1990s-Era 'SNL' Star Chris Parnell Voted 'Most Underrated Cast Member' in Show's History

As expected from any show that's been on as long as Saturday Night Live,NBC's hit sketch comedy series has helped some of the biggest names in comedy get their start in the mainstream entertainment industry.

Whether looking at early cast members like John Belushi and Bill Murray or more recent breakout stars like Bill Hader and Maya Rudolph, SNL has long featured some of the most talented comics working today.

Of course, with literally dozens of comedians joining the series' cast list at some point in time, it's fair to assume some of SNL's more standout cast members have sadly failed to gain the recognition they rightfully deserve.

In a recent poll from Vulture, 65 cast members and writers who worked at SNL shared their thoughts on the show's most under-utilized players. In tallying the votes, Vulture found that '90s-era SNL star Chris Parnell and 2010s cast member Tim Robinson were definitively ranked as the show's most underrated cast members of all time.

A mainstay on SNL from his initial appearance in 1998 to his eventual departure in 2006, Parnell was often cast in buffoonish straight man roles that clashed humorously well with some of SNL's more outlandish cast members at the time.

As Vulture wrote of the comedian, Parnell served as something of "a thankless workhorse and under-the-radar MVP."

"Jerry Minor describes him as a performer 'who could do it all but was also content to do 'what was asked of him," the outlet continued.

In contrast, Robinson's popularity more directly aligned with his widespread popularity for his various post-SNL ventures, including his sketch comedy series I Think You Should Leave and the more recent surreal mystery series, The Chair Company.

Trailing by just one vote behind the two was influential 2000s-era talent Will Forte, who many fans agree is among the most underrated performers Saturday Night Live has ever featured.

"Will Forte is the most underrated cast member ever," one fan shared on Reddit. "I'll die on this hill."

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This story was originally published April 14, 2026 at 10:47 AM.