The ‘SNL’ Cast Member in the Most Sketches This Season Will Surprise You

Does Lorne Michaels have a comedian hierarchy at Saturday Night Live? 

Some weeks, it sure feels that way. Marcello Hernández as the show’s Next Big Thing.

So, which one of those cast appeared in the most sketches in SNL’s 50th season? The answer: None of the above. The comedian who actually appeared in the most sketches was… Andrew Dismukes?

You heard me. Dismukes was your leader in the clubhouse with 79 sketches, according to Saturday Night Network, as reported by LateNighter. The runner-up was another cast member not listed above, Heidi Gardner, who appeared in 77 sketches. 

That’s a big step up for Dismukes, who didn’t get much screentime at all in his rookie year, Season 46. But he’s been steadily climbing the ladder, proving a steady presence with both off-the-wall characters and befuddled straight men. That’s likely why Dismukes and Gardner appear in so many bits — when not the focus of attention, both can be counted on to play parents, coworkers or other straight parts necessary for crazier characters to bounce off. Dismukes is the new Beck Bennett, the everyman who doesn’t steal focus.

After Dismukes and Gardner, the faces I mentioned above show up on the most sketches list: Yang and Johnson (both at 76 sketches) and Sarah Sherman (75) make up the top five. Ego Nwodim, Mikey Day and Marcello Hernández follow. Surprisingly, Thompson, who has led SNL in sketch appearances in three different seasons (44, 47 and 48), came in ninth. 

Based on number of appearances, should any cast be concerned? 

Devon Walker has reason to be disappointed, appearing in fewer sketches than any of the cast other than Colin Jost and Michael Che, who rarely appear outside of Weekend Update. All three first-year cast , Ashley Padilla, Emil Wakim and Jane Wickline, got more shots than Walker. 

Leading any season of Saturday Night Live in sketch appearances is a mark of distinction — only 20 other cast have done so. The Glue, Phil Hartman, did it more than any other, leading the show in sketches for eight straight seasons. The only other comic to come close is Amy Poehler, who took the title in six seasons. Others to lead the way in at least three seasons: Will Ferrell, Joe Piscopo, Kristen Wiig, Taran Killam, Bennett and Thompson. 

While Hartman played some insane characters, his record proves that the comedian who can play the straight man will get the most bites at the SNL apple.