Top 10 Times SNL Cast Members Who NEVER Break Broke

These "SNL" cast members NEVER break. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most hilarious moments where “SNL” cast members, renowned for their unwavering composure, couldn't help but break character. Our countdown includes Vanessa Bayer, Heidi Gardner, Beck Bennett, and more! What other seemingly unbreakable “SNL” cast members have lost their composure in a sketch? Let us know YOUR favorites in the comments below!
Watch more great "SNL" videos here:
Top 10 SNL Sketches That Broke the Whole Cast - • Top 10 SNL Sketches Th...
Top 20 Times SNL Hosts Broke Character - • Top 20 Times SNL Hosts...
Top 10 Times Cecily Strong Broke Character on SNL - • Top 10 Times Cecily St...
Don't forget to play our Live Trivia games at 3pm EST for a chance to win cash! The faster you answer, the more points you get!: www.watchmojo.com/play
Have Your Idea Become A Video!
wmojo.com/msmojo-suggest
Subscribe for more great content!
wmojo.com/msmojo-subscribe
MsMojo is a leading producer of reference online video content of Top 10 Lists, Origins, Biographies, Commentary and more on Pop Culture, Celebrity, Movies, Music, TV, Film, Video Games, Politics, News, Comics, Superheroes. Your trusted authority on ranking Pop Culture.
#SNL #Breaking #SaturdayNightLive #Comedy #Sketches

[@MsMojo]

What other seemingly unbreakable “SNL” cast members have lost their composure in a sketch? Let us know below, and be sure to also check out our video of the Top 20 Times SNL Hosts Broke Character - kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3OteZZtoap_mqs

[@valcole09]

For future videos I suggest less voice over and less explanation. It took away from the amusement and I wasn't able to finish the video. Just a suggestion.

[@donnywilliamson5807]

If they broke once then you CANNOT say they never break. Chang it to almost never breaks

[@MikeCoggan]

The Chris Farley "living in a van down by the river" sketch

[@thereallg4587]

*Heidi breaking character in the beavis and butthead skit made it way better.*

[@davidanderson4543]

I can't believe she actually had seen them in costume already because she breaks as soon as she sees them and I died!

[@random_hero_88]

Meh.. The sketch would've been better without it.

[@courve]

@@random_hero_88it was a mid sketch at best without it. That’s why it got pitched for over 5 years and was never selected until now.

[@random_hero_88]

@@courve Nah, I can't agree with that. It would've been better without her laughing at butthead. I don't mind breaking character, but damn, not for that long.

[@johncook9392]

Agree, the skit was so good because of all the breaking!

[@jimmyplenderleith9471]

Chris Parnell didnt break in that video....that dude NEVER broke, NOT ONCE.

[@atkingofhearts]

Nearly frame by frame and I cannot see "the smile" he cracked.

[@wyattangle]

I've rewatched #1 (the real #1, mind you) and I cannot see where Parnell breaks. Not even for a nanosecond. So if he truly does, it's for the briefest of moments...

[@hollylofland4569]

SAME.

[@satiashaw1857]

Me too

[@raidenwave4219]

me three. this top ten is so fake it had its own episode on the kardashians.

[@archiesto4444]

This is why I moved to comments because I agree, I cannot see it either.

[@davidc9256]

Agreed. He didn't.

[@theyinyang1103]

The Beavis and Butthead skit was made so much funnier by all the character breaks. That entire episode was character break night.

[@robertwheeler8994]

I watched it live and if someone didn't laugh when Beavis showed up on screen there is something wrong.

[@napoearth]

No, it wasn't. It was pathetic and looked like amateur hour. It was clever up until they were all laughing about nothing.

[@KeizerHedorah]

The breaks were literally part of the sketch and that's sad, but people like you are proof that it works so they succeeded I guess. I can imagine Lorne in his unique voice literally saying "the audience likes when you laugh so like, let's add more of that"

[@morganbear4305]

I'm sorry, but whenever Bill Hader broke, (a lot) Fred Armisen broke (a lot)

[@Horus175]

Jimmy Fallon would laugh on purpose and try to pass it off as him "breaking".

[@augustinensang3109]

Even if Chris Parnell cracked a smile, he was still super good at hiding it.

[@zorawarsinghjammuwale]

Armisen is one of my favourites but he used to break every other sketch. Californians, garth and kat, kissing family, that doormen sketch. And all of these sketches are better because of Fred breaking character

[@anastasiavanessa7100]

right he’s more so known for breaking character rather than never breaking

[@camisavage3504]

I was just about to say…during that Debbie Downer Disney sketch alone he broke many times. 😂

[@ForrestFuller]

@@camisavage3504 He was tamed during the Debber Downer Disney sketch (only really smiling a bit).

[@Tepenahs]

Vanessa Bayer breaking character is a relief. I almost thought she wasn’t human.

[@ScooterOnHisWay2024]

She is such a cutie.

[@Jona-cn3le]

There are only a few sketches where she breaks. Jpop America now, the Californians, and a sketch with Ariana Grande.

[@livvyb3583]

How Jason Sudeikis kept his composure during the regine skit is a feat in itself, especially when all the other actors broke character! One of my favorite skits!

[@fayesouthall6604]

I love that scene

[@COMPFUNK2]

Melissa Villaseñor was on SNL for six seasons yet she always seemed to be relegated to featured player-type roles; she was like the new Abby Elliott.

[@moose656]

Jimmy Fallon at number one? Really? Edit: AAHHH, YOU GOT ME GOOD!

[@NemesisTomato]

Yeah, it got me, too!

[@DarkSeraph351]

​@@NemesisTomatoI stopped the video

[@jennyfab312]

Yeah I was ready to type "Fallon breaks at himself breathing!!"

[@Ameno06]

Jason Sudeikis?

[@nonabliss]

I didn't see Parnell break at all in that sketch.

[@Ecirdo81]

I already knew Chris Parnell was going to be number 1 on the list before I even hit the play button. But I didn't see a smile at all. As for that Jimmy Fellon gap, was 1 second away from turning the video off in disgust lol

[@lenevee4925]

Sorry, but it didn't look like Parnell broke character, even when he looked down. I guess his nickname should remain The Iceman.

[@rodrigoc.4968]

What?? Fred Armisen did it a lot

[@MarquisDeSacks]

IKR?!

[@Sleepinghobbit]

I love Fred Armison because he was infamous for breaking character. "The Kissing Family" always comes to mind, when he and Kristen play the couple that "sing" those ridiculous songs to Seth Meyers.

[@weallknowwho]

Mikey Day's break in Beavis and Butthead was so much better than the Try Guys sketch.

[@TrevorCopter]

A lot of credit for Kenan’s break goes to the puppeteer selling the realistic pain inflicted on Statler 😂😂😂😂

[@keren.icehand]

Chris parnell is AMAZING!😂💜

[@Ciclopea2]

Even Rachel Dratch could've been on that list when she played Debbie Downer, i don't remember her really losing it except with that one character lol

[@TheTelfordBaller]

The best Fred Armisen breaking character sketch is the "Alexi and Renaldo" sketch.. him and Bill Hader absolutely lost it during that one

[@lw3269]

Love Mikey Day. He usually holds it together but hilariously lost it during the dog head man sketch.

[@walecomo]

Beavis and Butthead will forever be my favorite now lol

[@lfv3709]

Did anyone see Chris Parnell crack a smile?! Did they get him mixed up with Will Ferrell, because he definitely did then composed himself.

[@bridgethaines7127]

Literally everyone breaking during the Pedro Pascal dinner sketch was the best

[@Buggy-su4oy]

Chris Parnell needs to host the show.

[@earlthomas6295]

Vanessa Bayer also broke briefly in a Californians sketch when she tried to spray windex on the window and somebody kept the bottle closed.

[@chasehlee7197]

Fred consistently laughs when he’s with Bill Hader.

[@stingrey1571]

i heard an interview from parnell. dude took it personally when others broke.

[@manofthehour6856]

I honestly feel that SNL just goes from strength to strength with such amazing players in recent years, most of whom are listed here. The women are exceptional (Vanessa Bayer, Aidy Bryant, Cecile Strong, Kate McKinnon, Heidi Gardner) and go toe-to-toe with the guys, while Beck Bennett, Mikey Day, Keenan Thompson, Bill Hader are all such exceptionally talented and professional performers. I've enjoyed SNL more in recent years with these come and gone cast members more than at any point in the past. They just rock it at 30 Rock. And despite all being exceptional comic actors, I can see dramatic talent along the lines of Dan Ackroyd....one of my favorite roles that he has played is as Jessica Tandy's son in "Driving Miss Daisy". Lorne Michaels always comes across as exciting as a wood board, but his ability to recognize and nurture talent is remarkable.

[@mellowyellow1158]

I'd say Will Forte but he never broke

[@davidc9256]

With all his ridiculous facial expressions you'd never know it if he did

[@jaxonjaxoff3291]

Norm MacDonald NEVER broke. I don’t think he has ever broke

[@Jona-cn3le]

No, je has. At least in a sketch with Heather locklear.

[@GoTron88]

Gotta love all the comments about Fallon. Maybe watch the video to the end before comments! lol

[@michaelwakeham3404]

My fav was the whole table during the Lisa from Temecula skit wen she said “cause we’re black” that was comedy gold

[@mikewritz]

8:25, she saw him in his butthead getup at dress rehearsal but not full on with the prosthetics showing his gums.

[@COMPFUNK2]

Victoria Jackson broke character in a sketch where Tom Hanks had to keep from saying everything twice. Phil Hartman broke character during a brief appearance on weekend update when he said standard “fire bad” as Frankenstein-BTW, it’s hard to believe that after all these decades, SNL still doesn’t understand that Frankenstein is the name of the doctor, not the monster (the monster doesn’t have a name).

[@dianahb0]

Actually tne monster does have a name (Adam). But yeah, everyone calls him Frankenstein.

[@COMPFUNK2]

@@dianahb0 Actually, the monster referred to himself as “the Adam of your labors“, but that doesn’t equal his name.

[@Jona-cn3le]

You know, will forte also never broke.

[@manxkin]

Can’t say that I agree with your picks. Fred Armison and Jimmy Fallon would break character all the time!

[@catrobertsverser]

That Beavis and Butthead sketch sent me into a giggling fit the second I saw Ryan Gosling on screen as Beavis; Mikey Day as Butthead only really added fuel to the fire in a hilarious fashion, and the character breaks really just got more explosive.

[@TheMeanderingduck6]

You should've just called this "Everyone from the late 2010s cast breaking character"

[@ChristianTSullivan]

Well played. I was halfway into writing a diatribe about Jimmy Fallon. You win, Ms. Mojo. You always do!

[@nathanwarzecha2943]

I'd like to know how all of the background audience members stayed completely straight-faced during the Beavis & Butthead skit.

[@davidc9256]

Because this skit itself wasn't that funny. The breaking part made it funny.

[@leesashriber5097]

Absolutely loved this!! It's the best when you see them trying to hold back the laughter 😂😂 Thank you!😊

[@corgeousgeorge]

I was here for the Beavis and butthead sketch with Heidi Gardner. I was like "oh they gotta do that one, Heidi NEVER breaks, except here"

[@canuckster24]

Don't know why Mikey Day wasn't included in that one as well, he broke more than dog man or try guys

[@Buggy-su4oy]

When Eddie came on as Gumby and he starting insulting Colin and Michael he gets the giggles...if only briefly.

[@jennyfab312]

Number one landed with a thud. That wasn't a break at all? Who did this list?

[@Skinnyd4]

When I saw Jimmy Fallon, I was like, "Wait, what?" Well played, Ms. Mojo!

[@stayhappylittlemermaid]

Bad days come sometimes just to remind you that you have plenty of good ones to look forward to.

[@jamesburke1019]

Parnell, Nasim, Forte and Vanessa are the Mt Rushmore of keeping it together. Vanessa did waver for Regine but gets a pass for the high volume of other skits when everyone else was losing it and she was the rock.

[@mcsilustrador]

What are you talking about?! Jimmy Fallon ALWAYS break character! ALWAYS!

[@lanaturner5435]

These all great! Regine is just too much woman ;-)

[@stingrey1571]

fred armisen brooked in an an unaired sketch with jamie foxx as a doorman.

[@ninjacowboy]

Do the reverse of this!

[@bhickman6]

Had me until No. 1. Jimmy Fallon always entered a scene just to laugh at himself. I always felt sorry for writers when Fallon was in the sketch.

[@jyotsnaangeline1370]

Mikey day broke in the dog skit with Sam Rockwell... you could have used that example for mikey as well

[@KarateEMouse]

I used to watch kyle and Beck back in the day on thier youtube channel before snl they were always funny

[@tiananesbitt7156]

😅 I wouldn’t do well at all if I said those lines!

[@ralphaeluriondo2593]

Nah Mikey Days kryptonite was a dog eating a ham sandwich

[@EdwardFregoso]

The tryguys sketch is still not funny

[@NukaNerd]

Define "broke"

[@jessica.m.brooks]

Definitely got me with the Jimmy Fallon 🤣

[@Margit-rn3te]

Kyle Mooney is hilarious

[@odinsahn7648]

Jimmy Fallon broke character in almost every sketch! so much so, that Tracy Morgan hated him for it. The whole point is to maintain composure as much as possible. Heidi breaking though, that was incredible and made it better.

[@kyriakoschrist]

Bill Hader broke all the time and everyone loves him. I dont get the Fallon hate

[@odinsahn7648]

@@kyriakoschrist Bill Hader is way funnier and immensley more talented than Fallon and therefore has a right to break. Fallon broke when someone said "Hi"

[@kyriakoschrist]

@@odinsahn7648 the double standards though. Its literally the same thing. You just don't like the person. Not that he breaks. Just say so.

[@odinsahn7648]

@@kyriakoschrist There are double standards and therefore I will embrace them in this situation. Fallon is not funny and Hader is and therefore treatment will differ.

[@damianmedina5039]

Great April fools joke on number one, almost lost me

[@samuelcollantes1175]

Of course i agree. Happy saturday morning, Jen. Take care and God bless you. Greetings from Colombia to you as well.

[@justineves3588]

Very very great epic fun lol very funny list I like it a lot very very great job mis mojo one of my absolute favorite list ever 😊❤

[@missoctober8859]

smiling slightly isn't breaking.

[@alexc.7375]

A cast member breaking can save a terrible sketch.

[@martinblanckblog]

What? Jimmy Fallon always broke

[@DayGloClam]

Am I the only one who thinks Chris Parnell looks like Will Ferrell?

[@fuzzycublb]

THAT is what made Mikey Day break?? There had to be something going on off camera that made him laugh.

[@missladyanonymity]

Break broke? What? Who wrote the title?

[@GeoffreyToday]

What would be nice is actually seeing the breaks instead of just being told about them. Like, you're already showing clips from the sketches, why not show the actual character breaks?

[@Brawndo2008]

10:44 "Her body is like a harp that only I know how to play" is something that I'm going to use from now on lol.

[@COMPFUNK2]

6:43-6:46 - If Kenan “may slip up sometimes“, he doesn’t qualify for this list.

[@VanMoona]

Idk. Most of the SNL cast lasts 5-8 seasons, but Kenan Thompson has been on, what 20 seasons? In that many years and hundreds of sketches perhaps it's why they let him in??

[@danismithmn]

I hope the joke was that Fallon broke character all the time

[@buuubble_gum]

I'll admit it: I was going to light up the comments in flames 😂

[@ad8554]

Key will break anyone

[@user-ub9ij7ed8b]

I haven't watched this yet but I'm pretty sure Hader is NOT one of the 10 🤣

[@dgoins6]

I don't remember Dan Aykroyld, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, or Bill Murray ever breaking character on SNL. I could be wrong.

[@shariguthrie4511]

John Belushi and Gilda Radner broke character during the Coneheads meet the Farbers sketch, when Dan, Jane and Laraine went to jump out the window and Jane tripped. The first cast will always be the best, imo (Phil Hartman too)

[@robconway370]

Why would you have a list about cast members breaking and then not show them actually breaking?

[@manchesterunitedno7]

You guys just showing it at the end of this video. As far as I remember, I never see Nasim Pedrad breaks character. And I watch a lot of SNL sketches as long as YT existence.

[@melizmatea]

Obviously whoever put this together doesn't actually watch SNL because Jimmy Fallon was actually known FOR breaking in sketches. He did it all the time. He did it so much that it wasn't funny anymore, it felt like he almost did it on purpose to get a cheap laugh. And it also started to feel unprofessional. It used to annoy me so much. I couldn't understand why he was even on the show anymore eventually.

[@Enr227]

I didn't see Fred Armisen break. ?

[@user-cm5tx6fp1v]

What a disappointing #1, He didn't break.

[@Buggy-su4oy]

In the Halsey episode where Blackface is discussed and Andrew's character talks about what he was Kenan almost cracks up.

[@gerardstephens58]

Insomnia cured

[@metelgodful]

Who never break broke that doesn't make sense did then you said never breaks character that would have been a better title then break broke

[@theronaldophotography4971]

Mikey Day is a legend of SNL!

[@craiggie1628]

If it hasn't already been done, it'd be great to have a list of times when only one cast member or performer didn't break (even if they were only a background character) while everyone else around them did. In addition to the ones briefly mentioned in the above video, it could include: 1. Cecily Strong in the "Close Encounter" sketch where Ryan Gosling infamously loses it, but so does everyone else, except Cecily. 2. Fred Armisen in "Debbie Downer" with Ben Affleck. Ben was laughing so hard, he could only squeak out his lines. Everyone was cracking up except Fred, who kept a straight face. 3. Molly Shannon in a Mary Katherine Gallagher Christmas skit with Rosie O'Donnell, Whitney Houston, and Penny Marshall. Rosie and Whitney got the giggles but Molly maintained a dead serious face. 4. Vanessa Bayer in the Price is Right-style skit where Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, and Bill Hader got the giggles.

[@raspyswirly]

No mention of the "New Studio" skit, I guess, since it was cut for time and goes dark in its humor, but Taran, Kenan, Vanessa, AND Ariana Grande all break on it, it's pretty good

[@alexistrebexis3195]

There was no “subtle break” at all in Chris Parnell’s performance in that skit. So yea, thumbs down for just being completely wrong I guess.

[@Canadianvoice]

April fools joke?

[@emilyhartmann1794]

Fallon broke at literally every sketch. Giving him #1 was dumb

[@jaclynholland-strauss7054]

Watch it again.

[@CringerKitty]

How can Aidy Bryant with the behind the scenes person interrupting not be on this list?!

[@volvo850rex]

jimmy fallon always broke during sketches

[@auntie.histamine]

fallon broke all the time. huh???

[@missbaycj]

i think most cast, including mikey, heidi, keenan, beck, kyle and will ferrell break in the cut for time "cast list", wonder why this sketch was not included in this list for them, its so hilarious watching everyone breaking,,😆

[@floorticket]

Not sure if she left on bad terms w/ Lorne but I'd love it if Vanessa came back and hosted.