Top 10 SNL Impressions That Were Actually Terrible

By: Jon Rudnitsky

In only his third episode on the show, newcomer Jon Rudnitsky was tapped to play news anchor Anderson Cooper in a spoof of the 2016 Democratic debate. While other performers in the sketch nailed their impressions, Rudnitsky’s attempt missed the mark. Rather than playing up Cooper’s typically calm and straightforward style, Rudnitsky leaned heavily into a stereotypical “gay” voice, and lost the essence of the anchor entirely. Even Cooper himself chimed in on “Watch What Happens Live,” calling the performance a huge miss. Honestly, if he hadn’t worn a silver wig and called out his own name, we’d have guessed he was playing anyone but Anderson Cooper.

By: Fred Armisen

Throughout his 11-year tenure on “Saturday Night Live,” Fred Armisen racked up praise for his range of quirky characters. But when it came to impressions, he wasn’t exactly the most reliable performer, as they often slid into the unfortunate trap of being one-note. Nothing exemplifies this more than his portrayal of former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg in this 2013 cold open. While the material itself has its moments, Armisen’s whiny, monotonous delivery feels a lot more subdued than the real Bloomberg and does little to elevate the lines he is reading. Does it still get a chuckle? Perhaps. But is it among the best work we’ve seen from Armisen? Not even close.

By: Rami Malek

Pete Davidson and Rami Malek share a passing resemblance, so naturally, Davidson has played Malek a few times on “SNL.” When the Oscar winner hosted the show in 2021, he returned the favor in a sketch where Davidson also played him. Seated side by side, they both seem lost in their impressions of each other. Malek amps up Davidson’s tendency to launch into rants, but no matter how many times he throws in the word “dude,” we still wouldn’t be convinced that this is any good. Next to a near lifeless Davidson, Malek’s impression may initially come across as bearable, but it fails to capture his subject’s signature giddiness. Overall, a well-meaning attempt, but a fail nonetheless.

By: Andy Samberg

“SNL” has struggled to nail down a solid parody of the royal princes, a dilemma that dates back to at least 2010. In this sketch, Andy Samberg plays Prince William introducing his then-fiancée, Kate Middleton, to his parents. Samberg isn’t exactly the first name that springs to mind when you think of great impressions and this sketch perfectly highlights why. His attempt at a British accent is so laughably atrocious that it’s no surprise he keeps bolting out of the room. Clearly, the writers were working overtime to minimize the pain of that impression on the audience. That problem was still glaring in 2018, with Mikey Day’s bizarre take on Prince Harry.

By: Tobey Maguire

There’s a lot to love about the “Celebrity Jeopardy!” sketches, especially the iconic rivalry between Alex Trebek and Sean Connery. But this particular installment gave us something to shake our heads about; precisely, Tobey Maguire’s impression of Keanu Reeves. Released during the peak of “The Matrix” craze, this was more of a portrayal of Neo than it was of Reeves, with a dash of Ted from the “Bill & Ted” franchise thrown in for good measure. But even as a mashup of those legendary characters, it still missed the mark. We’ll take “Impressions That Should Never Grace Our Screens Again” for $200, Alex.

By: Will Ferrell

Okay, this one might be a bit controversial. Will Ferrell is, without a doubt, one of the most unforgettable cast members in “SNL” history, boasting a remarkable list of impressions. But his portrayal of former Attorney General Janet Reno doesn’t quite make the cut. While some fans appreciated the absurdity, it came off more as a cruel caricature, sacrificing accuracy for whatever whim struck Ferrell in the moment. Reno initially wasn’t a fan of the impression, but she eventually made peace with it, even sharing the screen with Ferrell in a 2001 episode. Unlike the Attorney General though, we’re not ready to forgive this misguided attempt and sentence it to a lifetime of oblivion.

By: Amy Poehler

We all know Amy Poehler for her spot-on impressions of figures like Hillary Clinton and Martha Stewart. But if you were expecting her to bring that same finesse to her take on Michael Jackson, you were sorely mistaken. Poehler’s impersonation of the King of Pop left a lot to be desired—it was neither accurate nor particularly funny. She leaned into the media’s long-standing tendency to infantilize Jackson by portraying him as a lonely, needy child, but the act gets tiring fairly quickly. Fortunately, this was one impression that didn’t thrill audiences for too long before it was asked to beat it off our screens.

By: Pete Davidson

Watching a Pete Davidson impression often feels like watching the comedian play himself, just in a different costume. His portrayal of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was no exception. In 2021, while the real-life Cuomo was being hammered by multiple controversies that ultimately led to his resignation, he was also being botched by Davidson on “Saturday Night Live.” His first appearance as Cuomo came in the Britney Spears talk show sketch, but even by the following week’s Vaccine Game Show sketch, the impression had yet to evolve. To his credit, Davidson remained in character without breaking, but when it’s the same slouched-over performance he brings to most characters, it’s hard not to want a bit more variety.

By: Dan Aykroyd

We’re certainly not against men playing women on “SNL,” but there should at least be some semblance of accuracy. In this classic sketch, Dan Aykroyd’s impression of Julia Child completely missed that mark. Aykroyd turned the renowned French chef to nothing more than a clumsy cartoon, complete with a high-pitched voice that sounded more like Mickey Mouse than anything else. But hey, it was at least funny, we’ll give him that. Apparently, even the real Child thought so too. She was reported to have enjoyed it so much she kept a taped copy at home and often played it for her guests.

By: Chevy Chase

This impression was incredibly awful, and it seems that was by design. In the early seasons of “Saturday Night Live,” Chevy Chase played Gerald Ford, but made no attempt to mimic his voice or mannerisms. The show leaned into the joke, as they refused to even put Chase in make-up to resemble Ford. At one point, they displayed on-screen text blatantly stating that it was a bad impression. Instead, Chase played Ford like any of his other characters, merely exaggerating his well-known clumsiness. Surprisingly, the President actually liked the portrayal and became friends with Chase years after he left office. Indeed, this was one impression that was so bad, it ended up being great.


What is the worst impression you’ve seen on “Saturday Night Live”? Let us know in the comments below.