Saturday Night Live..

[Mikey]

I'm probably gunna take a lot of blowback for this but I was never a fan of Chevy.

He usually played the same deadpan character nomatter who he was supposed to be.

Billy Murray on the other hand was a laugh-riot.

The guy could make you laugh with just a look

[HardyGirl]

Hmmm...well I only watched some in reruns, and occasionally in the summertime, but I really liked Eddie Murphy, Gilda Radner, Jane Curtain, Dan Akroyd, Steve Martin, and anyone else from the "Not Ready For Prime Time" Players I missed from that era.

[huedell]

Not a huge fan of the original cast---but once Murray entered, things were much better IMHO. After that, any era that had Murphy, Hartman, or Farley involved in the majority of skits was the killer stuff. I'd probably include Will Ferrell in that list, but I was too old to watch regularly at that point.

[SentientApe]

You have some bragging rights there! I was way to young to have seen it back in the 70's. For those of you reading this that did that see it back then it must have been something special to see back then.

And the next evening, it was all we could talk about in our church youth group. A few of us had been earlier fans of the National Lampoon Radio Shows, so we had been looking forward to the series premiere.

[Spawn67]

In my opinion, nothing beats the experience of watching the very first episode on live television the night it premiered.

You have some bragging rights there! I was way to young to have seen it back in the 70's. For those of you reading this that did that see it back then it must have been something special to see back then.

[cjefferys]

My favourite was the era with Phil Hartman (RIP, I really, really miss him!), Dennis Miller, Dana Carvey, John Lovitz, Jan Hooks, Nora Dunn, etc. and later, Mike Myers. I never missed an episode back then.

[Iron Mego]

I also have a soft spot for the season with Anthony Michael Hall, Robert Downey, Jr., and Randy Quaid.

[PNGwynne]

I'd say the Hartman/Carvey/Lovitz/Dunn, etc. era was probably the best about having "no filler" or very little. They very seldom had a skit that made you groan or twitch uncomfortably on their couch. Or at least that's the way I remember it.

Chris

I'd agree. Boy, do I miss Phil Hartman.

[SentientApe]

In my opinion, nothing beats the experience of watching the very first episode on live television the night it premiered.

[Iron Mego]

classic Belushi/Akroyd/Chase era for me, followed by the Phil Hartman/Mike Myers/Farley era.

Ditto.

[Sideshow Spock]

I was excited to hear that Eddie Murphy would finally be returning for the first time in 30 years for the 40th anniversary special.. I was in middle school during his run, and his SNL characters were HUGE in my school. I love digging up his old skits on Youtube..

For me, that's when SNL began, and I've been a fan ever since. I respect the original cast and what they did, but I wasn't old enuff at that point to be watching/appreciating..

[TrekStar]

Chevy Chase, Dan Akroyd, John Belushi, Gilda Radnor, Lorain Newman, Bill Murray, the golden years
were the best also Eddie Murphy days, Gumby.

[Hector]

Eddie Murphy was hilarious...but his supporting cast was okay...but Joe Piscopo could be great.

I'm a huge Bill Murray fan...that would be my pick...any era with him, I'm there.

Will Farrell is great too...Adam Sandler too.

...and lastly, but definitely not least...Jim Belushi...to say he has been romanticized...it's blasphemous to my ears.

[Earth 2 Chris]

I'd say the Hartman/Carvey/Lovitz/Dunn, etc. era was probably the best about having "no filler" or very little. They very seldom had a skit that made you groan or twitch uncomfortably on their couch. Or at least that's the way I remember it.

Chris

[megomania]

In all seriousness, nothing beats the original cast then into the early 80s.