Seasons: 1986-1991
Best known for: Tammy Faye Bakker, Candy Sweeney
Overshadowed by: Dana Carvey, Jon Lovitz
Why: Dana Carvey was the show's breakout star during Hooks' run, and history has shone an incredibly favorable light on Phil Hartman's contributions during this time as well. But few talk about what Hooks brought to the table, and that's a shame. While female cast members are often hailed during the show's early and late years, few talk about the huge contribution Hooks provided the show in the mid- to late 1980's. She could do a wide variety of impressions (most noticeable her Tammy Faye Bakker, in many ways as devastating as Tina Fey's Sarah Palin would later prove), and as one-half of The Sweeney Sisters, Hooks created one of the seminal recurring characters of that period. Many forget about Hooks when discussing the all-time greats in "SNL" history, and that's a shame.
-Ryan McGee