Top 10 Most Chaotic SNL Impressions

Top 10 Most Chaotic SNL Impressions

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our top picks for the most unhinged and over-the-top SNL people parodies that had us questioning if we should laugh or pinch ourselves to make sure it was actually happening

#10: Kristen Wiig As Kathie Lee Gifford

We wouldn’t necessarily say that Wiig’s mimicry of Gifford’s voice and mannerisms are like seeing double, but she definitely gets the essence of her spirit pretty spot on. Come on, there’s a reason she’s one of the first faces we see in the morning! If spending five minutes with Gifford feels like starting your day with a shot of espresso, Wiig’s version is more like ten. And if you thought Gifford was a bit much that early in the morning, her “SNL” counterpart is on another level. Plus, did you know she’s into a drink or two? We’ve always loved the chaos of “SNL’s” spin on “Today,” but Gifford would beg to differ.

#9: Kate McKinnon As Jeff Sessions

Kate McKinnon never shied away from letting her freak flag fly, no matter what character she played. Fortunately, that made her the perfect fit for some of the more, erm, colorful political figures dominating the headlines. Her Rudy Giuliani practically wrote itself, and her Kellyanne Conway only got more unhinged with each appearance. However, few left us questioning reality more than her take on Jeff Sessions. It’s a brilliant caricature that cranks up his Alabama roots. Plus, someone on the writing team clearly took one look at the former Attorney General and thought, “Hey, possum.” If life’s like a box of chocolates, this impression is that odd flavor you don’t think should work but somehow totally does.

#8: Timothée Chalamet feat. Boygenius As Troye Sivan

The premise of this sketch already felt pretty trippy from the off. In it, Sarah Sherman plays a woman haunted by a dream demon who just happens to be Australian singer Troye Sivan—except here; he’s played by Timothée Chalamet, with zero attempt at an Aussie accent. Bowen Yang’s doctor has seen this before—so much that he even knows the exact choreography that torments his patients and comes prepared with his own tiny red undies. Chalamet may not be Sivan’s twin, but his commitment makes us wonder if we’re in a fever dream—actually, that’s true for the entire sketch. Even the real Sivan had some thoughts on it all. As more Troyes appear, we’re left speechless.

#7: Seth MacFarlane As Ryan Lochte

Before Lochte’s scandal, he had already built quite a reputation for being, well, not the smoothest in interviews. Naturally, “SNL” took this to the next level, with Seth MacFarlane playing the Olympic swimmer as he stops by the “Weekend Update” desk to share his fall TV picks. MacFarlane hilariously nails Lochte’s slow drawl while dropping lines that raise way more questions than answers. Unsurprisingly, the real Lochte wasn’t thrilled with the impression—understandably, it’s not the most flattering. But he did challenge MacFarlane to a swimming race, and if you ask us, he should totally take him up on it. Come on, the skit is practically writing itself! Lochte vs. Lochte at the 2028 LA Olympics.

#6: Darrell Hammond As Sean Connery

Hammond’s brash Sean Connery is an “SNL” classic! It’s not just his crass humor or laid-back approach to the game but also his incredible chemistry with Will Ferrell’s Alex Trebek that makes these recurring sketches some of modern “SNL’s” finest. When Hammond was first cast in the role, he initially aimed for what he called “a really accurate” impression of Connery. However, he quickly realized that this over-the-top reinterpretation was much funnier—not just for him, but for audiences and even the writers. As he rightly points out, this is a comedy sketch show, and what the audience wants is a good laugh. And boy, does he deliver!

#5: Kenan Thompson As David Ortiz, A.K.A “Big Papi”

Kenan brought unforgettable characters to the show, and his LaVar Ball is delightfully unhinged! Still, nothing beats David Ortiz and his “Big lunch”. Whenever Big Papi swings by the Update Desk, you know it’s going to be a ball! Kenan perfectly caricatures the former baseball player, which opens the door for plenty of fun with the characterization. Thompson’s Ortiz knows how to big up a “big lunch” and always has some wild sponsorships he loves to drop into the conversation. One of our favorite segments has to be his post-retirement plans! The real Ortiz may have hung up his bat, but we hope Kenan keeps this impression in the game for a long time!

#4: Melissa McCarthy As Sean Spicer

You know someone’s really crushed an impression when you start thinking, “What’s “SNL” going to do now that Sean Spicer is out!?” Melissa McCarthy went all out, skewering the former White House press secretary as a loud, angry guy with a real grudge against the media—and, of course, plenty of chewing gum! Her brilliant use of props and her physical comedy made her portrayal even more memorable. She nailed the witty lines, putting everything she had into it. The real Spicer apparently had mixed feelings about her impression. Reportedly, the then-president wasn’t thrilled about his press secretary being played by a woman. If anything, that probably just pushed McCarthy to go even harder.

#3: Dan Aykroyd As Julia Child

Sometimes, an “SNL” sketch can seem so out there that we can only imagine it was conceived during a late-night writing session once sleep-deprived delirium kicked in. This is definitely one of those! Dan Aykroyd puts on a dress, a wig, and an unnecessarily high-pitched voice to portray chef Julia Child. As the sketch unfolds, Aykroyd’s Child experiences a cooking mishap but pushes through the mess, acting as if everything is totally normal. Sure, it leans heavily on gross-out humor, but Aykroyd really sells it! It might not be the most flattering impression, but it gave the real Julia Child a good ol’ chuckle.

#2: Cecily Strong As Jeanine Pirro

Cecily Strong, as former judge Jeanine Pirro, is like a rich, intense wine that you just want to savor! She’s loud, crass, and almost always has a drink in her very animated hands, much to Colin Jost’s delight. Strong amps everything up for this role—her volume, her wild antics, and her outrageous claims. Her impression is basically like someone spilled a drink on their keyboard right after they hit caps lock, and now it’s just stuck there! And, of course, she’s at her best when she has a drink in hand. She couldn’t have an easier time breaking Jost, either. We live for the chaotic energy she brings to the Update Desk!

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Leslie Jones As Donald Trump
Lorne Michaels Might Not See It, but We’re Bigly Fans, Huge

Kenan Thompson As Reba McEntire
Oh, So This Actually Happened? It Wasn’t Just Some Fever Dream We Had?

Jimmy Fallon As Barry Gibb
So Over-the-Top It Breaks His Scenemate!

Alex Moffat As Eric Trump
We Never Knew What He Might Come Out with, but It Was Always Laugh-Out-Loud Hysterical

Matt Damon As Brett Kavanaugh
This Kavanaugh Has a Lot of Feels & They Go from 0 to 1000000 in Lightening Speed

#1: Kristen Wiig As Liza Minnelli

Few people can take something as simple as turning off a lamp and light up an audience with laughter like Wiig’s Liza Minnelli. The premise is straightforward: Liza needs to turn off a lamp so she and her friend can head to the theater. But, of course, she can’t just flip the switch—she has to turn it into a full-on Fosse-esque extravaganza! Wiig always brings her A-game to every character, but even she can tell how absurd this whole scenario is. Honestly, we’re amazed Jonah Hill managed to play his role so straight while everything around him is totally bonkers. This sketch makes zero sense, but that’s exactly what makes it so brilliantly entertaining!


Which SNL impression do you find most outrageous? Let us know in the comments!