Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches introduced 2014–15

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The following is a list of recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches introduced during the fortieth season of SNL, which began on September 27, 2014.

Contents

Hollywood Game Night

A parody of the TV quiz show of the same name, with host Jane Lynch (played by Kate McKinnon) continually irritated by the cluelessness of the celebrity participants.

SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
40 October 11, 2014 Bill Hader Amber's (Vanessa Bayer) Team: Beck Bennett as Nick Offerman, Bill Hader as Al Pacino, Kristen Wiig as Kathie Lee Gifford.
Tara's (Aidy Bryant) Team: Cecily Strong as Sofía Vergara, Taran Killam as Christoph Waltz, Jay Pharoah as Morgan Freeman.
40 April 11, 2015 Taraji P. Henson Kelly's (Vanessa Bayer) Team: Taran Killam as Vin Diesel, Aidy Bryant as Wynonna Judd, Jay Pharoah as Common.
Eddie's (Kyle Mooney) Team: Beck Bennett as Nick Offerman, Cecily Strong as Marion Cotillard, Taraji P. Henson as Wanda Sykes.

How 2 Dance With Janelle

Janelle's (Sasheer Zamata) YouTube dance show is interrupted by her parents, concerned about the sexual nature of the videos and the presence of her obviously aroused friend Teddy Paskowitz (Kyle Mooney).

SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
40 November 1, 2014 Chris Rock With Chris Rock as Janelle's father.
40 April 11, 2015 Taraji P. Henson With Taraji P. Henson as Janelle's mother.

High school theater show

A high school theater troupe attempts to open its audience's eyes and tackle big subjects during a very self-aggrandizing play.

SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
40 November 22, 2014 Cameron Diaz
40 May 9, 2015 Reese Witherspoon
41 November 14, 2015 Elizabeth Banks
41 May 21, 2016 Fred Armisen
42 December 3, 2016 Emma Stone

Cathy Anne Vanderbilt

A chain-smoking and disheveled woman played by Cecily Strong who serves as friend and mentor to various fairy-tale characters. She transitioned to Weekend Update appearances at the beginning of season 42.

SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
40 December 6, 2014 James Franco Cathy Anne advises a bridge troll (James Franco) to ask for a kiss instead of riddles.
40 February 28, 2015 Dakota Johnson Cathy Anne chaperones Cinderella (Dakota Johnson) during the royal ball.
42 October 1, 2016 Margot Robbie
42 December 10, 2016 John Cena
42 May 13, 2017 Melissa McCarthy
SE August 24, 2017n/aCathy Anne talks about the rise of Neo-Nazi sentiment
43 December 9, 2017 James Franco Cathy Anne discusses sexual harassment allegations against "Al Franco" (Al Franken) and Roy Moore. [1]
44 January 26, 2019 James McAvoy
45 February 8, 2020 RuPaul
46 January 30, 2021 John Krasinski
48 December 17, 2022 Austin Butler Made as a send-off to Strong, who left the show following this episode.

Right Side of the Bed!

An Atlanta based morning talk-show presented by husband and wife Cory and Gracelynn Chisholm (Taran Killam and Cecily Strong). Awkward moments abound when the camera regularly cuts to guests pressured to be entertaining. The sketch is a spoof of the reality show Chrisley Knows Best. [2]

SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
40 December 13, 2014 Martin Freeman The guests are local contractor Louie Dulux (Freeman), producer Emily Margine (Aidy Bryant), and singer Keith Urban (Kate McKinnon).
40 May 2, 2015 Scarlett Johansson The guests are caterer Daniela DeNotta DiPasquale (Johansson) and singer Hozier (Kate McKinnon).
41 November 21, 2015 Matthew McConaughey The guests are chef Buster Littles (McConaughey) and singer Ed Sheeran (Kate McKinnon).

Heather, a one-dimensional female character from a male-driven comedy

Cecily Strong embodies all the clichés of the female love interest during Weekend Update.

SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
40 December 13, 2014 Martin Freeman Heather talks about female roles in Hollywood films. [3]
40 January 31, 2015 J. K. Simmons Heather talks about Super Bowl XLIX. [4]
41 April 16, 2016 Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Treece Henderson and his band

Kenan Thompson (as vocalist Treece Henderson), Kyle Mooney (as keyboard player Brad Dates) and the episode's host (as a woodwind player who is also Treece's roommate) play a band who perform gigs at a series of lodges, hotels and dive bars, with Treece alternating between singing an energetic jazz-funk song and onstage banter that inappropriately delves into the private life of the host's character, who is reluctant to discuss a vague, but serious-sounding issue.

SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
40 December 13, 2014 Martin Freeman The band plays a Christmas gig at the Pine River Lounge. Freeman's character, Isaac Newberry, plays tenor sax. Beck Bennett and Vanessa Bayer play audience members. Also featuring Taran Killam as Roman, a mysterious enemy of Newberry
43 September 30, 2017 Ryan Gosling The band plays a pre-Football game gig at a Dive Bar. Gosling's character, Larry Fontanelle, plays flute. Beck Bennett and Heidi Gardner play audience members. Also featuring Leslie Jones as DuTrisha, Treece's girlfriend. Mooney's character is called Raj here.
44 October 13, 2018 Seth Meyers The band plays a Halloween at a Residence Inn by Marriott. Meyers's character, Jenks Stuplox, plays piccolo. Leslie Jones and Chris Redd play audience members.
45 December 21, 2019 Eddie Murphy Murphy's character, Spencer Newcherry, plays keytar. Mooney's character, Brad Dates, subsequently plays a digital wind instrument, referred to by Treece as a clarinet. Heidi Gardner and Mikey Day play audience members. This sketch was cut for time, but later released online.
47 May 21, 2022 Natasha Lyonne Lyonne's character, Cassie Marie, plays harmonica. Mooney's character, Brad Dates, subsequently plays a keyboard. Cecily Strong's character Helen is a dancer. Chloe Fineman and Bowen Yang play audience members.

Willie

Michael Che's neighbor who is an overtly optimistic man who appears on Weekend Update and is played by Kenan Thompson

SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
40 December 20, 2014 Amy Adams
40 March 28, 2015 Dwayne Johnson
40 May 9, 2015 Reese Witherspoon
41 October 17, 2015 Tracy Morgan
41 January 23, 2016 Ronda Rousey
41 May 21, 2016 Fred Armisen
42 November 19, 2016 Kristen Wiig
43 February 3, 2018 Natalie Portman
46 December 19, 2020 Kristen Wiig

Frida Santini

Weekend update character played by Kate McKinnon. She is a middle age woman who lives in Colin Jost's building and writes passive-aggressive notes to her neighbors.

SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
40 January 17, 2015 Kevin Hart
41 October 10, 2015 Amy Schumer

Hunk sketches

A parody of the reality TV show The Bachelor , in which a single man must find true love with a contestant of his choosing.

SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
40 January 24, 2015 Blake Shelton Farm Hunk (Shelton plays a parody of Season 19's bachelor Chris Soules)
41 January 23, 2016 Ronda Rousey Bland Man (Taran Killam plays a parody of Season 20's bachelor Ben Higgins)
42 January 14, 2017 Felicity Jones Beard Hunk (Beck Bennett plays a parody of Season 21's bachelor Nick Viall)
43 January 20, 2018 Jessica Chastain Car Hunk (Alex Moffat—and, briefly, Luke Null—play a parody of Season 22's bachelor Arie Luyendyk Jr.)
44 January 26, 2019 James McAvoy Virgin Hunk (McAvoy plays a parody of Season 23's bachelor Colton Underwood)
45 February 1, 2020 J. J. Watt Pilot Hunk (Watt plays a parody of Season 24's bachelor Peter Weber)

Riblet

Michael Che's high school friend, played by Bobby Moynihan. He likes to interrupt Che during Weekend Update and make fun of how easy reading cue cards is.

SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
40 January 24, 2015 Blake Shelton
40 February 28, 2015 Dakota Johnson
40 May 16, 2015 Louis C.K.
41 March 12, 2016 Ariana Grande

Totino's lady

An unnamed spokeswoman for Totino's (Vanessa Bayer) would do anything for her "hungry guys". But while her "hungry guys" are watching the Super Bowl, she is doing things of her own.

SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
40 January 31, 2015 J. K. Simmons The Totino's lady keeps herself entertained by a box of toys.
41 February 6, 2016 Larry David In a parody of The X Files, the "hungry guys" become possessed.
42 February 4, 2017 Kristen Stewart In a parody of Blue is the Warmest Colour, the Totino's lady begins a lesbian relationship with a woman named Sabine (Stewart).

Brother 2 Brother

A Disney Channel sitcom based around two twin students played by Taran Killam and Chris Hemsworth. When Marky switches places in class with his much more muscular brother Matty, no one falls for it...

SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
40 March 7, 2015 Chris Hemsworth Math class
41 December 12, 2015 Chris Hemsworth Wrestling meet

The House

A parody of The Real World and other reality TV shows starring Beck Bennett, Kyle Mooney and the episode's host as castmembers/houseguests.

SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
40 March 7, 2015 Chris Hemsworth Also starring Taran Killam.
42 May 6, 2017 Chris Pine Also starring Pete Davidson.
43 January 27, 2018 Will Ferrell Also starring Tracy Morgan and Heidi Gardner.

Gerard, a former acting coach on The Jeffersons

Gerard, a movie director (Kenan Thompson), is convinced that the drama he is shooting will be more powerful and moving if his actors act like they're in a broad 70's sitcom.

SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
40 March 7, 2015 Chris Hemsworth Shooting of the movie Love at first scene.
41 December 19, 2015 Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Shooting of the movie Sarah's desire.
43 January 20, 2018 Jessica Chastain Shooting of the movie Justice for Ann.

Gemma

Gene Diradusio and his wife Lisa (Kenan Thompson and Vanessa Bayer) bump into a former acquaintance of Gene's, accompanied by his girlfriend, aspiring British singer Gemma (Cecily Strong). The boyfriend makes the couple uncomfortable by making relentlessly inappropriate comments about Gemma's attractiveness, while Gene is too scared to ask them to leave.

SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
40 March 28, 2015 Dwayne Johnson Dinner date. Gemma shares an extract from her single Banana.
40 May 16, 2015 Louis C.K. Couples retreat. Gemma briefly sings a part of her single Vacay.
42 November 5, 2016 Benedict Cumberbatch Bobby Flay's Steakhouse In Atlantic City. Gemma's song is called Magic.
42 May 20, 2017 Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson Jurassic Park River Rapids. Gemma's latest single is called Dynamite
44 December 8, 2018 Jason Momoa Sleigh Ride. Gene is with his new girlfriend (Leslie Jones)
46 May 15, 2021 Keegan-Michael Key

The Janet Johnson-Luna Civil Trial

32-year-old Janet Johnson-Luna (Cecily Strong) is prosecuted for having sex with 16-year-old student Gavin Daly (Pete Davidson). His mother (Kate McKinnon) is suing Luna on behalf of Gavin for emotional damage, but Gavin's testimony only proves how nontraumatic the experience was for him. Also featured in the sketch are Kenan Thompson as the judge, Bobby Moynihan as Gavin's father, and Beck Bennett and Aidy Bryant as reporters Bill Arnold and Paula Abbott.

SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
40 April 11, 2015 Taraji P. Henson Henson plays the prosecutor.
41 January 23, 2016 Ronda Rousey Teacher Kara Torkelson (Rousey) is tried alongside Janet Johnson-Luna. Taran Killam plays the prosecutor.

Kinky Elves

Elves (Kenan Thompson, Vanessa Bayer, and, in the final two skits, the episode's host) purposefully botch their jobs and gleefully wait for their master to give them the punishment they deserve and desire.

SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
40 May 16, 2015 Louis C.K. Elves work for a shoemaker (Louis C.K.)
41 December 5, 2015 Ryan Gosling They work for Santa (Bobby Moynihan)
42 December 17, 2016 Casey Affleck They work for Mrs. Claus (Aidy Bryant)

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References

  1. ↑ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine : "Weekend Update: Cathy Anne on Al Franken - SNL". YouTube .
  2. ↑ Saunders, Patrick (14 December 2014). "'SNL' takes aim at totally-not-gay 'Chrisley Knows Best' patriarch". The Georgia Voice. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  3. ↑ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine : "Weekend Update: One Dimensional Female - Saturday Night Live". YouTube .
  4. ↑ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine : "Weekend Update: One-Dimensional Female Character On The Super Bowl - SNL". YouTube .
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Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches introduced 2013–14 		Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches (listed chronologically) Succeeded by
Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches introduced 2015–16
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