When Saturday Night Live celebrates its 50th anniversary this weekend, one of its quietest MVPs will be celebrating a milestone of his own.

Andrew Dismukes, the understated but prolific repertory player, is set to appear in his 100th episode on Saturday night—making him the 57th cast member in the show’s history to hit that mark.

It’s a career milestone that comes with little fanfare but speaks volumes. For a performer whose comedy leans toward the subtle and cerebral, crossing the 100-episode threshold on SNL isn’t just a sign of longevity. It’s proof of trust—both from Lorne Michaels’ famously demanding production and from audiences who’ve come to appreciate Dismukes’ offbeat brilliance.

From Texas to 30 Rock

Born and raised in Port Neches, Texas, Dismukes joined SNL in 2017—not as a performer, but as a writer. Then just 22, he was one of the youngest hires in the show’s modern era. His sharp sketch writing, characterized by strange turns of logic and conversational absurdity, quickly made him a favorite in the writers’ room.

In 2020, Dismukes made the leap to featured player, appearing on camera during Season 46. His timing was less than ideal: he joined the cast amid pandemic restrictions, limited audiences, and an ensemble at its most crowded in decades.

Yet, quietly, he carved out a space for himself.

“I just wanted to get one sketch on air,” Dismukes said in a 2022 interview with The Austin Chronicle. “If I could do that, I’d have been happy.”

Seven years later, he’s exceeded that goal by hundreds.

Sketch by Sketch

According to data compiled by the Saturday Night Network podcast, Dismukes has appeared in 309 sketches to date—including several before he was officially added to the cast. That tally places him 57th among all SNL players in the show’s half-century history.

He averages just over three sketches per episode, a remarkable consistency in a show notorious for rotating airtime among its cast. He’s also shouted the iconic line “Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!” 15 times—ranking 37th in that exclusive club.

Those numbers may not rival the heavyweights—Kenan Thompson’s record 1,500 sketches remains untouchable—but they mark Dismukes as one of SNL’s steadiest contributors.

“He’s the kind of performer every show needs,” said one longtime SNL staff writer. “Not always the loudest, not always in the promos, but if you watch closely, he’s in everything. He makes the show work.”

Comedy of the Unexpected

What sets Dismukes apart isn’t just his dependability—it’s his particular brand of humor.

His sketches often mine comedy from social awkwardness and conversational absurdity. He’s at his best when playing characters who are slightly confused, quietly unhinged, or trying just a little too hard to seem normal.

Highlights include his recurring roles in bizarre ensemble pieces—like “Weird Little Flute,” “Bug Assembly,” and “Murder Show”—where his unassuming delivery becomes the perfect foil for chaos. He’s also developed a knack for playing “straight men” in sketches that hinge on surreal twists, lending credibility to the ridiculous.

“He’s got this great dry delivery that reminds me of early Bill Hader,” said SNL alum Taran Killam. “He’s funny because he’s committed to the weirdness. He never winks.”

The Writer’s Mind on Screen

Because he started in the writers’ room, Dismukes approaches performance differently from many of his peers. He often writes or co-writes the sketches he appears in, giving his performances a precision that mirrors his comedic instincts.

“He knows what the sketch needs because he helped build it,” said former SNL writer Paula Pell. “That’s why he’s so comfortable inside the weird ones. He’s in on the architecture.”

That dual perspective—writer and performer—has served Dismukes well in an era when SNL demands flexibility. The modern cast must juggle live sketches, pre-tapes, digital shorts, and social-media-friendly content. Dismukes has proven adept at all of it.

Outlasting the Class

When Dismukes was promoted to featured player in 2020, he joined a cohort that included Lauren Holt and Punkie Johnson. Four years later, he’s the last of that trio still standing.

Holt left after one season, appearing in 20 episodes. Johnson, who lasted three years, logged 79. Dismukes, by contrast, has steadily risen through the ranks, earning promotion to repertory status in 2022.

His quiet longevity mirrors the path of other SNL stalwarts who built careers on reliability rather than flash—players like Phil Hartman, Mikey Day, and Alex Moffat.

In a show known for constant turnover, lasting this long is an achievement in itself.

The 100-Show Club

Reaching 100 episodes puts Dismukes in elite company. Of the more than 160 performers to pass through SNL’s ranks since 1975, only 57 have hit that milestone.

He joins the likes of Amy Poehler, Will Forte, Maya Rudolph, Bill Hader, and Kate McKinnon—a list of SNL lifers who left their mark on the show without necessarily being the marquee star.

The timing is poetic: Dismukes’ 100th episode coincides with SNL’s true 50th anniversary broadcast. Though the show’s 50th season was celebrated earlier this year with retrospectives and specials, this weekend’s episode (airing October 11) marks exactly 50 years since the show’s premiere in 1975.

In other words, when the cast shouts “Live from New York” this Saturday, they’ll be doing so on the very night the phrase turns 50—and Dismukes will be doing it for the 16th time.

The Long Game of SNL

Unlike some of his peers who’ve used SNL as a launchpad for blockbuster careers, Dismukes seems content to play the long game.

He’s stayed out of the tabloid spotlight, focusing instead on refining his craft. When he’s not on SNL, he performs stand-up and writes comedy that leans introspective and strange—a contrast to the big, broad characters the show is often known for.

That balance may be what’s kept him steady through seven seasons and counting.

“Andrew’s like a marathon runner in a race full of sprinters,” said fellow cast member Bowen Yang. “He just keeps going, one sketch at a time.”

The Future of SNL’s Next Generation

As Saturday Night Live begins its next half-century, Dismukes represents the show’s evolving DNA. He’s a bridge between eras: a writer-turned-player with Gen Z sensibilities, millennial irony, and classic sketch discipline.

In many ways, he’s emblematic of SNL’s future. The show’s modern cast reflects a mix of traditional sketch roots and internet-native humor—TikTok absurdism meets improv structure. Dismukes’ dry, hyper-specific style fits neatly into that hybrid world.

“He’s proof that SNL is still a writer’s show,” said LateNighter analyst Matt Taylor. “Even in the TikTok era, what works best is sharp writing and a performer who believes in it. Dismukes is both.”

Celebrating the Moment

NBC has not confirmed whether Dismukes’ milestone will be acknowledged on-air, but insiders say the timing hasn’t gone unnoticed. As the show marks its 50th anniversary, cast and crew are expected to toast both the past and present backstage.

For his part, Dismukes has always seemed amused by the idea of legacy. Asked once about joining the ranks of long-serving cast members, he joked, “If I make it to Kenan numbers, they’ll have to start giving me stock options.”

Still, there’s pride behind the humor. The 100-episode milestone isn’t just another stat; it’s a reminder of persistence in one of television’s most unpredictable jobs.

The Double Celebration

This Saturday’s episode promises to be a night of full-circle moments. SNL’s 50th anniversary marks half a century since George Carlin hosted the premiere on October 11, 1975. And for Dismukes—one of the show’s youngest veterans—it’s a personal milestone that encapsulates everything SNL still stands for: talent, evolution, and endurance.

In a show built on the chaos of live comedy, there’s something remarkable about quiet consistency. Andrew Dismukes may not command the spotlight, but he’s become indispensable to the machine.

Fifty years after SNL began, and 100 episodes into his own journey, Dismukes embodies the show’s enduring spirit: a little weird, endlessly adaptable, and always ready for the next sketch.