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The Best Episodes of Saturday Night Live Season 12

Every episode of Saturday Night Live Season 12 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Saturday Night Live Season 12!

Binge this in 22h 20m•Peaking at 7.8/10

A late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels. The show's comedy sketches, which parody contemporary culture and politics, are performed by a large and varying cast of repertory and newer

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Saturday Night Live Season 12 Episode 1 - Sigourney Weaver/Buster Poindexter
    7.8/10(140 votes)

    S12:E1

    Live From New York, it's...Madonna Sketches Include: A Message From Madonna, ""General Dynamics,"" ""Tommy Flanagan,"" ""Quiz Masters,"" ""The Amazing Alexander,"" ""Church Chat,"" ""Bows and Smith Advertising,"" ""Alienses,"" ""Ten Weeks In Jail,"" ""Baby It's Cold Outside"" (musical number), ""Derek Stevens Auditions,"" and ""The Brecht Opera."" Buster Poindexter performed ""Smack Dab in the Middle"" and ""Fool For You.""

    Director:Paul Miller
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Tom Davis, Robert Smigel, Marc Shaiman, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Andy Breckman, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, E. Jean Carroll, Eddie Gorodetsky, Kevin Nealon, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Jon Vitti, Christine Zander

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  2. Saturday Night Live Season 12 Episode 8 - William Shatner/Lone Justice
    7.7/10(132 votes)

    S12:E8

    Live from New York, it's... William Shatner! Sketches include "The Mute Marine," "Star Trek Seafood," "Star Trek Convention," "TJ Hooker," "Sweeney Sisters Christmas," "It's A Wonderful Life: The Lost Ending" "Frankie Toussaint" (film), and "Look at That!" Lone Justice performed "Shelter" and "I Found Love." Buster Poindexter performed "Zat You, Santa?"

    Director:Paul Miller
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Tom Davis, Robert Smigel, Marc Shaiman, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Andy Breckman, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, E. Jean Carroll, Eddie Gorodetsky, Kevin Nealon, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Jon Vitti, Christine Zander

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  3. Saturday Night Live Season 12 Episode 5 - Robin Williams/Paul Simon
    7.6/10(105 votes)

    S12:E5

    Sketches include ""Reagen's Earpiece,"" ""Hamlet,"" ""Sweeney Sisters Retirement Home,"" ""Adieu,"" ""Robin Williams' Standup Act"", and ""Paul Simon remembers everyone but Garfunkel"". Paul Simon performs ""Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes"" and ""The Late Great Johnny Grace.""

    Director:Paul Miller
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Robert Smigel, Marc Shaiman, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Rosie Shuster, Jim Downey, Andy Breckman, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, E. Jean Carroll, Eddie Gorodetsky, Kevin Nealon, Jon Vitti

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  4. Saturday Night Live Season 12 Episode 6 - Chevy Chase, Steve Martin, & Martin Short/Randy Newman
    7.6/10(109 votes)

    S12:E6

    Sketches include ""Stumblebums,"" ""I'm Me! (And You're Not...)"" (musical number), ""Ronald Reagan,"" ""Under the Couch Cushion,"" ""The Eggshell Family,"" ""The Pat Stevens Show,"" ""Halsey & Roarke British Customs,"" ""Ed Meets the Devil,"" ""Church Lady,"" ""Steve Martin's Holiday Wishes,"" and ""The Amazing Alexander, The World's Greatest Hypnotist"". Randy Newman performed ""Longest Night"" and ""Roll With The Punches.""

    Director:Paul Miller
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Robert Smigel, Marc Shaiman, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Rosie Shuster, Jim Downey, Andy Breckman, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, E. Jean Carroll, Eddie Gorodetsky, Kevin Nealon, Jon Vitti

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  5. Saturday Night Live Season 12 Episode 14 - Bill Murray/Percy Sledge
    7.0/10(86 votes)

    S12:E14

    Live from New York, it's...Bill Murray Sketches include: Backstage SNL: The 110-Show Contract, The New York Telephone, Bad One-Night Stand, Donahue, Nick The Lounge Singer In Prison, Girls-Only Doctor, Il Returno De Hercules, Tough Parents, and Honker Cab Driver Percy Sledge performs: ""When A Man Loves A Woman"" The NBC rerun has three changes to it: The ""Nick The Lounge Singer In Prison"" sketch has the word ""bitch"" muted out, The ""Donahue"" sketch replaces Nora Dunn's mention of Joe Piscopo with a mention of Gallagher, and Phil Hartman's clumsy introductory narration in the ""Il Returno De Hercules"" is dubbed over with a flawless narration by Al Franken.

    Director:Paul Miller
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Tom Davis, Robert Smigel, Marc Shaiman, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Rosie Shuster, Jim Downey, Brian McConnachie, Andy Breckman, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, Eddie Gorodetsky, Kevin Nealon, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Jon Vitti, Christine Zander, Paul Raley

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  6. Saturday Night Live Season 12 Episode 12 - Willie Nelson
    6.6/10(82 votes)

    S12:E12

    ""Afterlife Styles of the Rich and Famous"", ""The Mob Snitch who Wears A Wire and Loses Deal"", ""Party Girl: Great Moments in the History of White Trash"", ""Church Chat"", ""Welfare Cheat: Great Moments in the History of White Trash"", ""Pathological Liar Tommy Flanagan Meets Willie Nelson"", ""Victoria Jackson w/Willie Nelson: The Boyfriend Song"", ""Heartache Love in a Truck Stop Cafe"", ""First Cousins: Great Moments in the History of White Trash"".

    Director:Paul Miller
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Tom Davis, Robert Smigel, Marc Shaiman, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Andy Breckman, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, E. Jean Carroll, Eddie Gorodetsky, Kevin Nealon, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Jon Vitti, Christine Zander

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    The 20 BEST Episodes of Saturday Night Live

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  7. Saturday Night Live Season 12 Episode 7 - Steve Guttenberg/The Pretenders
    6.4/10(83 votes)

    S12:E7

    Live from New York, it's... Jon Lovitz! Sketches include "Iranian National Assembly," "McSooshi," "Derek Stevens' Marketing Expert," "Seducing a Blind Man," "Sideshow Of The Stars," "Movie Talk," a performance by Penn & Teller, "The Back Page," "Ditzy Actress," "Bob Roberts" (film), and "Al-Anon." The Pretenders perform and "How Much Did You Pay For Your Soul?" and "Don't Get Me Wrong." Buster Poindexter performs "Rockin' Good Soul."

    Directors:Paul Miller, Tim Robbins, Matthew Meshekoff, James Signorelli
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Robert Smigel, Marc Shaiman, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Rosie Shuster, Jim Downey, Andy Breckman, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, E. Jean Carroll, Eddie Gorodetsky, Kevin Nealon, Jon Vitti

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  8. Saturday Night Live Season 12 Episode 13 - Valerie Bertinelli/The Robert Cray Band
    6.4/10(85 votes)

    S12:E13

    Live from New York, it's... Phil Hartman! Sketches include "Reagan-Regan Affair," "McSooshi," "Hard News Cafe," "Discover," "Dinner At The Van Halen's," "Ching Chang In Love," "Washington Center Professionals," "Let's Go To The Movies," "On Broadway," and "Opera Singer Doctor." Eddie Van Halen performed "Stompin' 8H." Robert Cray Band performed "Smoking Gun" and "Right Next Door."

    Director:Paul Miller
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Tom Davis, Robert Smigel, Marc Shaiman, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Andy Breckman, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, E. Jean Carroll, Eddie Gorodetsky, Kevin Nealon, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Jon Vitti, Christine Zander

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  9. Saturday Night Live Season 12 Episode 15 - Charlton Heston/Wynton Marsalis
    6.4/10(114 votes)

    S12:E15

    Live from New York, it's... Charlton Heston! Sketches include "God's Money," "The New Paper Chase," "Church Chat," "Sweeney Sisters," "Slave Drivers," and "A Message About UNLV." Wynton Marsalis performs "J Mood" and "One Mustaad."

    Directors:Paul Miller, Ralph Glenn Howard, Steve Klayman, Ben Stiller
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Tom Davis, Robert Smigel, Marc Shaiman, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Andy Breckman, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, E. Jean Carroll, Eddie Gorodetsky, Kevin Nealon, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Jon Vitti, Christine Zander

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  10. Saturday Night Live Season 12 Episode 20 - Dennis Hopper/Roy Orbison
    6.4/10(82 votes)

    S12:E20

    Sketches include ""Easy Rider,"" ""Church Chat,"" ""What's That Smell?,"" ""This Week with David Brinkley,"" ""Problem Drinkers from Outer Space,"" ""Cannibalism Interview,"" ""Last Chance,"" and ""Sweeney Sisters Farewell."" Roy Orbison performs ""Crying,"" ""Oh, Pretty Woman,"" and ""In Dreams.""

    Director:Paul Miller
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Tom Davis, Robert Smigel, Marc Shaiman, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Andy Breckman, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, E. Jean Carroll, Eddie Gorodetsky, Kevin Nealon, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Jon Vitti, Christine Zander

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  11. Saturday Night Live Season 12 Episode 4 - Sam Kinison/Lou Reed
    6.3/10(94 votes)

    S12:E4

    Sketches include: Church Lady protest Sam Kinison hosting SNL, Obnoxious School Teacher, Superman--Krypton dosent explode, ""Love Connection"", Chick Hazard, ""Adobe Car Commercial: Made out of clay"", ""New York, 1943 (B/W)"", ""Ching Chang's Pet Chicken Shop"", ""Lord Sketch-Me-or-You-Die"".

    Director:Paul Miller
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Tom Davis, Marc Shaiman, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Andy Breckman, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, E. Jean Carroll, Eddie Gorodetsky, Kevin Nealon, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Jon Vitti, Christine Zander

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  12. Saturday Night Live Season 12 Episode 9 - Walter Payton, Joe Montana/Debbie Harry
    6.3/10(85 votes)

    S12:E9

    Sketches include: ""NFL Video Countdown,"" ""Leslie and Stu,"" ""Pathological Liar,"" ""Church Chat,"" ""The NFL Today,"" ""Michael Jackson Workout,"" ""Chick Hazard: Private Investigator,"" ""Adobe Car Commercial: It's Made out of Clay"", ""A man and his dumb kidnapper"", ""Weekend Update with Dennis Miller"", ""Super Bowl Gambling Memories"", ""The Most Honest Guy in the World"". Debbie Harry performs "French Kissin'" and "In Love With Love".

    Director:Paul Miller
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Tom Davis, Robert Smigel, Marc Shaiman, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Andy Breckman, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, E. Jean Carroll, Eddie Gorodetsky, Kevin Nealon, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Jon Vitti, Christine Zander

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  13. Saturday Night Live Season 12 Episode 19 - Garry Shandling/Los Lobos
    6.3/10(99 votes)

    S12:E19

    Sketches include ""Iran-Contra Hearings,"" ""Returning a Sweater,"" ""The Puppy,"" ""Stu's Support Group,"" ""Babette's Teeny Cafe,"" ""Trans-Ozark Airlines,"" ""Hollywood Mom"" (film), and ""The Happy Couple."" Los Lobos performs ""Is That All There Is"" and ""One Time, One Night.""

    Directors:Paul Miller, Lyndall Hobbs
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Tom Davis, Robert Smigel, Marc Shaiman, Alan Zweibel, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Andy Breckman, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, Eddie Gorodetsky, Kevin Nealon, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Jon Vitti, Christine Zander

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  14. Saturday Night Live Season 12 Episode 3 - Rosanna Arquette/Ric Ocasek
    6.2/10(84 votes)

    S12:E3

    Sketches include "Pretending To Be Lorne," "The People's Court," "Church Chat," "Helmsley Spook House," "Pork" (two part), "Eddie & The Two Sammies," "Dog Baseball," (film), "Make Joan Baez Laugh," "Miss Connie's Fable Nook," "I Saw God," "Coffee and Cigarettes" (film), and "Pango" (film). Ric Ocasek performed "Emotion In Motion" and "Keep On Laughin'."

    Director:Paul Miller
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Tom Davis, Robert Smigel, Marc Shaiman, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Andy Breckman, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, E. Jean Carroll, Eddie Gorodetsky, Kevin Nealon, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Jon Vitti, Christine Zander

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  15. Saturday Night Live Season 12 Episode 16 - John Lithgow/Anita Baker
    6.1/10(80 votes)

    S12:E16

    Live from New York, it's... John Lithgow! Sketches include "Embassy Spies," "Laramie Vice," "The Pat Stevens Show," "World's Meanest Methodist Minister," "Master Thespian," "Discover," "Cab Ride," and "The Fighter." Anita Baker performs "Sweet Love" and "Same Ole Love."

    Director:Paul Miller
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Tom Davis, Robert Smigel, Marc Shaiman, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Andy Breckman, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, E. Jean Carroll, Eddie Gorodetsky, Kevin Nealon, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Jon Vitti, Christine Zander

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  16. Saturday Night Live Season 12 Episode 2 - Malcolm-Jamal Warner/Run DMC
    6.0/10(96 votes)

    S12:E2

    Sketches include "Bartles & Jaymes," "Xynex," "Donahue," "The Crosby Show," "Instant Coffee," "Parent-Teen Drunk Driving Contract," Sam Kinison performs stand-up, "Chalk Factory," and "Johnny's Finished." Run DMC performs "Walk This Way" and "Hit It, Run"; Buster Poindexter performs "Hit The Road Jack."

    Director:Paul Miller
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Tom Davis, Robert Smigel, Marc Shaiman, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Andy Breckman, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, E. Jean Carroll, Eddie Gorodetsky, Kevin Nealon, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Jon Vitti, Christine Zander

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  17. Saturday Night Live Season 12 Episode 17 - John Larroquette/Timbuk 3
    6.0/10(77 votes)

    S12:E17

    Live from New York, it's... Dana Carvey! Sketches include "Pagan Easter Special," "Sold-Out Gold," "Collecting Evidence," "Heaven Has The Answers," "Instant Coffee," "ICM Meeting," and "Grab Bag Store." Timbuk 3 performs "Just Another Movie" and "Hairstyles & Attitudes."

    Director:Paul Miller
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Tom Davis, Robert Smigel, Marc Shaiman, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Andy Breckman, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, E. Jean Carroll, Eddie Gorodetsky, Kevin Nealon, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Jon Vitti, Christine Zander

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  18. Saturday Night Live Season 12 Episode 10 - Paul Shaffer/Bruce Hornsby & the Range
    5.7/10(81 votes)

    S12:E10

    Sketches include ""Paul's Dressing Room,"" ""What's My Addiction?"" ""The Grenada Experience,"" ""The Pat Stevens Show,"" and ""Sweeney Sisters' Far East Medley."" The Range perform ""That's Just the Way It Is,"" and Paul Shaffer sings ""It Was a Very Good Year.""

    Director:Paul Miller
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Tom Davis, Robert Smigel, Marc Shaiman, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Andy Breckman, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, E. Jean Carroll, Eddie Gorodetsky, Kevin Nealon, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Jon Vitti, Christine Zander

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  19. Saturday Night Live Season 12 Episode 18 - Mark Harmon/Suzanne Vega
    5.7/10(80 votes)

    S12:E18

    ""The New Charlie's Angels"", ""People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive 1986"", ""Grown-up Babies in Modern America"", ""Very Smart Theater presents Attila the Hun: The Early Years"", ""The Myowling Bible Commercial"", ""Einstein Express Commercial: When it has to be there the day before yerterday"", ""A Salmon's Reproductive Tale"", ""Ad Council: Wasting your time in various ways for no good reason"".

    Director:Paul Miller
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Tom Davis, Robert Smigel, Marc Shaiman, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Andy Breckman, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, E. Jean Carroll, Eddie Gorodetsky, Kevin Nealon, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Jon Vitti, Christine Zander

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  20. Saturday Night Live Season 12 Episode 11 - Bronson Pinchot/Paul Young
    5.5/10(81 votes)

    S12:E11

    Live from New York, it's... Phil Hartman! Sketches include "Liberace In Heaven," "Nightline," "Sports Ilustrated Swimsuit Issue," "The Life Of Golda Meir," "Hardware Store Gigolo," and "Miss Connie's Fable Nook." Paul Young performs "War Games" and "The Long Run." Buster Poindexter performs "Heart of Gold."

    Director:Paul Miller
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Tom Davis, Robert Smigel, Marc Shaiman, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Andy Breckman, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, E. Jean Carroll, Eddie Gorodetsky, Kevin Nealon, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Jon Vitti, Christine Zander

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Season 12 Ratings Summary

"Sigourney Weaver/Buster Poindexter" is the best rated episode of "Saturday Night Live" season 12. It scored 7.8/10 based on 140 votes. Directed by Paul Miller and written by Lorne Michaels, Tom Davis, Robert Smigel, Marc Shaiman, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Andy Breckman, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, E. Jean Carroll, Eddie Gorodetsky, Kevin Nealon, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Jon Vitti, Christine Zander, it aired on 10/11/1986. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "William Shatner/Lone Justice".