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The Best Episodes Written By Lorne Michaels

Every TV Episode Written by Lorne Michaels Ranked from Best to Worst by Thousands of Voters

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    undefined Season 12 Episode 1 - Sigourney Weaver/Buster Poindexter
    10.0/10(1 votes)

    #1 - Sigourney Weaver/Buster Poindexter

    S12:E1

    Live From New York, it's...Madonna Sketches Include: A Message From Madonna, ""General Dynamics,"" ""Tommy Flanagan,"" ""Quiz Masters,"" ""The Amazing Alexander,"" ""Church Chat,"" ""Bows and Smith Advertising,"" ""Alienses,"" ""Ten Weeks In Jail,"" ""Baby It's Cold Outside"" (musical number), ""Derek Stevens Auditions,"" and ""The Brecht Opera."" Buster Poindexter performed ""Smack Dab in the Middle"" and ""Fool For You.""

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Lorne Michaels

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  2. undefined Season 17 Episode 10 - Rob Morrow/Nirvana
    10.0/10(1 votes)

    #2 - Rob Morrow/Nirvana

    S17:E10

    Sketches include ""Oliver Stone,"" ""It's Pat,"" ""Delta Delta Delta Girls,"" ""Chris Rock's Guide to Surviving the Apollo,"" and ""Awkward Conversation.""

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Lorne Michaels

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  3. undefined Season 5 Episode 16 - Burt Reynolds/Anne Murray
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #3 - Burt Reynolds/Anne Murray

    S5:E16

    Sketches include ""Burt's Not Angry,"" ""Vomitorium,"" ""The Burt Book,"" ""Be a Pepper,"" and ""Baba Wawa at Large."" Anne Murray performs ""Lucky Me.""

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Lorne Michaels

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  4. undefined Season 11 Episode 1 - Madonna/Simple Minds
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #4 - Madonna/Simple Minds

    S11:E1

    Sketches include: ""SNL Drug Tests,"" ""A Message From The Almighty,"" ""National Inquirer Theatre,"" ""Pinklisting,"" ""Cabrini Green,"" and ""Nancy Reagan Meets Charles and Di."" Simple Minds performed ""Alive and Kicking.""

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Lorne Michaels

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  5. undefined Season 12 Episode 8 - William Shatner/Lone Justice
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #5 - William Shatner/Lone Justice

    S12:E8

    Live from New York, it's... William Shatner! Sketches include "The Mute Marine," "Star Trek Seafood," "Star Trek Convention," "TJ Hooker," "Sweeney Sisters Christmas," "It's A Wonderful Life: The Lost Ending" "Frankie Toussaint" (film), and "Look at That!" Lone Justice performed "Shelter" and "I Found Love." Buster Poindexter performed "Zat You, Santa?"

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Lorne Michaels

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  6. undefined Season 13 Episode 12 - Tom Hanks/Randy Travis
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #6 - 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:N/A
    Writer:Lorne Michaels

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  7. undefined Season 14 Episode 19 - Wayne Gretzky/Fine Young Cannibals
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #7 - Wayne Gretzky/Fine Young Cannibals

    S14:E19

    Sketches include ""Carter in Panama,"" ""Fishing With the Anal-Retentive Sportsman,"" ""Wayne's World,"" ""This Week with David Brinkley,"" ""Stanley Cup Loss,"" ""Point Blank,"" and ""Waikiki Hockey"".

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Lorne Michaels

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  8. undefined Season 16 Episode 4 - Patrick Swayze/Mariah Carey
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #8 - Patrick Swayze/Mariah Carey

    S16:E4

    Sketches include ""Dirty Square Dancing,"" ""Pumping Up With Hanz and Franz,"" ""Ghost 2,"" ""Super Feud,"" ""Chippendales Auditions,"" ""The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson,"" ""White Trash Bed and Breakfast,"" and ""Mouse Trap Seminar"".

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Lorne Michaels

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  9. undefined Season 17 Episode 1 - Michael Jordan/Public Enemy
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #9 - Michael Jordan/Public Enemy

    S17:E1

    Sketches include ""Wayne's World,"" ""Schmitt's Gay Beer,"" ""The First Black Harlem Globetrotter,"" ""Superfans,"" ""The Dark Side With Nat X,"" ""Zoraida""

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Lorne Michaels

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  10. undefined Season 17 Episode 2 - Jeff Daniels/Color Me Badd
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #10 - Jeff Daniels/Color Me Badd

    S17:E2

    ""Johnny Carson's Tonight Show: The 29th and Final Anniversary"", ""Earthies, the Bountiful Diaper Commercial (From Dell Monty)"", ""The Richmeister Vs. The Name Singing Guy"", ""The Chris Farley Show"", ""Community College Bowl"", ""Apex Novelty Guy gets fired for designing bad quality rubber vomit""

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Lorne Michaels

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  11. undefined Season 17 Episode 4 - Christian Slater/Bonnie Raitt
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #11 - Christian Slater/Bonnie Raitt

    S17:E4

    Sketches include: Coldcock Malt Liquor, Dysfunctional Family Feud, The Wolf Man's Curse, Pumping Up With Hans and Franz, Nich-Aid Hair Dryers, Super Fire-Hot Chicken Wings, and Club Banana.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Lorne Michaels

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  12. undefined Season 17 Episode 11 - Chevy Chase/Robbie Robertson & Bruce Hornsby
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #12 - Chevy Chase/Robbie Robertson & Bruce Hornsby

    S17:E11

    Live from New York, it's Mike Myers and Dana Carvey! Sketches include "Wayne's World's Top Ten Reasons We're Bummed Communism Fell," "Love Toilet," "Adopt-a-Pet," "Bob Swerski's Quiz Masters," "Van Morrison Concert," and "Are You All Right?" Robbie Robertson sings Go Back To Your Woods and The Weight.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Lorne Michaels

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  13. undefined Season 17 Episode 13 - Jason Priestley/Teenage Fan Club
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #13 - Jason Priestley/Teenage Fan Club

    S17:E13

    Sketches include ""Olympic Skating,"" ""The Life and Times of Johnny Hildo,"" ""Sprockets,"" ""The Arsenio Hall Show,"" and ""Beverly Hills 90210"".

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Lorne Michaels

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  14. undefined Season 17 Episode 15 - John Goodman/Garth Brooks
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #14 - John Goodman/Garth Brooks

    S17:E15

    Sketches include "The McLaughlin Group" and "Lisa Pograsic, Very Pregnant Undercover Cop".

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Lorne Michaels

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  15. undefined Season 17 Episode 17 - Sharon Stone/Pearl Jam
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #15 - Sharon Stone/Pearl Jam

    S17:E17

    Live from New York, it's Al Franken! Sketches include "Bill Clinton and Jerry Brown," "Stand Up and Win," and "Make You Think," "Lank Thompson's I'm a Handsome Black Man," and "Superman on Talk Radio."

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Lorne Michaels

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  16. undefined Season 17 Episode 18 - Jerry Seinfeld/Annie Lennox
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #16 - Jerry Seinfeld/Annie Lennox

    S17:E18

    Sketches include ""Ross Perot,"" ""Sabra Price is Right,"" ""The Guy Who Plays Mr. Belvedere Fan Club,"" ""Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey,"" and ""She Turned Into Her Mother""

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Lorne Michaels

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  17. undefined Season 17 Episode 19 - Tom Hanks/Bruce Springsteen
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #17 - Tom Hanks/Bruce Springsteen

    S17:E19

    Sketches include ""Johnny Carson's Last Episode,"" ""Action Cats,"" ""Take Off Your Shirt,"" ""Jon Lovitz's Dangerous Mother,"" ""Deep Thoughts,"" ""Frank Gannon: Politically Incorrect Police Investigator,"" ""Triple-Delta Girls,"" ""Cowboy Song,"" and ""The Sensitive Naked Man."" Vanessa Williams performs ""Save The Best For Last.""

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Lorne Michaels

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  18. undefined Season 13 Episode 1 - Steve Martin/Sting
    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #18 - 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:N/A
    Writer:Lorne Michaels

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  19. undefined Season 13 Episode 2 - Sean Penn/L.L. Cool J., Michael Penn & the Pull
    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #19 - 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:N/A
    Writer:Lorne Michaels

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  20. undefined Season 3 Episode 12 - O.J. Simpson/Ashford and Simpson
    8.0/10(3 votes)

    #20 - O.J. Simpson/Ashford and Simpson

    S3:E12

    Live From New York, It's...Gilda Radner Sketches include--"Gilda Answers Audience Questions", "Samurai Night Fever", "Great Moments In Sports", "The Mohawk Master", "The Raid On Nicosia", "Voodoo", "The Franken & Davis Show", "Mandingo II", "E. Buzz Miller's Animal Kingdom", "Hertz Ad", "Celebrity Battle of the Sexes"

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Lorne Michaels

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  21. undefined Season 4 Episode 8 - Eric Idle/Kate Bush
    8.0/10(3 votes)

    #21 - Eric Idle/Kate Bush

    S4:E8

    Sketches include "Telepsychic Ray," "Julia Child," "Madrigal," "The Woman He Loved," "What Do You?", "Candy Slice," "Consumer Probe," "Singing Dog Agent," and "Cochise at Oxford".

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Lorne Michaels

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  22. undefined Season 5 Episode 18 - Bob Newhart/The Amazing Rhythm Aces, Bruce Cockburn
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #22 - Bob Newhart/The Amazing Rhythm Aces, Bruce Cockburn

    S5:E18

    Sketches include ""Mysteries of the Universe,"" ""The Dating Zone,"" ""Writing Home,"" and ""Mr. Bill."" The Amazing Rhythm Aces (featuring Bill Murray) perform ""Third-Rate Romance.""

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Lorne Michaels

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  23. undefined Season 5 Episode 20 - Buck Henry/Andrew Gold
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #23 - Buck Henry/Andrew Gold

    S5:E20

    Live from New York, it's Harry Shearer! Sketches include "Election '80: Almost Halfway Over," "The SNL Stars of the Future" monologue, "Lord and Lady Douchebag," "Uncle Roy," and "Nick at Trader Nick's."

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Lorne Michaels

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  24. undefined Season 11 Episode 2 - Chevy Chase/Sheila E.
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #24 - Chevy Chase/Sheila E.

    S11:E2

    Sketches include ""Smoky Hallway,"" ""Wacky Glue,"" ""Those Unlucky Andersons"", ""Ford and Reagan,"" ""The Pat Stevens Show,"" ""Pathological Liars Anonymous,"" ""Craig Sundburg-Idiot Savant,"" ""Trojans,"" ""The Blue, The Gray and The Yellow,"" ""Vlad the Impaler,"" ""Drums Drums Drums,"" and ""Jose Cuervo's Party School Bowl."" Sheila E. performed ""Hollyrock"" and ""A Love Bizarre.""

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Lorne Michaels

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  25. undefined Season 11 Episode 3 - Pee Wee Herman/Queen Ida & The Bon Temps Zydeco Band
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #25 - Pee Wee Herman/Queen Ida & The Bon Temps Zydeco Band

    S11:E3

    Sketches include ""Twin Towers Tightrope,"" ""Pee Wee Herman's Thanksgiving Special"", ""Marital Problems,"" ""Pee Wee's School Romance,"" ""Find the Mouse in the Coke,"" and ""Hal Fisher's Money Magnet Method.""

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Lorne Michaels

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Lorne Michaels Ratings Summary

"Sigourney Weaver/Buster Poindexter" is the best rated episode written by Lorne Michaels. It scored 10/10 based on 1 votes. It was directed by N/A. It aired on 10/11/1986 and is rated 0.0 points higher than their second-best episode, "Rob Morrow/Nirvana".