Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches introduced 2008–09


The following is a list of recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches introduced between September 13, 2008, and May 16, 2009, the thirty-fourth season of the show.

Googie Rene

sells discounted garments with mysterious stains.
;Appearances
SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
34September 27, 2008Anna FarisGoogie Rene's Slightly Stained Wedding Dress Basement; this sketch was previously included in the dress rehearsal for the September 13 episode, but was cut from that episode's live broadcast
36October 23, 2010Emma StoneGoogie Rene's Partially Damaged Halloween Costume Discount Basement
36May 7, 2011Tina FeyGoogie Rene's Slightly Damaged Prom Wear Barn

A sketch featuring "Googie Rene's Partially Damaged Christmas Decorations" was included in the dress rehearsal for the December 10, 2011, episode, hosted by Katy Perry, but was cut for the live broadcast.

The Lawrence Welk Show

A parody of the original "mildly-entertaining" Lawrence Welk Show, this PBS rerun, hosted by Fred Armisen as Welk, features the singing act The Maharelle Sisters, from the Finger Lakes. The performance in the original Maharelle sisters skit closely resembles that of Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen in the 1954 movie White Christmas. Each performance begins by featuring each of three attractive, flirtatious women, before introducing the fourth sister, Dooneese, whose deformities include an extremely tall forehead, tiny hands the size of an infant's, and an odd canine tooth. As each of the women sings in turn, Dooneese's contribution at the end is inevitably a weird or disturbing rant, such as describing eating roadkill or having worms in her hair. She often makes inappropriate sexual advances toward any men co-starring in the performance.
The three normal sisters have been played by both guests and cast members, including Jenny Slate, Abby Elliott, Michaela Watkins, Casey Wilson, Nasim Pedrad, Vanessa Bayer, Amy Poehler, Ana Gasteyer, Maya Rudolph, Cecily Strong and Anne Hathaway.
SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
34October 4, 2008Anne HathawayHathaway plays Maharelle sister Janice. Amy Poehler and Casey Wilson play the other two sisters, Holly and Nora.
34May 16, 2009Will FerrellFerrell plays Lawrence Welk Show performer Ted Nathers. Casey Wilson, Michaela Watkins, and Abby Elliott play the other sisters.
35December 19, 2009James FrancoFranco plays Lawrence Welk Show performer Rico Garlando. Jenny Slate, Abby Elliott, and Nasim Pedrad play the other sisters.
35May 8, 2010Betty WhiteWhite plays the singing sisters' mother. Rachel Dratch, Tina Fey, and Molly Shannon make cameo appearances in the beginning of the sketch as The Marvelous Jugglettes. Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, and Ana Gasteyer make special appearances as Maharelle sisters Janet, Peggy, and Clara.
36April 2, 2011Elton JohnJohn plays Lawrence Welk Show performer Frances Lynn Mulge. Abby Elliott, Nasim Pedrad, and Vanessa Bayer play the other sisters.
37October 1, 2011Melissa McCarthyMcCarthy plays Cousin Gert, who has her own deformities, including superhuman strength. Abby Elliott, Nasim Pedrad, and Vanessa Bayer play the other sisters.
37May 19, 2012Mick JaggerJagger did not appear in the sketch. Jon Hamm appeared in cameo as Lawrence Welk Show performer Johnny Prosciutto. Abby Elliott, Nasim Pedrad, and Vanessa Bayer play the other sisters. Kate McKinnon appears as Johnny Prosciutto's mother.
38May 11, 2013Kristen WiigKristen Wiig comes back as Dooneese. Nasim Pedrad, Vanessa Bayer, and Cecily Strong play the other sisters. Jason Sudekis plays Lawrence Welk Show performer Dorian Permes.
39December 7, 2013Paul RuddKristen Wiig and Fred Armisen come back and reprise their roles as Dooneese and Lawrence Welk in a parody of The Sound of Music Live!. Kate McKinnon plays Maria, Taran Killam plays Captain von Trapp, and Cecily Strong, Beck Bennett, Nasim Pedrad, Bobby Moynihan, and Noel Wells play the von Trapp children.

Jeff Montgomery

A Will Forte character.
;Appearances
SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
34October 25, 2008Jon Hamm43-year-old Jeff Montgomery comes trick-or-treating at the home of Bob Peterson. Montgomery indicates he's costumed as a sex offender for Halloween, but is evasive as to whether he is also a sex offender the rest of the year.
34November 22, 2008Tim McGrawMontgomery appears at a large Thanksgiving gathering, where it's eventually realized that none of the hosts or guests know who he is. He eventually mentions that he's an escapee from a mental institution.

A sketch featuring Jeff Montgomery and his father terrorizing their neighbors was included in the dress rehearsal for the February 14, 2009 episode, but was cut for the live broadcast.
A sketch featuring Jeff Montgomery trick-or-treating was included in the dress rehearsal for the October 17, 2009, episode, but was cut for the live broadcast.

Stefon

plays Stefon, a club kid and city correspondent for Weekend Update. He is asked by Seth Meyers to offer tips on family friendly things to do in New York city, but instead offers tips on the hottest New York nightlife. May 18, 2013 marked the final appearance of Stefon as a recurring character, as Hader concluded his final season as SNL cast member.
;Appearances
SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
34November 1, 2008Ben AffleckStefon is introduced in a sketch where he and Affleck are the Zolesky Brothers, making a pitch for a coming-of-age film interspersed with gay sex scenes.
35April 24, 2010Gabourey SidibeStefon's first Weekend Update appearance, discussing family vacation spots.
35May 15, 2010Alec Baldwin
36October 23, 2010Emma Stone
36December 11, 2010Paul Rudd
36December 18, 2010Jeff BridgesAs one of Seth Meyers' favorite trio of commentators, Stefon is joined by New York governor David Paterson and Snooki in singing a Christmas song.
36February 12, 2011Russell Brand
36May 7, 2011Tina Fey
36May 21, 2011Justin TimberlakeOnly appearance where Hader did not break character; his appearance lasted roughly 30 seconds.
37October 8, 2011Ben StillerStefon and Derek Zoolander promote a charity to help fat kids.
37December 10, 2011Katy PerryAlso appears in promos for this episode.
37February 18, 2012Maya RudolphAppeared in the opening monologue.
37March 11, 2012Jonah HillKisses Seth Meyers for the first time in this episode.
37May 19, 2012Mick Jagger
38October 20, 2012Bruno Mars
38March 9, 2013Justin Timberlake
38May 18, 2013Ben AffleckBen Affleck makes a cameo appearance reprising his role as Stefon's brother, David Zolefsky. Stefon's appearance in this episode marked his last as a recurring character.
39February 1, 2014Melissa McCarthyStefon makes his first guest appearance along with Amy Poehler on Seth Meyers' final Weekend Update.
40October 11, 2014Bill HaderSecond guest appearance and Hader's first as SNL host. Stefon reveals he is pregnant.
40February 15, 2015SNL 40th Anniversary SpecialAppeared alongside Edward Norton, who was dressed as Stefon and doing an impression of him, as well as Seth Meyers mentioning their unnamed children.
43March 17, 2018Bill HaderStefon co-creator John Mulaney appears as Stefon's lawyer, Shy.

Grady Wilson

Kenan Thompson plays the Sanford and Son character Grady Wilson as the host of a series of instructional sex films.
;Appearances
SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
34November 1, 2008Ben Affleck"Grady Wilson's Put the Fire Back in your Marriage Techniques"
35September 26, 2009Megan Fox"Grady Wilson's Burning Up the Bedsheets"
35January 16, 2010Sigourney Weaver"Grady Wilson's Fifty and Freaky"; Weaver appears as a Dutch woman.
35May 15, 2010Alec Baldwin"Grady Wilson's Intimate & International"; Baldwin appears as a Greek man, Kostos.
36January 8, 2011Jim Carrey"Grady Wilson's Tantric and Tasty"; Carrey appears as the erotic shaman Leelicious.

The Vogelchecks

, Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader star in this sketch about a family that expresses affection, at the slightest provocation, with slobbery French kissing and other disturbingly intimate acts. In the sketch, another member of the family brings home a new girlfriend/boyfriend to meet his parents and brother Dwayne. The girlfriend is initially put off by the family's eager physical affection, but is won over by a heartfelt speech from Armisen.
;Appearances
SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
34November 15, 2008Paul RuddAustin Vogelcheck brings his college roommate Kevin home for a weekend with the Vogelcheck family.
35December 19, 2009James FrancoLonny Vogelcheck brings his girlfriend Lindsey home for Christmas. Grandpa Josef and Grandma Vogelcheck also attend. This sketch originally appeared in the dress rehearsal for the December 12, 2009, episode hosted by Taylor Lautner, but was cut for the live broadcast.
35March 6, 2010Zach GalifianakisRonny Vogelcheck brings his girlfriend Shelley home for the funeral of Great-Grandpa Opel Vogelcheck, where she meets his family. Galifianakis appears as the priest, Father Yankovic.
36December 11, 2010Paul RuddAustin returns with his girlfriend Amanda, and the Vogelchecks greet their Romanian relatives Aunt Elaine and Uncle Vlad for Christmas.
37November 19, 2011Jason SegelJacob Vogelcheck brings his girlfriend Lucy home for Thanksgiving. Paul Rudd returns as Austin in the sketch.
39May 17, 2014Andy SambergBrecken Vogelcheck brings his boyfriend Matt to watch the football draft. Paul Rudd reprises his role and Maya Rudolph is a nurse to Grandma Vogelcheck.

Dateline

plays Dateline correspondent Keith Morrison hosting "Real-Life Crimes and Stories of Real People in Bad Situations", a series of short interviews with victims of pain and suffering. The sketch revolves around Morrison's sinister persona: during the interviews, Hader utters trite remarks, makes creepy faces and sounds, expresses disgust at awful things not happening, and admits he gets a creepy delight out of other people's suffering.
;Appearances
SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
34November 22, 2008Tim McGrawMorrison interviews a woman whose boyfriend was found dead in a car trunk; a couple attacked by sharks; and a man whose wife murdered their neighbors.
34March 14, 2009Tracy MorganMorrison interviews a man who walked in on a convenience store robbery; a couple who had the roof cave in on their wedding; and a convicted murderer and cannibal.
37December 3, 2011Steve BuscemiMorrison covers the 'Mystery of the Chopped-up Guy' wherein the man accused of chopping up the guy admits he chopped up the guy immediately. Morrison then speaks to others involved in the case despite there being nothing to investigate.

Hader reprised his Keith Morrison impression in the September 24, 2009, episode of Weekend Update Thursday, where he interviewed President Obama about the "death panel" issue.

Shana

Kristen Wiig plays an outwardly sexy woman who nonetheless does everything in the least sexy way possible. In each sketch she enters a room where several male coworkers were present, all of whom are initially attracted by her curvaceous contours, her sweet childlike voice, her fetching walk, and her shy and demure demeanor. However, her behavior is quickly punctuated with belches, farts, accidental urination or defecation, loud braying laughs, tasteless and vulgar remarks, and fits of spastic, uncoordinated movement. By the end of the sketch, all of the men except one are completely repulsed by her; the holdout is even more smitten than when she first arrived.
In an interview with Alec Baldwin, in which he complimented Wiig on her ability to switch between sexy and unsexy characters, Wiig replied:
I have to say, one of the greatest gifts that I've gotten from SNL is getting out of my comfort zone. I realized, and I think Lorne realized, probably the first handful of years that I was there, most of my characters were ladies in their forties with short hair and weird sweaters, that no one wanted at their dinner party. The good thing about being at SNL, for me creatively, is to think, "Okay, I'm comfortable enough. I really want to try something that's not something that I normally do." That's when I actually first came up with the character Shana, the one that’s sexy but says gross things."

;Appearances
SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
34December 6, 2008John Malkovich
35January 9, 2010Charles Barkley
36October 2, 2010Bryan Cranston
37October 8, 2011Ben Stiller

Gilly

A mischievous schoolgirl played by Kristen Wiig. In the standard Gilly sketch, Mr. Dillon is attempting to teach his class of young students, but the class is repeatedly interrupted by pranks. After each prank, Mr. Dillon asks first Liam, then Sam, if they are responsible, and the boys deny it. A female student usually Paula then says that Gilly did it, and Gilly offers an insincere "sorry." The cycle repeats with the pranks becoming more dangerous and violent.
;Appearances
SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
34January 17, 2009Rosario Dawson
34April 11, 2009Zac EfronScience Fair Finals
35October 20, 2009Drew BarrymoreGilly is joined by her Italian cousin, Gigli.
35December 17, 2009Christmas specialGilly hosts the SNL Christmas special.
36October 9, 2010Jane LynchAs Sue Sylvester, Lynch introduces new student Gilly to the Glee Club.
37April 7, 2012Sofia VergaraGilly disrupts Mrs. Roberts' sex education class, and we see a flashforward to Gilly's death.
38May 11, 2013Kristen WiigAppeared during Wiig's monologue performance alongside Lorne Michaels.

Angie Tempura

appears on Weekend Update as a snarky blogger for gossip website bitchpleeze.com.
;Appearances
SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
34February 14, 2009Alec Baldwin
34April 11, 2009Zac Efron

Game Time with Randy And Greg

and Bill Hader star in these sketches, in which sports presenter Randy Dukes desperately tries to convince the audience that his co-host, Greg, is not an alien, despite everything in Greg's behavior proving otherwise.
;Appearances
SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
34March 7, 2009Dwayne Johnson"Game Time with Dave and Greg" : Greg's first co-presenter is Dave Delmani, played by Dwayne Johnson. Randy Dukes is a guest in the end of the sketch.
35October 17, 2009Gerard ButlerRandy's first appearance as a presenter
35January 30, 2010Jon Hamm

Hamilton

Hamilton, played by Will Forte, is a creepy man with a blonde bob cut and large round sunglasses, who commandeers the microphone at various events. For some reason, women find him irresistibly alluring.
;Appearances
SeasonEpisodeHostNotes
34December 13, 2008Hugh LaurieAt a wedding, Hamilton toasts the bride and groom before lamenting the recent election of President Obama.
34May 16, 2009Will FerrellAt a funeral, Hamilton speaks about the recent deaths of his cousin and mother before excoriating the policies of President Obama.
35October 10, 2009Drew BarrymoreAt a book reading by Debbie Turner, who has written a memoir of her incredibly unhealthy yet passionate relationship with Hamilton, he appears and convinces her to give him another chance.
35April 24, 2010Gabourey SidibeAt a public event featuring Sidibe, her former lover Hamilton shows up to ask for her hand in marriage.
37May 12, 2012Will FerrellHamilton offers a toast at a dinner for a 25th wedding anniversary.

The dress rehearsal for the March 6, 2010, episode featured a sketch in which Hamilton interrupted a lesbian wedding to beg one of the brides for a second chance; the sketch was cut from the live episode.