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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!

Binge this in 22h 20m•Peaking at 8.5/10

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 21 Episode 20 - Jim Carrey/Soundgarden
    8.5/10(269 votes)

    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:Beth McCarthy-Miller
    Writers:Paula Pell, Lorne Michaels, Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, 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, Tom Martin

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  2. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 10 - Christopher Walken/Joan Osborne
    7.2/10(102 votes)

    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:Paula Pell, Lorne Michaels, Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, 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

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  3. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 16 - Phil Hartman/Gin Blossoms
    7.2/10(100 votes)

    S21:E16

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

    Directors:Beth McCarthy-Miller, James Signorelli, Stacey Foster, Chris McCumber
    Writers:Paula Pell, Lorne Michaels, Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, 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

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  4. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 15 - John Goodman/Everclear
    7.1/10(87 votes)

    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:Paula Pell, Lorne Michaels, Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, 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

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  5. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 1 - Mariel Hemingway/Blues Traveler
    6.9/10(98 votes)

    S21:E1

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

    Director:Beth McCarthy-Miller
    Writers:Paula Pell, Lorne Michaels, Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, Robert Smigel, 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

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  6. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 5 - Quentin Tarantino/Smashing Pumpkins
    6.8/10(114 votes)

    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:Paula Pell, Lorne Michaels, Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, 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

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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 21 Episode 11 - Alec Baldwin/Tori Amos
    6.8/10(96 votes)

    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:Paula Pell, Lorne Michaels, Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, 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

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  8. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 4 - Gabriel Byrne/Alanis Morissette
    6.7/10(91 votes)

    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:Paula Pell, Lorne Michaels, Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, 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

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  9. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 2 - Chevy Chase/Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories
    6.6/10(100 votes)

    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:Paula Pell, Lorne Michaels, Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, Robert Smigel, 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

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  10. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 7 - Anthony Edwards/Foo Fighters
    6.6/10(83 votes)

    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:Paula Pell, Lorne Michaels, Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, 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

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  11. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 8 - David Alan Grier/Silverchair
    6.6/10(101 votes)

    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:Paula Pell, Lorne Michaels, Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, 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

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  12. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 13 - Tom Arnold/Tupac Shakur
    6.5/10(92 votes)

    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:Paula Pell, Lorne Michaels, Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, 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

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  13. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 18 - Teri Hatcher/Dave Matthews Band
    6.4/10(86 votes)

    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.""

    Directors:Beth McCarthy-Miller, James Signorelli, Stacey Foster, Chris McCumber
    Writers:Paula Pell, Lorne Michaels, Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, 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

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  14. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 19 - Christine Baranski/The Cure
    6.4/10(98 votes)

    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"".

    Directors:Beth McCarthy-Miller, James Signorelli, Stacey Foster, Chris McCumber
    Writers:Paula Pell, Lorne Michaels, Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, 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, Tom Martin

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  15. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 3 - David Schwimmer/Natalie Merchant
    6.2/10(97 votes)

    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:Paula Pell, Lorne Michaels, Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, Robert Smigel, 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

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  16. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 14 - Elle MacPherson/Sting
    6.1/10(86 votes)

    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:Paula Pell, Lorne Michaels, Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, Robert Smigel, 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

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  17. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 9 - Madeline Kahn/Bush
    6.0/10(85 votes)

    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:Paula Pell, Lorne Michaels, Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, 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, Ken Scarborough

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  18. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 6 - Laura Leighton/Rancid
    5.9/10(92 votes)

    S21:E6

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

    Director:Beth McCarthy-Miller
    Writers:Paula Pell, Lorne Michaels, Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, 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

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  19. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 12 - Danny Aiello/Coolio
    5.9/10(100 votes)

    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:Paula Pell, Lorne Michaels, Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, 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

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  20. Saturday Night Live Season 21 Episode 17 - Steve Forbes/Rage Against the Machine
    5.5/10(87 votes)

    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""

    Directors:Beth McCarthy-Miller, James Signorelli, Stacey Foster, Chris McCumber
    Writers:Paula Pell, Lorne Michaels, Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, Dennis McNicholas, Jack Handey, Jim Downey, Brian McConnachie, 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

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Season 21 Ratings Summary

"Jim Carrey/Soundgarden" is the best rated episode of "Saturday Night Live" season 21. It scored 8.5/10 based on 269 votes. Directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller and written by Paula Pell, Lorne Michaels, Steve Higgins, Harper Steele, 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, Tom Martin, it aired on 5/18/1996. This episode is rated 1.3 points higher than the second-best, "Christopher Walken/Joan Osborne".