Entire generations of artists have taken inspiration from original work they’ve been able to see at the Edinburgh Fringe. But with Britain’s breakaway hit SNL UK shining new light on its comedy talent, we asked some of the show’s writers and stars – all with their own stand-up shows at this year’s Fringe – to pick one personal influence from any of Saturday Night Live’s 50 seasons across the pond.
Chris Cantrill
Maya Rudolph. She was on the show for seven seasons, overlapping with the likes of Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig. She’s also frequently returned in a variety of sketches, perhaps most iconically turning Kamala Harris into America’s Funt!
Despite having no issue at all going big with characters, she’s also capable of adding so much humanity to any role she’s given. Bridesmaids is wall to wall gags but her performance has a real subtle, naturalistic quality that provides emotional grounding, essential for the film.
Even when she’s in a supporting role she still shines like a 1000 watt bulb. I love the look she throws at Andy Samberg and Akiva Schaffer in ‘Sushi Glory Hole’ when they’re repeatedly asking her where she’s going.
Chris Cantrill: Rewilding, Monkey Barrel Comedy (The Tron), until 29 Aug , 12.10pm
Ayo Adenekan
Kristen Wiig. Her longevity in the show is just amazing – she performed at the highest level for seven seasons. She can play weird side characters that get your attention or she can be the main draw of a sketch and she’s consistently delivering. I think her versatility is unmatched and her ability to make characters that maybe aren’t meant to be that funny, the funniest ones on screen, is amazing to me. A highlight for me has to be every time she appeared as Dooneese – iconic. Add to that she’s also a great writer, so I really look up to her.
Ayo Adenekan: Homeland Insecurity, Monkey Barrel Comedy (Cabaret Voltaire), until 30 Aug, 1.30pm
Larry Dean
Bill Hader. There’s so many to pick from SNL, but one of my biggest inspirations has been Bill Hader. His impressions and characters are incredible, but what always stands out is how grounded they are. Even in the most ridiculous sketches, there’s a truth to what he’s doing that makes them funnier. Or in an impression of his, he’ll have found something about the person that’s been staring us all in the face, but he seems to be the only one who’s noticed. As someone who came from stand-up, I also admire how seamlessly he moved between sketch, acting and writing without ever losing his own voice. He has taught me that you can keep evolving while staying unmistakably yourself.
Larry Dean: Hellbent, Pleasance Courtyard, until 30 Aug, 6.30pm
Joseph Moore
Andy Samberg. It never aired in New Zealand, where I’m from, so Andy Samberg basically introduced me to SNL via YouTube in 2006 – in the golden days when SNL wasn’t officially posted there but you could reliably find a bootleg version of The Lonely Island digital shorts. It blew my mind that there were these sketches with millions of views that didn’t look dissimilar to the stupid things I would make with my friends on camcorders in Wellington – just approx a hundred times funnier. I never stopped loving them, still listen to them like a normal person listens to normal music. Best of all – a shared love of The Lonely Island was instrumental in forming Two Hearts, my comedy duo with Laura Daniel. Andy Samberg taught me to stop trying to be a sincere musician, and I’ll always thank him for that.
Two Hearts: Don’t Stop Throbbing, Pleasance Courtyard, until 30 Aug, 9.30pm
Bella Hull
Bill Hader. Can you even talk about SNL without talking about Bill Hader? The characters, the faces, the costumes, the accents – Hader’s contributions to SNL are seared in my grey matter. If I had a locket, inside would be Stefon. I’ve even been known to quote Stefon in my sleep.
“New York’s hottest club is”. Five words! And yet the jokes were endless and evergreen. I’d have loved to be in the room as they crafted each of those features. They’re like fever dreams: surreal, outlandish, ridiculous – yet they captured a person, a place, an attitude so totally.
Bella Hull: Mad Cow Disease, Monkey Barrel Comedy, until 30 Aug, 12.30pm
Jonno Johnson
Seth Meyers. I’m gonna say former head writer (and ‘Weekend Update’ host) Seth Meyers. He was head writer during my favourite bit of the US show. The hit rate during that stretch is so high. Also he kindly read our very first Starmer sketch before our first show and texted me a genuinely dynamite one liner that I put right into the script and it got a really big laugh, to be fair to the lad. He was the first person I met after I got the job here and he was really kind and gave me a comic book I really like. He also made fun of me a bunch but I think it was in good spirit. He’s sort of a hero of mine, I guess. Well done, Seth Meyers. You did it.
Jonno: Here Comes Mr Funny, Monkey Barrel Comedy, until 30 Aug, 7.10pm