Saturday Night Live backdrop
Comedy•News

The Best Episodes of Saturday Night Live Season 21

Every episode of Saturday Night Live Season 21 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Saturday Night Live Season 21!

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

Airs on
NBC
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons51

All123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 1 - Mariel Hemingway/Blues Traveler
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #1 - Mariel Hemingway/Blues Traveler

    S21:E1

    Sketches include: ""OJ Today,"" ""Leg Up,"" ""The Taylors,"" ""Spade in America,"" ""Long Phone Call,"" ""Nightline,"" ""Biography"".

    Director:Beth McCarthy-Miller
    Writers:Robert Smigel, Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, Lorne Michaels, Paula Pell, Dennis McNicholas, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Ross Abrash, Cindy Caponera, Hugh Fink, Tom Gianas, Adam McKay, Lori Nasso, Colin Quinn, Frank Sebastiano

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 2 - Chevy Chase/Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #2 - Chevy Chase/Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories

    S21:E2

    Sketches include: ""NFL on NBC,"" ""The Mark Fuhrman Show,"" ""Althea,"" ""Lobotol,"" ""The Blame Game,"" ""Jim Breuer and Braveheart,"" ""Spade in America,"" and ""Fuzzy Memories"".

    Directors:Beth McCarthy-Miller, James Signorelli, Stacey Foster
    Writers:Robert Smigel, Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, Lorne Michaels, Paula Pell, Dennis McNicholas, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Ross Abrash, Cindy Caponera, Hugh Fink, Tom Gianas, Adam McKay, Lori Nasso, Colin Quinn, Frank Sebastiano

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 3 - David Schwimmer/Natalie Merchant
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #3 - David Schwimmer/Natalie Merchant

    S21:E3

    Sketches include ""Darius Rucker,"" ""Kids vs. Grownups,"" ""Rita Delvecchio,"" ""Fuzzy Memories,"" ""The Elevator,"" ""Secrets,"" ""Spade in America,"" ""Slim Shannon,"" and ""Triumph Performers"".

    Director:Beth McCarthy-Miller
    Writers:Robert Smigel, Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, Lorne Michaels, Paula Pell, Dennis McNicholas, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Andy Breckman, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Ross Abrash, Cindy Caponera, Hugh Fink, Tom Gianas, Adam McKay, Lori Nasso, Colin Quinn, Frank Sebastiano, Erin Fraser

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 4 - Gabriel Byrne/Alanis Morissette
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #4 - Gabriel Byrne/Alanis Morissette

    S21:E4

    Sketches include: ""Halloween in New Hampshire,"" ""Grayson-Moorhead,"" ""Mary Katherine Gallagher,"" ""Cooking With Keith,"" ""Marshall Power Tools,"" ""Spade in America at the 1995 World Series,"" Fuzzy Memories, and ""Firing a Prison Guard.""

    Director:Beth McCarthy-Miller
    Writers:Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, Lorne Michaels, Paula Pell, Dennis McNicholas, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Andy Breckman, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Ross Abrash, Cindy Caponera, Hugh Fink, Tom Gianas, Adam McKay, Lori Nasso, Colin Quinn, Frank Sebastiano, Erin Fraser

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 5 - Quentin Tarantino/Smashing Pumpkins
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #5 - Quentin Tarantino/Smashing Pumpkins

    S21:E5

    Sketches include: ""Spartan Cheerleaders,"" ""Old Glory Insurance,"" ""Clara Turley's Bible Challenge,"" ""Bill Clinton,"" ""Bug Off,"" ""Directors on Directing,"" and ""All Aboard"".

    Director:Beth McCarthy-Miller
    Writers:Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, Lorne Michaels, Paula Pell, Al Franken, Dennis McNicholas, Jim Downey, Andy Breckman, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Ross Abrash, Cindy Caponera, Hugh Fink, Tom Gianas, Adam McKay, Lori Nasso, Colin Quinn, Frank Sebastiano, Erin Fraser, Peter Gaulke

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 6 - Laura Leighton/Rancid
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #6 - Laura Leighton/Rancid

    S21:E6

    Sketches include ""Air Force One,"" ""Psychic Reading,"" ""Midgets,"" and ""Spade in America.""

    Director:Beth McCarthy-Miller
    Writers:Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, Lorne Michaels, Paula Pell, Dennis McNicholas, Jim Downey, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Ross Abrash, Cindy Caponera, Hugh Fink, Tom Gianas, Adam McKay, Lori Nasso, Colin Quinn, Frank Sebastiano, Erin Fraser, Peter Gaulke

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 BEST Episodes of Saturday Night Live

    READ
  7. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 7 - Anthony Edwards/Foo Fighters
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #7 - Anthony Edwards/Foo Fighters

    S21:E7

    Sketches include ""Inside Politics,"" ""Grimaldi's,"" ""The Joe Pesci Show,"" ""Nightline,"" ""Mary Katherine Gallagher,"" ""G-Dog Does the Nasty,"" ""Spade in America,"" ""Turning Point,"" and ""Hulk Hogan Talk Show"".

    Directors:Beth McCarthy-Miller, James Signorelli
    Writers:Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, Lorne Michaels, Paula Pell, Dennis McNicholas, Jim Downey, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Ross Abrash, Cindy Caponera, Hugh Fink, Tom Gianas, Adam McKay, Lori Nasso, Colin Quinn, Frank Sebastiano, Erin Fraser, Peter Gaulke

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 8 - David Alan Grier/Silverchair
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #8 - David Alan Grier/Silverchair

    S21:E8

    Sketches include ""Nightline,"" ""Rocky Roads,"" ""The Today Show,"" ""Three Wise Men,"" ""Wake Up and Smile,"" ""Spade in America,"" ""Black People,"" and ""Perspectives"".

    Director:Beth McCarthy-Miller
    Writers:Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, Lorne Michaels, Paula Pell, Al Franken, Dennis McNicholas, Jim Downey, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Ross Abrash, Cindy Caponera, Hugh Fink, Tom Gianas, Adam McKay, Lori Nasso, Colin Quinn, Frank Sebastiano, Erin Fraser, Peter Gaulke

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 9 - Madeline Kahn/Bush
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #9 - Madeline Kahn/Bush

    S21:E9

    Sketches include ""Bosnian Goodwill Tour,"" ""Spartan Cheerleaders,"" ""John-John Mackie,"" ""Giant Bird,"" ""Leg Up,"" ""Lucien and Fagin,"" ""Spade in America,"" and ""Wedding Vows"".

    Director:Beth McCarthy-Miller
    Writers:Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, Lorne Michaels, Paula Pell, Dennis McNicholas, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Ross Abrash, Cindy Caponera, Hugh Fink, Adam McKay, Lori Nasso, Colin Quinn, Frank Sebastiano, Erin Fraser, Peter Gaulke, Ken Scarborough

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 10 - Christopher Walken/Joan Osborne
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #10 - Christopher Walken/Joan Osborne

    S21:E10

    Live from New York, it's...Rudolph Giuliani Sketches include: ""Rudy Giuliani and George Pataki Apologize For SNL's Low Quality,"" ""Rita Delvecchio,"" ""Spade In America,"" ""The Continental,"" ""Fuzzy Memories,"" ""T-Bone The Executioner,"" ""Connie Stinston"", and ""Mary Katherine Gallagher's Dancing Fantasy"". Joan Osborne performs: ""One of Us""

    Director:Beth McCarthy-Miller
    Writers:Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, Lorne Michaels, Paula Pell, Dennis McNicholas, Jim Downey, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Ross Abrash, Cindy Caponera, Hugh Fink, Tom Gianas, Adam McKay, Lori Nasso, Colin Quinn, Frank Sebastiano, Erin Fraser, Peter Gaulke

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 11 - Alec Baldwin/Tori Amos
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #11 - Alec Baldwin/Tori Amos

    S21:E11

    Sketches include ""Nightline,"" ""The Joe Pesci Show,"" ""Spartan Cheerleaders,"" ""Navy Guys,"" ""Talking About Bill Brasky,"" and ""Accidentally Shot by Hunters.""

    Directors:Beth McCarthy-Miller, James Signorelli, Stacey Foster
    Writers:Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, Lorne Michaels, Paula Pell, Dennis McNicholas, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Ross Abrash, Cindy Caponera, Hugh Fink, Tom Gianas, Adam McKay, Lori Nasso, Colin Quinn, Frank Sebastiano, Erin Fraser, Peter Gaulke

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 12 - Danny Aiello/Coolio
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #12 - Danny Aiello/Coolio

    S21:E12

    Sketches include ""Inside Politics,"" ""Spaghetti Sauce,"" ""The Kevin Franklin Show,"" ""Time Life's Valentine's Day Arguments,"" ""Althea,"" ""Spade in America,"" ""Hi-C and Turkey,"" ""Martha Stewart Living,"" and ""Fuzzy Memories"".

    Director:Beth McCarthy-Miller
    Writers:Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, Lorne Michaels, Paula Pell, Dennis McNicholas, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Ross Abrash, Cindy Caponera, Hugh Fink, Tom Gianas, Adam McKay, Lori Nasso, Colin Quinn, Frank Sebastiano, Erin Fraser, Peter Gaulke

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 13 - Tom Arnold/Tupac Shakur
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #13 - Tom Arnold/Tupac Shakur

    S21:E13

    Sketches include ""Presidential Candidates,"" ""The Life We Lead/Channel 7 Action News,"" ""Ranger Ron and his Tree Slice,"" ""St. Gabriel's Annual Bake Sale,"" ""A Criminal and his Grandmother,"" and ""Drunk Surgeon.""

    Directors:Beth McCarthy-Miller, James Signorelli, Stacey Foster, Chris McCumber
    Writers:Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, Lorne Michaels, Paula Pell, Dennis McNicholas, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Ross Abrash, Cindy Caponera, Hugh Fink, Tom Gianas, Adam McKay, Colin Quinn, Frank Sebastiano, Erin Fraser, Peter Gaulke

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 14 - Elle MacPherson/Sting
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #14 - Elle MacPherson/Sting

    S21:E14

    Sketches include ""Presidential Candidates,"" ""Mary Katherine Gallagher,"" ""Spartan Cheerleaders,"" ""Winston Graff,"" ""Stan Hooper,"" ""Dinner at Oliver's,"" and ""Australian Phone Sex.""

    Directors:Beth McCarthy-Miller, James Signorelli, Stacey Foster, Chris McCumber
    Writers:Robert Smigel, Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, Lorne Michaels, Paula Pell, Dennis McNicholas, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Ross Abrash, Cindy Caponera, Hugh Fink, Tom Gianas, Adam McKay, Lori Nasso, Colin Quinn, Frank Sebastiano, Erin Fraser, Peter Gaulke

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 15 - John Goodman/Everclear
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #15 - John Goodman/Everclear

    S21:E15

    Sketches include ""Suel Forrester,"" ""The Real World,"" ""Steve Forbes,"" and ""The Joe Pesci Show.""

    Directors:Beth McCarthy-Miller, James Signorelli, Stacey Foster
    Writers:Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, Lorne Michaels, Paula Pell, Dennis McNicholas, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Steve Koren, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Ross Abrash, Cindy Caponera, Hugh Fink, Tom Gianas, Adam McKay, Lori Nasso, Colin Quinn, Frank Sebastiano, Erin Fraser, Peter Gaulke

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 16 - Phil Hartman/Gin Blossoms
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #16 - Phil Hartman/Gin Blossoms

    S21:E16

    Sketches include ""Leg Up,"" ""Acting Class,"" ""Fuzzy Memories,"" ""Bug-Off,"" ""Unfrozen Cave Man Lawyer,"" ""Petchow Rat Poison,"" ""Hollywood Minute With David Spade"".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 17 - Steve Forbes/Rage Against the Machine
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #17 - Steve Forbes/Rage Against the Machine

    S21:E17

    Sketches include ""Class Reunion,"" ""Nightline,"" ""House Workers,"" ""Entering Penn State,"" ""Seattle Today,"" ""Greyson-Moore,"" ""Gibberish Sergeant,"" ""Fuzzy Memories,"" ""Steve Forbes and the Flies""

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 18 - Teri Hatcher/Dave Matthews Band
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #18 - Teri Hatcher/Dave Matthews Band

    S21:E18

    Sketches include ""Kazinsky and his Lawyers,"" ""Spade in America,"" ""Spartan Cheerleaders,"" ""The Princess and the Homeboy,"" ""Romantic Music,"" and ""St. Gabriel's Women's Charity for the Needy.""

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 19 - Christine Baranski/The Cure
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #19 - Christine Baranski/The Cure

    S21:E19

    Sketches include ""Bob Dole Press Conference,"" ""AM Ale,"" ""The Courtney Love Show,"" ""Get Off The Shed!,"" ""20 Years and One Week,"" ""Terminally Ill Amateur Singer,"" ""Spade in America,"" ""Rolf,"" ""Goat Boy,"" ""Personality Alteration,"" ""Lansing Phone Sex,"" ""Fuzzy Memories"".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 20 - Jim Carrey/Soundgarden
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #20 - Jim Carrey/Soundgarden

    S21:E20

    Sketches include: ""Nightline,"" ""Spartan Cheerleaders,"" ""Roxbury Guys,"" ""Overprotective Lifeguard,"" ""I'll See You In Hell,"" ""Spade in America,"" ""The Joe Pesci Show,"" and ""Jimmy Tango's Fat Busters"".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Season 21 Ratings Summary

"Mariel Hemingway/Blues Traveler" is the best rated episode of "Saturday Night Live" season 21. It scored /10 based on 0 votes. Directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller and written by Robert Smigel, Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, Lorne Michaels, Paula Pell, Dennis McNicholas, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Steve Koren, Fred Wolf, Tim Herlihy, Norm Hiscock, Ross Abrash, Cindy Caponera, Hugh Fink, Tom Gianas, Adam McKay, Lori Nasso, Colin Quinn, Frank Sebastiano, it aired on 9/30/1995. This episode is rated 0.0 points higher than the second-best, "Chevy Chase/Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories".