to get big laughs. 2019: Melissa Villaseñor as Lady Gaga Appearing on “Weekend Update,” Melissa Villaseñor tries her best take on Lady Gaga. She ends up creating some commendable work with this skit. She digs into “Shallow” like a true professional, never letting up through a series of difficult high notes. It’s hard to imagine anyone doing a perfect remix of Gaga, but Villaseñor does an excellent job of making it all come together. She even gets a little help from Kyle Mooney and his brief impression of Bradley Cooper. The gifted impressionist knows how to command an audience, showing off herself as a master of musical impersonations. 2020: Chloe Fineman as Timothée Chalamet During the “Live at Home” episodes, “SNL” adjusted their format for remote productions. This allowed Chloe Fineman to stand out with her impressions. Her look at Timothée Chalamet is an entertaining glimpse at the latter’s star power. Fineman’s attempts to capture his voice couldn’t be funnier, trading accuracy for pure entertainment. She’s able to make the actor’s laugh, fashion sense, and French skills into comedic highlights. The comedian does it all without a co-star, showing her ability to do a one-woman show. Her ability to turn Chalamet into an awkward goofball only makes the skit more endearing. This wasn’t the only stand out from 2020 either, with Jim Carrey’s Joe Biden and Kate McKinnon’s Rudy Giuliani also stealing the spotlight. 2021: Cecily Strong as Jeanine Pirro As one of her most entertaining characters, Cecily Strong consistently tore the roof off of “Weekend Update.” Her version of the TV personality loves to have a drink and spill it everywhere. In between her conservative talking points, this take on Jeanine Pirro turns Colin Jost into the target for plenty of wine. Strong’s interplay with the host only makes these skits funnier. It’s clear that creating an over-the-top parody of Pirro really pays off. Embracing the silliness in between political satire, this combination of raw talent and large quantities of alcohol makes for a hilarious segment. 2022: James Austin Johnson as Donald Trump While he isn’t the first person to do Donald Trump, James Austin Johnson might be one of the best. He’s boiled down all of the politician’s quirks into an eerie and precise impersonation. This includes portraying him through all kinds of rants and ravings. Johnson has a way of making subtle changes with his voice, giving audiences a presidential impression that sounds close to the real man. He’s been the show’s go-to Trump impersonator for good reason. His showstopping work goes beyond the efforts of Alec Baldwin and finds a new angle for the political figure. 2023: Various Cast Members as ABBA Do you love this Swedish band? Even if you don’t love “Dancing Queen,” you might enjoy how much fun the performers are having. Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Bowen Yang impersonate the members of the quartet with absolute glee. They’re able to parody the group’s hit songs and entertain audiences with their choreography. It’s already great to see this much talent together, but it’s even better when they start to break. Their costumes are on point and their goofy accents are even better. In the end, this crazy skit features four performers in a laugh-inducing extravaganza. 2024: Maya Rudolph as Kamala Harris Maya Rudolph spent most of the 2020s playing the vice president, but she really knocked the role out of the park in 2024. At this point, the actress had perfected the intricacies of Kamala Harris. This includes the politician’s speaking voice and her relationship with other political figures. For the most recent incarnation, Rudolph had a full cast of other guest stars to enhance the material. From Jim Gaffigan as Tim Walz to Dana Carvey as Joe Biden, this ensemble came together to elevate the comedian’s already exemplary work. It’s hard to imagine the last political cycle without this performer giving one of her finest performances. Did we forget another great “SNL” impression from this century? Let us know in the comments below.