Saturday Night Live 2000 rewind: Chris Parnell

We rewind the clock to 2000 to revisit Chris Parnell’s season on Saturday Night Live

When it comes to Saturday Night Live, cast members come and go. But few cast members come and go and come again. That’s what happened to Chris Parnell and his odyssey began in 2000 and season 26.

Parnell joined Saturday Night Live in 1998 after years performing with the Groundlings and building up a steady string of appearances in commercials and on sitcoms. He was a featured player for season 24 alongside Jimmy Fallon and Horatio Sanz.

The next season saw Parnell bumped up to repertory player. Other cast members at that time included Will Ferrell, Tracy Morgan, and Molly Shannon.

With season 26 came the additions of head writer Tina Fey and comedian Jerry Minor to the cast. Tim Meadows, Colin Quinn, and Cheri Oteri had left. With Fey sticking to “Weekend Update” and only one other cast member added, it meant more opportunities for performers like Chris Parnell.

And Parnell made the most of those chances. He routinely played weird, slightly off characters while almost never breaking. Parnell may not have any exceptionally memorable characters but he often played crucial roles in sketches that would be among the best on any given night. Parnell could be the perfect straight man just as well as he could play a larger than life character.

2000 was a big year for Saturday Night Live as the election took center stage. Will Ferrell was making headlines as George W. Bush while Darrell Hammond played Vice President Al Gore.

SNL fans know that debate parodies are often when the show is at its best when it comes to politics. And a successful debate sketch needs a reliable moderator to keep things flowing and allow the audience to take a breath between punchlines. As journalist Tom Brokaw, Chris Parnell executed that role perfectly during season 26.

Season 26 would be Chris Parnell’s last on Saturday Night Live, or so it seemed. Budget cuts hit the show and executive producer Lorne Michaels had hired four new cast members for 2001’s season 27. They included Dean Edwards, Jeff Richards, Seth Meyers, and Amy Poehler.

It meant that someone had to go. Michaels chose to let go of Parnell and Jerry Minor. But the legendary producer soon discovered that was a mistake. In a rare move, Parnell was brought back to SNL in the middle of season 27. He stayed on until 2006 where he was once again the victim of budget cuts. However, Parnell has since admitted he was ready to leave SNL at that point.

Where is Chris Parnell 20 years later?

Chris Parnell may not have left Saturday Night Live on anyone’s all-time greats list. But if you look back at some of the show’s most memorable sketches, you’ll see Parnell in the mix. The two best examples would be “More Cowbell” and the Digital Short “Lazy Sunday.”

Parnell hasn’t struggled to find opportunities since leaving SNL, either. In addition to leading roles in a number of sitcoms, he’s done voice work in films like Hotel Transylvania and the television series Archer and Rick and Morty. Other movie credits include Anchorman 2, Sisters, and The Ridiculous 6. And many fans know Parnell as Dr. Leo Spaceman from 30 Rock.

It’s clear that Parnell made a strong impression on everyone he worked with at Saturday Night Live. He’s made a handful of cameos back in Studio 8H since 2006. He continues to pop up in projects led by SNL alumni. Case in point is the new Quibi series Mapleworth Murders from SNL writers Paula Pell and John Lutz that is stuffed with SNL stars from the past.

What are your memories of Chris Parnell on Saturday Night Live? Were you happy when he was brought back after being fired? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.