Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches introduced 1995–96


The following is a list of recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches introduced between September 30, 1995, and May 18, 1996, the twenty-first season of SNL.

Get Off the Shed!

A Will Ferrell sketch. Ferrell is Frank Henderson, a dad who, although friendly most of the time, threatens his kids whenever they start climbing on his shed. In the first two appearances of the sketch, Frank is in his backyard making small talk with neighbors, Tom and Susan Taylor. The conversation is punctuated by Frank's yells which become progressively heated. The second sketch is similar, but with host Christine Baranski playing Frank's wife who can yell equally loud. The third appearance was a variation on the idea, taking place at a Little League game where Frank and other parents are watching in the stands. Instead of yelling at his kid to get off the shed, Frank yells, "Get on the bag!" Debuted September 30, 1995.
Appearances
impersonates Ann Miller and Cheri Oteri impersonates Debbie Reynolds, hosting a faux show about dancers. Debuted September 30, 1995.
Appearances
A parody of the late-night news program Nightline, with Darrell Hammond impersonating its host Ted Koppel. Debuted September 30, 1995.

Spade in America

A David Spade segment where he gives his thoughts, guest interviews, and Hollywood Minute jokes. The segment aired only in season 21, which was Spade's last as a cast member. The segment makes up fifteen of Spade's nineteen sketch appearances in 1995–96. Debuted September 30, 1995.
;Appearances
EpisodeHostNotes
September 30, 1995Mariel Hemingway
October 7, 1995Chevy Chase
October 21, 1995David SchwimmerJennifer Aniston cameos.
October 28, 1995Gabriel ByrneSpade reports from the World Series. Cameos from Chrissie Hynde, Mark Wohlers, Tom Glavine, and Chipper Jones.
November 11, 1995Quentin Tarantino
November 18, 1995Laura LeightonSean Penn cameos.
December 2, 1995Anthony Edwards
December 9, 1995David Alan GrierThe infamous joke aimed at Eddie Murphy occurs on this episode, which began a long-standing feud between Murphy and Spade.
December 16, 1995Madeline Kahn
January 13, 1996Christopher Walken
February 10, 1996Danny Aiello
March 23, 1996Phil Hartman
April 20, 1996Teri HatcherHatcher and Spade impersonate each other.
May 11, 1996Christine BaranskiSpade spends a day with the British Fops.
May 18, 1996Jim Carrey

Mickey the Dyke

A Cheri Oteri sketch. Mickey is a stereotypical butch lesbian who, despite identifying as a "dyke", is afraid to officially come out. Debuted September 30, 1995.

Rita DelVecchio

Rita DelVecchio is a grouchy, sharp tongued, Italian-American, Brooklyn housewife. Rita hates it when the neighborhood kids' toys wind up landing in her front yard, so she claims the item for herself, saying, "I keep it!" and tells the kids to go away. Other times, Rita tries to one-up any of her neighbors when it comes to things like who has the best decorated front lawn on Christmas, or who has the better car. Debuted October 21, 1995.
;Appearances
SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
21October 21, 1995David Schwimmer
21January 13, 1996Christopher Walken
21April 13, 1996Steve Forbes
22October 26, 1996Dana Carvey
22December 14, 1996Rosie O'Donnell
23September 27, 1997Sylvester Stallone
23November 22, 1997Rudy Giuliani

Mary Katherine Gallagher

Mary Katherine is a sardonic caricature of an unpopular, teenage Catholic school girl. She is prone to comically severe mood swings, alternately hyperactive and ponderous. She suffered from stage fright, but was also hyper-competitive and egomaniacal, believing she was a "superstar". The sketch spawned in the 1999 film Superstar. Debuted October 28, 1995.

The Spartan Cheerleaders

Craig and Arianna are overeager high school students who, despite not making the East Lake High School Spartan cheerleading squad, show up anyway, usually to events where cheerleaders would not normally be present, such as chess and bowling tournaments The pair's routines consisted of elaborate choreography and chants. The Spartans became one of the more popular recurring sketches of SNLs late-90s period, and were featured on the November 1997 cover of Rolling Stone alongside Mary Katherine Gallagher and Doug Butabi of The Roxbury Guys. Oteri and Ferrell came up with the idea for the Spartan cheerleaders when they were new to SNL and playing around on an empty 8H stage. Of the sketch, Oteri said, "One thing I like about is, they're losers, but they don't know it. I would feel sorry for them if they knew they were outcasts. They have no clue, thank God." Debuted November 11, 1995.
;Appearances
SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
21November 11, 1995Quentin TarantinoThe Spartans cheer at a football game.
21December 16, 1995Madeline KahnThe Spartans at a basketball game.
21January 20, 1996Alec BaldwinThe Spartans at a chess tournament.
21February 24, 1996Elle MacPhersonThe Spartans at a swim meet.
21April 20, 1996Teri HatcherArianna and Craig face off with Gabrielle at a math competition.
21May 18, 1996Jim CarreyLochmiel is the newest Spartan cheerleader at a wrestling competition.
22September 28, 1996Tom HanksCraig and Arianna are visited by the Spartan Spirit at a ping pong tournament.
22November 16, 1996Robert Downey Jr.The Spartans encounter Dawson at a bowling tournament.
22December 14, 1996Rosie O'DonnellThe duo meets Eileen McClasky while working seasonal jobs at a shopping mall.
22February 8, 1997Neve CampbellCraig and Arianna go to a party thrown by Sidney Prescott.
22April 19, 1997Pamela AndersonCraig and Arianna encounter C.J. Parker at the beach.
23October 4, 1997Matthew PerryCraig and Arianna practice before Spartan team tryouts.
23December 6, 1997Nathan LaneThe Spartans have a dream. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders make a cameo.
23March 7, 1998Scott WolfCraig and Arianna cheer outside a cinema showing of Titanic.
23May 9, 1998David DuchovnyArianna and Craig attend cheerleading camp where they meet Dale Heavener. Paula Abdul cameos.
24November 21, 1998Jennifer Love HewittThe Spartans go to the maternity ward to cheer on mom in labor Alexis Murphy. Ad-Rock of the Beastie Boys makes an appearance.
25December 4, 1999Christina RicciArianna and Craig cheer at a holiday parade with Gabby Malowski.

Stan Hooper

A Norm Macdonald character. In one sketch, Stan wakes up from a coma and is dismayed to learn that the two women who come to visit him—one beautiful and another frumpier—are respectively, his sister and wife. He tries to insist that the beautiful woman is his wife, despite protests from his actual wife. In another sketch, he is a sketch artist that draws composites of criminals that look nothing like the actual suspects. Debuted November 11, 1995.

The British Fops

The British Fops, Lucien Callow and Fagan, appeared in late Restoration-period clothing, and used a silly take on the period's language, mannerisms, and culture. The characters first appeared on Weekend Update as the presidents of the Norm Macdonald Fan Club, but later appeared in several other sketches and hosts' monologues. Debuted November 11, 1995.
;Appearances
EpisodeHostNotes
November 11, 1995Quentin TarantinoWeekend Update appearance.
November 18, 1995Laura LeightonAppearance in opening monologue.
December 16, 1995Madeline KahnAppearance in Antique Shop sketch.
January 20, 1996Alec BaldwinAppearance in opening monologue and in the Literary Theatre sketch.
February 24, 1996Elle MacphersonWeekend Update appearance.
May 11, 1996Jim CarreyAppearance on Spade in America segment.