Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches introduced 1990–91

The following is a list of recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches introduced between September 29, 1990, and May 18, 1991, the sixteenth season of SNL.

Larry Roman the Talent Scout

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A Dana Carvey sketch. Debuted September 29, 1990.

Simon

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Simon is a sketch about a young British boy, played by Mike Myers, who likes to draw, and has his own BBC television program, Simon. The sketches always begin by showing the BBC logo with a faux British announcer back-announcing some ridiculously insipid sounding programming on right before it. The show borrows its theme song from a British children's television series called Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings, though, aside from the concept of a young boy who draws, the premises are completely dissimilar. Simon broadcasts his program from his bathtub, in which he appears to be nude. On the show, Simon displays his drawings (pronounced drawerings in an exaggerated British accent), which he bends over to pick up, whereupon he scolds the audience, by yelling his catch phrases, "Are you looking at my bum?" and calling the audience "Bum Lookers!" and "Cheeky Monkeys!"

His drawings often depict scenes that are disturbing or morbidly violent, presented with a naïve and childlike innocence. His mother is deceased (or, as he refers to it, "with the angels"), and his father is somewhat of a reprobate who associates with nefarious figures (and his "new auntie who sleeps over") and leaves Simon unattended for long periods of time while he gambles. Simon has a typically juvenile sense of humour. He sometimes has guests on his show, who appear in the bathtub with Simon, and also show their drawings (which are equally as disturbing as Simon's). Simon typically ends his show when he determines that he has been in the tub too long, as indicated by his "prune hands." Debuted November 10, 1990.

Appearances
Season Episode Host Notes
16 November 10, 1990 Jimmy Smits
17 October 5, 1991 Jeff Daniels
17 November 23, 1991 Macaulay Culkin
18 January 9, 1993 Danny DeVito
19 January 15, 1994 Sara Gilbert

The Dark Side with Nat X

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In the early 1990s, Chris Rock portrayed "Nat X", a militant talk show host with a huge Afro hairstyle. He once remarked that he had only a 15-minute show because, as he explained, if he had any more, "The Man" would regard it as welfare. Many of Rock's original comedy bits were incorporated into Nat X's dialogue.

Segments on The Dark Side include the "White Man Cam" in which a video cam with a police siren sound effect walks up to Nat X's desk and places a graphic image of prison bars in front of him as he screams and mimics being in prison until the White Man Cam goes away. Another segment includes the Top 5 lists because "Ten would make The Man lose sleep.".

Nat X was cruel to all of his guests, "greeting" nearly all of them with, "Sit yo' ass down!" Perhaps the most memorable episode featured host Kevin Bacon as Vanilla Ice. Nat told Ice that he could not dance, and even persuaded his other guest, Colin Powell, to dance with him in order to show Ice how to do it.

When Sinbad hosted, he appeared as Joseph Jackson, who tries to make excuses for the infamous abuse his children suffered, as depicted in the then-current TV miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream. However, Nat insists on complimenting Jackson for his proficiency with violence, marveling that Jackson "hit Jackie so hard, his Afro wig flew off!"

Spike Lee made a surprise appearance as himself on another episode, donning an "X" cap that was made popular by his film Malcolm X. Not knowing this at first, Nat explained to him that he had been seeing these caps all over town but had personally not seen a dime in profits.

Chris Farley often appeared as "Sandman", a manic clown armed with a broom who swept guests away when Nat had had enough of them. Sandman was modeled after Howard "Sandman" Simms from Showtime at the Apollo, who performed the same function on that show's famed "Amateur Night" episodes, when substandard performers fell short of audience approval.

Appearances
Season Episode Host Notes
16 November 10, 1990 Jimmy Smits
16 February 9, 1991 Kevin Bacon
16 April 20, 1991 Steven Seagal
17 September 28, 1991 Michael Jordan
17 December 14, 1991 Steve Martin
17 May 9, 1992 Tom Hanks
18 November 21, 1992 Sinbad
22 November 2, 1996 Chris Rock

The Doormen

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A Rob Schneider and Kevin Nealon sketch. Debuted November 10, 1990.

Appearances
Season Episode Host Notes
16 November 10, 1990 Jimmy Smits
17 December 14, 1991 Steve Martin

Julia Sweeney plays an androgynous character. Debuted December 1, 1990.

Appearances
Season Episode Host Notes
16 December 1, 1990 John Goodman
16 February 16, 1991 Roseanne Barr
16 April 13, 1991 Catherine O'Hara
16 May 18, 1991 George Wendt
17 October 12, 1991 Kirstie Alley
17 November 16, 1991 Linda Hamilton
17 January 11, 1992 Rob Morrow
17 April 11, 1992 Sharon Stone
18 October 10, 1992 Joe Pesci
18 October 24, 1992 Christopher Walken
18 January 16, 1993 Harvey Keitel
18 March 20, 1993 Miranda Richardson

Uri Shulenson (Sabra)

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A Tom Hanks sketch, variations on which included Sabra Shopping Network and Sabra Price is Right. This character was the obnoxious, oversexed owner of an electronics boutique. Debuted December 8, 1990.

Bill Swerski's Superfans

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A group of Chicago sports fans discuss upcoming sporting events. Bill Swerski (played by Joe Mantegna) appeared only in the initial sketch. Subsequent editions featured George Wendt as Bill's brother Bob Swerski, who inevitably explained that Bill's absence was due to "another heart attack." Debuted January 12, 1991.

Appearances
Season Episode Host Notes
16 January 12, 1991 Joe Mantegna
16 May 18, 1991 George Wendt
17 September 28, 1991 Michael Jordan
17 November 23, 1991 Macaulay Culkin
17 January 18, 1992 Chevy Chase Bob Swerski's Quiz Masters
17 March 21, 1992 Mary Stuart Masterson Denise Swerski (Beth Cahill) on Weekend Update
17 May 16, 1992 Woody Harrelson Weekend Update
18 December 5, 1992 Tom Arnold
18 January 9, 1993 Danny DeVito An Open Letter to The Chicago Bears
20 March 25, 1995 John Goodman Dan Aykroyd appears as Irwin Mainway, Todd's cousin
23 October 25, 1997 Chris Farley The Super Fans Revisited - Mike Ditka makes an appearance
29 October 18, 2003 Halle Berry Weekend Update: Bob and Bart Swerski (Horatio Sanz)

I'm Chillin'

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I'm Chillin was a spoof of public-access television cable TV rap shows. Its host was played by Chris Rock and the show's sidekick was played by Chris Farley. Farley's character was introduced by Rock with a string of nonsensical rhymes such as "My Ace in the hole, my buttered roll, my grassy knoll, my Esther Rolle" etc. This show was notable for its "Mother Joke of the Day" which would be sent in from (fictitious) viewers, all of whom lived in one housing project or another. The winner would typically receive some early-Nineties-themed gangster item (a red, yellow and green jacket with an 8-ball on the back, for example). Chris Rock's character was named Onski and Chris Farley's character was B-Fats. Onski also plugged local fictitious sponsors, like "Bullet Hole tampons: 'cause sometimes you bleed in other places!", and "F'ed Up Malt Liquor." The sketch usually came to an end when Onski received a beeper page from his "baby's mama" and he'd have to go pick her up somewhere (from work at Popeyes, or the check cashing place). Onski's parting words each episode were "Always wipe, stay off the pipe, and if someone gets in your face, tell em 'I'm Chillin!'" Debuted January 12, 1991.

Appearances
Season Episode Host Notes
16 January 12, 1991 Joe Mantegna
16 February 23, 1991 Alec Baldwin
16 May 18, 1991 George Wendt
17 November 2, 1991 Kiefer Sutherland
17 April 18, 1992 Jerry Seinfeld
18 February 20, 1993 Bill Murray
22 November 2, 1996 Chris Rock with B Real (Jim Breuer)

Deep Thoughts

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Jack Handey offers interstitial one-liners. Debuted January 19, 1991.

The Elevator Fans

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A Dana Carvey and Kevin Nealon sketch. Debuted January 19, 1991.

Appearances
Season Episode Host Notes
16 January 19, 1991 Sting
16 March 16, 1991 Michael J. Fox
17 September 28, 1991 Michael Jordan

The Richmeister (Copy Room Guy, "Makin' Copies!")

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Rob Schneider plays an obnoxious office worker who sits around the copy room all day riffing on the names of his coworkers as they make copies. Debuted January 19, 1991.[1]

Appearances
Season Episode Host Notes
16 January 19, 1991 Sting
16 February 9, 1991 Kevin Bacon
16 March 23, 1991 Jeremy Irons
16 April 20, 1991 Steven Seagal Presented as an episode of a fictional TV series, Tenelli: One-Man Army, spoofing the name of Seagal's character from Above the Law
17 October 5, 1991 Jeff Daniels
17 November 23, 1991 Macaulay Culkin Culkin portrays a younger version of the character in a flashback to his schooldays.
17 February 8, 1992 Susan Dey
18 October 31, 1992 Catherine O'Hara
18 March 13, 1993 John Goodman

Coffee Talk with Linda Richman

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The January 19, 1991 episode introduced a talk show called "Coffee Talk with Paul Baldwin", with Mike Myers playing host Paul Baldwin. However, the sketch was thereafter retooled, becoming "Coffee Talk with Linda Richman" as of its third appearance on October 12, 1991. Mike Myers now played the show's new host, an older Jewish woman.

Appearances
Season Episode Host Notes
16 January 19, 1991 Sting
16 May 11, 1991 Delta Burke
17 October 12, 1991 Kirstie Alley
17 February 22, 1992 Roseanne Arnold, Tom Arnold
18 December 12, 1992 Glenn Close
18 February 20, 1993 Bill Murray
18 May 8, 1993 Christina Applegate
19 September 25, 1993 Charles Barkley
19 October 30, 1993 Christian Slater
19 December 4, 1993 Charlton Heston
19 January 8, 1994 Jason Patric
19 March 19, 1994 Helen Hunt
19 May 14, 1994 Heather Locklear
20 October 15, 1994 John Travolta
22 March 22, 1997 Mike Myers

Daily Affirmation with Stuart Smalley

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Al Franken plays the effeminate host of a self-help show. Debuted February 9, 1991. The Stuart Smalley character became the basis for a feature film released in 1995.

Appearances
Season Episode Host Notes
16 February 9, 1991 Kevin Bacon
16 March 16, 1991 Michael J. Fox
16 April 13, 1991 Catherine O'Hara
17 September 28, 1991 Michael Jordan
17 November 2, 1991 Kiefer Sutherland
17 November 23, 1991 Macaulay Culkin
17 February 22, 1992 Roseanne Arnold, Tom Arnold
18 October 3, 1992 Tim Robbins
18 October 31, 1992 Catherine O'Hara
18 December 12, 1992 Glenn Close
18 February 13, 1993 Alec Baldwin
19 September 25, 1993 Charles Barkley
19 November 13, 1993 Rosie O'Donnell
19 February 19, 1994 Martin Lawrence
20 October 1, 1994 Marisa Tomei
20 March 18, 1995 Paul Reiser
20 May 6, 1995 Bob Saget
28 December 14, 2002 Al Gore

Frank Gannon, P.I. P.I.

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Kevin Nealon plays a "P.I. P.I.", an abbreviation for "Politically Incorrect Private Investigator." He is a private investigator who is always saying politically incorrect statements, or making politically incorrect conclusions. Debuted April 13, 1991.

References

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  1. ^ "The 10 Most Obnoxious Recurring SNL Characters". September 6, 2007.
Preceded by
Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches introduced 1989–90
Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches (listed chronologically) Succeeded by
Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches introduced 1991–92