The Women of Late ‘90s ‘Saturday Night Live’ Are Having a Moment

During the late ’90s, something incredible came to be at Saturday Night Live. For what was arguably the first time, or at least since the show’s inception in the ’70s, the female cast members started to gain just as much traction as the men on the show (if not more, tbh). They were just as consistent, just as funny, and just as necessary.

This was led by Molly Shannon and Cheri Oteri who both landed on the show in 1995, Ana Gasteyer who joined the cast in 1996, and Rachel Dratch who came on board in 1999, the same year Tina Fey was named head writer. These women were part of some of the most iconic sketches of the show: Schweddy Balls, Mary Katherine Gallagher, Spartan Cheerleaders, Marty and Bobbi Culp, and always last but not least, Debbie Downer. These sketches will be remembered fondly by viewers for making them laugh, but also for paving the way for the next generation of women at SNL: the Amy Poehlers and the Kristen Wiigs and the Kate McKinnons.

But now, roughly 20 years later, the women of late 90s Saturday Night Live are truly having a moment. They’re involved with projects that speak to them, that make them laugh (and pass those laughs on to viewers) and are garnering the mass and critical acclaim these funny ladies so deserve.

Cheri Oteri has recently appeared on Scream Queens and Those Who Can’t on truTV, the network that also serves as the home of Rachel Dratch’s Late Night Snack, a weekly series which features tons of hilarious comedy segments. Dratch has also been seen on Inside Amy Schumer, Broad City, and Hulu’s Difficult People in the last year, continuing to always be a friendly, familiar face in comedy.

Ana Gasteyer has also found quite a groove lately, with roles on The Goldbergs, Netflix’s Lady Dynamite, and the hit TBS comedy People of Earth. Plus, she’s popped in to guest host Live with Kelly, and released an album of songs called I’m Hip, which she frequently performs around New York City. Safe to say, this lady’s staying as busy as she is funny.

But the woman that has surprised us the most in the last year is Molly Shannon. She starred as Sarah Jessica Parker’s eccentric friend Diane in HBO’s Divorce. She was simultaneously a supportive pal and wacky wife, bringing a lot of color and laughs to a show that was no stranger to bleak moments. Her character was a true highlight of the show, providing moments of levity and caring, when she wasn’t causing a scene, of course.

Which brings us to indie film Other People, written and directed by current co-head writer of SNL, Chris Kelly. Based on true events from his life, Shannon stars as a mother dying of cancer and living her last days surrounded by those she loves most. There’s a reason why the phrase “Oscar buzz” has been associated with this performance. In every moment as Joanne, she is heartbreaking, sweet, magical, and devastating. Her smiles and her frowns carry so much more emotion than any average movement of facial muscles. It’s a role that is special anyway, but to see her in it, and how spectacular she is, is especially moving and exciting. It’s also proof that while it’s been a few years since we hung out with these gals every Saturday night, their careers continue to blossom and grow into new territories, while their roots remain in comedy.

Just as these women paved the way for future ladies to shine in a Saturday Night Live cast, they are carving out their own unique career paths. There’s a reason why their sketches made us laugh, and it’s the same reason they’re still making us giggle, and even sob, today: they are genuine talents. Now, even more so than when they originally left the cast of SNL, we can’t wait to see what’s in store for these fantastic female performers.

Watch 'Other People' on Netflix