Image Credit: Michael Schwartz/WireImage.comNorm MacDonald has never appeared particularly interested in Adam Sandler-style superstardom. Especially after the movies didn’t work out — he starred in Dirty Work, an overlooked gem, and Screwed, an overlooked travesty — he’s been pretty comfortable on the fringes of Hollywood. Heck, his greatest role in the last decade has arguably been as Conan O’Brien’s favorite talk-show guest (including a brilliant appearance during last year’s Late Night war.) But there’s reason to hope that a full-on MacDonald comeback is coming: According to the Associate Press, the comedian will star in Sports Show with Norm MacDonald on Comedy Central, premiering in April. I’m excited for the show, but the news got me thinking: Are there other Saturday Night Live stars from the ’90s who could use a career boost?
There were so many comedy stars to come out of SNL between 1990 and 2000 — between Sandler, Chris Farley, Chris Rock, David Spade, Will Ferrell, and the relentlessly-employed Rob Schneider — that it’s easy to miss the fact that the show had a surprisingly deep bench back then. Some people just seemed to disappear after their stint on the show was over — Ana Gasteyer in particular has seemed criminally unemployed since she left SNL. Other people got steady jobs without ever really finding quite the right fit for their brand of humor — think of Jay Mohr, Tim Meadows, or Molly Shannon. And then there are the beautiful flame-outs: Chris Elliott’s Cabin Boy came out during his short stint on the show, and it’s a fair bet that Hollywood will never give such a quirky talent the chance to make another movie ever again.
Still, if I had to pick the former SNLer most in need of a comeback, it’s Darrell Hammond. Hammond was on the show for 15 years, and it’s fair to say that he was consistently the most talented person on the show. The problem was, his particular talent — imitating celebrities and politicians in incredible detail — were uniquely perfect for SNL. It’s hard to cast a mimic… but Hammond is such a knockout that the right role could be perfect. Maybe he could do a faux-Keith Olbermann in Aaron Sorkin’s cable-news drama? (He was, after all, great during his guest stint on Damages.)
PopWatchers, what other SNL stars could use a Comedy Central pilot/lead role on a network sitcom/starring role in an Off-Broadway comedy? And what’s the deal with Comedy Central and all these sports-comedy shows?
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Sherri Oteri, Jan Hooks, Nora Dunn, Molly Shannon – hysterical! Get them all in some female nsemble comedy like Designing Women/Golden Girls.
I think you’re giving TV land some ideas.
Great idea!! I love all of them and it would be so much fun to see them all in a show together (again). Why aren’t more people trying to cast Nora Dunn?????
Nora Dunn was apparently a b**ch as told by many of her fellow costars in the SNL book “Live from New York.” She’s probably not employed because she was considered so difficult and rude by the comedy community. If you recall, she famously refused to appear on the SNL ep where Andrew Dice Clay hosted.
love jan hooks!
I would like to see Jon Lovitz star in an animated comedy again. The Critic was amazing and his guest spots on The Simpsons were always solid. I would also put a vote out for Dana Carvey, Rachel Dratch, and Cheri Oteri.
Cheri O’Teri had dropped out of the spotlight after her father was murdered. The last apperance she made was when Amy Pohler hosted during the fall season opener.
She also appeared at the Women of SNL show.
Yeah, she never appeared in the Amy Poehler show. You were probably thinking of the special.
Surprisingly, however, his guest stint as ‘The Critic’ on The Simpsons was an epic failure.
Actually, it sort of became a meta-parody of crossover episodes, long before meta- was popular. And come on, tell me that “Barney’s Song” and “Football in the Groin” aren’t two of the finest short films you’ve ever seen. (Though despite its star power, the later remake of Football starring George C Scott lacked the oomph of the original.) (Hehehehehe, oomph. Right in the groin!)
I know Mark McKinney still works with KITH, but I’d love to see him on a network sitcom or something.
Anna Gasteyer clearly, but her problem is Kristen Wiigs problem: she can only work well in an ensemble. I will admit that in terms of impersonation, Ana was awesome. Her Celine Dion was the best. Rob Schinder is also an ensemble actor. Copyboy was his best work but as a solo, no! His films were pure crap. Yeah, Darryl Hammond would be the best choice and he is marketable. Put him in a show on ABC or CMT and you’d have a winner. It could not be as bad as “According to Jim”. It could be a male version of “Grace Under Fire” if it is written well.
If Phil Hartman could find post SNL success with News Radio, I don’t see why Darrell Hammond couldn’t do something similar.
The primary difference, of course, is that there was warmth beneath Hartman’s veneer. Whereas I think Hammond is pretty dry.
The problem is that Phil Hartman was as much of a straight man and leading role actor as an impersonator and when Darrell didn’t do impersonations, he didn’t play a lead character.
Ugh, someone had to mention Phil Hartman. It still hurts…:(
Norm MacDonald is the most overlooked and underappreciated comedian of our time
Here here. This guy wallowing in the Hollywood dredges while David Spade finds consistent work is an absolute travesty.
I agree but I also think its really hard to find a good medium for MacDonald. He’s a terrible actor but he’s incredibly funny. I wish he could just be a professional talk show guest.
Cheri Oteri
2 words… Ana Gasteyer
Whatever happened to Julia Sweeney and Melanie Hutsell? I can’t the only one who thought they were just as funny as the guys from the early 90s SNL cast with Sandler, Farley, Spade, etc.
Both of them were incredible but Melanie Hutsell was one of the funniest women ever on SNL. Just the passion she put in to every single character was amazing!
The ’90s was a low point in SNL history for me, as I don’t even like most of the players who hit it big (Myers and Sandler, especially). However, I look forward to Bill Hader becoming a huge comedy star. He is the MVP of SNL, week in and week out. I’d even be thrilled with a “Stefon” movie starring Hader.
i’d rather sit through a rob schneider marathon than 15 minutes of norm mcdonald. he’s that awful.
How can an opinion like this exist? I don’t get it.
Too bad Victoria Jackson got all weird post-SNL, because I thought she was really funny.
I always thought Tim Meadows was overlooked. He is one funny dude. One of my favorite snl performers of all time.
I agree, Meadows was extremely underrated. I thought that he was the glue that held the show together for a number of years.
Norm’s imitation of Burt Reynolds on “Jeopardy” is the greatest imitation EVER!
Ahh, Turd Ferguson.
Weekend Update hasn’t been funny since Norm left SNL in 1998