Season 16 of SNL premiered on September 29, 1990, and concluded on May 18, 1991. This season marked the return of the show after a brief hiatus. The cast for this season included:
Defined the era with Garth Algar and Ross Perot impressions. Saturday Night Live - SNL - Complete Seasons 16...
Seasons 16-30 produced a staggering percentage of the most famous recurring characters in American pop culture. Season 16 of SNL premiered on September 29,
Over the years, SNL has featured a diverse range of cast members and hosts. Some notable cast members include: Seasons 16-30 produced a staggering percentage of the
Rob Schneider's breakout character, Richard Laymer, debuted this season. The annoying office worker who gave everyone unprompted nicknames ("The Steve-o! The Steve-meister!") perfectly satirized corporate office culture of the early 1990s. Chris Farley’s Explosive Debut
Phil Hartman, Dana Carvey, Kevin Nealon, and Mike Myers were operating at the absolute peak of their powers.
To understand Season 16, one must first appreciate the wreckage it followed. Season 15 (1989–1990), known as “The 15th Anniversary Season,” was a creative and ratings disaster. The show had lost its connective tissue. The departure of Nora Dunn (in protest over Andrew Dice Clay) and the firing of the brilliant but erratic Robert Downey Jr. left a cast helmed by a burnt-out Dennis Miller and a visibly frustrated Phil Hartman. Enter Lorne Michaels, who had returned as executive producer in 1985 after a five-year hiatus. By 1990, his mandate was clear: stop the bleeding.