Top 10 SNL Cast Members No. 8: Adam Sandler

Over the next couple weeks, I'll be counting down my choices for the all time best cast members from Saturday Night Live, one of my favourite shows over the years.

Two certain criteria need to be met: 1) no cast members before 1990, because I didn't watch the show before that time, and 2) no members of the current cast.

Adam Sandler (1991-95)

Sandler was a big part of the glory years of the show, along with the likes of Farley, Schneider, Spade, Hartman, et al.

My personal favourite Sandler character was Opera Man (pictured above). More than anyone else during the early 90's, Sandler seemed to have the best chemistry with Weekend Update anchor Kevin Nealon, who didn't make this list, but was great nonetheless.

Sandler also had an amazing connection with Chris Farley, and some of his best work on SNL was done with Chris by his side. Schmitt's Gay, the gay beer ad is the first thing that comes to mind. Google and YouTube are your friend.

Another lesser-remembered but favourite skit of mine was Sandler's "The Denise Show", which simply featured him, a couch, and a picture of his ex Denise, who recently dumped him. He just spends the entire bit moaning and groaning about her and wondering who she is making out with now.

Throw in the "Gap Girls", his Thanksgiving and Hanukkah songs, and Sandler is one of the first names you remember when even thinking about the show.

Top 10 SNL Cast Members No.9: Dana Carvey

Over the next couple weeks, I'll be counting down my choices for the all time best cast members from Saturday Night Live, one of my favourite shows over the years.

Two certain criteria need to be met: 1) no cast members before 1990, because I didn't watch the show before that time, and 2) no members of the current cast.

Dana Carvey (1986-1993)

Despite more memorable characters like "Church Lady", and "Garth" from Wayne's World, Dana Carvey makes my list for one simple, awesome reason:

His Jimmy Stewart impression.

One of my favourite SNL skits of all time is the lost, alternate ending to the timeless holiday classic, "It's a Wonderful Life."

Carvey plays Stewart to perfection, and the film ends with his character beating the hell out of greedy Old Man Potter.

The ultimate impersonator, Carvey was also hilarious when doing George H.W. Bush in the early 1990's. "Not gonna do it... wouldn't be prudent."

Ironically, Carvey hosts SNL tomorrow night. Fingers are crossed for some Jimmy Stewart.

Post Script: I always thought the Church Lady character looked a lot like my Aunt Sandra. Still do.

Top 10 SNL Cast Members No. 10: Molly Shannon

Over the next couple weeks, I'll be counting down my choices for the all time best cast members from Saturday Night Live, one of my favourite shows over the years.

Two certain criteria need to be met: 1) no cast members before 1990, because I didn't watch the show before that time, and 2) no members of the current cast.

Molly Shannon (1995-2001)

It may come as a surprise that Molly Shannon is the only female cast member on my list. A bigger surprise may be that I chose her over the likes of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

It all comes down to original characters, and thats why Molly is on the list and why I always found her so funny.

My favourite Shannon character, by far, is pictured above. Sally O'Malley. "I like to KIIIICK.. PUNCH, annnnd KIIIIICK!" I'm FIFTY... FIFTY YEARS OLD!" It makes me laugh out loud just thinking about it.

Her most memorable character is, without a doubt, Mary-Katherine Gallagher, the ambitious, nerdy catholic school girl who dreams of a life on stage. While the character was certainly funny, it was so more in a slapstick kind of way, which is why I always preferred her more subtle characters.

No character was more subtle than her Terri Rialto, co host of the NPR radio show "Delicious Dish". Good times, good times.

Other forgotten but great Molly Shannon characters were Circe Nightshade, co-host of "Goth Talk", and Miss Colleen of "Dog Talk."

A lot of people pine of Kristen Wiig of today's SNL cast, but to me, she doesn't hold a flame to what Molly Shannon did on the show in the early 00's.