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The Best Episodes of Saturday Night Live Season 13

Every episode of Saturday Night Live Season 13 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Saturday Night Live Season 13!

Binge this in 14h 31m•Peaking at 7.1/10

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 13 Episode 1 - Steve Martin/Sting
    7.1/10(109 votes)

    #1 - Steve Martin/Sting

    S13:E1

    Sketches include ""Ronald Reagan and George Bush,"" ""Gary Hart Ad,"" ""Common Knowledge,"" ""NFL Today,"" ""Slide Whistle Sound Effects,"" ""Bullets Aren't Cheap,"" ""Permission to Speak Freely,"" ""Adventures in the Lost Realm,"" and ""Pumping Up With Hans and Franz"".

    Director:Paul Miller
    Writers:Robert Smigel, Tom Davis, Lorne Michaels, Herbert Sargent, Al Franken, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Christine Zander, Greg Daniels, Conan O'Brien, Bob Odenkirk

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  2. Saturday Night Live Season 13 Episode 2 - Sean Penn/L.L. Cool J., Michael Penn & the Pull
    5.8/10(92 votes)

    #2 - Sean Penn/L.L. Cool J., Michael Penn & the Pull

    S13:E2

    Live from New York, it's... Sean Penn! Sketches include "Fatal Attraction 2," "Wall Street Week," "Church Chat," "Pitman & Bullock," "The Teeny Cafe," "Keister Family Talk," "Discover," "The Spimozo Brothers," and "Cat Dentist" (film). LL Cool J performs "Go Cut Creator Go." Michael Penn and The Pull performs "This & That."

    Director:Paul Miller
    Writers:Robert Smigel, Tom Davis, Lorne Michaels, Herbert Sargent, Al Franken, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Christine Zander, Greg Daniels, Conan O'Brien, Bob Odenkirk

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  3. Saturday Night Live Season 13 Episode 3 - Dabney Coleman/The Cars
    7.0/10(86 votes)

    #3 - Dabney Coleman/The Cars

    S13:E3

    Live from New York, it's... Dana Carvey! Sketches include "Lifestyles of the Rich, Famous, and Scary," "Nature's Broom," "The Winning Spirit," "Don't Go Down To The Basement," "Scary Campfire Stories," "Marriage Counselor," "Count Dracula, Self-Taught Auto Mechanic," "The Pat Stevens Show," "New High School Mascot," and "Lambert & Fitch Securites." The Cars performs "Strap Me In" and "Double Trouble."

    Director:Paul Miller
    Writers:Robert Smigel, Tom Davis, Lorne Michaels, Herbert Sargent, Al Franken, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Christine Zander, Greg Daniels, Conan O'Brien, Bob Odenkirk

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  4. Saturday Night Live Season 13 Episode 4 - Robert Mitchum/Simply Red
    5.8/10(91 votes)

    #4 - Robert Mitchum/Simply Red

    S13:E4

    No description available

    Directors:Paul Miller, James Signorelli
    Writers:Robert Smigel, Tom Davis, Lorne Michaels, Herbert Sargent, Al Franken, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Christine Zander, Greg Daniels, Conan O'Brien, Bob Odenkirk

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  5. Saturday Night Live Season 13 Episode 5 - Candice Bergen/Cher
    5.9/10(88 votes)

    #5 - Candice Bergen/Cher

    S13:E5

    Sketches include ""George Bush,"" ""Pumping Up with Hans & Franz,"" ""Anne Boleyn,"" ""The First Thanksgiving,"" and ""Having Sex by an Open Window."" ""PITMAN and BULLOCK: Put the Power of the PIT BULL to Work for You"".

    Director:Paul Miller
    Writers:Robert Smigel, Tom Davis, Lorne Michaels, Herbert Sargent, Al Franken, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Christine Zander, Greg Daniels, Conan O'Brien, Bob Odenkirk

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  6. Saturday Night Live Season 13 Episode 6 - Danny DeVito/Bryan Ferry
    5.8/10(82 votes)

    #6 - Danny DeVito/Bryan Ferry

    S13:E6

    ive from New York, it's... Danny Devito! Sketches include: "Gorbachev-Reagan," "Siskel & Ebert," "Church Chat," "Eddie Spimozo's Jungle Room," "White Trash Appraiser," "Ann Landers' Playhouse," and "Reminiscing with Doorman." Bryan Ferry performs "The Right Stuff" and "Kiss and Tell."

    Director:Paul Miller
    Writers:Robert Smigel, Tom Davis, Lorne Michaels, Herbert Sargent, Al Franken, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Brian McConnachie, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Christine Zander, Bob Odenkirk

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    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 BEST Episodes of Saturday Night Live

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  7. Saturday Night Live Season 13 Episode 7 - Angie Dickinson/Buster Poindexter & David Gilmour
    5.7/10(81 votes)

    #7 - Angie Dickinson/Buster Poindexter & David Gilmour

    S13:E7

    Live From New York, it's...Kevin Nealon Sketches include: Amateur Translator, Docu-Fresh, Who Can Land The Plane?, Donahue, Wedgie Fever, Traumatic Memories Party, Police Women, The Assimilated Jew's Hannukah, and Drunk Man Buster Poindexter performs: ""Hot, Hot, Hot"" David Gilmour performs: ""Ah, Robertson, It's You""

    Director:Paul Miller
    Writers:Robert Smigel, Tom Davis, Lorne Michaels, Herbert Sargent, Al Franken, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Christine Zander, Greg Daniels, Conan O'Brien, Bob Odenkirk

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  8. Saturday Night Live Season 13 Episode 8 - Paul Simon/Linda Ronstadt & the Mariachi Vargas
    6.1/10(83 votes)

    #8 - Paul Simon/Linda Ronstadt & the Mariachi Vargas

    S13:E8

    Live From New York, it's...Jan Hooks Sketches include: Jesus's Surprise Party, Gary Hart Ad, Pumping Up With Hans and Franz, Christmas on a Desert Island, Master Thespian, The Sweeney Sisters, Subway Beggar, Succinctly Speaking, Seasons Greetings From Tonto, Frankenstein, and Tarzan, Educated Anita, and A Message To Future Viewers Linda Ronstadt and the Mariachi Vargas perform: ""Los Laureles, La Cigarra"" and ""Under African Skies""

    Director:Paul Miller
    Writers:Robert Smigel, Tom Davis, Lorne Michaels, Herbert Sargent, Al Franken, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Christine Zander, Greg Daniels, Conan O'Brien, Bob Odenkirk

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  9. Saturday Night Live Season 13 Episode 9 - Robin Williams/James Taylor
    6.9/10(95 votes)

    #9 - Robin Williams/James Taylor

    S13:E9

    Sketches include ""Pumping Up with Hans and Franz,"" ""Compulsion,"" ""Birthing Video,"" ""Cable ACE Awards,"" ""Hard to Say I Love You,"" ""Discover,"" and ""Robin's 60th Birthday.""

    Directors:Paul Miller, Matthew Meshekoff, James Signorelli
    Writers:Robert Smigel, Tom Davis, Lorne Michaels, Herbert Sargent, Al Franken, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Christine Zander, Greg Daniels, Conan O'Brien, Bob Odenkirk

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  10. Saturday Night Live Season 13 Episode 10 - Carl Weathers/Robbie Robertson
    6.2/10(83 votes)

    #10 - Carl Weathers/Robbie Robertson

    S13:E10

    Sketches include ""Bush-Whacked,"" ""The NFL Today,"" ""Handi-Off,"" ""Democratic Debate '88,"" ""Helen and Cheri,"" ""TV Actress,"" ""Master Thespian,"" and ""The Garden"" (film). Robbie Robertson performed ""Testimony"" and ""Somewhere Down the Crazy River.""

    Director:Paul Miller
    Writers:Robert Smigel, Tom Davis, Lorne Michaels, Herbert Sargent, Al Franken, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Christine Zander, Greg Daniels, Conan O'Brien, Bob Odenkirk

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  11. Saturday Night Live Season 13 Episode 11 - Justine Bateman/Terrance Trent D'Arby
    6.3/10(80 votes)

    #11 - Justine Bateman/Terrance Trent D'Arby

    S13:E11

    ""53rd. Debate of the 1988 Republican Presidential Candidates"", ""Learning to Feel with Denise Venetti, Ph.D."", ""Family Ties: If These Old Walls Could Talk (Flashback-Flashback Episode)"", ""Blocked songwriter Derek Stevens loses his Muse"", ""An older man, the bimbo girlfriend Linda and his Judgemental Friends"".

    Director:Paul Miller
    Writers:Robert Smigel, Tom Davis, Lorne Michaels, Herbert Sargent, Al Franken, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Christine Zander, Greg Daniels, Conan O'Brien, Bob Odenkirk

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  12. Saturday Night Live Season 13 Episode 12 - Tom Hanks/Randy Travis
    6.4/10(98 votes)

    #12 - Tom Hanks/Randy Travis

    S13:E12

    ""A male figure skater's flawed perfomance in tight pants"", ""The Pat Stevens Show with Mrs. Bush and Mrs. Dole"", ""The Bean Cafe: We only serve beans"", ""On 49th and First: Two sad guys want to score with the ladies"", ""This is a stick up!, yelled the Psychotic Vietnam Vet with great acting skills"", ""Can't come up with an ending for a bad sketch"", ""Casey Kasem sings The Beatles"", ""Compulsion by Calveen Kleen: The World's Most Indulgent Disinfectant"", ""A Pawnshop That Pays Full Sentimental Value"".

    Director:Paul Miller
    Writers:Robert Smigel, Tom Davis, Lorne Michaels, Herbert Sargent, Al Franken, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Christine Zander, Greg Daniels, Conan O'Brien, Bob Odenkirk

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  13. Saturday Night Live Season 13 Episode 13 - Judge Reinhold/10,000 Maniacs
    6.4/10(80 votes)

    #13 - Judge Reinhold/10,000 Maniacs

    S13:E13

    Sketches include ""Pumping Up With Hans & Franz,"" ""Church Chat,"" ""Friendly Dictator,"" and ""Big Bird Pirates.""

    Director:Paul Miller
    Writers:Robert Smigel, Tom Davis, Lorne Michaels, Herbert Sargent, Al Franken, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Christine Zander, Greg Daniels, Conan O'Brien, Bob Odenkirk

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Season 13 Ratings Summary

"Steve Martin/Sting" is the best rated episode of "Saturday Night Live" season 13. It scored 7.1/10 based on 109 votes. Directed by Paul Miller and written by Robert Smigel, Tom Davis, Lorne Michaels, Herbert Sargent, Al Franken, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, A. Whitney Brown, George Meyer, Phil Hartman, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Christine Zander, Greg Daniels, Conan O'Brien, Bob Odenkirk, it aired on 10/17/1987. This episode is rated 1.3 points higher than the second-best, "Sean Penn/L.L. Cool J., Michael Penn & the Pull".