Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches introduced 1989–90

The following is a list of recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches introduced between September 24, 1989, and May 19, 1990, the fifteenth season of SNL.

Lank Thompson

Mike Myers played Lank Thompson in three different sketches. Thompson was a very handsome man who marketed a line of videos to help men look and act more handsomely. Debuted October 21, 1989.

Appearances
Season Episode Host Notes
15October 21, 1989Kathleen TurnerLank Thompson: I'm a Handsome Man
16February 23, 1991Alec BaldwinLank Thompson: I'm a Handsome Actor
17April 18, 1992Jerry SeinfeldLank Thompson: I'm a Handsome Black Man

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

A parody of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, with Dana Carvey impersonating Johnny Carson and Phil Hartman impersonating Ed McMahon.

Appearances
Season Episode Host Notes
15October 28, 1989James Woods
15January 20, 1990Christopher Walken
15May 19, 1990Candice Bergen
16October 27, 1990Patrick Swayze
16May 18, 1991George WendtThe Carsenio Show
17October 5, 1991Jeff Daniels
17May 16, 1992Woody Harrelson
20October 22, 1994Dana CarveyThe OJ Trial

Lyle the Effeminate Heterosexual

An effeminate character played by Dana Carvey who needs to convince others that he is not gay. Debuted November 11, 1989.

Appearances
Season Episode Host Notes
15November 11, 1989Chris Evert
17March 21, 1992Mary Stuart Masterson

Annoying Man

Portrayed by Jon Lovitz, he spoke in a high-pitched nasal voice and did annoying things in front of Weekend Update's Dennis Miller, such as chewing with his mouth open, or scratching a fork across a slate chalkboard. These sketches often ended with Lovitz saying something in a calm, cultured, refined tone; for example, "You don't have to yell" or "I love you." Debuted November 11, 1989.

Appearances
Season Episode Host Notes
15November 11, 1989Chris Evert
15December 2, 1989John Goodman
15January 20, 1990Christopher Walken
15February 24, 1990Fred Savage
15March 17, 1990Rob Lowe
15May 12, 1990Andrew Dice Clay
16December 15, 1990Dennis Quaid

Singing Cowboys

A Dana Carvey and Phil Hartman sketch.

Appearances
Season Episode Host Notes
15November 18, 1989Woody Harrelson
16September 29, 1990Kyle MacLachlan
16March 23, 1991Jeremy Irons
17January 11, 1992Rob Morrow
17May 16, 1992Woody Harrelson

Hanukkah Harry

Jon Lovitz plays a Jewish variation of Santa Claus. Debuted December 16, 1989.

Appearances
Season Episode Host Notes
15December 16, 1989Andie MacDowell
15April 14, 1990Corbin Bernsen

The Continental

Christopher Walken plays a self-imagined ladies' man. Debuted January 20, 1990.

Appearances
Season Episode Host Notes
15January 20, 1990Christopher Walken
18October 24, 1992Christopher Walken
21January 13, 1996Christopher Walken
25April 8, 2000Christopher Walken
26May 19, 2001Christopher Walken
28February 22, 2003Christopher Walken

Middle-Aged Man

Mike Myers portrays Ed Miles, a nominal superhero in late middle age whose superpower is elder wisdom; he solves young adults' mundane life problems. Chris Farley plays Miles's sidekick, Drinking Buddy. Each episode features a full theme song and introduction, with Don Pardo announcing the episode's title. Debuted April 21, 1990.

Appearances
Season Episode Host Notes
15April 21, 1990Alec Baldwin
16October 20, 1990George Steinbrenner
16May 18, 1991George Wendt

References

  1. ↑ "Character | Lank Thompson". SNL Archives. 31 March 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ↑ "Sketch | I'm a Handsome Man". SNL Archives. 31 March 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ↑ Bashian, Lori (2025-12-17). "Johnny Carson made dignified exit from 'Tonight Show' after enduring years of 'SNL' mockery". Fox News. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  4. ↑ Saturday Night Live (2013-10-02). Lyle, the Effeminate Heterosexual - Saturday Night Live. Retrieved 2026-03-31 – via YouTube.
  5. ↑ "The best (& worst) LGBTQ+ sketches in 'Saturday Night Live' history". Out Magazine. 2025-02-16. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  6. ↑ "John Lovitz: Various - Alan Cranston - Annoying Man". IMDB. 31 March 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ↑ "Character | Annoying Man". SNL Archive. 31 March 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ↑ Saturday Night Live (2013-10-08). We're Cowboys and We're Proud - Saturday Night Live. Retrieved 2026-03-31 – via YouTube.
  9. ↑ Saturday Night Live (Ft. Dana Carvey, Phil Hartman & Woody Harrelson) – Three Very Lonesome Cowboys, retrieved 2026-03-31
  10. ↑ Yousuf, Imaan (31 March 2026). "Who is Hanukkah Harry?". Britannica.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ↑ Neil Gale, Ph.d., In Business Management (2018-11-20). "The Digital Research Library of Illinois History Journal™ : The Night Hanukkah Harry Saved Christmas". The Digital Research Library of Illinois History Journal™. Retrieved 2026-03-31. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ↑ "Sketch | The Continental". SNL Archives. 31 March 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ↑ Saturday Night Live (2013-09-25). Middle Aged Man - Saturday Night Live. Retrieved 2026-03-31 – via YouTube.
  14. ↑ "Sketch | Middle-Aged Man". SNL Archives. 31 March 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
Preceded by
Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches introduced 1988-89
Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches (listed chronologically) Succeeded by
Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches introduced 1990-91