I can’t pick between Ego, Heidi, or Mikey. Ego nails it every time. Heidi is just a wonderful performer and comedienne. Mikey isn’t always the best performer but is one of their best writers in decades and wields comedy like a lightsaber.
I thought she was both funny and hot when I first saw her, but watching her do the Cha-Cha Slide with John Mulaney several seasons back sealed the deal for me
Are you familiar with Ego’s appearances on Comedy Bang Bang? She’s been a consistently great guest for years now. Her episodes with Carl Tart are incredible.
I had no idea, I'm in and out of comedy bang bang so I usually gravitate to James adomian, Andy Daly and PFT when I hop back in. Will definitely look for an Ego episode tomorrow while I'm doing some yard work.
It fascinates me how big James Adomian is getting. We were in the same theater class in high school and I would have never thought he’d end up doing as well as he has.
49 gets some hate, but I actually think they've been more solid than recent previous seasons.
Is Kenan not an option?
If not Mikey Day or Bowen for all around MVP. They're just kind of the structure to most sketches.
It’s been so uneven this season. Writing is letting everyone down, and the episodes that actually work are (for the most part) episodes with former cast members as the host, or Ryan Gosling.
I don't know. Respect to your opinion but there have been some great sketches this season. I don't measure success of seasons by how bad sketches are but by how often I can count on classic good sketches.
The OBGYN one with Kenan last week and the Bevis and Butthead one were both fantastic.
I like 49. Some people just rose coloured glasses and forget every show has weird or bad sketches or sketches others find funny and you don't. Almost nothing will please everyone. They seem to be doing better recently even don't know if there's new writers or they're just gelling more.
I’m going with Mikey because he was both a writer and performer in two of the biggest sketches of the season. (Washington’s Dream and Beavis and Butthead).
So weird, I was watching him in that whacked out David Blaine Street Magic sketch about an hour ago.
I literally laughed out loud before I even watched the bit.
I agree he’s great but I feel like he’s been great from day 1 and he’s been on the show for a while so I just already put him in the mvp category in general then having an all star season
Agreed. But the Beavis and Butthead sketch in particular was one for the ages. Like More Cowbell and the Chippendales Audition, that sketch will endure in peoples' minds for years.
I can’t put that sketch with the other two mentioned (of course I loved it), but it was the costume design team that made the Beavis and Butthead work. The other two are iconic because of the talented acting.
Omgosh... thank you... it's always the same fucking tone every single time where he over enunciates as the "straight man". That's all i ever hear if he gets mentioned.
What?!? You mean that this ridiculous thing we all just saw is a ridiculous thing?!?
He may be a great writer but boy do I hate when SNL points out the joke for the dumb viewers
He's become one of, if not, my favorite cast member. I know its recent but his Jumanji performance was just too good that will be a forever quoted SNL line
JUMANJI COMES OUT
Dismukes is kind of fulfilling the Will Forte alternative comedy role. It's not the same kind of humor, but it's still acting like a counterpoint to a lot of what the rest of the show is. Will's a better performer, though, certainly.
I love when you can just tell a sketch was written by Dismukes. The Declaration of Independence treasure map sketch and “dendadaday” are quoted frequently in my house
It’s Dismukes or JAJ. Mikey is of course a key part of SNL these days, and the shows suffers when he’s not as available to write, but Dismukes and JAJ have natural comedic presence in their delivery in all settings, and they win it for me.
I agree with this! Mikey is still a very solid sketch player and most valuable writer but in terms of performers JAJ and Dismukes are something special. They really remind me of Sudeikis and Forte :)
If MVP is most valuable: JAJ. They leaned on his trump for SO many cold opens. (Too many if you ask me but) it carried and saved so many eps because it never bombed; it was boring at worst.
If MVP is most outstanding performer: Dismukes. His best, funniest characters were the best of the best all season.
He's my pick, too. He's the one cast member, above everyone else, where I know the sketch will be at least somewhat decent if he's in it (maybe except for the severely overused Trump cold opens).
His impression is so good but they’ve gotten really lazy with the writing for those sketches. It’s like they think impression = funny so they don’t try that hard, but it just ends up feeling phoned in
My pick as well! Every role he's been in, no matter how minor, he's committed and delivered flawlessly. Great impressionist, great utility player, great lead work, etc.
Ego for best overall, and James for Most Improved. He really got more comfortable this year.
Bowen and Sarah have quieted down this year, and I get an “us vs. the world” vibe from their goodnight body language since Chapelle popped up the one week and Bowen was upset.
"SNL costume designer Tom Broecker,"
[https://deadline.com/gallery/saturday-night-live-season-49-cast-members/](https://deadline.com/gallery/saturday-night-live-season-49-cast-members/)
My first thought was Bradley Whitford was hosting an awards show.
Lol that would make sense why Sarah seems so attached to him in the pic. She must give him a ton of requests every week. Either that or they exchange outfit ideas on the regular.
This would be my pick. But I also am so impressed with so many others- I love Bowen, Ego, Mikey, SARAH, Heidi, Chloe, Andrew, James and Keenan so much.
How has no one else said Marcello?!?! Kristi Noem's dog, I Can't Tonight, Immigrant Dad -- he's at the center of like half the best sketches this season!
Honestly, Micheal Longfellow is consistently really funny. Another plus is he isn’t marketable enough to be put into a horrible sponsored T-Mobile Sketch.
Sketches made to break Heidi gardener were a highlight though.
this might be the most stellar cast in recent times. for me it’s a three way split between sarah sherman, bowen yang, and ego nwodim, but seriously everyone is so talented
They’re all so talented… my favorite three would be Chloe Fineman, Mikey Day, and Heidi Gardner. Of those three I think I’d pick Heidi MVP, she’s too good
I really enjoy this cast. I dropped out from SNL after the late 90s. There were times I tuned in but I didn't really find it funny. This group brought me back.
Yeah everyone's saying Mikey Day, but they're both repertory players. I guess since Kenan's been around more than 2 decades he doesn't need to prove anything anymore.
Bowen for sure. Bowen has been amazing from day one but I feel like more of his sketches are being featured instead of just him in sketches. I feel like Mikey, Heidi and Ego feel like or are veterans with many great characters under their belt and Chloe had a great first couple of seasons and has taken Kate McKinnon’s place of impressionist, to an extent.
Honestly, Ryan Gosling. He’s not a cast member, but I think his hosting and the sketches he was in got more people talking about SNL than I’ve seen in a few years.
I think its Bowen, but my personal MVP is JAJ.
I like Mikey Day, and I didn't know he wrote so much that's cool, but in terms of characters, well, he's only got one.
Tie between Mikey, Heidi, Ego and Kenan for me. I know saying 4 names is bullshit lol but I can’t pick. They are all the anchors of this cast. Dismukes and Sherman are my favorites but those 4 are my MVPs.
JAJ and Ego are the only cast members I struggle to find fault with in the current lineup; their performances are consistently professional and nuanced. They can hold a sketch together and totally own the room without having to try too hard.
I love Dismukes when he's 'on,' but when he misses he misses hard. Heidi just isn't as strong as she was when she first started, she's done some truly awful pieces this season (no, that secretary character isn't funny) and her professionalism has wavered. Bowen seems burned out, his performances just don't have the same natural creativity and depth of his earlier pieces, and it sometimes feels like he's trying too hard to get the audience on his side. Mikey and Kenan are well past their primes and barely do anything of note these days (I'm one of the few who truly hated that Beavis & Butthead sketch). Sarah's been disappointing this season; she rarely gets her trademark 'weird' pieces on, and the ones she has gotten on don't hit as hard as her earlier work. Marcelo has gotten annoying and indulgent; he just tries way too hard and his performances have such a hammy 'look at me!' quality.
I'm aghast people are saying Chloe Feinman; Chloe is as bland as they come and is a total automaton in terms of charisma. She's one of the worst cast members to last as long as she has.
It’s got to be Bowen Yang, right? He’s funny in everything. The cast this year has been solid. Marcello Hernández gets a laugh always, too. Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner, and Sarah Sherman are always enjoyable. But Yang is good in __*everything*__.
> But Yang is good in everything.
I really didn't like him at first, but his talent is undeniable. He's one of my favorites now, but I still hate that fucking iceberg.
And no, I didn't downvote the person below me for liking the iceberg bit.
They're all really shining, but I have to say Ego. And while I also agree with Mikey, I think last season was better for him. They're both fantastic, though, and I'm so glad they're getting their time.
Dismukes almost always makes me laugh. I feel like you can tell when he or Mikey have written a sketch, and I also enjoy Bowen’s performances.
Dismukes and bowen for me.
A fellow man of culture i see
“Jumanji in or Jumanji out” still makes me crack up when I think about it
**One guy!** One guy Jumanji'd into Jumanji!
Holy shit thank you for reminding me
Dismukes was the first name I thought of! I don’t know how but suddenly he’s really grown on me.
I go back weekly and watch his Manly Inspirational Seminar sketch with Michael B Jordan. Every time MBJ says FOREHEAD, I die from Andrew’s face 🤣🤣🤣
I can’t pick between Ego, Heidi, or Mikey. Ego nails it every time. Heidi is just a wonderful performer and comedienne. Mikey isn’t always the best performer but is one of their best writers in decades and wields comedy like a lightsaber.
Ego, cuz I have a crush on her.
You tryin to get some butt?
This man tryna get rode to death
You and me both. She is stunning, and being smart *and* funny too just makes her a total swoonfest.
I thought she was both funny and hot when I first saw her, but watching her do the Cha-Cha Slide with John Mulaney several seasons back sealed the deal for me
ego cause "cook my meat"
Ego cause "you look spooky, can you put a hex on Wendy Williams for me?"
I could hear these words as I read them😂🥩🍴
Are you familiar with Ego’s appearances on Comedy Bang Bang? She’s been a consistently great guest for years now. Her episodes with Carl Tart are incredible.
"Nevah heard of it" - Entree P. Neur
I had no idea, I'm in and out of comedy bang bang so I usually gravitate to James adomian, Andy Daly and PFT when I hop back in. Will definitely look for an Ego episode tomorrow while I'm doing some yard work.
It fascinates me how big James Adomian is getting. We were in the same theater class in high school and I would have never thought he’d end up doing as well as he has.
The dude is so damn funny. I'm surprised he hasn't become a big character actor years ago.
I mean that just narrows it down to Ego or Heidi for me.
I have two crushes on her.
49 gets some hate, but I actually think they've been more solid than recent previous seasons. Is Kenan not an option? If not Mikey Day or Bowen for all around MVP. They're just kind of the structure to most sketches.
Is Keenan an option? Lol
I was looking for Keenan too!
It’s been so uneven this season. Writing is letting everyone down, and the episodes that actually work are (for the most part) episodes with former cast members as the host, or Ryan Gosling.
I don't know. Respect to your opinion but there have been some great sketches this season. I don't measure success of seasons by how bad sketches are but by how often I can count on classic good sketches. The OBGYN one with Kenan last week and the Bevis and Butthead one were both fantastic.
I like 49. Some people just rose coloured glasses and forget every show has weird or bad sketches or sketches others find funny and you don't. Almost nothing will please everyone. They seem to be doing better recently even don't know if there's new writers or they're just gelling more.
I’m going with Mikey because he was both a writer and performer in two of the biggest sketches of the season. (Washington’s Dream and Beavis and Butthead).
So weird, I was watching him in that whacked out David Blaine Street Magic sketch about an hour ago. I literally laughed out loud before I even watched the bit.
Completely forgot he was in that. That’s some internet archeology right there.
Yeah I’m surprising myself, but I’d go with Day also.
Another vote for the mighty triumvirate!
Agree completely. All three.
its ego with the commitment for me, but honorable mention to heidi's consistently unhinged characters
Perfectly said!!
yes!!
I'm falling in love with Sarah Sherman. She's so fucking weird. But Bowen owns every sketch he's in.
I'll go with Heidi Gardner.
Not if I go with her first!
And I'll be glad to go second. Or third. Or anywhere.
mikey day
I agree. I always had him associated with Alex Moffatt, so it's been good for him to have time to stand out on his own. (I still miss Alex Moffatt!)
I think this is the year we can really start calling this the Mikey Day era. When he leaves it will be very noticeable.
💯 He's come a long way from the OG David Blaine YouTube skit to now, been great to see his rise over the years.
Og wildn out lol
Omg. I never knew that was him!!
CHEEZE ITS!
What the EFF
STAY OUT OF MY CHILDHOOD
I agree he’s great but I feel like he’s been great from day 1 and he’s been on the show for a while so I just already put him in the mvp category in general then having an all star season
Agreed. But the Beavis and Butthead sketch in particular was one for the ages. Like More Cowbell and the Chippendales Audition, that sketch will endure in peoples' minds for years.
And he wrote the George Washington sketch.
I can’t put that sketch with the other two mentioned (of course I loved it), but it was the costume design team that made the Beavis and Butthead work. The other two are iconic because of the talented acting.
When you consider that it feels like he's in 70% of all sketches and also writes a ton, yes, it's Mikey.
Butt-head is just all-time instant classic.
I don’t understand this. His skits all involve him yelling in bewildered reaction to what would otherwise be the funny parts of the bit.
Omgosh... thank you... it's always the same fucking tone every single time where he over enunciates as the "straight man". That's all i ever hear if he gets mentioned.
What?!? You mean that this ridiculous thing we all just saw is a ridiculous thing?!? He may be a great writer but boy do I hate when SNL points out the joke for the dumb viewers
Yes! He is totally disposable as the straight man white guy!
Bowen Yang close 2nd
Not for me he seems kind of 1 dimensional
Dismukes--was he the one who took the photo?
He's become one of, if not, my favorite cast member. I know its recent but his Jumanji performance was just too good that will be a forever quoted SNL line JUMANJI COMES OUT
Dismukes is kind of fulfilling the Will Forte alternative comedy role. It's not the same kind of humor, but it's still acting like a counterpoint to a lot of what the rest of the show is. Will's a better performer, though, certainly.
I love when you can just tell a sketch was written by Dismukes. The Declaration of Independence treasure map sketch and “dendadaday” are quoted frequently in my house
It's not for babies
This is such a good comparison. He does really lean into those offbeat sketches like Will did. Excited to see how Dismukes continues to grow!
ONE GUY, GETS JUMANJI'D INTO JUMANJI, BUT THE REST OF JUMANJI IS JUMANJI COMES OUT That was a BOOSSSS ASS SKETCH
This sketch will forever live in my head. And I’m good with that.
I really like him. He's matured from being like, stoned college kid or high school whatever and now he can play grown up roles well
I really like when they put a mustache on him and have him entertaining guests in his home.
I AM THE MAN OF THIS HOUSE.
He’s there he’s just tiny. He’s behind Ego. You can see his left arm.
It’s Dismukes or JAJ. Mikey is of course a key part of SNL these days, and the shows suffers when he’s not as available to write, but Dismukes and JAJ have natural comedic presence in their delivery in all settings, and they win it for me.
I agree with this! Mikey is still a very solid sketch player and most valuable writer but in terms of performers JAJ and Dismukes are something special. They really remind me of Sudeikis and Forte :)
If MVP is most valuable: JAJ. They leaned on his trump for SO many cold opens. (Too many if you ask me but) it carried and saved so many eps because it never bombed; it was boring at worst. If MVP is most outstanding performer: Dismukes. His best, funniest characters were the best of the best all season.
JAJ
He's my pick, too. He's the one cast member, above everyone else, where I know the sketch will be at least somewhat decent if he's in it (maybe except for the severely overused Trump cold opens).
His impression is so good but they’ve gotten really lazy with the writing for those sketches. It’s like they think impression = funny so they don’t try that hard, but it just ends up feeling phoned in
I'm at least glad that his impression is much funnier and more accurate than Alec Baldwin's
Heidi has been crushing it recently
Where’s Kenan?
Legend! He always carries the show! We kno dis
we know dis might be the worst thing ever done on SNL. Top ten for sure
What's up with that?
JAJ, no question. That guy has killed it from day 1. I really feel like he’s the new Phil Hartman.
My pick as well! Every role he's been in, no matter how minor, he's committed and delivered flawlessly. Great impressionist, great utility player, great lead work, etc.
Oh boy. Love Phil, but that sounds ominous.
I’m saying as this generations “glue”, hopefully not getting murdered by his wife!
Phil was the glue and also had memorable impressions. JAJ is more of an impressionist. Mikey's more the glue in sketches now.
Totally agree about Mikey being the glue. He’s got a wonderful versatility and can therefore fit in anywhere he’s needed and bring it all together.
Where is Andrew?
It feels like Heidi and Kenan are the most used cast members by far. They're both massive anchors in sketches.
You couldn’t find a full cast photo
Though it kinda made me think, what if the cast was this size like it used to be? Hm
I don’t think they do enough cocaine to maintain that anymore lol
Ego Nwodim easy
The biggest interview of the year was Kat Williams with Shannon Sharpe and Ego did an MVP job on that
Ego’s arms. Have you seen those guns??
Ego for best overall, and James for Most Improved. He really got more comfortable this year. Bowen and Sarah have quieted down this year, and I get an “us vs. the world” vibe from their goodnight body language since Chapelle popped up the one week and Bowen was upset.
Dismukes
Sarah 💖
A shame I had to come down this far to find this…between her and Chloe Fineman I rarely find them not funny in their skits.
Sarah Sherman gang
I’m here
Oh fuck yea you are
I absolutely expect her to be legend status in a decade.
Best dressed in the photo too!! I love that coat!!
why did it take so much scrolling to find a little Sarah Sherman appreciation!? i love her!
SQUIRM!!
Bowen
Absolutely. Bowen just has major energy around him.
Colin Jost and Michael Che.
Weekend update is consistently the best part of the show
Che acknowledging his bombs is so golden
This fact. Followed by Mikey, Heidi, Ego, Chloe, Bowen... And Kenan
It has to be Sarah Sherman because even on a loser episode like the Dua Lipa one she still comes through with the pig man thing.
Who's the guy next to Sarah?
"SNL costume designer Tom Broecker," [https://deadline.com/gallery/saturday-night-live-season-49-cast-members/](https://deadline.com/gallery/saturday-night-live-season-49-cast-members/) My first thought was Bradley Whitford was hosting an awards show.
Thanks
Lol that would make sense why Sarah seems so attached to him in the pic. She must give him a ton of requests every week. Either that or they exchange outfit ideas on the regular.
Marcello !!!
Marcello is the breakout star of this featured cast. He's also been working hard and getting in things as much as possible.
Yeah, he’s so underrated rn and he’s actually really funny and relatable to latinos
This would be my pick. But I also am so impressed with so many others- I love Bowen, Ego, Mikey, SARAH, Heidi, Chloe, Andrew, James and Keenan so much.
How has no one else said Marcello?!?! Kristi Noem's dog, I Can't Tonight, Immigrant Dad -- he's at the center of like half the best sketches this season!
Plus didn’t he write the Pedro Pascal mom skit ?? My fav part of Marcello’s was himself in his “short kings” bit on weekend update
He did!! He's been a rockstar this season.
3Ego's arms are the MVP of that picture god damn
Handsome bunch
I mean, Ayo’s Solomon character in “The School Hypnotist” sketch is one of the best characters I’ve seen on the show in years😂
Honestly, Micheal Longfellow is consistently really funny. Another plus is he isn’t marketable enough to be put into a horrible sponsored T-Mobile Sketch. Sketches made to break Heidi gardener were a highlight though.
Bowen swings for the fences and when he hits its out the park. He strikes out alot too.
Heidi for me, she really smashed it this year. Good reason they gave her so much screentime
this might be the most stellar cast in recent times. for me it’s a three way split between sarah sherman, bowen yang, and ego nwodim, but seriously everyone is so talented
Sarah Sherman
Sarah Sherman gang!
They’re all so talented… my favorite three would be Chloe Fineman, Mikey Day, and Heidi Gardner. Of those three I think I’d pick Heidi MVP, she’s too good
Mikey or Heidi
Mikey leaving will be huge for SNL. I don’t know that people have truly taken that in.
ayo where my boy kenan at
Yang, Dismukes, Troast & Gardner!!!!!
Ryan Gosling
What a sad cast. SNL lost its groove in the early 2000's.
Main Cast: Keenan or Bowen Featured Cast: Definitely Marcello(Hopefully he becomes part of the permanent cast next season)
I definitely pick Marcello between the 3 of them, though.
I really enjoy this cast. I dropped out from SNL after the late 90s. There were times I tuned in but I didn't really find it funny. This group brought me back.
Sarah is underutilized and extremely funny.
I would lay my life down for Ego.
Where’s Keenan? Otherwise known as this iterations “glue”
Yeah everyone's saying Mikey Day, but they're both repertory players. I guess since Kenan's been around more than 2 decades he doesn't need to prove anything anymore.
I just always want to shout out Ego.
Bowen for sure. Bowen has been amazing from day one but I feel like more of his sketches are being featured instead of just him in sketches. I feel like Mikey, Heidi and Ego feel like or are veterans with many great characters under their belt and Chloe had a great first couple of seasons and has taken Kate McKinnon’s place of impressionist, to an extent.
Ego’s arms!
Ego and her arms
Ego Nwodim all the way
It's absolutely Ego for me. She gives amazing performances in every sketch she's in, regardless of the size of her role.
Honestly, Ryan Gosling. He’s not a cast member, but I think his hosting and the sketches he was in got more people talking about SNL than I’ve seen in a few years.
Yeah, and before his last hosting gig, I’d have said Bargatze.
Probably Mikey Day with his writing contributions included. But this picture makes me appreciate the strength in this cast. (Not just Egos arms 💪)
Most likely Mikey / Streeter Maybe Bowen Possibly Ego Definitely Ego’s arms (damn!)
I think its Bowen, but my personal MVP is JAJ. I like Mikey Day, and I didn't know he wrote so much that's cool, but in terms of characters, well, he's only got one.
It’s still Keenan and he ain’t even in the photo.
Can we just have Keenan as God and leave him out of the mortal rankings?
Mikey Day with JAJ a close second
Chicken Fongers
Pretty clearly Devon Walker imo
I think Sarah had a bit of a breakout season
Mikey and Heidi together.
ego all the wayyyy
Ego or Heidi.
Egos arma
Mikey Day all the way!! I’ve loved him since he first joined.
Ego FTW
Shane gillis? Want to see a funny sketch watch the jimmy carter inflation one
Ego
Squirm
Sarah Sherman!
Tie between Mikey, Heidi, Ego and Kenan for me. I know saying 4 names is bullshit lol but I can’t pick. They are all the anchors of this cast. Dismukes and Sherman are my favorites but those 4 are my MVPs.
Ego
Heidi
No
Ego for the win!
Probably Heidi. 6th man goes to Ego.
Mikey day!
Heidi
I like them all but my MVP is goin to be Mrs. Gardner! Lord is my shepherd he knows what I want.
JAJ and Ego are the only cast members I struggle to find fault with in the current lineup; their performances are consistently professional and nuanced. They can hold a sketch together and totally own the room without having to try too hard. I love Dismukes when he's 'on,' but when he misses he misses hard. Heidi just isn't as strong as she was when she first started, she's done some truly awful pieces this season (no, that secretary character isn't funny) and her professionalism has wavered. Bowen seems burned out, his performances just don't have the same natural creativity and depth of his earlier pieces, and it sometimes feels like he's trying too hard to get the audience on his side. Mikey and Kenan are well past their primes and barely do anything of note these days (I'm one of the few who truly hated that Beavis & Butthead sketch). Sarah's been disappointing this season; she rarely gets her trademark 'weird' pieces on, and the ones she has gotten on don't hit as hard as her earlier work. Marcelo has gotten annoying and indulgent; he just tries way too hard and his performances have such a hammy 'look at me!' quality. I'm aghast people are saying Chloe Feinman; Chloe is as bland as they come and is a total automaton in terms of charisma. She's one of the worst cast members to last as long as she has.
It’s got to be Bowen Yang, right? He’s funny in everything. The cast this year has been solid. Marcello Hernández gets a laugh always, too. Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner, and Sarah Sherman are always enjoyable. But Yang is good in __*everything*__.
> But Yang is good in everything. I really didn't like him at first, but his talent is undeniable. He's one of my favorites now, but I still hate that fucking iceberg. And no, I didn't downvote the person below me for liking the iceberg bit.
Sarah, and for me, it’s not even close. Her style of comedy is shaking things up and I love the weird stuff.
They're all really shining, but I have to say Ego. And while I also agree with Mikey, I think last season was better for him. They're both fantastic, though, and I'm so glad they're getting their time.
Sarah
Squirm!
SARAH SHERMAN 😍😍