Saturday Night Live: Kristen Wiig, Kenan Thompson, and Bill Hader’s best reactions

Three of Saturday Night Live’s best cast members in recent memory were also the best at the reaction shot.

Saturday Night Live has always relied on the talent of its cast members for success. The best writing in the world only works if the actors in the sketch can pull it off. This is true just as much for delivering a line as it is delivering a reaction.

And when it comes to recent Saturday Night Live history, three names stand out above all when it comes to reactions: Kristen Wiig, Kenan Thompson, and Bill Hader. The show recently celebrated the unique talent of these three performers with special highlight packages.

Sometimes these reaction shots are clearly built in to the sketch and are the basis for a big laugh. Other times, they can be improvised or exaggerated by the performer in order to save a joke, kill time, or prevent breaking. Thompson especially has been noted in the past as knowing exactly when to pull off a certain look to keep a sketch on track.

Bill Hader’s time on Saturday Night Live made him a fan favorite. He had countless popular characters and his popularity has only increased since leaving SNL and finding more success with Barry and a film career.

Hader’s facial expressions launched a thousand GIFs that have come in handy for social media users in just about any and every situation. For a performer known for his voices, Hader’s face deserves just as much recognition.

Kristen Wiig would probably land on a lot of fans’ list for best cast members of all time. She could play any role in any type of sketch. Her departure from Saturday Night Live left a hole that was impossible to fill. However, she left behind an incredible legacy of characters and performances, including some featured in her highlight reel below.

Which of these performers has the best reaction shots in your opinion? Is it Kenan Thompson, Bill Hader or Kristen Wiig? Or is there someone else in Saturday Night Live history that you think deserves a highlight package? Let us know in the comment section!