Bill Hader's Best Sketches & Characters on Saturday Night Live

It's no secret that Bill Hader absolutely killed it as the creator, director, writer, and lead actor of Barry. Sometimes it's hard to believe he was originally one of Saturday Night Live's most talented cast members. Here are some of his funniest roles and sketches that he has been a part of.

The Californians

We're starting off strong with The Californians! The recurring sketch ran from 2012–2013 and was brought back for the SNL 40th Anniversary Special in 2015 and again in 2018 when Bill Hader returned for the second time to host. Hader's role as Devin is one of his funniest, and that's saying something. Based on the facial expressions alone, the funniest one is probably when Karina (Kristen Wiig) returns and Maya Rudolph makes an appearance.

Stefon

Bill Hader and John Mulaney pulled out all the stops to create New York's hottest clubgoer, Stefon! Before becoming a Weekend Update correspondent, Stefon debuted in 2008 in a movie pitch sketch as Ben Affleck's brother, which didn't do very well but was thankfully revived over a year and a half later. Hader returned for "Seth's Farewell," giving us all a little something extra with Seth running after Stefon after discovering he is about to wed Anderson Cooper and bringing him back to the studio where they both live happily ever after. The end.

Dateline

For Dateline fans, this was everything. The series of sketches ran from 2008–2011 with three episodes, the best (in my opinion) being the last, covering the "Mystery of the Chopped-up Guy" with Steve Buscemi. Bill Hader's impression of Keith Morrison is unsurprisingly dead-on, and I wish that there had been many more.

Herb Welch

Any sketch where Bill Hader cracks himself up is a good one, which is, coincidentally, almost every single one. Reporter Herb Welch was a character we looked forward to seeing on the regular from 2010–2012 and again in 2014 when Hader hosted the show. The best one has to be when Emma Stone hosted and he could not keep it together while hitting Kristen Wiig with the microphone.

Hollywood Dish

Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader together are magic, and their roles as the hosts of Hollywood Dish are no exception. There is a simplicity about this sketch where we know what's coming, yet we still look forward to Bill throwing a drink in Kristen's face every time. It's the breaking character and laughing uncontrollably for me. The most over-the-top sketch simply based on the amount of things thrown in Kristen's face has to be the third and final sketch when Scarlett Johansson hosted in 2010.

Vincent Price

Ever the amazing impressionist, Hader's Vincent Price was iconic and something to look forward to almost every year from 2005 to 2010. Another opportunity to show off the cast's best impressions, "Vincent Price's Holiday Special" gave us not one but two sketches with host Jon Hamm as James Mason in 2008 and then again as John F. Kennedy two years later.

Laser Cats!

"Laser Cats!" is one of my personal favorite sketch series of all time, ranging from 2006 to 2012, and by that, I mean all seven of them. The first reason is obviously for the cats, and the second is Bill Hader and Andy Samberg being absolutely ridiculous. After this many "Laser Cats!" it begs the question: what famous film director can't they rope into pitching to Lorne?

What's That Name?

"What's That Name?" is not the game show we want, but the one we deserve. Anyone can name popular celebrities, but not necessarily the person whose name you should definitely know. The 2010 sketch with Paul Rudd and Kenan Thompson as "Norman the Doorman" is great, but the 2019 sketch where John Mulaney hosts is "in one word, chaos."

Firehouse Incident

The firehouse sketch is one that could easily be overlooked, but here it is on this list! I believe Bryce's meltdown has resurfaced as a meme that we can all relate to, especially if you too were more than bummed when Don't Trust the B**** in Apartment 23 was canceled 10 years ago.

You're a Rat Bastard, Charlie Brown

The New York Actor's Studio sketch from 2012 left me in stitches; I'm not going to lie, I would watch this play with this cast in a heartbeat. Yes, this was a showcase of every cast member's best celebrity impression, but the Peanuts element added even more to it. Bill Hader as Al Pacino, Martin Short as Larry David, Taran Killam as Michael Keaton—the list goes on. I mean, what else is there to say?

Puppet Class

Bill brought everything to his character, war vet Anthony Peter Coleman, and his puppet, who was essentially just a felt-like version of himself. The puppet class sketch from 2012 was one of the best fish out of water sketches on Saturday Night Live, and we loved every second of it.

Girlfriends Game Night

In 2018, Bill played Horace, Cecily Strong's character's much older husband, who (literally) crashes their girls night. The thing that pushed it over the top was Bill running into and pushing everything across the room with his motorized cart, including Melissa Villasenor, causing everyone to struggle with stifling their laughter.

The Cat in the Hat and Linda

Yet another incredible sketch was delivered during Hader's first time hosting in 2014. The back and forth between the typical playful behavior of the cat and the seriousness of someone who was in a relationship with the children's mother is comedy gold. Aside from the ending, the delivery of the line "Linda" alone makes the sketch great.

Coal Miners (Cut For Time)

I had to include a "Cut for Time" sketch because they are all just too good. "Coal Miners" from 2014 is low-key hilarious, and the absurdity of it all is definitely Bill Hader's strong suit. Levar, the gossipy coal miner, "ain't getting at nothing but his baby carrots."

Alan (Cut For Time)

Another "Cut for Time" sketch that most people have probably seen by now, thanks to the memes. There really wasn't much to the 2015 "Alan" sketch apart from Bill dancing and making funny faces, and that's okay! Sometimes a great sketch doesn't have to make sense, and now, of course, we all want our own "Alan."