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★ 8.0

Season 23 - Best Episodes Of Saturday Night Live

Overall Rating: ★ 8.0

Season 23 - Best Episodes Of Saturday Night Live

(Overall Rating: ★ 8.0)

Episode Ratings & Analysis

Explore season 23 episodes of Saturday Night Live. Explore detailed ratings, episode summaries, and visualize how the show's quality evolved over time.

A late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels. The show's comedy sketches, which parody contemporary culture and politics, are performed by a large and varying cast of repertory and newer cast members. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest, who usually delivers an opening monologue and performs in sketches with the cast, and features performances by a musical guest.

A late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels. The show's comedy sketches, which parody contemporary culture and politics, are performed by a large and varying cast of repertory and newer cast members. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest, who usually delivers an opening monologue and performs in sketches with the cast, and features performances by a musical guest.

50 Seasons
988 Episodes
Returning Series
Comedy News
Saturday Night Live poster

Overall Rating

★ 8.0
S23 E1
#1
★ 7.2

Sylvester Stallone/Jamiroquai

Sep 27, 1997

Sketches include ""Oprah's Book Club,"" ""Rita Delvechio,"" ""Car Accident with Sylvester Stallone,"" ""Roxbury Guys,"" ""Janet Reno,"" ""Computer Store,"" ""Planet Hollywood,"" and ""Lou's Lovely Daughters.""

S23 E10
#2
★ 7.2

Samuel L. Jackson/Ben Folds Five

Jan 10, 1998

Live From New York, it's...Darrell Hammond Sketches include: The Clinton Movie, Lemon Glow, Publisher's Clearing House Go To The Ghetto, Quentin Tarantino's ""Pulp Fiction"" Auditions, Jazzterpieces, Judge Judy, TV Funhouse: George Clooney's ""Speed Racer"", Black People on the Titanic, Mango and Monroe, The Weston Collection, The Learning Annex, and The Playboy Channel Ben Folds Five performs: ""Brick""

S23 E4
#3
★ 7.0

Chris Farley/The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

Oct 25, 1997

Sketches include ""Farley Gets Permission to Host,"" ""Morning Latte,"" ""Mary Katherine Gallagher,"" ""Matt Foley: Motivational Speaker,"" ""Goth Talk,"" ""The Sally Show,"" ""Monday Night Football Song,"" ""Superfans,"" and ""El Niño.""

S23 E17
#4
★ 6.6

Steve Buscemi/Third Eye Blind

Apr 4, 1998

Sketches include ""Martha Stewart,"" ""Name That Dog!,"" ""The Culps,"" ""Restaurant,"" ""House of Dogs,"" ""Nightline,"" ""Pirate Ship,"" and ""The Robin Byrd Show.""

S23 E2
#5
★ 6.5

Matthew Perry/Oasis

Oct 4, 1997

Sketches include ""Spartan Cheerleaders,"" ""Celebrity Jeopardy,"" ""Sarcasm 101,"" ""The Ladies' Man,"" ""Space the Infinite Frontier with Harry Caray,"" ""Goat Boy,"" ""Friends,"" and ""Good Morning with Liza.""

S23 E14
#6
★ 6.5

Garth Brooks

Feb 28, 1998

Sketches include ""Larry King Live,"" ""Mary Katherine Gallagher,"" ""The Celine Dion Show,"" ""Party of Five,"" ""Re-Enactment Awards,"" ""Spartan Cheerleaders,"" ""Issues,"" and ""College Singers.""

S23 E8
#7
★ 6.3

Nathan Lane/Metallica

Dec 6, 1997

Sketches include ""Well Babies Tragedy,"" ""Spartan Cheerleaders,"" ""The Quiet Storm,"" ""Sister Wendy Beckett's Art Odyssey,"" ""The History of Vaudeville,"" ""Vance and Miss Milo,"" and ""Santa Claus the Ex-Convict.""

S23 E5
#8
★ 6.0

Jon Lovitz/Jane's Addiction

Nov 8, 1997

Sketches include ""Rival Billionaires,"" ""Fred the Baker,"" ""Larry King's Wedding,"" ""Win a Year with Jewel,"" ""The Ladies' Man,"" ""The Late Show with David Letterman,"" and ""The Robin Byrd Show,"" and ""Save Our Nanny."" Jane's Addiction performs ""Jane Says.""

S23 E9
#9
★ 6.0

Helen Hunt/Hanson

Dec 19, 1997

Sketches include ""The Culps,"" ""Delicious Dish,"" ""The Ladies' Man,"" ""Baseball Wish,"" ""Roxbury Guys,"" ""Joan Rivers,"" ""Burt Renolds Christmas,"" ""ChristmaSoft with Bill Gates,"" and ""Hanson in an Elevator.""

S23 E11
#10
★ 6.0

Sarah Michelle Gellar/Portishead

Jan 17, 1998

Sketches include ""Ted Kazinsky,"" ""The View,"" ""John Gray's Inspirational Tapes,"" ""Dysfunctional Family Argues Over Dinner,"" ""CBS World of Sports,"" ""Goth Talk,"" ""The Robin Byrd Show,"" and ""The Tiger Beat Ultra Super Duper Dreamy Love Show.""

S23 E15
#1
★ 5.0

Scott Wolf/Natalie Imbruglia

Mar 7, 1998

Sketches include ""Titanic,"" ""Delicious Dish,"" ""The Ladies' Man,"" ""Barbara Walters,"" ""TV Funhouse: Conspiracy Theory Rock"", ""Pretty Living,"" ""Terrence Maddox in Art Class,"" ""Liza,"" and ""Shirtless Bible Salesman."" The NBC and syndicated reruns of this episode do not have the TV Funhouse: Conspiracy Theory Rock cartoon.

S23 E6
#2
★ 5.4

Claire Danes/Mariah Carey

Nov 15, 1997

Sketches include ""Bill and Hillary Clinton,"" ""Barry Scheck's Apartment,"" ""The View,"" ""The Culps,"" ""Peter Pan,"" ""Mr. Peepers,"" ""CEO Dreamboats Magazine,"" and ""The Louvre.""

S23 E16
#3
★ 5.5

Julianne Moore/Backstreet Boys

Mar 14, 1998

Sketches include ""Viewers Choose Clinton Coverage,"" ""Alice in Wonderland,"" ""Morning Latte,"" ""Goth Talk,"" ""Stuff We Made,"" ""Judge Judy,"" ""Job Interviews,"" and ""I Took a Gay Guy to the Prom.""

S23 E13
#4
★ 5.6

Roma Downey/Missy Elliot

Feb 14, 1998

Sketches include ""Nightline,"" ""The Culps,"" ""Press Conference with Catherine II,"" ""Martha Stewart Living,"" ""CBS Olympics,"" ""Riding My Donkey: Political Talk Show,"" ""Fran,"" ""The Ladies' Man,"" and ""Lou's Lovely Daughters.""

S23 E18
#5
★ 5.6

Greg Kinnear/All Saints

Apr 11, 1998

Sketches include ""The Ladies' Man,"" ""The View,"" ""The Zimmermans,"" ""Pretty Living,"" ""The Celine Dion Show,"" ""Prime Minister's Questions,"" ""Limousine Rides,"" and ""Comic Minds.""

S23 E3
#6
★ 5.7

Brendan Fraser/Bjork

Oct 18, 1997

Sketches include ""Janet Reno,"" ""Xena: Warrior Princess,"" ""Issues,"" ""Delicious Dish,"" ""Crazy Lady Gets Prescription Filled,"" and ""Mango.""

S23 E20
#7
★ 5.7

David Duchovny/Puff Daddy & Jimmy Page

May 9, 1998

Sketches include ""Janet Reno,"" ""Spartan Cheerleaders,"" ""Celebrity Jeopardy,"" ""Mango,"" ""Oprah Meets Goat Boy,"" and ""To the Moon and Back.""

S23 E7
#8
★ 5.9

Rudy Giuliani/Sarah McLachlan

Nov 22, 1997

Sketches include ""Rudy Giuliani and Colin Quinn,"" ""Nightline with Saddam Hussein,"" ""Rita Delvechio,"" ""Mary Katherine Gallagher,"" ""The Joe Pesci Show,"" ""Friggin' Giuliani,"" ""Janet Reno's Dance Party,"" ""Colin Quinn Explains the New York Times,"" and ""Perspectives.""

S23 E12
#9
★ 5.9

John Goodman/Paula Cole

Feb 7, 1998

Sketches include ""Linda Tripp and Monica Lewinsky,"" ""Morning Latte,"" ""The Ten Commandments with Bill Clinton,"" ""CBS Olympics,"" ""Emeril Live,"" ""Judge Judy,"" ""Martha Stewart,"" ""Sabado Chistoso,"" ""When Cobras Attack,"" and ""Storytellers with Neil Diamond.""

S23 E19
#10
★ 5.9

Matthew Broderick/Natalie Merchant

May 2, 1998

Sketches include ""Janet Reno,"" ""Spartan Cheerleaders,"" ""Celebrity Jeopardy,"" ""Mango,"" ""Oprah Meets Goat Boy,"" and ""To the Moon and Back.""

S23 E1
★ 7.2

Sylvester Stallone/Jamiroquai

Sep 27, 1997

Sketches include ""Oprah's Book Club,"" ""Rita Delvechio,"" ""Car Accident with Sylvester Stallone,"" ""Roxbury Guys,"" ""Janet Reno,"" ""Computer Store,"" ""Planet Hollywood,"" and ""Lou's Lovely Daughters.""

S23 E2
★ 6.5

Matthew Perry/Oasis

Oct 4, 1997

Sketches include ""Spartan Cheerleaders,"" ""Celebrity Jeopardy,"" ""Sarcasm 101,"" ""The Ladies' Man,"" ""Space the Infinite Frontier with Harry Caray,"" ""Goat Boy,"" ""Friends,"" and ""Good Morning with Liza.""

S23 E3
★ 5.7

Brendan Fraser/Bjork

Oct 18, 1997

Sketches include ""Janet Reno,"" ""Xena: Warrior Princess,"" ""Issues,"" ""Delicious Dish,"" ""Crazy Lady Gets Prescription Filled,"" and ""Mango.""

S23 E4
★ 7.0

Chris Farley/The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

Oct 25, 1997

Sketches include ""Farley Gets Permission to Host,"" ""Morning Latte,"" ""Mary Katherine Gallagher,"" ""Matt Foley: Motivational Speaker,"" ""Goth Talk,"" ""The Sally Show,"" ""Monday Night Football Song,"" ""Superfans,"" and ""El Niño.""

S23 E5
★ 6.0

Jon Lovitz/Jane's Addiction

Nov 8, 1997

Sketches include ""Rival Billionaires,"" ""Fred the Baker,"" ""Larry King's Wedding,"" ""Win a Year with Jewel,"" ""The Ladies' Man,"" ""The Late Show with David Letterman,"" and ""The Robin Byrd Show,"" and ""Save Our Nanny."" Jane's Addiction performs ""Jane Says.""

S23 E6
★ 5.4

Claire Danes/Mariah Carey

Nov 15, 1997

Sketches include ""Bill and Hillary Clinton,"" ""Barry Scheck's Apartment,"" ""The View,"" ""The Culps,"" ""Peter Pan,"" ""Mr. Peepers,"" ""CEO Dreamboats Magazine,"" and ""The Louvre.""

S23 E7
★ 5.9

Rudy Giuliani/Sarah McLachlan

Nov 22, 1997

Sketches include ""Rudy Giuliani and Colin Quinn,"" ""Nightline with Saddam Hussein,"" ""Rita Delvechio,"" ""Mary Katherine Gallagher,"" ""The Joe Pesci Show,"" ""Friggin' Giuliani,"" ""Janet Reno's Dance Party,"" ""Colin Quinn Explains the New York Times,"" and ""Perspectives.""

S23 E8
★ 6.3

Nathan Lane/Metallica

Dec 6, 1997

Sketches include ""Well Babies Tragedy,"" ""Spartan Cheerleaders,"" ""The Quiet Storm,"" ""Sister Wendy Beckett's Art Odyssey,"" ""The History of Vaudeville,"" ""Vance and Miss Milo,"" and ""Santa Claus the Ex-Convict.""

S23 E9
★ 6.0

Helen Hunt/Hanson

Dec 19, 1997

Sketches include ""The Culps,"" ""Delicious Dish,"" ""The Ladies' Man,"" ""Baseball Wish,"" ""Roxbury Guys,"" ""Joan Rivers,"" ""Burt Renolds Christmas,"" ""ChristmaSoft with Bill Gates,"" and ""Hanson in an Elevator.""

S23 E10
★ 7.2

Samuel L. Jackson/Ben Folds Five

Jan 10, 1998

Live From New York, it's...Darrell Hammond Sketches include: The Clinton Movie, Lemon Glow, Publisher's Clearing House Go To The Ghetto, Quentin Tarantino's ""Pulp Fiction"" Auditions, Jazzterpieces, Judge Judy, TV Funhouse: George Clooney's ""Speed Racer"", Black People on the Titanic, Mango and Monroe, The Weston Collection, The Learning Annex, and The Playboy Channel Ben Folds Five performs: ""Brick""

S23 E11
★ 6.0

Sarah Michelle Gellar/Portishead

Jan 17, 1998

Sketches include ""Ted Kazinsky,"" ""The View,"" ""John Gray's Inspirational Tapes,"" ""Dysfunctional Family Argues Over Dinner,"" ""CBS World of Sports,"" ""Goth Talk,"" ""The Robin Byrd Show,"" and ""The Tiger Beat Ultra Super Duper Dreamy Love Show.""

S23 E12
★ 5.9

John Goodman/Paula Cole

Feb 7, 1998

Sketches include ""Linda Tripp and Monica Lewinsky,"" ""Morning Latte,"" ""The Ten Commandments with Bill Clinton,"" ""CBS Olympics,"" ""Emeril Live,"" ""Judge Judy,"" ""Martha Stewart,"" ""Sabado Chistoso,"" ""When Cobras Attack,"" and ""Storytellers with Neil Diamond.""

S23 E13
★ 5.6

Roma Downey/Missy Elliot

Feb 14, 1998

Sketches include ""Nightline,"" ""The Culps,"" ""Press Conference with Catherine II,"" ""Martha Stewart Living,"" ""CBS Olympics,"" ""Riding My Donkey: Political Talk Show,"" ""Fran,"" ""The Ladies' Man,"" and ""Lou's Lovely Daughters.""

S23 E14
★ 6.5

Garth Brooks

Feb 28, 1998

Sketches include ""Larry King Live,"" ""Mary Katherine Gallagher,"" ""The Celine Dion Show,"" ""Party of Five,"" ""Re-Enactment Awards,"" ""Spartan Cheerleaders,"" ""Issues,"" and ""College Singers.""

S23 E15
★ 5.0

Scott Wolf/Natalie Imbruglia

Mar 7, 1998

Sketches include ""Titanic,"" ""Delicious Dish,"" ""The Ladies' Man,"" ""Barbara Walters,"" ""TV Funhouse: Conspiracy Theory Rock"", ""Pretty Living,"" ""Terrence Maddox in Art Class,"" ""Liza,"" and ""Shirtless Bible Salesman."" The NBC and syndicated reruns of this episode do not have the TV Funhouse: Conspiracy Theory Rock cartoon.

S23 E16
★ 5.5

Julianne Moore/Backstreet Boys

Mar 14, 1998

Sketches include ""Viewers Choose Clinton Coverage,"" ""Alice in Wonderland,"" ""Morning Latte,"" ""Goth Talk,"" ""Stuff We Made,"" ""Judge Judy,"" ""Job Interviews,"" and ""I Took a Gay Guy to the Prom.""

S23 E17
★ 6.6

Steve Buscemi/Third Eye Blind

Apr 4, 1998

Sketches include ""Martha Stewart,"" ""Name That Dog!,"" ""The Culps,"" ""Restaurant,"" ""House of Dogs,"" ""Nightline,"" ""Pirate Ship,"" and ""The Robin Byrd Show.""

S23 E18
★ 5.6

Greg Kinnear/All Saints

Apr 11, 1998

Sketches include ""The Ladies' Man,"" ""The View,"" ""The Zimmermans,"" ""Pretty Living,"" ""The Celine Dion Show,"" ""Prime Minister's Questions,"" ""Limousine Rides,"" and ""Comic Minds.""

S23 E19
★ 5.9

Matthew Broderick/Natalie Merchant

May 2, 1998

Sketches include ""Janet Reno,"" ""Spartan Cheerleaders,"" ""Celebrity Jeopardy,"" ""Mango,"" ""Oprah Meets Goat Boy,"" and ""To the Moon and Back.""

S23 E20
★ 5.7

David Duchovny/Puff Daddy & Jimmy Page

May 9, 1998

Sketches include ""Janet Reno,"" ""Spartan Cheerleaders,"" ""Celebrity Jeopardy,"" ""Mango,"" ""Oprah Meets Goat Boy,"" and ""To the Moon and Back.""

Season Average Rating Episodes Best Episode Worst Episode Rating Range
3 ★ 7.2 20
★ 8.8 Steve Martin/The Blues Brothers
★ 6.2 Hugh Hefner/Libby Titus
4 ★ 7.1 20
★ 7.9 Steve Martin/Van Morrison
★ 6.0 Milton Berle/Ornette Coleman
17 ★ 7.1 20
★ 7.7 Linda Hamilton/Mariah Carey
★ 5.1 Hammer
39 ★ 7.1 21
★ 8.7 Jimmy Fallon with Justin Timberlake
★ 6.0 Jim Parsons with Beck
33 ★ 7.1 12
★ 7.6 Tina Fey/Carrie Underwood
★ 6.6 LeBron James/Kanye West
37 ★ 7.0 22
★ 8.3 Jimmy Fallon with Michael Bublé
★ 5.8 Charles Barkley with Kelly Clarkson
2 ★ 7.0 22
★ 7.7 Eric Idle/Joe Cocker and Stuff
★ 6.3 Karen Black/John Prine
1 ★ 7.0 24
★ 8.3 Richard Pryor with Gil Scott-Heron
★ 5.2 Louise Lasser with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band
42 ★ 6.9 21
★ 8.3 Dave Chappelle with A Tribe Called Quest
★ 5.4 Felicity Jones with Sturgill Simpson
32 ★ 6.9 20
★ 8.6 Justin Timberlake
★ 5.5 Jaime Pressly/Corinne Bailey Rae
8 ★ 6.9 20
★ 7.8 Chevy Chase/Queen
★ 6.0 Beau Bridges, Jeff Bridges/Randy Newman
38 ★ 6.9 21
★ 8.4 Justin Timberlake
★ 4.5 Justin Bieber
34 ★ 6.9 22
★ 8.2 Justin Timberlake/Ciara
★ 5.7 Michael Phelps/Lil Wayne
50 ★ 6.9 12
★ 7.8 December 21 - Martin Short
★ 6.0 November 9 - Bill Burr
45 ★ 6.9 18
★ 8.8 Eddie Murphy and Lizzo
★ 5.9 Kristen Stewart and Coldplay
36 ★ 6.9 22
★ 8.4 Justin Timberlake with Lady Gaga
★ 6.1 Robert De Niro with Diddy-Dirty Money
43 ★ 6.9 21
★ 8.1 Bill Hader and Arcade Fire
★ 5.5 Amy Schumer and Kacey Musgraves
40 ★ 6.8 21
★ 8.0 Bill Hader with Hozier
★ 5.7 Blake Shelton
20 ★ 6.8 20
★ 7.7 John Travolta/Seal
★ 5.7 George Foreman/Hole
18 ★ 6.7 20
★ 7.7 Christina Applegate/Midnight Oil
★ 5.6 Sinbad/Sade
44 ★ 6.7 21
★ 8.3 Adam Sandler and Shawn Mendes
★ 5.3 Awkwafina and Travis Scott
41 ★ 6.7 21
★ 8.1 Larry David with The 1975
★ 3.1 Donald Trump with Sia
35 ★ 6.7 22
★ 8.9 Betty White/Jay-Z
★ 4.8 January Jones / Black Eyed Peas
47 ★ 6.7 21
★ 7.5 Jason Sudeikis with Brandi Carlile
★ 5.4 Kim Kardashian West with Halsey
5 ★ 6.6 20
★ 7.7 Steve Martin/Paul and Linda McCartney
★ 5.7 Burt Reynolds/Anne Murray
49 ★ 6.6 20
★ 8.6 April 13 - Ryan Gosling
★ 5.3 October 21 - Bad Bunny
48 ★ 6.5 18
★ 8.4 February 4 - Pedro Pascal
★ 4.9 October 15 - Megan Thee Stallion
21 ★ 6.5 20
★ 8.4 Jim Carrey/Soundgarden
★ 5.5 Steve Forbes/Rage Against the Machine
46 ★ 6.5 20
★ 7.8 Anya Taylor-Joy with Lil Nas X
★ 4.7 Elon Musk with Miley Cyrus
25 ★ 6.4 20
★ 8.1 Christopher Walken/Christina Aguilera
★ 5.8 Jackie Chan/Kid Rock
12 ★ 6.4 20
★ 7.9 William Shatner/Lone Justice
★ 5.4 Bronson Pinchot/Paul Young
16 ★ 6.4 20
★ 7.9 Patrick Swayze/Mariah Carey
★ 5.4 Steven Seagal/Michael Bolton
10 ★ 6.3 17
★ 7.2 George Carlin/Frankie Goes to Hollywood
★ 5.5 Ed Begley, Jr./Billy Squier
19 ★ 6.3 20
★ 7.4 Charles Barkley/Nirvana
★ 4.9 Rosie O'Donnell/James Taylor
31 ★ 6.3 19
★ 7.5 Natalie Portman/Fall Out Boy
★ 4.9 Lance Armstrong/Sheryl Crow
7 ★ 6.2 20
★ 7.2 Johnny Cash/Elton John
★ 5.6 Bruce Dern/Luther Vandross
13 ★ 6.2 13
★ 7.1 Steve Martin/Sting
★ 5.6 Angie Dickinson/Buster Poindexter & David Gilmour
9 ★ 6.2 19
★ 7.7 Don Rickles/Billy Idol
★ 5.5 The Smothers Brothers/Big Country
15 ★ 6.2 20
★ 7.0 Tom Hanks/Aerosmith
★ 5.3 Candice Bergen/Notting Hillbillies
14 ★ 6.1 20
★ 7.1 Steve Martin/Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
★ 5.6 Geena Davis/John Mellencamp
24 ★ 6.1 19
★ 7.3 Lucy Lawless/Elliott Smith
★ 4.5 Cuba Gooding Jr./Ricky Martin
23 ★ 6.1 20
★ 7.2 Sylvester Stallone/Jamiroquai
★ 5.0 Scott Wolf/Natalie Imbruglia
6 ★ 6.0 13
★ 7.2 Bill Murray/Delbert McClinton
★ 5.2 Malcolm McDowell/Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band
27 ★ 6.0 20
★ 7.0 Ian McKellen/Kylie Minogue
★ 4.7 Jonny Moseley/Outkast
26 ★ 5.9 20
★ 7.4 Conan O'Brien/Don Henley
★ 4.8 Calista Flockhart/Ricky Martin
22 ★ 5.9 20
★ 6.9 Kevin Spacey/Beck
★ 4.7 Pamela Lee/Rollins Band
11 ★ 5.9 18
★ 6.7 George Wendt/Philip Glass
★ 4.8 Tony Danza/Laurie Anderson
30 ★ 5.8 20
★ 7.1 Jason Bateman/Kelly Clarkson
★ 4.2 Paris Hilton/Keane
29 ★ 5.7 20
★ 7.6 Lindsay Lohan/Usher
★ 3.7 Al Sharpton/Pink
28 ★ 5.5 20
★ 6.5 Christopher Walken/Foo Fighters
★ 4.4 Ashton Kutcher/50 Cent
Cast

Michael Che

Self - Various Characters

Mikey Day

Self - Various Characters

Andrew Dismukes

Self - Various Characters

Chloe Fineman

Self - Various Characters

Heidi Gardner

Self - Various Characters

James Austin Johnson

Self - Various Characters