As a dedicated fan, it’s not surprising that a Saturday Night Live (SNL) cast member leaving after seven seasons might feel commonplace, given their impressive tenures. However, the news of Ego Nwodim not returning for season 51 still leaves a profound impact. Since her debut in 2018, I’ve witnessed her evolution from a featured player to an indispensable source of laugh-out-loud moments. Her improvisational skills have made her a sneaky scene-stealer, whether through her own character showcases or delivering a perfectly timed line.
Although Ego doesn’t have many signature characters, there’s one exception that truly stands out – Lisa, who she brings to life with such comedic brilliance that every appearance is pure comedy gold. Most of the time, though, she excels by delivering flawless character work in ensemble scenes, focusing on the right details and rarely missing a beat, as seen in this compilation of her best SNL moments. The thought of her absence from season 51 is certainly gutting for fans like me who have come to appreciate her unique comedic talent.
“Lisa From Temecula”
https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=zxxCaw74ptk
In simpler terms, Lisa from Nwodim (originally from Temecula) is currently in town and having a birthday dinner with her sister Punkie Johnson. During the meal, she’s facing difficulties with her extremely well-done steak that was sent back three times. While this might not seem particularly unique, Lisa has become one of Nwodim’s few regular characters outside of “Weekend Update” because of her comedic style that often involves causing havoc in restaurants.
In this particular sketch, she continues to wreak destruction on the restaurant table, which can sometimes feel tedious when rewatching. However, this one stands out as it features strong physical and verbal humor from Lisa. Her interactions, such as believing she’s being hit on and making comments about ketchup for her steak, culminate in a hilarious response to learning that the restaurant has received complaints.
While purists might criticize the cast losing control, it’s worth noting that many viewers would likely respond similarly if they found themselves in the same chaotic situation as Lisa.
“A Weary Mother in Her Darkest Hour on Disney’s Reopening”
https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=7H31osmv4_I
Similar to Heidi Gardner who’s recently departed, Nwodim has crafted vivid and intricate sketches at the “Weekend Update” desk, revealing truth within humor. Her “Weary Mother” character, despite being a common trope, shines due to her poignantly precise complaints, such as lamenting, “Men used to buy me appetizers, multiple appetizers,” about the frustrations of parenting unappreciative children who seem ungrateful while wading in disgusting “Disney water.
“Jail Scene”
https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=nlKXYzYqxXY
In this scene, when an inmate (played by Woody Harrelson) makes extravagant promises to his wife (Chloe Fineman), the prison guard played by Nwodim can’t help but intervene. Her comments escalate into a lengthy soliloquy, stealing the spotlight from her position in the background and even talking over Harrelson at times. Kenan Thompson performs a similar routine regarding Fineman, and later, a split-screen is used to bring them together; their monologues are amusing, but the success of the sketch lies in the way both performers, particularly Nwodim, effectively delve into their respective characters’ issues, with her being particularly frustrated by the inmate’s claim that he’ll buy his family a house. This sketch is an exceptionally well-framed demonstration of how Nwodim’s characters appear to exist beyond the confines of the five-minute sketch without losing any of their immediate comedic impact.
“The Talking”
https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=Yw4ez2Jp5YA
Instead of a talk show parody centered around celebrity impersonations, this gem from the COVID era features an equal balance between Nwodim, Gardner, Cecily Strong, and Aidy Bryant as the contentious panel, reminiscent of The View. However, it’s Nwodim who takes charge in multiple capacities; she moderates a series of debates and even on-air COVID tests with a swift, humorous delivery. Moreover, she collaborated on writing this sketch, which is one of the standout pieces from the season that began in 2021.
“People’s Court — Bad Hair Day”
https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=mbOYSKH8Sjk
In this humorous and absurd sketch, comedians Pamela Adala Nwodim and Ayo Edebiri playfully argue over a terribly poorly done haircut. Nwodim’s performance is elegant, allowing Edebiri to steal the spotlight with her outrageous makeup and wound effects, while maintaining her character with an amusing level of seriousness that adds to the overall hilarity of the scene.
“Dionne Warwick Talk Show”
https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=z88jz2ikWBU
This recurring segment frequently blends an outdated late ’90s/early 2000s comedy style – featuring a celebrity impersonated by a cast member hosting a talk show for some unexplained reason – with characters reminiscent of social media, often leading to humor that’s either delightfully absurd or overtly cheesy. Fortunately, Nwodim effectively encapsulates the charming yet offbeat essence of Warwick’s presence on Twitter back then and creatively extends this persona into a peculiar talk-show parody. Highlights include a “stand-up monologue” where she stands up and sings a line from “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again,” and an interview with Machine Gun Kelly, during which she swiftly dismisses him. Nwodim delivers the line “Oh my God, a man is here to kill us” with a perfect balance of genuine fear and understated confidence.
“Dog Park” and “Proud Parents”
https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=_XLQBfJ0cb0
https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=dVudRberrSc
Dog Park” – A Brief Comedy Sketch
In the sketch titled “Dog Park,” hosts Daniel Kaluuya and Andrew Dismukes engage in a friendly competition, each attempting to impersonate adorable dog barks using exaggerated voices. However, it’s Leslie Jones who steals the show with her deadpan delivery, scolding Kaluuya for giving an over-the-top portrayal of her beloved pet’s accent, saying “You made her sound like a complete fool.” (Notably, she often uses “damn” to emphasize her points.)
Furthermore, Jones and Kaluuya demonstrate impressive teamwork in another sketch from the same episode, where they play Nigerian parents struggling to accept their college-aged son’s passion for creative writing. This sketch was partially written by Jones herself, drawing upon her own personal experiences. With her recent departure from her demanding day job, there’s speculation that she and Kaluuya might collaborate on a film together in the future.
“Mid-Day News”
https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=NGqtZmShIkw
This timeless sketch swiftly forms teams as news reporters begin tracking crime statistics by race. The humor here is big and cleansing, yet it underscores the challenge of crafting comedy from racial tensions; it’s a fine line that can quickly turn bitter. Nwodim, alongside Thompson, Moffat, Waller-Bridge, and Redd, skillfully handles this delicate subject with a deft touch while preserving an amusing tone.
“Universal Tram”
https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=0NhViwSjLdk
In this humorous scene on Saturday Night Live, Dan Levy portrays an energetic and chatty Universal Studios trainee. Simultaneously, comedian Bowen Yang invents and excels at a unique SNL challenge – making every appearance significant even while facing the audience mostly from behind. She turns around four times throughout this five-minute sketch, and each of her brief appearances leaves a lasting impression, especially since her unbridled excitement contrasts starkly with her initial line: a terse “Stay out of it” that is also a three-word masterclass in Bowen Yang’s exceptional acting skills.
“Classroom”
https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=CiU3vIEdRMI
In this skit, Nwodim delivers a heartfelt substitute teacher speech that subtly spirals into humor, only to reveal her shock upon finding herself in an advanced STEM classroom she’s ill-prepared to handle. Her reaction, delivered with a deepened voice and admirable poise, is genuinely amusing. In a 2023 interview, Nwodim acknowledged this skit as one of her underestimated favorites. While the joke is on her character in this instance, Nwodim’s acting range extends beyond such quasi-inspirational roles – she can also convincingly portray a teacher who has reached their breaking point and resorts to using a single, explicit word to cope with the situation (she spells it out for the audience).
“Miss Eggy”
https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=4_LJASfqktU
Reflecting back, it’s fitting that Nwodim’s standout skit exploded in popularity during her final season. This skit showcases her years of honing her skills at the “Update” desk, her knack for delivery as humor, and her subtly satirical wit, all encapsulated in a clever imitation of a specific stand-up comedy style. The skit is so infectious that she inadvertently prompted the audience to curse on live TV (though this was muted in the official YouTube version). This joke, both clever in itself and reminiscent of her character “Ego,” involves the audience unknowingly participating in a call-and-response, culminating in their spontaneous laughter when they echo “men ain’t shit” as if it were an autocomplete. By simultaneously mocking and embodying the stereotype, Nwodim manages to appeal to both casual viewers and comedy connoisseurs alike.
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2025-09-13 00:55