SNL did these celebs dirty. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most memorably brutal, unflattering, and/or exaggerated impersonations on “Saturday Night Live.”
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00:00Can I finish? Can I finish? Can I finish? Can I finish? Can I finish?
00:04Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most memorably brutal,
00:10unflattering, and or exaggerated impersonations on Saturday Night Live.
00:14Do you feel bad about what you've done?
00:20What have I done?
00:22Number 20. Burt Reynolds by Norm Macdonald.
00:25Norm Macdonald can make us laugh by doing just about anything,
00:29but his Burt Reynolds impression is particularly legendary.
00:32Burt, can you please pick a category?
00:35Pick, pick swords.
00:38Yeah, sure, give me swords.
00:40It's S-words. It's S-words. And for how much, Mr. Reynolds?
00:46The hell, let's go nuts. Swords for $48,000.
00:48Macdonald lampooned Reynolds, or should we say turd Ferguson,
00:52in the first ever iteration of the Celebrity Jeopardy! series on SNL,
00:56and returned as the character eight times throughout the show's run.
00:59Hey, check out the podium, look at this.
01:01Mr. Reynolds has apparently changed his name to Turd Ferguson.
01:07That's right, Turd Ferguson, it's a funny name.
01:09He played him as an over-the-top cool guy with not so much in the noggin,
01:13who gets a kick out of his own half-witted quips.
01:16It's hard to say that this portrayal is accurate to the actor's real-life intelligence,
01:20but it became an iconic impression nevertheless.
01:23Mr. Reynolds.
01:24Yeah, don't bother, I didn't write anything.
01:25Good work.
01:26Number 19, Kendall Jenner by Gal Gadot.
01:29In a spoof of the E! lineup, this sketch takes a look at potential spin-offs for shows like
01:34Keeping Up With The Kardashians. These include one for Kendall Jenner
01:38with an entertaining impression from Gal Gadot.
01:40I'm under a lot of pressure.
01:42So much pressure.
01:43You're prettier than me.
01:45No way, you're so much prettier than me.
01:48Wait, which one am I?
01:51The Wonder Woman star portrays the model as clueless,
01:54remaining in a constant state of confusion about her life.
01:57Gadot also appears in another hilarious show about Jenner trying to find her way around a house.
02:03The house is so big and empty, and she's only there two weeks out of the year.
02:06Is this the bathroom?
02:09Damn, closet again.
02:11With off-the-wall concepts, the writers explore the character through the stereotype of a shallow
02:15celebrity. Whether or not you think it's accurate, you'll probably laugh as you watch
02:19the performer get completely lost in the role.
02:22Number 18, Brett Kavanaugh by Matt Damon.
02:25For this cold open, the show called in a movie star to channel the energy of Brett Kavanaugh.
02:30Matt Damon's take on the Supreme Court justice starts in a loud and hilarious way.
02:35Oh, hell yeah.
02:38Let me tell you this, I'm gonna start at an 11.
02:43I'm gonna take it to about a 15 real quick.
02:46Referencing the man's apparent love of beer,
02:48Damon turns his target into a frat boy with a harsh tone.
02:51He also brings out real references to the hearing that include props like a calendar.
02:56Riding an emotional roller coaster,
02:58the Oscar winner takes the impression through screams and even some crying spells.
03:02Look at my calendar.
03:05And you're gonna see that every night,
03:09I was lifting weights with PJ and squeeze.
03:12It might even be accurate in places, but ultimately it becomes an enjoyable caricature.
03:17Number 17, Kathie Lee Gifford by Kristen Wiig.
03:21If you were to believe this impression of the Today Show host,
03:24you'd think she was drinking all the time.
03:26Kristen Wiig's hilarious take on Kathie Lee Gifford is heavy on the wine in a cartoonish way.
03:31I'm Kathie Lee Gifford and I am like so not a puzzle.
03:35And I'm Hoda Kotb.
03:41Hoda Kotb, God, I'm never gonna get past that weird name.
03:45What?
03:46It's weird.
03:46Lovable and clumsy, this version of the presenter feels like a fantastic train wreck.
03:51This imitation of Gifford slurs her words and constantly questions her actions,
03:56making faces along the way.
03:58Wiig's lighthearted jabs at the TV personality make her an unfiltered mess.
04:02Potables?
04:03I'm sorry, I don't know what that is.
04:04It's about alcohol.
04:06Oh, in that case, I'll take potent potables.
04:11For how much?
04:13How about a glass full, right?
04:15It's not exactly flattering, but it is a clear example of the SNL star's power as a comedian.
04:21Number 16, Joe Biden by Jason Sudeikis.
04:24Back during his time as the vice president,
04:27Joe Biden was impersonated on SNL by Jason Sudeikis.
04:30The actor's take on the politician was of a slightly confused man with prominent teeth.
04:35Large and in charge, the president's away and Joe will play.
04:39He also leans into the VP's more embarrassing side,
04:42talking without a filter most of the time.
04:44Sudeikis also references the fact that most people in Biden's previous position are forgotten.
04:49There's also his frequent mentioning of Scranton,
04:52just one of the ways the character uses to try and connect with the general public.
04:56It's just a corrupt, barren, backwater hellhole of a place.
05:00I mean, it's worse than Scranton.
05:02Ultimately, the show chose to portray the leader
05:04as an uncle who can't always state his message well.
05:07Jim Carrey would later capitalize on this idea,
05:09taking the impression on the 2020 campaign trail.
05:12Look, here's the deal.
05:17Nope, lost it.
05:18Come back to me.
05:19Number 15, Hillary Clinton by Kate McKinnon.
05:23For the 2016 campaign season,
05:25Kate McKinnon brought out a killer Hillary Clinton impersonation.
05:28I'm sure I will face some stiff competition from my fellow Democrats.
05:33People like Martin O'Malley, who could really give me a run for my money.
05:41The caricature delves into the politician's attempts to connect with the youth vote.
05:45This includes campaign announcements and advertisements,
05:48most of which give off an awkward mom energy.
05:51There are also debates against the likes of Alec Baldwin's Trump
05:54that devolve into rants from McKinnon's Clinton.
05:57And then I was Secretary of State, and I don't know if you've heard this before.
06:01We have.
06:01But I was instrumental in taking down a man by the name of...
06:05Osama Bin Laden.
06:07The performer always knocks it out of the park with excellent comic timing.
06:10Whether she's about to freak out or trying desperately to hold it together,
06:14this take on the former Secretary of State is obsessed with winning the presidency.
06:18Number 14, Julia Child by Dan Aykroyd.
06:22For those that love Dan Aykroyd,
06:24they might not have originally envisioned him as Julia Child.
06:27The performer provides a funny spoof of the chef's cooking show.
06:42Instead of showing her as a cooking expert, Aykroyd plays her as a clumsy TV personality.
06:47He puts on a wig and a dress, creating an outrageous take on Child's voice.
06:51The best part of the interpretation comes when a knife chops part of the host's hand.
07:01With blood flying everywhere,
07:03the comedian has no fear of making his real-life counterpart look crazy.
07:07This doesn't stop the sketch either,
07:09as the SNL legend brings some physical comedy to this impression.
07:13Number 13, Ross Perot by Dana Carvey.
07:16Dana Carvey's expertise with impressions gives this take on Ross Perot a memorable quality.
07:22He definitely nails the voice,
07:23while also turning up the dial on the presidential candidate's unique mannerisms.
07:36The character can turn any campaign speech into a one-man show with wild proposals and metaphors.
07:41In any situation, this version of Perot provides hilarious observations
07:46about anything and everything.
07:47He even appears in a Halloween sketch where he criticizes kids in their costumes,
07:51showing that there's absolutely no barrier between what he thinks and what he says.
08:08Carvey once again proves that an exaggerated accent and even some dancing go a long way.
08:14Number 12, Barbara Walters by Gilda Radner.
08:17In the first several seasons of the show,
08:19Gilda Radner impersonated legendary interviewer Barbara Walters.
08:23Well, technically she's called Baba Wawa, but we all know who she's parodying.
08:35This version of the presenter makes for an over-the-top and enjoyable experience every time.
08:40Radner gives Walters a unique way of pronouncing certain consonants,
08:44making every interview segment extra interesting.
08:46This comes out with interviewees that range from Henry Kissinger to Marlena Dietrich.
09:03The SNL cast member wears a smile through every sketch as she plays the journalist like a cartoon.
09:09You could call it more of a mean caricature,
09:12but it's such an exaggerated character that you have to laugh.
09:15Number 11, Bill Clinton by Phil Hartman.
09:18Arguably one of the most versatile performers in SNL history,
09:22there is nothing Phil Hartman couldn't do.
09:34His run as Bill Clinton in the 1990s is full of gems that are still quoted today.
09:39Spoofing the president's relationship with his wife,
09:41Hartman's performance exaggerates the Bill and Hillary dynamic with comedic results.
09:50He's able to use the politician's charisma and use it against people
09:54like in the famous McDonald's sketch.
09:55This version of Clinton loves fast food and slick speeches that seem to be all jumbled together.
10:01The comedian utilizes all of the best cliches about politics,
10:04giving this interpretation an inflated ego and a speech for any occasion.
10:09Number 10, Justin Bieber by Kate McKinnon.
10:12Yes, this impersonation is savage,
10:15but McKinnon's self-professed method behind pulling off the perfect Justin Bieber impression
10:19isn't exactly a compliment to the singer either.
10:27Both the physicality of the role and the dialogue are hilarious to watch.
10:31As McKinnon nails the young pop star's cockiness with pouts and poses,
10:35while perfectly undercutting that image with some particularly childish lines and actions.
10:51It might be an exaggerated impression,
10:53but it's absolutely without fault from a comedic standpoint,
10:57proving once again that McKinnon's comedy skills know no bounds.
11:02Number 9, Kanye West by Chris Redd.
11:10All eyes turned to SNL when we learned of Kanye's meeting with the 45th president,
11:14and boy did they deliver.
11:21Chris Redd had big shoes to fill in taking over this role from Jay Pharoah,
11:25and he did not disappoint.
11:27His impression is uncanny,
11:28perfectly capturing everything from Kanye's intonation and mannerisms
11:32to the unpredictability of what he might say or do next.
11:44SNL didn't have to look too far for inspiration for the sketch either,
11:47as the material pretty much writes itself.
11:49However, Redd's hilarious impression just reminds us that a chat with Ye can be a tad surreal.
11:56Number 8, Kellyanne Conway by Kate McKinnon.
11:59SNL may have been ruthless with their Kellyanne Conway impression,
12:02but there's no denying it got people talking.
12:15Kellyanne has the tiresome job of excusing all of President Donald Trump's outrageous behavior,
12:20and McKinnon does an impeccable job of dodging questions
12:23and inventing her own narrative as Conway often seems to do.
12:27Audiences have seen the job take its toll on McKinnon's Kellyanne over the last few years,
12:31culminating in a Fatal Attraction style sketch that some claim went a step too far.
12:41But if anyone sums up the media madness surrounding the Trump administration,
12:45it's Kellyanne Conway, and McKinnon has her down to a T.
12:57Number 7, Janet Reno by Will Ferrell.
13:02This one has a weird premise,
13:04with Will Ferrell playing the former Attorney General hosting a teen dance show in her basement.
13:14Ferrell plays her as a powerful force to be reckoned with,
13:17highlighting her strongest assets and personality traits.
13:27Even surrounded by dancing teens,
13:29this Reno doesn't let up from her role as Attorney General,
13:33and her special guests only add to the hilarity.
13:35Maybe having Will Ferrell prance around in a dress,
13:38dancing awkwardly and emphasizing a manly quality isn't the most respectful way to portray her,
13:43but she reportedly took it well, even becoming a fan.
13:53Number 6, Monica Lewinsky by Molly Shannon.
13:56When Monica Lewinsky made headlines in the 90s,
13:58SNL decided to turn away from the obvious Lolita parody,
14:02and instead present us with an immature young lady,
14:04who simply got caught up in the whirlwind of politics.
14:14Not only does Molly Shannon's portrayal of her often collapse into nervous giggling,
14:18she also comes across as self-centered,
14:21attention-seeking and not particularly concerned with the consequences.
14:26It was a pretty unforgiving impression at the time,
14:31and it hasn't aged gracefully, making it even more brutal in hindsight.
14:36Number 5, Sean Spicer by Melissa McCarthy.
14:40It was almost a shame when Sean Spicer left the White House,
14:43as it brought an end to Melissa McCarthy's hilariously brutish impression.
14:47When I say rocky start, I mean it in the sense of Rocky the movie,
14:50because I came out here to punch you in the face.
14:54The president reportedly didn't like a woman playing a man in his administration,
14:58which egged SNL on into bringing us Kate McKinnon's unforgettable
15:01impression of ex-attorney general Jeff Sessions.
15:10However, McCarthy's Spicer takes the spot on our list for her loud,
15:14angry and boisterous impression,
15:16and constant willingness to wage war with the media.
15:19While Spicer took it well, he also thought McCarthy could tone it down a notch.
15:23Number 4, Sean Connery by Daryl Hammond.
15:27Celebrity Jeopardy is one of Saturday Night Live's most beloved sketches,
15:30and Daryl Hammond's unforgettable performance of Scottish actor Sean Connery
15:34played a huge role in cementing its place both in SNL history and our hearts.
15:44For some reason, Hammond's Connery is crude, brutish, antagonistic,
15:52and like all of his opponents, somewhat dim-witted.
16:01He deliberately mispronounces phrases and always has a
16:04your mom joke on hand for disapproving Alex Trebek, played by Will Ferrell.
16:08We're not sure what Connery did to deserve this,
16:11as the impression is far from flattering, but we wouldn't have it any other way.
16:24Number 3, Donald Trump by James Austin Johnson.
16:28With one of the most impressive performances in recent SNL history,
16:32James Austin Johnson has been knocking it out of the park as Donald Trump.
16:36His vocal inflections and rambling feel almost too accurate at times,
16:40while still being completely silly.
16:53It's so precise in those aspects that the over-the-top dialogue
16:56almost sounds like actual transcripts.
16:58Johnson goes on rant about everything from politics to pop culture,
17:02throwing out opinions about celebrities that are especially hilarious.
17:11The show knows how to tackle the former president's cadence,
17:15while still leaving room for this performer to unleash so many crazy lines.
17:20This interpretation feels like the perfect mix of absurdity and reality,
17:24coming after notable impressions from Daryl Hammond and Alec Baldwin.
17:33Number 2, Sarah Palin by Tina Fey.
17:36SNL is great at nailing political parodies,
17:40and Tina Fey's portrayal of former Alaska governor Sarah Palin
17:43was such a hit that it won her an Emmy for her efforts.
17:56Fey pokes fun at Palin's beauty pageant days,
17:58lack of political prowess and misplaced use of colloquialisms,
18:02wrapping it all up in an accent and voice that drills itself into your head.
18:06Fey has reprised this role on several occasions,
18:09even in front of former governor Palin herself.
18:12It's all in good fun of course, and never fails to make us laugh,
18:15but it is undeniably one of SNL's most savage and memorable impressions.
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18:44Number 1, George W. Bush by Will Ferrell.
18:48Will Ferrell's George W. Bush comes across as likable,
18:50while simultaneously reminding audiences of all the reasons why
18:54George W. Bush was so controversial and heavily criticized.
19:01He portrays the former president as dopey, simple and painfully misinformed.
19:08The accent, language and mannerisms all feel incredibly accurate,
19:12and adding insult to injury, this goofy portrayal rarely failed to make audiences laugh.
19:18Ready or not, here I come, you can't hide.
19:22I'm gonna find you and make you love me.
19:27That's a little something from the foogies.
19:30The Bush presidency was also a perfect opportunity to bring back Dana Carvey,
19:35who nails pretty much any impression, but whose overblown George Bush Sr.
19:39will always hold a special place in both the SNL archives and our hearts.
19:44What about social security?
19:45Should be very social and very secure.
19:55Did we forget a savage impression? Let us know in the comments below.
20:07Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo,
20:11and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.
20:15And as always, thanks for watching!