From political figures to pop stars, these SNL impressions had their real-life counterparts in stitches! Join us as we count down the celebrity impersonations that received a stamp of approval from the stars themselves. Get ready for spot-on mimicry, hilarious exaggerations, and some surprising celebrity reactions!
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00:00Those celebrities did not know the right answer to any of your questions.
00:05No, they did not.
00:06Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the celebrities
00:09who were really good sports about the times Saturday Night Live skewered them.
00:13Rough night?
00:14Yeah, you could say that.
00:1710. Bowen Yang as Charlie XCX
00:21The long-running sketch show heralded its 50th season in style.
00:25One of the season premiere's biggest hits was The Talk Talk Show,
00:29hosted by English music sensation Charlie XCX.
00:32Whatever, whatever. Hi, it's me, 365 party girl Charlie XCX.
00:38This is my talk show where we talk talk about whatever I'm on about.
00:42Actually, it was cast member Bowen Yang in drag.
00:46Yang's take on the brat summer trailblazer got a lot of laughs from the studio audience.
00:51But was it brat?
00:52According to the pop star herself, Yang's impersonation was incredibly brat.
00:57Amy Adams in Night Bitch. Brat.
01:00Eric Adams in Ditement. Now.
01:04Not only did she appreciate the performance, but the texture of Yang's wig was a particular highlight for her.
01:09I was very impressed with the hair texture, actually. I thought it was a really good wig.
01:14Yang would revive the character later in the season, right next to host Charlie XCX herself,
01:19who was in character as Troye Sivan.
01:22Can I call you Elfie?
01:24No!
01:25Number nine, Maya Rudolph as Oprah Winfrey.
01:28You get an impression. You get an impression. Everybody gets an impression.
01:32Everyone knows it's my birthday!
01:37Maya Rudolph's Oprah Winfrey sketch is legendary.
01:40Spoofing the legendary TV host's love of giving her hysterical audience free stuff,
01:45Rudolph absolutely nails Winfrey's enthusiasm for things like macaroons and Ugg boots.
01:50I wore these on John Travolta's plane. Ugg boots!
01:58The memorable segment is also inspired by the very real audience who got a little too excited about one of Winfrey's giveaways.
02:05According to Rudolph, Winfrey was thrilled with the sketch.
02:08She was especially pleased that a woman on the show was playing her,
02:11as only male cast members had impersonated her on the program to that point.
02:15Like it was always played by, you know, Tim Meadows and Tracy did her.
02:18So she was just like, thank God you're not a dude.
02:23Number eight, Jay Pharoah as Denzel Washington.
02:26Former cast member Jay Pharoah's Denzel Washington is one of the most spot-on impersonations ever heard on the show.
02:32I knew it, I knew it.
02:34He nails the beloved actor's cadence and tone almost exactly.
02:38The most famous sketch finds Pharoah's version of Denzel working at a department store to research a new movie.
02:43Come on, darling, let's see what you got.
02:45OK, well, I wanted to return this bag.
02:48OK, all right, let's take a look, OK.
02:54Oh, look at this here.
02:56Parodying the playfully terrifying mannerisms Washington uses in some of his most famous roles,
03:01Pharoah harangues a customer trying to return a handbag.
03:04Excuse me, speak up.
03:06You're at Macy's, there are rules and regulations.
03:09If you got a complaint, I want to hear it.
03:11When Pharoah finally met Washington at the actor's AFI tribute,
03:14not only did the actor know exactly who he was, but he told the comedian he owed him a lot of money.
03:20And then he goes, you're a lot taller than I thought you were.
03:22I thought you were a short guy. You ain't short, huh?
03:24You got an arm on you too, Pharoah. Yeah, OK.
03:29Clearly, he took it in stride.
03:31In fact, Washington publicly praised the performance.
03:34Number seven, Maya Rudolph as Donatella Versace.
03:37Some impressions are so good that they keep coming back.
03:40Check it out. I've done it again.
03:43No Versace pockets.
03:46Maya Rudolph's dazed and confused version of Italian fashion designer and businesswoman,
03:50Donatella Versace, was a recurring highlight of her time on the show.
03:54Versace pockets come in three exciting flavors.
03:58Monterey chicken, champagne, and my personal favorite, cheesy chili cheeseburger.
04:05The sketches would find Rudolph holding a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other,
04:09hawking products, and flaunting her celebrity lifestyle.
04:12So quit eating that crap you usually eat. I need this crap.
04:17Despite playing her in what we'll call a slightly elevated manner,
04:21the real Donatella Versace apparently thought it was hilarious.
04:24Having said that, Versace did have a few pointers for Rudolph,
04:28which she imparted to the performer during a phone call.
04:31If you have to impersonate me, you know, do it better.
04:366. Vanessa Bayer as Jennifer Aniston
04:40The former Friends star has been imitated plenty of times on SNL.
04:43An entire 2013 sketch centered around a Jennifer Aniston lookalike contest
04:47had several cast members trying their hand, but Aniston had a clear favorite.
04:51Oh, oh, oh. Did you know that Ross and I used to, uh, uh, uh, date? Oh, oh.
04:58According to her, Vanessa Bayer's permanently confused Rachel Green really has the sauce.
05:03Now why do you think people are so nostalgic for the 90s?
05:06Oh, yeah, you know, the 90s are great. You know, you go to work, uh, uh, you go on dates,
05:11and, uh, you go to cafes with your friends, and you all sit facing camera.
05:15The two finally got to talk about it while co-starring in the workplace comedy,
05:19Office Christmas Party.
05:20The studio audience cheered when Aniston made a surprise appearance
05:23during a 2016 Weekend Update segment,
05:26where the two played out an argument over the faithfulness of the impression.
05:30Vanessa!
05:31Yeah? What?
05:32No, I don't do that!
05:33Come on, Phoebs!
05:34What?
05:37Number five, Chloe Fineman as Drew Barrymore.
05:40The actress-turned-daytime talk show host usually has nothing but glowing things to say
05:44about her guests, and Chloe Fineman was no exception.
05:47I am just like you, a boho, free-spirit, mommy-mother movie star since I was six.
05:55SNL's season 46 premiere lovingly skewered Barrymore's elementary school art teacher energy.
06:00Fineman dug right into her effusive compliments, sunshine, and roses mentality,
06:05and spacey personality in a way that was almost too real.
06:08Thank you for allowing me to be on your show.
06:12Drew, this is your show.
06:14Oh my God, thank you.
06:16When Barrymore had Fineman on her actual show, life imitated art,
06:20as the host offered up compliment after compliment.
06:22I'm really nervous to meet you. I'm so excited. I'm such a fan.
06:26I'm your biggest fan. Are you going to make me cry?
06:28She literally bowed to her impersonator at the end of the segment.
06:32If that's not a ringing endorsement, what is?
06:35Number four, Larry David as Bernie Sanders.
06:38In the run-up to the 2016 election, comedian and Seinfeld co-creator Larry David's
06:43take on Bernie Sanders was a runaway hit.
06:46Hello, hello, hello. Enough with the hellos. Let's do this.
06:51He honed in on the Vermont senator's dislikes of billionaires,
06:55claiming to only own one pair of underwear, unlike the rich bigwigs in Washington, D.C.
07:00I own one pair of underwear. That's it.
07:03Some of these billionaires, they got three, four pairs.
07:07He returned to host the show later in the season, merging his on-screen persona
07:11with Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders in an incredible sketch.
07:15You coughed into your hand. Can't shake it after a cough.
07:19No, I didn't. Shake my hand.
07:21No, you specifically coughed into your hand. I saw it.
07:23The senator suggested they should put David up in his place at the next rally,
07:27saying the comedian does him better than he does himself.
07:30I'm getting you a good job for four years and you're complaining.
07:33Number three, Maya Rudolph as Kamala Harris.
07:37In the weeks leading up to the 2024 election, the first few episodes of the 50th season
07:42mined candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump for all they could.
07:46Former player and frequent guest Maya Rudolph earned a lot of praise as Harris.
07:51You see, my campaign is like the Sabrina Carpenter song, Espresso.
07:56The lyrics are vague, but the vibe slaps.
08:00She took on the vice president's mannerisms, sense of humor, and articulate,
08:04but sometimes roundabout way of making a point, and milked them for comedy.
08:09Name something that you keep in your glove compartment.
08:11Oh, VP Harris.
08:13Steve, look.
08:15I was raised in a middle class family.
08:18Oh, here we go.
08:20Her fans included the vice president herself.
08:22Harris laughed hysterically when presented with footage of the impression on The View,
08:26praising Maya Rudolph's talent.
08:28Maya Rudolph, I mean, she's so good.
08:30A few weeks later, she appeared on a pre-election episode alongside her imitator.
08:34We know each other so well, we even finish each other's belief in the promise of America.
08:40Number two, Ariana Grande as Celine Dion.
08:43The Thank U, Next singer has been doing her exaggerated impression
08:46of the French-Canadian powerhouse for a few years.
08:48There is another sport whose timeless emotions ignite the bittersweet memories that live inside my soul.
08:54And in the octagon, UFC fighting.
09:01Showing a heart!
09:03It was probably Ariana Grande's appearances on Jimmy Fallon
09:05that cemented her status as a foremost Dion impersonator.
09:09I can feel my fears when I'm with you.
09:12But she's brought her skills to SNL a few times since then.
09:15In a 2016 sketch spoofing the Tidal streaming service,
09:18Grande cycled through her retinue of pop singer impressions,
09:22but audiences were most excited to hear her do Celine Dion again.
09:25There were nights when the wind was so cold.
09:30In an interview with Elvis Duran, Grande said that when she met the singer,
09:33she said her impression made her laugh until she peed.
09:36When I met Celine, she told me, she was like, um, when I saw you, I peed.
09:41Sounds like a rave to us.
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10:02The 2016 election inspired a year of Banner impressions on the show.
10:05I strive to be a positive role model for all children.
10:09Children like my daughter, Chelsea, and my granddaughter, Chelsea Jr.
10:14Much of the fun McKinnon poked at former Senator and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
10:18was born out of the idea that Clinton was hiding a lot of her true feelings about her opponents.
10:23I think you're really going to like the Hillary Clinton that my team and I have created for this debate.
10:28She's warm, but strong. Flawed, yet perfect.
10:33The performer found a lot of wicked and hilarious commentary in Clinton's inability to swear
10:37and lose her composure on the campaign trail like some of the male candidates in the race.
10:42God, it must be fun to scream and cuss in public.
10:46I have to do all mine in tiny little jars.
10:50Clinton was so pleased and genuinely moved by McKinnon's work that she wrote about it in her memoir.
10:55I wish I had her talent. She's just an amazing person.
11:00What's your favorite celebrity impression on SNL? Let us know in the comments.
11:04For example, this Nick is calm and stealthy like a ninja warrior.
11:09Whereas this Nick is an exaggerated screaming psychopath who really just doesn't exist.
11:17Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo.
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11:34Thanks for watching.