Saturday Night Live was in a good place at the turn of the century, thanks to the presence of Will Ferrell, Molly Shannon, Chris Kattan, and Jimmy Fallon. Over the next couple of seasons, new talent would flood in, overlapping with the old. A welcome change from the usual abrupt sea changes that SNL fans have grown accustomed to over the years.
Like the ’90s, the 2000s saw a lot of stars get their first taste of success on the Studio 8H stage, but it also saw — at least on-screen — consistent evidence that the show was becoming a much more favorable place for female performers. Lets take a look at what some of those SNL alums are up to in the 2000s edition of our SNL Where Are They Now series, and be sure to look back at the ’70s cast, the ’80s cast, and the ’90s cast afterwards.
Fred Armisen (2002-2013)
Some SNL cast members over the years have had an obvious comfort zone when it came to characters. They didn’t play a rehash of the same creation, but there was a thread running throughout. Fred Armisen was the antithesis of that. Wildly versatile and a great impressionist, Armisen’s range went from Ian Rubbish to Roger Brush, Garth (Garth and Kat) to President Obama, and half of the Dictator’s Two Best Friends from Growing Up to the patriarch of The Californians.
SNL is slowly coming through its roughest transitional period since the mid-’90s right now, and part of the reason for that is because trying to replace Fred Armisen is like trying to replace a company of actors.
As for what he’s up to now, it’s all about Portlandia and, somewhat peculiarly, his job beside Seth Meyers as his bandleader/side kick on Late Night. He also recently voiced Tanaka, a Japanese penis monster on Man Seeking Woman. As I said, versatility.
Rachel Dratch (1999-2006)
A Second City vet who often partnered with Tina Fey, Dratch ‘s range was an asset and she shined beside Will Ferrell as his LOVAH and Jimmy Fallon as his Bahston girlfriend Denise. Her Debbie Downer character is probably what she’s best known for, though.
After leaving SNL, Dratch was supposed to co-star in 30 Rock as the Jenna character, but the role was re-cast when it was decided that the show wouldn’t focus on fake sketches as much as they had planned. Though she wasn’t a weekly presence on 30 Rock, Dratch still made numerous appearances in a variety of roles.
Dratch is also set to co-star with Fey (and Amy Poehler) in Sisters later this year.
Dean Edwards (2001-2003)
An impressionist and stand-up comic, Edwards had one of the quietest runs of any two-year and up SNL cast member that I can remember. Apart from continuing his stand-up career, he hasn’t had a lot of noteworthy credits save for a gig impersonating Eddie Murphy while voicing Donkey in a Shrek short.
Abby Elliott (2008-2012)
It’s mildly depressing that I’m talking about a second generation SNL cast member, but unlike Abby Elliott’s father, Chris Elliott, her time on SNL was actually fruitful. It’s just unfortunate that her run ended after only four years.
To say that Elliott was underused is an understatement. Had she remained, she’d probably be among the show’s leads and right at the forefront of SNL‘s amazing group of female stars. Instead, she’s got a part in a Bravo scripted comedy pilot about Manhattan momzillas called Odd Mom Out. Is this the breakout role? If not, when will that come for Elliott? Because she’s too good to have her shortish term on SNL be the topline in her bio.
Jimmy Fallon (1998-2004)
Fallon gave off a bit too much of a wannabe-Sandler vibe when he started on SNL and his penchant for breaking up during a scene was like nails on chalkboard for me, but he rallied and grew up a little as a result of working with Tina Fey on Weekend Update.
That progress has continued in his time as a late night host — first in Letterman and Conan’s old chair and now as the host of The Tonight Show. He’s more focused with better aim now. That’s part of what makes it such a treat when he comes back to host now, but it’s also weird to realize that Fallon has basically grown up before our eyes.
Tina Fey (2000-2006)
SNL‘s first female head-writer and a contender for the title of best Update anchor ever, Tina Fey presided over a boom period and what was surely SNL‘s first pain-free transition from one core cast to the next. In her hands, the show felt more balanced, and with Amy Poehler, Dratch, Maya Rudolph, and eventually Kristen Wiig joining the cast and excelling, the show hardly resembled the more sophomoric “Boys Club” days of the mid-’90s where many female cast members never had a chance to be more than complimentary players. A change that had been kickstarted by the the previous generation of female stars Cheri Oteri, Molly Shannon, and Ana Gasteyer.
Fey departed the show after the 2006 season to create and star in the critically lauded 30 Rock, but she returned semi-regularly to sort of alter the course of an election with her amazing Sarah Palin impression.
Since her show ended in 2013, Fey has focused her attention on films (with middling results) and producing. She can next be seen in Sisters beside Amy Poehler.
If Lorne Michaels isn’t immortal or if he decides that he wants to suddenly reboot The New Show, I expect a billion hot takes on why Fey should be his replacement, and none of them will be wrong or likely persuasive enough to talk her into chaining herself to that job.
Will Forte (2002-2010)
Forte worked as a writer on The Late Show with David Letterman and as a producer on That 70s Show before joining SNL, where he often worked weird and brought the world Greg Stink and the miracle that is MacGruber on the show and in a film that almost amazingly didn’t suck, considering the more recent track record for SNL sketch inspired films.
After leaving the show, Forte settled in for a 12-episode run on 30 Rock, made a memorable appearance on Parks and Rec as a very dedicated Twilight fan and dad, and did ample voice work on The Cleveland Show. More recently, Forte deservedly nabbed an Independent Spirit Award nomination for his work in Nebraska. Forte will play the last man on earth in… Last Man Earth, which could be either amazing or tedious.
Bill Hader (2005-2013)
A legendary SNL impressionist whose Stefon character is one of the few truly iconic and lasting creations of the last ten years. Hader is maybe the Carvey of his era, but beyond his ability to lovingly mock celebrities (Al Pacino, Vincent Price) and create amazing original characters (Stefon, Herb Welch, Vinny Vedecci), he’s got another gear that draws eyes to him when he’s in a sketch because we know that’s where the fireworks are. To use grand terms, Hader can will bad sketches to mediocrity and good sketches to greatness. It’s a skill that is rare. Right now, current cast member Kate McKinnon sits with that magic, but Hader’s absence from the show is still being felt.
As for his post-SNL career, things seem to be going well. The Skeleton Twins was an eye opener for anyone that thought that Hader’s talents were exclusively rooted in comedy, and he’s done a ton of voicework, a few guest spots, written a bit for South Park, and he’s the male lead in Amy Schumer’s upcoming Judd Apatow film, Trainwreck. The best part? He gets to be friends with LeBron James on camera. Things are going well for Bill Hader.
Darrell Hammond (1995-2009)
The record holder for the longest stint on the show, Hammond benefited from being the person charged with playing Bill Clinton during the scandal/comedy perfect storm that was the Lewinsky sex scandal, but it’s also fair to say that the audience benefited from that arrangement as well. Hammond’s work on SNL wasn’t limited to Clinton, of course. He also notably danced with Will Ferrell’s Alex Trebek as Sean Connery in the Celebrity Jeopardy sketches, played Jesse Jackson, Donald Trump, and a host of others. But while mocking celebrities is a huge part of the job, Hammond never really wowed with original creations.
Though Hammond left the show in 2009, he still made numerous appearances and before the start of this season, Hammond returned to the family to serve as the show’s announcer after Don Pardo’s passing. Hammond, it appears, is an SNL lifer, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Seth Meyers (2001-2014)
As Fey’s replacement as head-writer, Meyers kept the trains coming in on-time and similarly had a great cast to work with, as well as a relatively smooth transition from the Rudolph and Poehler years to Kristin Wiig and Bill Hader, while this latest transition is still a work in progress. He’s also the longest-tenured Weekend Update anchor in SNL history, which is saying something when you consider the legacy of those who preceded him.
Meyers’ gig as the host of Late Night comes with the same weight of history, thanks to David Letterman and Conan’s run, but while his show seems more buttoned up than the others, it’s probably too early to judge it against the masters right now.
In addition to Late Night, Meyers also has The Awesomes animated series on Hulu.
Jerry Minor (2000-2001)
Jerry Minor has been busy since he left the show, co-starring on Lucky Louie and later grabbing a recurring role on Eastbound and Down and Community. More recently, Minor worked as a voice actor on Brickleberry before its cancellation and co-starred on The Hotwives of Orlando as Phe Phe’s husband.
Finesse Mitchell (2003-2006)
Mitchell has been focusing on his stand-up since his dismissal from SNL, but he’s popped up here and there, specifically on Nick Swardson’s Pretend Time and Disney’s A.N.T. Farm. He also has a supporting role in Sophie Turner’s and Jessica Alba’s Barely Lethal on the horizon, as well.
Chris Parnell (1998-2001 and 2002-2006)
Chris Parnell was too good at fading into the background. A talented performer and a real pro who brought balance to SNL, but with the exception of his work in the Lazy Sunday digital short, it’s hard to remember a character that he did. He was a blend-in guy. SNL‘s had a few. Hartman was basically that.
Anyway, Parnell’s most iconic live-action character may be Dr. Leo Spaceman on 30 Rock, but that’s a hell of a character to be remembered for. In addition to that recurring character, Parnell co-starred on Suburgatory for three years and he’s presently voicing Cyril on Archer and Jerry on Rick and Morty.
Amy Poehler (2001-2008)
Poehler brought uncommon experience to SNL, thanks to her Upright Citizens Brigade work and her appearances on Late Night with Conan O’Brien. Standout sketches include the I’m No Angel perfume ad and The Dakota Fanning Show. Midway through her run, Poehler joined Tina Fey at the anchor desk, followed by Seth Meyers. An all-time great? I’m pretty sure The Palin Rap cemented it if there was any question.
After SNL, Poehler of course went to star in Parks and Recreation, but now that it’s ending, the sky really is the limit. Also, as I’ve mentioned before, she’s going to be in Sisters with Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch, and Maya Rudolph.
Jeff Richards (2001-2004)
Richards played Drunk Girl and Louie Anderson on Weekend Update, and Howard Dean was his thing when playing Howard Dean needed to be someone’s thing. He left in the middle of his third season but his post-SNL credits haven’t been super noteworthy.
Rob Riggle (2004 -2005)
Rob Riggle didn’t last long on SNL, but he did see some history while there.
After being let go, Riggle wound up working for The Daily Show for a couple of years before transitioning to film with roles in The Hangover, 21 Jump Street, and The Goods. He’ll co-star as Frank West in Dead Rising: Watchtower later this year.
Maya Rudolph (2000-2007)
The multi-talented Miss Rudolph stood out for her killer Oprah and Beyonce impression and the Bronx Beat sketches. After SNL, Rudolph starred in Away We Go, co-starred in Bridesmaids and had a role in The Way, Way Back. On TV, Rudolph co-starred in the tinkered-to-death Up All Night and took a stab at resurrecting the variety show format. Next, she’ll be seen in that movie that Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are going to be in that I’ve named three times.
Andy Samberg (2005-2012)
The Lonely Island guys didn’t invent short films on SNL, pre-recorded material has been a staple since the beginning, but they did put out some of the most memorable SNL content of the last decade and they did make it a little bit easier for others to get a little experimental on the cheap. It’s helped Mike O’Brien, it’s helped the Good Neighbor guys (Kyle Mooney and Beck Bennett) that have been unfairly looked at as Lonely Island’s replacement, and its helped the show court a younger demo.
Andy Samberg is a huge part of The Lonely Island, so he was a huge part of the short film rebirth on SNL. In his absence, there have been some stumbles, but as O’Brien has seemingly focused on that angle after leaving the cast, the future has started to look brighter. The problem is, his sketches aren’t as populous as Lonely Island’s Digital Shorts were. That’s not a knock on either, just the way it is and I would want it to change, but SNL misses Andy Samberg a lot when they check out the views on their YouTube page on Monday morning after an episode.
As for Samberg, he’s been keeping Lonely Island’s musical aspirations alive as a side-project and he seems pretty comfortable in his role on Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
Horatio Sanz (1998-2006)
Sanz was strong but ultimately misused on SNL. His highlights include playing Gobi in the Jarret’s Room sketch and a brief time subbin’ as Weekend Update anchor. Since leaving the show, Sanz has bounced around a bit, boarding a few TV projects that didn’t connect and producing and writing on Nick Swardson’s Pretend Time. His next role will be beside Will Ferrell in the James Franco-direct Zeroville.
Jenny Slate (2009-2010)
I feel like Jenny Slate is Sarah Silverman 2.0. Her comedic energy just doesn’t seem right for SNL, but in the short time since she left, she’s found a good amount of success with guest roles on Parks and Recreation, House of Lies, and most notably, Kroll Show — a sketch show that seems more her style. Slate is also co-starring in FX’s Married, and she got an Independent Spirit Award nomination for her lead role in Obvious Child.
Jason Sudeikis (2005-2013)
Sudeikis started on SNL as a writer and then moved into the cast two years later. His best characters were a fun mix with Marshall T. Boudreaux, Pete Twinkle, the What Up With That dancer, and my two favorites: The Devil and DJ Supersoak.
As a consequence of his era and the legends that he stood next to like Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader, Sudeikis’ tenure on the show might be overlooked by some, but in any era of the show, he would have been a stand-out. Really, Sudeikis was an SNL great, and it seems like he’s poised to have a solid post-SNL career, thanks to the success of Horrible Bosses and We Are The Millers — the latter of which seemed to get all of its power from Sudeikis’ comic timing.
Up next, he’ll co-star with Wiig in Masterminds, he’s going dramatic in The Devil in the Deep Blue Sea, and he’s got Sleeping with Other People on the horizon as well after its debut at Sundance. Besides all of that, there’s also the possibility that he will be the one to make Fletch happen. A possibility that I am down with, though I’ve learned to never be optimistic about Fletch rumors.
Michaela Watkins (2008-2009)
Watkins has been all over the place over the last few years, most notably in a recurring role on New Girl and on Enlightened, but what seemed like her breakout role on Trophy Wife came to a premature end when the show was cancelled. Thanks to her lead role in Jason Reitman’s upcoming Hulu series Casual, she might be getting a second chance at a breakout, though.
Kristen Wiig (2005-2012)
Kristen Wiig will probably be the biggest star to come out of the 2000s, thanks to Bridesmaids, her upcoming role in the Ghostbusters reboot, and her ability to go serious with The Skeleton Twins. She’s fiercely talented, and she’s made a lot of good post-SNL choices after a legendary run on the show that could be compared to Gilda Radner’s and Will Ferrell’s in terms of scope.
As I said, Ghostbusters is on the horizon, but Wiig has a diverse and interesting sounding batch of films on the schedule for this year. Nasty Baby, Masterminds, and Welcome to Me, in particular, all seem like they will showcase her skills in different ways.
Casey Wilson (2008-2009)
I personally thought Casey Wilson was solid, though underused, in her time on SNL, but it’s been a delight to see her make the most of the exposure that she got on the show and in the things that have come since. Mostly, I’m talking about Happy Endings, where she absolutely shined, but she and Ken Marino have great chemistry on Marry Me, so here’s hoping that show lasts. Hotwives of Orlando was also tremendous.
