Top 10 SNL Impressions That Broke the SNL Cast

The Village People were one of several artists who hit Trump with a cease and desist after he used their music at his rallies. So, led by Kenan Thompson as Victor Willis, the group shows up on “Weekend Update” to vent. They start off lighthearted, reclaiming their song, but then things take a dark turn, leaving Colin Jost to jump in to try to keep things from totally derailing. Yet he can’t hide his laughter. You can spot Michael Che cracking up in the background, too. Though Colin’s interruptions seem planned, it feels like he and Che might not have seen the latest version of the, uh, updated lyrics.

It takes a good sense of humor to sit across from a comedian and watch yourself get (lovingly) roasted. Mick Jagger proved he was game when he showed up as himself opposite Jimmy Fallon, who was playing his reflection. Fallon’s version of Jagger is definitely more exaggerated and over-the-top. In fact, it crossed the border into caricature from pretty much the first moment, and you can see Jagger struggling not to break character. But Fallon’s ridiculous portrayal gets to him, and there are moments where he can’t help but crack a huge grin. Honestly, we’re surprised Fallon’s Jagger didn’t think it was worth pointing, pointing, pointing it out.

In the Super Bowl edition of “Family Feud,” Leslie Jones plays Jackson, a Falcons fan with some strong feelings about party etiquette. When asked what one might bring to a Superbowl Party, this Jackson shares his thoughts on the subject. After her emphatic delivery, Thompson, as Steve Harvey, just stares as if he’s trying to suppress his laughter. Meanwhile, McKinnon seemingly tries to turn her reaction into a quirky character trait, but Leslie just laughs. All we can say is, if Jackson’s coming to your party, don’t expect him to bring anything but himself—and you'd better thank him for it too!

Kenan has given us so many classic characters on “SNL,” and his take on David “Big Papi” Ortiz created an instant legend. Thompson goes hard, capturing Big Papi’s wild enthusiasm for everything—from his out-there endorsements to his deep love for a “big lunch.” The more Kenan amps it up; the harder Jost struggles to hold back his laughter. This is especially evident during the “Post-Retirement Plans” segment, where we find Big Papi living his best life in the most over-the-top ways. At one point, Thompson even makes himself chuckle as if the absurdity of it all had suddenly hit him. It's Biiiiiiiig laughs all around.

Ariana Grande is an incredible mimic. So, now whenever she’s on “SNL,” fans are always keen for her to pull out her impressive impressions. And boy, did she deliver with her spot-on portrayal of Jennifer Coolidge. Teaming up with Chloe Fineman, she stars in a hilarious commercial for lip gloss that’s so ridiculous it’s impossible for anyone to keep a straight face. Grande loses it up first, and it doesn’t take long for Fineman to break, too. By the time Dana Carvey joins in, Grande has basically given up on hiding her laughter. Honestly, only a surprise appearance from the real Coolidge could have made this skit even better!

Another of Thompson’s more eccentric characters is LaVar Ball, the CEO of “Big Baller Brand.” If you thought Big Papi was intense, just wait until you meet this guy. He’s like the Duracell Bunny if it was glitching. We bet Che’s often glad to be off-camera during some of the more bizarre moments, though we can still often hear him chuckling. Kenan does an incredible job cranking up the character’s personality to the max, making it impressive that Che can keep it together at all—especially when Ball shows off his latest footwear investments. You know it’s a “Big Baller” impression when even the cast can’t hold back their laughter!

Jimmy Fallon was notorious for breaking character during his “SNL” run, but in this recurring bit, he’s the one doing the breaking. He plays Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees as an angry, erratic man who switches into falsetto at the drop of a hat. Justin Timberlake plays his brother Robin, who speaks in short, deadpan sentences. The sketch is filled with hilarious moments, and it’s clear Timberlake thinks so too. As Fallon’s performance gets more unhinged, it becomes tougher for him to keep his cool. Honestly, watching him try not to break is just as entertaining as the skit itself. We loved seeing this classic return for season 49, and nothing had changed!

Kate McKinnon could break her castmates like no one else on “SNL” because she threw herself fully into every character. Her Billie Jean King had Seth Meyers losing it multiple times on “Weekend Update.” And don’t even get us started on her Rudy Giuliani! Especially when she tackled Trump’s election claims! Jost keeps cracking up, and even McKinnon looked like she might break a few times. But the best might be her Ruth Bader Ginsburg impression. McKinnon brought such an unhinged energy to that role; she couldn’t have had an easier time breaking Colin and even herself! Her physical comedy is incredible; it’s no wonder everyone around her can’t keep a straight face!

There’s no limit to how many times we can watch this impression and still laugh as hard as the first time. Cecily plays the role of former judge and TV host Jeanine Pirro to perfection. From her outlandish claims to her booming voice—that sounds like someone turned up the volume to max and broke the dial—this sketch was never going to go as planned. But it’s Pirro’s love for a drink that really gets to Colin, though we can't imagine why! Cecily always keeps this recurring gag fresh, so he never knows quite what’s coming. Also, singing in a crate of wine is just iconic. Honestly, we could never keep it together half as well as they do!

You know a sketch is hilarious when even Heidi Gardner—who basically never breaks—can’t hold it together. She starts strong, but the second she sees Ryan Gosling dressed as a Beavis lookalike, she completely loses it. Ever the pro, she pulls herself back… until she catches sight of Mikey Day as Butt-Head’s double, and that’s it. Gardner’s laughing fit eventually takes everyone else down, too. The premise is so simple and goofy that it seems destined to fall apart from the original plan. Watching the cast collapse into giggles only makes the sketch better. And come on, we’re all a little shocked that Gosling wasn’t the first one to go!

Which “SNL” impression would make you break? Let us know in the comments!