
Will Ferrell, an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer, joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 1995 and left in 2002 after a seven-year tenure. Ferrell became the highest-paid cast member of Saturday Night Live in 2001, earning a salary of $350,000 per season. Ferrell was well-known for his impersonations on the show, including US President George W. Bush. Ferrell has returned to host SNL several times since his departure and is a member of the Five-Timers Club.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | November 23, 2019 |
| Episode | Season 45, Episode 7 |
| Host | Will Ferrell |
| Musical Guest | King Princess |
| Sketches | Celebrity Jeopardy, Weekend Update |
| Ferrell's Characters | Dale McGrew, Gene Frenkle, Harry Caray, Tom Wilkins, Ned, Marty Culp, Craig Buchanan, Dale Sturtevant, Hank, David Leary, Dr. Beaman, Steve Butabi |
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What You'll Learn
- Will Ferrell hosted SNL in 2019 with musical guest King Princess
- Ferrell's original characters included Morning Latte co-host Tom Wilkins
- Ferrell's impersonations included US President George W. Bush
- Ferrell played Jeopardy! Host Alex Trebek in 15 Celebrity Jeopardy sketches
- Ferrell's Harray Caray impression was part of his original SNL audition

Will Ferrell hosted SNL in 2019 with musical guest King Princess
On November 23, 2019, Will Ferrell hosted Saturday Night Live for the fifth time, with musical guest King Princess. This made him the fourth former cast member to enter the Five-Timers Club, after Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, and Tina Fey. King Princess, who recently released her debut studio album "Cheap Queen" and her first single "1950", was making her SNL debut.
Ferrell first established himself in the mid-1990s as a cast member on the sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live, where he performed from 1995 to 2002. He received various accolades for his work, including six Primetime Emmy Awards and a British Academy Television Award, in addition to nominations for two Golden Globe Awards and a Tony Award. In 2011, Ferrell was honored with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. In 2015, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was named the best comedian in British GQ.
Ferrell has returned to host SNL several times since leaving the cast in 2002. His first time hosting was on May 14, 2005, the nineteenth episode of Season 30, with musical guests Queens of the Stone Age. His second time hosting was on May 16, 2009, the Season 34 finale, with musical guests Green Day. Ferrell hosted SNL for the third time on May 12, 2012, the twenty-first episode and Mother's Day show of season 37, with musical guest Usher. His fourth time hosting was on January 27, 2018, the twelfth episode of Season 43, with musical guest Chris Stapleton.
The November 23, 2019 episode of SNL was the seventh episode and Thanksgiving show of Season 45. With this show, Weekend Update with Colin Jost and Michael Che became the longest iteration of Update, surpassing Dennis Miller's tenure of 111 editions.
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Ferrell's original characters included Morning Latte co-host Tom Wilkins
Will Ferrell is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. He first rose to fame in the mid-1990s as a cast member on the sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live (SNL), where he performed from 1995 to 2002. Ferrell has since returned to host SNL multiple times, most recently in 2019.
During his time as a cast member on SNL, Ferrell created several original characters, including Morning Latte co-host Tom Wilkins. Morning Latte was a sketch that debuted on October 25, 1997, and starred Ferrell as Tom Wilkins and Cheri Oteri as Cass Van Rye. The sketch parodied morning talk shows and featured Wilkins and Van Rye as co-hosts discussing various topics, often in a comedic and absurd manner.
In one sketch, for instance, Wilkins and Van Rye discuss the presidential election, with Wilkins making jokes about President Bush's alleged cocaine use and his relationship with Monica Lewinsky. In another sketch, they talk about recent movies, with Wilkins expressing his excitement about "The Sixth Sense" and Van Rye praising "Spice World." The Morning Latte sketches often included guest stars, such as Jerry Seinfeld, who played Dr. Jedediah Purdy in one episode.
Ferrell's character, Tom Wilkins, was portrayed as enthusiastic and quick-witted, often feeding off Van Rye's scatterbrained personality. The dynamic between the two co-hosts and their unique takes on current events and pop culture created a humorous contrast that entertained audiences.
In addition to Morning Latte, Ferrell also created other memorable characters during his time on SNL, such as his impersonation of former President George W. Bush and his portrayal of fictional character Steve Butabi in the sketch "The Roxbury Guys", which later inspired the feature film "A Night at the Roxbury."
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Ferrell's impersonations included US President George W. Bush
Will Ferrell is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer, who first rose to fame as a cast member on the sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live, where he performed from 1995 to 2002. Ferrell has since gone on to star in numerous comedy films, including Elf (2003), Anchorman (2004), and Step Brothers (2008). He has also taken on dramatic roles, such as in Stranger than Fiction (2006) and Everything Must Go (2010).
Ferrell is known for his impersonations of former US President George W. Bush on SNL. He first impersonated Bush during the "First Presidential Debate" sketch in October 2000, where he fumbled question after question. Ferrell's Bush impression was so well-known that the former president himself recalled a conversation with SNL creator Lorne Michaels, in which Michaels claimed that a writer for the show had come up with the word "strategery". Bush insisted that he had, in fact, said "strategery", leading Michaels to respond, "We invented it."
Ferrell revisited his famous Bush impression years later on TODAY with Hoda & Jenna, where he launched into his famed faux-Bush voice, squinting his eyes. He also brought back the impression for the former president's daughter, Jenna Bush Hager, during an interview on the TODAY show. Ferrell's impersonation was so memorable that it was even named one of the best George W. Bush impersonations, alongside those of comedian Frank Caliendo.
In addition to his work as an actor and comedian, Ferrell has also found success as a producer. He has received four Primetime Emmy Awards for his work as a producer on the drama series Succession (2018–2023) and for the specials Live in Front of a Studio Audience (2019–2022). He has also produced other series, such as I'm Sorry (2017–2019), Dead to Me (2019–2022), and Drunk History (2013–2019).
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Ferrell played Jeopardy! Host Alex Trebek in 15 Celebrity Jeopardy sketches
Will Ferrell, an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer, was a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1995 to 2002. During his time on the show, Ferrell played Jeopardy! Host Alex Trebek in 15 Celebrity Jeopardy sketches, which became one of the show's most beloved running sketches. The sketches aired between December 1996 and February 2015, with two sketches per season from 1996 to 2002, and one each in 2005 and 2009, when Ferrell returned to the show as a host.
The Celebrity Jeopardy! sketches parody the real-life special event on the television quiz show Jeopardy!, which features competition between notable individuals, with all winnings going to charitable organizations and a reduced level of difficulty. Ferrell's portrayal of Trebek as a beleaguered straight man tasked with corraling chaotic and inept celebrity contestants, slowly ratcheting up his annoyance at their stupidity, was a hilarious success. The sketches often began at the start of the Double Jeopardy! round, with Trebek welcoming the audience and sometimes apologizing for an incident that occurred before the break. He would then introduce the celebrity contestants and reveal their scores, which were typically very low or negative.
Darrell Hammond, another SNL cast member, appeared in each sketch as Sean Connery, Trebek's arch-nemesis, who would make crass insults and sexual innuendos. Other celebrities spoofed as contestants included Jerry Lewis (Martin Short), Marlon Brando (John Goodman), Michael Keaton (Matthew Perry), Jeff Goldblum (David Duchovny), Tom Cruise (Ben Stiller), Calista Flockhart (Drew Barrymore), Keanu Reeves (Tobey Maguire), and Catherine Zeta-Jones (Lucy Liu).
The final installment of the sketch aired during the SNL 40th Anniversary Special in 2015, featuring a star-studded cast, including Norm Macdonald as Burt Reynolds, Taran Killam as Justin Bieber, Kate McKinnon, and Alec Baldwin as Tony Bennett. Ferrell's portrayal of Trebek was so popular that it ranked #3 in IGN's "Top 15 Will Ferrell characters" in 2008. Even the real Alex Trebek expressed his admiration for Ferrell's impression and the sketch in interviews, stating that he loved it.
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Ferrell's Harray Caray impression was part of his original SNL audition
Will Ferrell's comedic talent was on full display during his original SNL audition, which included his now-famous Harry Caray impression. Ferrell's unique take on the Chicago Cubs broadcaster added a comedic twist, with Caray reading for a dramatic play. This audition sketch showcased Ferrell's ability to infuse humour into a familiar character, setting the tone for his future appearances on the show.
Ferrell's audition for SNL in 1994 was a pivotal moment in his career. It showcased his talent for comedic acting and helped him secure a spot as a cast member on the show from 1995 to 2002. During his time on SNL, Ferrell created several memorable characters and impersonations that have left a lasting impact on the show's history.
The Harry Caray impression, in particular, stood out for its originality and humour. Ferrell, donning a white wig and oversized eyeglasses, embodied the baseball announcer with a zany twist. This impression was so well-received that Ferrell brought it back for several SNL sketches over the years, including a Weekend Update appearance in 2013.
Ferrell's audition also included other sketches that highlighted his versatility as a comedian. In one sketch, he portrayed an office worker who instructed his secretary to hold his calls so he could play with cat toys in private. This demonstrated Ferrell's ability to find humour in everyday situations and his willingness to embrace physical comedy.
Cheri Oteri, who joined SNL alongside Ferrell, recalled the emotional experience of auditioning for the show and the excitement of learning that they had both been cast. Ferrell's audition tape, featured in the docuseries SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, showcases the critical five minutes that helped launch his career in comedy and solidify his place in the SNL pantheon.
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Frequently asked questions
Will Ferrell has hosted SNL five times, making him a member of the Five-Timers Club.
Will Ferrell hosted SNL for the first time on May 14, 2005, the nineteenth episode of Season 30.
Will Ferrell played Jeopardy! Host Alex Trebek in 15 "Celebrity Jeopardy" sketches. One of Ferrell's most memorable one-shot characters is Dale McGrew, a "highly patriotic" office worker.
Will Ferrell's SNL audition included his zany take on the sports broadcaster Harray Caray. Ferrell also impersonated US President George W. Bush during his time as a cast member.
Will Ferrell has starred in several comedy films, including Elf (2003), Anchorman (2004), Talladega Nights (2006), Step Brothers (2008), and The Other Guys (2010).











































