The 7 Most Viral Saturday Night Live Videos Of 2024 And The Massive Season 51 Cast Shakeup

The landscape of late-night comedy has undergone a significant transformation, with Saturday Night Live (SNL) videos dominating social media feeds and YouTube trending pages. As of today, December 17, 2025, the buzz is all about the massive cast overhaul for Season 51 and the sketches from the past year that defined the cultural conversation. The show's enduring success lies in its ability to produce short, sharp, and highly shareable video content that instantly captures the zeitgeist, turning a single sketch into a viral phenomenon almost every week.

The transition into the new season has seen a wave of fresh talent join the ranks, signaling a new era for the iconic sketch comedy show. Fans are eagerly dissecting the new cast members’ debut performances and revisiting the most popular clips that kept us laughing throughout 2024, from politically charged parodies to bizarre, character-driven pieces. The videos produced by SNL are no longer just for Saturday night—they are the backbone of Monday morning water-cooler talk across the internet.

The New Faces and Returning Icons: SNL Season 51 Cast Profile

The shift into Season 51 of Saturday Night Live (2025) has been marked by one of the most significant cast shakeups in recent memory. The show, helmed by creator Lorne Michaels, introduced five new featured players, injecting fresh energy into the ensemble. This change ensures that the new batch of SNL videos will feature a wide array of new characters and impressions.

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The Five New Featured Players for Season 51

These new additions are the future stars of the show, bringing unique comedic voices to the table. Their performances will be critical to the next generation of viral Saturday Night Live videos:

• Tommy Brennan: Known for his sharp observational humor and stand-up background, Brennan is expected to fill the void left by recent departures, specializing in dry, witty characters.
• Jeremy Culhane: A skilled improviser, Culhane’s addition suggests a focus on more surreal and character-heavy sketches, a staple of modern SNL success.
• Ben Marshall: Joining the cast as a featured player, Marshall is a rising star in the New York comedy scene, known for his unique stage presence and off-kilter delivery.
• Kam (Full Name Pending): Kam's background, often rooted in digital shorts and online content, makes her a perfect fit for sketches designed to go viral as SNL videos.
• Ashley Padilla: A powerhouse performer whose addition was finalized for the 2025 season, bringing a strong comedic presence to the ensemble.

The Season 51 Veterans and Ensemble Core

The new players join a robust group of returning veterans and established stars whose impressions and recurring characters are essential to the show’s success and the popularity of its videos. The stability provided by these performers is crucial for the weekly production schedule.

• Kenan Thompson: The longest-running cast member, Thompson remains the anchor of the show, known for his versatility and iconic impressions.
• Bowen Yang: A fan favorite whose unique characters and "Weekend Update" appearances consistently generate some of the most shared SNL videos.
• Colin Jost & Michael Che: The duo continues to helm the "Weekend Update" segment, which remains one of the most popular sources of clips and topical commentary.
• Mikey Day: Known for his strong impressions and commitment to absurd characters.
• Chloe Fineman: A master of impressions, Fineman’s celebrity parodies are a guaranteed source of viral content.
• Andrew Dismukes: Continues to impress with his quirky, Southern-inflected characters.
• Sarah Sherman: Her unique, abrasive, and high-energy style ensures her segments are always memorable and highly discussed online.
• Marcello Hernandez & Jane Wickline: Both returning from their successful debuts, their chemistry, especially in "Weekend Update" bits like "The Couple You Can't Believe Are Together," ensures continued viral success.
• James Austin Johnson: His uncanny political impressions, particularly his portrayal of Donald Trump, are a cornerstone of the show's political commentary videos.

The Anatomy of a Viral SNL Video: Why They Dominate Social Media

The secret to the modern success of Saturday Night Live videos is their perfect adaptation to the digital age. Unlike the 1990s, where viewers had to wait for a rerun, today's sketches are immediately segmented, optimized, and uploaded to YouTube and social platforms within minutes of airing. This strategy capitalizes on the immediate cultural relevance of the content.

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A viral SNL clip typically possesses a few key traits:

• Topical Relevance: Sketches that parody major political figures (like the "Trump Sneakers" bit) or current events are instant hits.
• Relatable Characters: Bits like "Parking Lot Altercation" or "Shrimp Tower" resonate because they tap into common, awkward, or ridiculous social situations.
• Musical/Digital Short Format: Videos that mimic music videos or short films, often featuring catchy songs or high production value, are easily shared across platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
• Star Power: The presence of a high-profile host, such as Ariana Grande in a bachelorette party sketch, guarantees millions of views.

The show's YouTube channel, with millions of subscribers, acts as the primary distribution hub, ensuring that every piece of content—from the "Weekend Update" highlights to the monologue of a host like Josh O'Connor—reaches a global audience instantly.

The Top 7 Must-Watch SNL Videos That Defined 2024

The year 2024 was filled with sketch comedy gold, with several Saturday Night Live videos racking up millions of views and dominating online conversations. These clips are essential viewing for anyone wanting to understand the show’s latest comedic trajectory and the talent of the current ensemble.

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1. "Shrimp Tower"

A bizarre and highly quotable sketch that quickly became a fan favorite. Its absurdity and commitment to a simple, ridiculous premise made it a perfect candidate for a viral meme.

2. "Trump Sneakers"

This political parody, featuring the impression of former President Donald Trump, was a major talking point. It expertly satirized a real-life event, demonstrating the show's continued relevance in political satire.

3. "Parking Lot Altercation"

A sketch that captured the awkward tension of a minor real-world confrontation. The relatable premise and strong character work made it instantly shareable, proving that simple ideas can often be the most successful SNL videos.

4. "Sábado Gigante"

This sketch, a hilarious parody of the long-running Spanish-language variety show, showcased the diverse cultural references now being embraced by the SNL writers' room.

5. "School Hypnotist"

An example of a classic SNL format—a simple setup that spirals into chaos. The physical comedy and escalating absurdity were key to its popularity as a standalone clip.

6. "Domingo" / Bachelorette Party Sketch

The bachelorette party sketch, often associated with a host like Ariana Grande, was a major viral hit, known for its sharp writing and memorable musical number. It's a prime example of how celebrity hosts can elevate a sketch into a global phenomenon.

7. "New York City Council Campaign"

A more localized, yet universally funny, political satire. It highlights the show's ability to find humor in bureaucratic and local politics, with the character performances driving the comedy.

The Future of Saturday Night Live Videos: Digital Dominance

As Saturday Night Live moves further into Season 51, the focus on digital distribution will only intensify. The show's success is now intrinsically linked to the performance of its videos on platforms like YouTube, where a single clip can garner more views than the live broadcast itself. The new cast members—Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Ben Marshall, Kam, and Ashley Padilla—are poised to be the next generation of viral stars.

The blend of veteran stability from performers like Kenan Thompson and Bowen Yang, combined with the fresh, social-media-savvy energy of the newcomers, suggests that the next wave of SNL videos will continue to push boundaries, generate headlines, and dominate the online comedy landscape for years to come. Fans should keep an eye on "Weekend Update" segments, especially those featuring Marcello Hernandez and Jane Wickline, as they remain a consistent source of top-tier, shareable content.