The 30 Most Iconic "Saturday Night Live" Characters, in GIFs

More cowbell!

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Saturday Night Live is one of the longest running shows in television history—we're talking 38 seasons. That's 38 years, that's since 1975. Lets put that in perspective: 38 years ago you'd spend one dollar for a movie ticket to see Jaws. Gas was like 50 cents or something. Your parents had long hair and thought about motorcycles and tattoos. Rashida Jones was conceived. 

Through the highs and the lows of SNL's almost four-decade run, one thing is certain: it's not going anywhere. The late night variety show has created some wonderful sketches and churned out some incredible talent. Everyone has a favorite cast—you remember discovering them, they were your introduction to SNL. 

But there are some characters that transcend the generation they preformed for. Somehow, everyone, regardless of age, knows these characters, their catchphrases, and their image. Our hypothesis is when SNL creates a great character, somehow scientists etch it into our DNA. Seriously, say "What is love?" to someone, and they'll respond by bobbing their head violently and finish with, "Baby don't hurt me." Simply say, "Da Bears," aloud in a sports bar and people will reflexively raise their icy mugs and in union chant, "Daaaa Bears." 

To honor these timeless classics who've made us laugh throughout the years, we present The 30 Most Iconic Saturday Night Live Characters, in GIFS.

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Chris Farley as Matt Foley

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Chris Farley, Adam Sandler and David Spade as the Gap Girls

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Chris Kattan and Will Ferrell as The Roxbury Guys

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Julia Sweeney as Pat

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Tim Meadows as The Ladies Man

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Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell as The Ambiguously Gay Duo

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Eddie Murphy as Mr. Robinson

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Rachel Dratch as Debbie Downer

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Chris Farley, Mike Myers, etc as Bill Swerski's Superfans

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Will Forte as MacGruber

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Ana Gasteyer and Will Ferrell as the Culps

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Bill Hader as Stefon

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Darrell Hammon as Sean Connery

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Tina Fey as Sarah Palin

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Bill Murray and Gilda Radner as Lisa Loopner and Todd DiLaMuca

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Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph as Betty Caruso and Jodi Dietz

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Chevy Chase as the Land Shark

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Dana Carvey as The Church Lady

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Mike Meyers and Dana Carvey as Wayne and Garth

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Molly Shannon as Mary Katherine Gallagher

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Will Ferrell as Gene Frenkle

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Tracy Morgan as Brian Fellows

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Ana Gasteyer and Molly Shannon as Margaret Jo McCullen and Terry Rialto

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Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin and Laraine Newman as The Coneheads

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Cheri Oteri and Will Ferrell as the Spartan Cheerleaders

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Amy Poehler as Kaitlin

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Mike Myers as Linda Richman

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Kristen Wiig as Junice Merill

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Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi as The Blues Brothers

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Gilda Radner as Roseanne Roseannadanna

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