Show cover for Saturday Night Live

The Best Episodes of Saturday Night Live Season 30

Every episode of Saturday Night Live Season 30 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Saturday Night Live Season 30!

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...
Genres:ComedyNews
Network:NBC

Season 30 Ratings Summary

"Ben Affleck/Nelly" is the best rated episode of "Saturday Night Live" season 30. It scored 6.6/10 based on 126 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 10/2/2004. This episode is rated 1.6 points higher than the second-best, "Queen Latifah".

  • Ben Affleck/Nelly
    6.6/10126 votes

    #1 - Ben Affleck/Nelly

    Season 30 Episode 1 - Aired 10/2/2004

    Live From New York (and opening the 30th season of SNL), it's...Chris Parnell Sketches include ""First Presidential Debate 2004,"" ""Dr. Porkenheimer's Boner Juice,"" ""Debbie Downer,"" ""Swift Veterans for Truth,"" ""Kerry Campaign Stop,"" ""The Escalator,"" ""Obnoxious Wedding DJ,"" and ""Kitty Kelley's 'The Family.'"" Nelly performs: ""My Place"" and ""Na-Nana-Na"" The Dr. Porkenheimer fake commercial is not shown in the 11/27/04 NBC rerun.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Queen Latifah
    5.0/10104 votes

    #2 - Queen Latifah

    Season 30 Episode 2 - Aired 10/9/2004

    Live From New York, it's...Darrell Hammond Sketches include ""Hardball"", ""Sky Captain Filming"", ""Dyson Toilets"", ""The Ninth Presidential Debate"", ""Paris Hilton Apologizes"", ""President Bush and Tony Blair"", ""Apprentice Halloween Episode Commercial Taping"", ""Jane Eyre"", ""Bear City: The Fender Bender"", ""The Adventures of Peter O'Toole and Michael Caine"", and ""Bear City: Getting Fired"". Ashlee Simpson sings ""Pieces of Me"" (refer to Notes to see what happened to her on her second performance).

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Jude Law/Ashlee Simpson
    6.2/10128 votes

    #3 - Jude Law/Ashlee Simpson

    Season 30 Episode 3 - Aired 10/23/2004

    Live From New York, it's...Jim Downey translating for Seth Meyers Sketches include: NBC Special Report, Rap Night, Mrs. Dr. Frankenstein, TV Funhouse: John McCain's Speech, Clinton and Kerry, Kaitlin at the Mall, Goodwin Wig and Toy, and Election Map Colors Eminem performs: ""Mosh"" and ""Just Lose It""

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Kate Winslet/Eminem
    5.8/10119 votes

    #4 - Kate Winslet/Eminem

    Season 30 Episode 4 - Aired 10/30/2004

    Live From New York, it's...Will Forte Sketches include: Kerry at the Beach, Star Jones' Wedding Night, You Call This A House Do Ya?, Dr. Porkenheimer's Boner Juice (repeat from the Ben Affleck/Nelly episode with slight edit*). The Giant Parrot, Wake Up San Diego, Appalachian Emergency Room, and The Drug Sniffing Dog. Modest Mouse performs: ""Float On"" and ""Ocean Breathes Salty"" *The Dr. Porkenheimer commercial repeats in this episode, but the ending where it shows Rob Riggle with an exaggerated erection (covered by the bedsheets) is replaced with a scene where Poehler and Riggle are hugging.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Liam Neeson/Modest Mouse
    5.9/10108 votes

    #5 - Liam Neeson/Modest Mouse

    Season 30 Episode 5 - Aired 11/13/2004

    Sketches include: ""C-SPAN Terrorist Alert,"" ""Woomba,"" ""Pranksters,"" ""A 'Blue' Christmas"" (cartoon), ""The Undercover Cop,"" ""Prince Christmas Special,"" ""Apprentice Christmas Promo,"" ""Bear City: The Carolers,"" ""Christmas With The Cat Lady,"" and Horatio sings with The Muppets. Destiny's Child performed ""Soldier"" and ""Cater 2 U.""

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Luke Wilson/U2
    5.7/10102 votes

    #6 - Luke Wilson/U2

    Season 30 Episode 6 - Aired 11/20/2004

    Live From New York, it's...Darrell Hammond Sketches include: CNN Press Conference, Trucker Talk, Beaver Ranch Brothel, Hardball, Black Paramedics, Noony and Nuni, and The Not So Great Adventures of the Down and Out Dollar

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Colin Farrell/Scissor Sisters
    6.0/10131 votes

    #7 - Colin Farrell/Scissor Sisters

    Season 30 Episode 7 - Aired 12/11/2004

    Live From New York, it's...Tina Fey and Amy Poehler! Sketches include: ""The Bush Twins"", ""Condelezza Rice's Hearing"", ""Gaystrogen"" (from season 29), ""Paul Giamatti's Limo Driver"", ""Kaitlin's Karaoke Machine"", ""TVLand: The Lundsford Twins Feel Good Variety Hour"", ""Andy at Reinhold Investments"", ""Spy Glass"", and ""Giant Cat."" Ludacris and Sum 41 perform ""Get Back""; Ludacris performs ""Number One Spot.""

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Robert De Niro/Destiny's Child
    5.9/10113 votes

    #8 - Robert De Niro/Destiny's Child

    Season 30 Episode 8 - Aired 12/18/2004

    Live from New York, it's...Rachel Dratch Sketches include: American Idol, CheapKids.Net Ad 1, Versace Skiing, Starkisha and Portia at the Purse Shop, CheapKids.Net Ad 2, Exclusive Connections, Donald Trump's New Wife, Merv The Perv, CheapKids.Net Ad 3, Rafael Alonzo's I.T.F. Technical Computer Institute, Inside Barbie Dreamhouse, The Bar, and Bear City: Cigarette Shopping Keane performs: ""Somewhere Only We Know"" and ""Everybody's Changing""

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Topher Grace/The Killers
    6.5/10113 votes

    #9 - Topher Grace/The Killers

    Season 30 Episode 9 - Aired 1/15/2005

    Live from New York, it's... Horatio Sanz Sketches include ""Kim Jong Il,"" ""me-Harmony.com,"" ""Monkeys Throwing Poop at Celebrities,"" ""Black History Month,"" ""The Best of TT and Mario,"" ""Subway Beggers,"" ""Gays in Space,"" ""Gibson Studios,"" ""Rap Night with Chubb Hotty,"" and ""Public Speech Class.""

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Paul Giamatti/Ludacris & Sum 41
    5.7/1088 votes

    #10 - Paul Giamatti/Ludacris & Sum 41

    Season 30 Episode 10 - Aired 1/22/2005

    Live from New York, it's... Amy Poehler! Sketches include ""Neverland Ranch,"" ""Grayson-Moorhead Investments,"" ""Sheila Choad's LA Face,"" ""Hot Plates,"" ""Debbie Downer at the Oscars,"" ""Seasons of Love,"" ""City Court with Aaron Neville,"" ""After the Grammys,"" and ""Project Runway."" 50 Cent (featuring Olivia) performed ""Candy Shop"" and later performed ""Disco Inferno.""

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Paris Hilton/Keane
    4.1/10160 votes

    #11 - Paris Hilton/Keane

    Season 30 Episode 11 - Aired 2/5/2005

    Live from New York, it's...Rachel Dratch Sketches include: American Idol, CheapKids.Net Ad 1, Versace Skiing, Starkisha and Portia at the Purse Shop, CheapKids.Net Ad 2, Exclusive Connections, Donald Trump's New Wife, Merv The Perv, CheapKids.Net Ad 3, Rafael Alonzo's I.T.F. Technical Computer Institute, Inside Barbie Dreamhouse, The Bar, and Bear City: Cigarette Shopping Keane performs: ""Somewhere Only We Know"" and ""Everybody's Changing""

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Jason Bateman/Kelly Clarkson
    7.1/10109 votes

    #12 - Jason Bateman/Kelly Clarkson

    Season 30 Episode 12 - Aired 2/12/2005

    Live From New York, it's...Darrell Hammond Sketches include: Hardball, meharmony.com (repeat from the Jason Bateman/Kelly Clarkson episode), Oprah, The Push-Up Contest, Kevin Federline, Gays In Space, Guest Preacher, Action News 13, and Nebulzitol Gwen Stefani (with Eve) performs ""Rich Girl"" and ""Holla Back Girl""

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Hilary Swank/50 Cent
    4.8/1095 votes

    #13 - Hilary Swank/50 Cent

    Season 30 Episode 13 - Aired 2/19/2005

    Sketches include ""Papal Debate '05,"" ""Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,"" ""Michael Jackson"" (cartoon), ""The Barry Gibb Talk Show,"" ""One-Star Hotel,"" ""Woo! The Musical,"" ""Sofa Warehouse,"" and ""Spy Glass."" Green Day performed ""Boulevard of Broken Dreams"" and ""Holiday.""

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • David Spade/Jack Johnson
    5.8/10102 votes

    #14 - David Spade/Jack Johnson

    Season 30 Episode 14 - Aired 3/12/2005

    Live from New York, it's...Chris Parnell Sketches include: A Message From Tom DeLay, Dr. Porkenheimer's Boner Juice (re-edited and using the alternate ending from the Liam Neeson/Modest Mouse episode), The Bad Thrower, The Falconer, Tom Brady's Falafel House, Behind The Music: The Super Bowl Shuffle, Dr. Phil, and Backstage SNL: The Quarterbacks

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Ashton Kutcher/Gwen Stefani
    4.7/10106 votes

    #15 - Ashton Kutcher/Gwen Stefani

    Season 30 Episode 15 - Aired 3/19/2005

    Live From New York, it's...Paula Abdul Sketches include: ""Primetime Live: The American Idol Scandal,"" ""Sally & Dan Harrison: The Couple That Should Be Divorced,"" ""Donald Trump's Domino's Ad,"" ""Versace Mother's Day,"" ""Channel 5 Late Night Movie,"" ""Mother's Day Brunch,"" ""Helping Hands Telethon,"" ""Merv the Perv,"" ""Action News,"" ""Bear City"" (film), and ""You Might Be A Gay Redneck If..."" System of a Down perform: ""B.Y.O.B"" and ""Aerials""

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Cameron Diaz/Green Day
    5.4/10117 votes

    #16 - Cameron Diaz/Green Day

    Season 30 Episode 16 - Aired 4/9/2005

    Live From New York, It's... Darrell Hammond (yet again) Sketches include ""Hardball,"" ""America's Next Top Model,"" ""Monster-In-Law Screening,"" ""The Prince Show,"" ""Little Italy,"" ""The Ride Home,"" and ""Bear City"" (film). Coldplay performed ""Speed of Sound"" and ""Fix You.""

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Tom Brady/Beck
    6.2/10112 votes

    #17 - Tom Brady/Beck

    Season 30 Episode 17 - Aired 4/16/2005

    Live from New York, it's...Chris Parnell Sketches include: A Message From Tom DeLay, Dr. Porkenheimer's Boner Juice (re-edited and using the alternate ending from the Liam Neeson/Modest Mouse episode), The Bad Thrower, The Falconer, Tom Brady's Falafel House, Behind The Music: The Super Bowl Shuffle, Dr. Phil, and Backstage SNL: The Quarterbacks

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Johnny Knoxville/System of a Down
    5.8/10126 votes

    #18 - Johnny Knoxville/System of a Down

    Season 30 Episode 18 - Aired 5/7/2005

    Live From New York, it's...Paula Abdul Sketches include: ""Primetime Live: The American Idol Scandal,"" ""Sally & Dan Harrison: The Couple That Should Be Divorced,"" ""Donald Trump's Domino's Ad,"" ""Versace Mother's Day,"" ""Channel 5 Late Night Movie,"" ""Mother's Day Brunch,"" ""Helping Hands Telethon,"" ""Merv the Perv,"" ""Action News,"" ""Bear City"" (film), and ""You Might Be A Gay Redneck If..."" System of a Down perform: ""B.Y.O.B"" and ""Aerials""

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Will Ferrell/Queens of the Stone Age
    7.1/10128 votes

    #19 - Will Ferrell/Queens of the Stone Age

    Season 30 Episode 19 - Aired 5/14/2005

    Sketches include ""Will Backstage,"" ""Celebrity Jeopardy,"" ""Oracle Conclave,"" ""Going 2 C Movies,"" and ""Luxury Spy.""

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Lindsay Lohan/Coldplay
    5.8/10122 votes

    #20 - Lindsay Lohan/Coldplay

    Season 30 Episode 20 - Aired 5/21/2005

    Live From New York, It's... Darrell Hammond (yet again) Sketches include ""Hardball,"" ""America's Next Top Model,"" ""Monster-In-Law Screening,"" ""The Prince Show,"" ""Little Italy,"" ""The Ride Home,"" and ""Bear City"" (film). Coldplay performed ""Speed of Sound"" and ""Fix You.""

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A