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The Best Episodes of Saturday Night Live Season 20

Every episode of Saturday Night Live Season 20 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Saturday Night Live Season 20!

Binge this in 22h 20m•Peaking at 7.5/10

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 20 Episode 3 - John Travolta/Seal
    7.5/10(118 votes)

    S20:E3

    Sketches include ""Bathroom Monkey,"" ""Coffee Talk With Linda Richman,"" ""Dracula's Not Gay,"" ""Quentin Tarantino's Welcome Back Kotter,"" ""Women's Self-Defense,"" ""Larry King Live,"" ""Small Office,"" ""Deaf Drug Dealer""

    Directors:Dave Wilson, Tom Schiller, James Signorelli
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Jim Downey, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Mike Myers, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Ian Maxtone-Graham, David Mandel, Steve Lookner, Lew Morton, Tim Herlihy, Robin Ruzan, Norm Hiscock, Brian Kelley, Laura Kightlinger, Margo Meyer, Drake Sather

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  2. Saturday Night Live Season 20 Episode 20 - David Duchovny/Rod Stewart
    7.5/10(115 votes)

    S20:E20

    Live from New York, for the last time, it's…Michael McKean! Sketches include ""Beastman of Studio 8H,"" You Think You're Better Than Me?, Zagat's, ""New England General Store,"" Ricki Lake, ""Rock and Roll Realtor,"" and ""Polar Bears.""

    Director:Dave Wilson
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Robert Smigel, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Jim Downey, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Ian Maxtone-Graham, David Mandel, Steve Lookner, Lew Morton, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Brian Kelley, Laura Kightlinger, Margo Meyer, Drake Sather, Adam Resnick, Ross Abrash

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  3. Saturday Night Live Season 20 Episode 16 - John Goodman/Tragically Hip
    7.4/10(110 votes)

    S20:E16

    Live from New York, it's…Dan Aykroyd! Sketches include ""This Week With David Brinkley,"" ""Superfans Return,"" ""The Late Late Show With Tom Snyder,"" ""Dog Park,"" ""Howard Stern,"" ""Self-Deluded Losers,"" ""Unsolved Mysteries,"" ""Coal Miners,"" and ""Penis-Measuring Device.""

    Director:Dave Wilson
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Jim Downey, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Ian Maxtone-Graham, David Mandel, Steve Lookner, Lew Morton, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Brian Kelley, Laura Kightlinger, Margo Meyer, Drake Sather

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  4. Saturday Night Live Season 20 Episode 1 - Steve Martin/Eric Clapton
    7.3/10(116 votes)

    S20:E1

    Sketches include ""Clinton Auditions,"" ""The Ron Wood Show,"" ""Baseball Cruise,"" ""Steve Martin's All-Natural Penis Beauty Creme,"" and ""Bad Ad Campaign."" ""Court TV: O.J. Simpson Trial,"" ""Total Bastard Airlines,"" and ""The Better Baby."" Bathroom Monkey Commercial"", ""Weekend Update with Norm MacDonald"", ""Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey"", ""Leland-Meyers Home Headache Test Commercial"".

    Directors:Dave Wilson, Tom Schiller, James Signorelli
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Jim Downey, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Mike Myers, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Ian Maxtone-Graham, David Mandel, Steve Lookner, Lew Morton, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Brian Kelley, Laura Kightlinger, Margo Meyer

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  5. Saturday Night Live Season 20 Episode 8 - Alec Baldwin/Beastie Boys
    7.2/10(114 votes)

    S20:E8

    Sketches include ""Joycelyn Elders,"" ""Japanese Game Show,"" ""Los Angeles Breast and Penis,"" ""Celebrity Memorial Auction,"" and ""Family Auto Trip.""

    Director:Dave Wilson
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Jim Downey, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Andy Breckman, Mike Myers, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Ian Maxtone-Graham, David Mandel, Steve Lookner, Lew Morton, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Brian Kelley, Laura Kightlinger, Margo Meyer, Drake Sather

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  6. Saturday Night Live Season 20 Episode 10 - Jeff Daniels/Luscious Jackson
    7.1/10(95 votes)

    S20:E10

    Sketches include ""Newt Gingrich,"" ""Connie Chung and Newt Gingrich's Mom,"" ""Martin Luther King Day,"" ""Mystery Dinner Theatre,"" ""Eterna-Rest,"" ""Film Beat,"" ""Entertainment Tonight""

    Directors:Dave Wilson, James Signorelli
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Jim Downey, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Mike Myers, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Ian Maxtone-Graham, David Mandel, Steve Lookner, Lew Morton, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Brian Kelley, Laura Kightlinger, Margo Meyer, Drake Sather, Adam Resnick

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    The 20 BEST Episodes of Saturday Night Live

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  7. Saturday Night Live Season 20 Episode 12 - Bob Newhart/Des'ree
    7.0/10(98 votes)

    S20:E12

    Sketches include ""C-SPAN: Colin Ferguson,"" ""Ricki Lake,"" ""Book Buzz,"" ""Baywatch,"" ""Poster Worker Evaluation,"" ""Hi Bob,"" and ""Sports Beat."" Des'ree performed ""You Gotta Be"" and ""Feels So High.""

    Directors:Dave Wilson, Tom Schiller
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Brian McConnachie, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Ian Maxtone-Graham, David Mandel, Steve Lookner, Lew Morton, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Brian Kelley, Laura Kightlinger, Margo Meyer, Drake Sather, Adam Resnick, Judd Apatow

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  8. Saturday Night Live Season 20 Episode 11 - David Hyde Pierce/Live
    6.9/10(94 votes)

    S20:E11

    Sketches include "O.J. Simpson", "Rock Poetry Class", "Tales of Little Women", "Scottish Soccer Hooligan Weekly", "Robot Spy Onboard", "Nervous Habits", "Jersey Kids Meet the Foreigner", "Perspectives", "Claire Tries Internet Sex", and "Movie News".

    Director:Dave Wilson
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Jim Downey, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Mike Myers, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Ian Maxtone-Graham, David Mandel, Steve Lookner, Lew Morton, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Brian Kelley, Laura Kightlinger, Margo Meyer, Drake Sather, Adam Resnick

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  9. Saturday Night Live Season 20 Episode 18 - Courteney Cox/Dave Matthews Band
    6.9/10(117 votes)

    S20:E18

    Sketches include ""Matt Foley,"" ""Good Morning Brooklyn,"" ""Gapardy,"" ""Melanie Babysits,"" ""Charles Manson,"" ""Truth vs. Jokes,"" ""Replacement Baseball,"" ""His Muse Friday,"" ""Obnoxious Co-worker""

    Director:Dave Wilson
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Jim Downey, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Bob Odenkirk, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Ian Maxtone-Graham, David Mandel, Steve Lookner, Lew Morton, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Brian Kelley, Laura Kightlinger, Margo Meyer, Drake Sather

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  10. Saturday Night Live Season 20 Episode 4 - Dana Carvey/Edie Brickell
    6.8/10(99 votes)

    S20:E4

    Sketches include ""George Bush,"" ""Virtual Reality Books,"" ""Johnny Carson,"" ""Ross Perot,"" ""Pepper Boy,"" ""Nobel Prize Awards,"" ""Work Excuses,"" ""Office Space""

    Directors:Dave Wilson, Tom Schiller, James Signorelli, Mike Judge
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Robert Smigel, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Jim Downey, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Bob Odenkirk, Mike Myers, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Ian Maxtone-Graham, David Mandel, Steve Lookner, Lew Morton, Mike Judge, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Brian Kelley, Laura Kightlinger, Margo Meyer, Drake Sather

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  11. Saturday Night Live Season 20 Episode 17 - Damon Wayans/Dionne Farris
    6.8/10(88 votes)

    S20:E17

    Sketches include: ""Judge Ito,"" ""Men on Film,"" ""Spit Valves,"" ""Black Names,"" ""Christopher Walken for Skittles"", and ""Court TV: The O.J. Trial.""

    Directors:Dave Wilson, Tom Schiller, James Signorelli
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Robert Smigel, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Jim Downey, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Ian Maxtone-Graham, David Mandel, Steve Lookner, Lew Morton, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Brian Kelley, Laura Kightlinger, Margo Meyer, Drake Sather

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  12. Saturday Night Live Season 20 Episode 2 - Marisa Tomei/Bonnie Raitt
    6.7/10(97 votes)

    S20:E2

    Sketches include "Bill Clinton," "Court TV: O.J. Simpson Trial," "Adult Education Class," "Daily Affirmation with Stuart Smalley," and "Monsters of Monologue '94."

    Directors:Dave Wilson, James Signorelli
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Jim Downey, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Mike Myers, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Ian Maxtone-Graham, David Mandel, Steve Lookner, Lew Morton, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Brian Kelley, Laura Kightlinger, Margo Meyer

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  13. Saturday Night Live Season 20 Episode 7 - Roseanne/Green Day
    6.6/10(97 votes)

    S20:E7

    Sketches include ""Jesse Helms,"" ""Roseanne Goes to Therapy,"" ""USAir,"" ""Rescue 911,"" ""Civil War Memories,"" and ""Yogurt Store.""

    Director:Dave Wilson
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Jim Downey, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Mike Myers, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Ian Maxtone-Graham, David Mandel, Steve Lookner, Lew Morton, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Brian Kelley, Laura Kightlinger, Margo Meyer, Drake Sather

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  14. Saturday Night Live Season 20 Episode 14 - George Clooney/The Cranberries
    6.5/10(100 votes)

    S20:E14

    Sketches include ""Black History Month,"" ""Mandy the Whale,"" ""Tales of Fraud and Malfeasance in Railroad Hiring Practices,"" ""Taxicab Confessions,"" and ""Zagat's"".

    Directors:Dave Wilson, Bruce McCulloch
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Ian Maxtone-Graham, David Mandel, Steve Lookner, Lew Morton, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Brian Kelley, Laura Kightlinger, Margo Meyer, Drake Sather, Ross Abrash

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  15. Saturday Night Live Season 20 Episode 6 - John Turturro/Tom Petty
    6.4/10(90 votes)

    S20:E6

    Sketches include ""It's a Wonderful Newt,"" ""Christopher Walken's Celebrity Psychic Friends Network,"" ""Phone Hang-Ups,"" ""Taxi Driver: The Musical,"" ""Stop That,"" ""The Movie Club""

    Director:Dave Wilson
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Jim Downey, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Mike Myers, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Ian Maxtone-Graham, David Mandel, Steve Lookner, Lew Morton, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Brian Kelley, Laura Kightlinger, Margo Meyer, Drake Sather

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  16. Saturday Night Live Season 20 Episode 19 - Bob Saget/TLC
    6.3/10(110 votes)

    S20:E19

    Sketches include ""Tony Vallencourt,"" ""Fast,"" ""America's Funniest Hate Videos,"" ""Fashion Designer,"" ""Where In the World is San Diego, California?"", ""Boyz II Men,"" ""Karl's,"" ""Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey,"" ""Daily Affirmation with Stuart Smalley,"" ""Pacemaker""

    Directors:Dave Wilson, James Signorelli
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Jim Downey, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Ian Maxtone-Graham, David Mandel, Steve Lookner, Lew Morton, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Brian Kelley, Laura Kightlinger, Margo Meyer, Drake Sather, Ross Abrash

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  17. Saturday Night Live Season 20 Episode 15 - Paul Reiser/Annie Lennox
    6.2/10(89 votes)

    S20:E15

    Sketches include ""Newt Gingrich's Sister,"" ""Where's Superman?,"" ""Mad About You Aliens,"" ""Sparklebrite Toothpaste,"" and ""One Brother Cafe.""

    Director:Dave Wilson
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Jim Downey, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Ian Maxtone-Graham, David Mandel, Steve Lookner, Lew Morton, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Brian Kelley, Laura Kightlinger, Margo Meyer, Drake Sather, Billy Grundfest, Victor Levin

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  18. Saturday Night Live Season 20 Episode 5 - Sarah Jessica Parker/R.E.M.
    5.9/10(96 votes)

    S20:E5

    Sketches include ""Concession Speech,"" ""Good Morning Brooklyn,"" ""Nice and Naughty Guitarists,"" ""Confucius,"" ""The Casting Couch,"" ""The Munchkins,"" and ""Tribute to Michael O'Donoghue"".

    Directors:Dave Wilson, James Signorelli
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Jim Downey, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Mike Myers, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Ian Maxtone-Graham, David Mandel, Steve Lookner, Lew Morton, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Brian Kelley, Laura Kightlinger, Margo Meyer, Drake Sather

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  19. Saturday Night Live Season 20 Episode 9 - George Foreman/Hole
    5.7/10(93 votes)

    S20:E9

    Sketches include ""Bill Clinton,"" ""Time Boxer,"" ""Looking Good,"" ""Matt Foley,"" ""Uncle Joe,"" ""The Incredible Hulk,"" ""Chris Elliot's Bedtime Story,"" ""Jackie Stallone's Psychic Circle""

    Directors:Dave Wilson, Tom Schiller, Bruce McCulloch
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Robert Smigel, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Jim Downey, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Bob Odenkirk, Mike Myers, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Ian Maxtone-Graham, David Mandel, Steve Lookner, Lew Morton, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Brian Kelley, Laura Kightlinger, Margo Meyer, Drake Sather, Adam Resnick

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  20. Saturday Night Live Season 20 Episode 13 - Deion Sanders/Bon Jovi
    5.7/10(99 votes)

    S20:E13

    Sketches include: ""O.J. Simpson Tour,"" ""The 1995 ESPY Awards,"" ""Rappers With Simple Lyrics,"" ""Perspectives,"" ""Deep Thoughts By Jack Handey,"" and ""Sick Boy""

    Director:Dave Wilson
    Writers:Lorne Michaels, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Jim Downey, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Ian Maxtone-Graham, David Mandel, Steve Lookner, Lew Morton, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Brian Kelley, Laura Kightlinger, Margo Meyer, Drake Sather

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Season 20 Ratings Summary

"John Travolta/Seal" is the best rated episode of "Saturday Night Live" season 20. It scored 7.5/10 based on 118 votes. Directed by Dave Wilson, Tom Schiller, James Signorelli and written by Lorne Michaels, Al Franken, Herbert Sargent, Jim Downey, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Mike Myers, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Ian Maxtone-Graham, David Mandel, Steve Lookner, Lew Morton, Tim Herlihy, Robin Ruzan, Norm Hiscock, Brian Kelley, Laura Kightlinger, Margo Meyer, Drake Sather, it aired on 10/15/1994. This episode is rated 0.0 points higher than the second-best, "David Duchovny/Rod Stewart".