2015 Goals Update

The first leg of 2015 is complete. How's it going?

Physical Health

Exercise/stretch 5+ days per week 

Check. My 3-mile run speed is down close to an 8-minute mile, and my weightlifting reps are up, though I'm not measuring that super closely.

Body fat 14%

Check. The fat-o-meter's been reading less than 13% recently.

Healthy knee

Not much to report on this. I visited Dena's orthopedic surgeon and he basically said that I should ice my knee and keep doing the exercises I learned in physical therapy. So I'm doing that. I'm considering a visit to Sports Enhancement Center to see if they can comment.

Fruits/vegetables 5+ days per week

Check. I've been eating vegetables most every day. Granted, it's only been carrots, but it's a start. Still eating fruit daily.

Increased use of sunscreen and other skin care products

Check. I purchased some products with SPF 15 as my research suggested and have been using daily.

Financial Health

Expenses below 2014 levels

I need to finalize what the 2014 levels were. But since I've been frequenting Sam's Club for most of my groceries, I'm at least building the right habits. I'm taking a close look at Long Term Care and deciding whether or not to keep the policy.

Improved tutoring records

I have been updating my student records with more current information, and slightly tracking my travel and business expenses better. Much work to do here.

Community Engagement

Volunteer for a new organization

I met a woman who's involved at least indirectly with the Bloomington City Council, helping underemployed people increase their chances. I'd like to reach out to her and see what there is to offer.

Develop and execute a marketing plan for tutoring

Check. I've not written it down, but I have made visits to the ISU Honors Program, as well as reaching out to the Athletic Department and Math Department. I have a visit scheduled with the owners of the local Kumon learning center, to see if there are tutoring possibility. And I've had the good fortune to meet and begin partnering with another tutor to serve students.

Personal Character And Leadership

Blog thanks weekly

Check, at least technically. I took notes every week, and blogged them all at once at the end of the month. It violates some of the spirit of this goal, but for now I'll take it.

Make 10 new acquaintances, including a mentoring relationship

The Bloomington City Council acquaintance could develop into something. I haven't acted on the mentoring relationship yet.

Lead condominium association projects, such as new driveway

Check. I've taken the driveway project as far as I can. I finished off the carport lighting project. And I coordinated a meeting with attorneys to discuss how to collect from defaulting unit owners. Yeah, I pretty much completely knocked out this goal by January which feels pretty good.

Arrive early/discipline

I've done "C" level work on this one, well ahead of last year's "F" I've regularly given myself an extra 10 minutes of travel time to get places. I do think this discipline is feeding a larger sense of self-confidence, as I'd hoped.

Cupcake Drawing

Beautifully styled by a transcendant artist, commissioned and drawn by my brother Jack as a Christmas gift. Words cannot describe its beauty in capturing Cupcake's likeness.

Definition Of A Leader

"The definition of a leader is someone who can envision the future and bring others along, help them catch the passion and organization of the mission." - Trudy Strewler Hodges, CASA

This did get me reflecting on the mission of my business. With a tag line of "greater comfort, greater confidence, greater scores," the mission is implicit - to help as many students as possible improve their scores. As I start to partner up with other tutors, tapping into the joy of students' progress is a key to unleashing that passion.

Bulls' Finals Comeback Versus Blazers, 1992

Of all the Bulls' wins in the NBA Finals, this game is a strong contender for most improbable. Down 17 in the 4th quarter, with almost all subs in the game.

Silent Persuasion

"I attach my leadership style to words like 'persuasive' and 'influential.' I enjoy helping other people make better decisions for themselves... There is no such thing as somebody who is magically born to be the leader." - Josh Orendi, founder of Phired Up

Early on I've received some helpful feedback about my singing and French pronunciation by Dave Montague. Whether or not a person considers himself to be a leader, that desire to help those in need can establish someone as one, especially if they are already a leader in name.

January Thanks Part 4

One night this week the new mattress woke me up at 4am. Fortunately I had no morning appointments, plus I had a comfy couch and Netflix to watch myself to sleep by.

I'm glad I lived through Seinfeld's heyday. Now we own almost every season on DVD and it's often been a stress reliever, or just a way to unwind at the end of a day.

ISU's football team gave us an exciting year, and their Math Department gave me more students for tutoring.

The fantasy basketball team has opened up an enormous lead! It would take weeks for anyone to catch up, here at the halfway point. As long as I stay focused, things look excellent.

The Bears season is over, and their management overhaul has given a rebirth sense to the sports radio talk shows.

My Reader's Digest Christmas gift has begun feeding inspiration for blog posts.

January Thanks Part 3

A new evening Mass was launched, and nearly 100 people attended which exceeded expectations. As so often happens, we got affirmation from the congregation about the quality of the music. The cookies and cocoa afterward were a bonus.

The church also highlighted a conference on "renewal." I enjoy their ongoing efforts to stay modern.

I'm glad that Scott Hillegass still has cable - and that he invited me over to watch the entire and historic first college football playoff series.

 After one cold rehearsal, Dena and I were able to go to Olive Garden to warm up with our classic favorite soup and salad.

The Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks have been competitive this year, which has also helped to warm up the winter.

Our new printer is up and running, thanks to the excellent help of EPSON support hotline. We needed 45 minutes, and the gentleman was poised throughout.

The Stevens' new home has been a handy place to hold band rehearsals. I'm glad they were able to afford a place that fits their needs.

It's been a long time since my old right elbow problem has flared up.

January Thanks Part 2: DRS

As the Dirty Rotten Scoundrels audition neared, it was a chance to reflect on the good fortune over the five months of preparation.

Of course, I'm thankful to be retired and so to have time to dedicate hundreds of hours to the cause.

Wendi Fleming, my beloved theatre "agent," pointed my mind in this direction a half-year ago.

I was able to find a script copy online, which is unusual. I also found several YouTube clips featuring the musical and individual songs.

Michael Schneider offered an audition package that not only provided music but also some wise coaching on my presentation that brought it to a new level.

Neither my first nor second choice of audition music was discoverable online. The "third" choice may have been the best of all. Despite its less ambitious nature, it was right in my vocal wheelhouse.

Meanwhile, playing in the band helped keep my vocal chords trained.

Naturally Dena's support, including to pound out keys for me on the callback music was a rock on which all of this journey rested.

Whatever acting, dancing and musical abilities I have came from the eternal fountain of ability that is Mom and Dad.

God's gift of perfect health in cold and flu season was a capper on the experience!

January Thanks Part 1

I've been slow to type up the last few weeks' worth of thankfulness notes.

I got to attend a winning basketball game for the NCHS boys basketball team. The game was at the Bloomington High School gym. This is a great place to play, with a highly energized band and rocking acoustics. I'm glad that we get to play (and win) in places like this.

When I came out of auditions for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, I felt like God would either give me the role or a sizable lesson in humility. I got the lesson. Frankly, I need more of these.

Sam's Club is a terrific family-wealth-preserving institution. As part of my new year's resolutions I've been making weekly trips out there, driving down the food and other budgets.

Speaking of humility, this week the pastor of Epiphany has been requesting that he be called the more informal "Father Eric" instead of "Monsignor" as per tradition. It's another step in the increasing relevance of the church.

As I continue to get used to our new mattress, I was pleased to get 5 straight hours of sleep. A trend worth continuing!

Even in a reduced role, I'm fortunate that the ever-working Alan Wilson and assistant director Aimee Kerber thought that I could fit it, especially considering my absence of French and having not studied the part prior to auditions.

Rules Of Recovery

Here are notes on collection of an outstanding condominium fee debt:

The levels of priority in order of debt collection:

1. Secured creditors: Entities who have secured the debt with collateral. In this case, it means the home mortgagor, the bank.

2. Creditors with judgment: Entities who have successfully obtained a decree of judgment to pay from bringing suit against someone, e.g. through small claims court.

3. Perfected unsecured creditors: For example, who have filed a lien as we have.

4. Unperfected unsecured creditors: Other creditors.

If a debtor has successfully filed for bankruptcy, including to name us as one of the creditors, then we are notified. In this scenario, there is no further action that we can take. However, if as part of the filing the administrator determines that there are sufficient assets to pay at least a portion owed us, we will be notified of that as well. Filing for bankruptcy (most likely chapter 7 bankruptcy, "liquidation") carries certain consequences against credit rating, etc. so that it is not an appealing measure to take.

If we bring suit in small claims court, the maximum that can be sought is $10,000. It is not yet clear whether associated legal fees and interest are counted against this maximum. As a "corporation," a condominium association would be required to be represented by counsel.

A judgment in our favor would have impacts on credit report and as well as public record. It allows us to examine his tax and other financial records. One avenue to obtain payment would be garnishment of wages, which could have adverse effect on his employment.

Resident awareness of our covenants is helpful. It could be useful to obtain signed copy from new unit owners as to their preferred way to receive notifications, as well as to present Declaration and By-Laws. Also, we could annually update and send out a directory to all residents which includes copy of the Declaration and By-Laws.

Top 10 Super Bowl Commercials Of All Time

http://youtu.be/HPR3PB_VGVs

Some really good candidates in here!

Ernie Banks' 498th, 499th, 500th Home Runs

Persistence: From Valet Parking To The Super Bowl

By Charles Robinson, Yahoo! Sports:

Over the years someone would see Landon Cohen in the newspaper, or maybe even on television, and think, "That guy … wait … is that the valet?"

Yes, sometimes Landon Cohen parks cars. And sometimes he plays in the NFL.

Cohen, amazingly, did both this month. And now he's one win from parallel parking a Super Bowl ring between his knuckles.

As most fantasies go, Cohen's January has been the definition of awesome. Four weeks ago, he and two lifelong friends were running their valet service in Spartanburg, S.C. One workout and a few phone calls later, the journeyman defensive tackle landed with the Seattle Seahawks, despite not having been on an NFL roster the entire regular season.

Seahawks tackle Jordan Hill went down with a knee injury on Jan. 4, and Cohen got a sleepy, midnight call from Seattle the next day.

"Landon was a very active player," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said after bringing Cohen aboard. "We had our eye on him."

Cohen, 28, was inactive in the Seahawks' first playoff game against the Carolina Panthers, but played a healthy role (14 snaps) in their wild NFC Championship win over the Green Bay Packers. That included two crucial goal-line stands early in the game. And he even got in a lick on Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

"It's been a nice little ride," Cohen said with a chuckle this week.

That's an understatement, but that's also Cohen: 6-foot-1, 300 pounds, even-keeled and pragmatic. He quotes the laid-back life wisdom of Bob Marley and says the Super Bowl is "big," but adds that he wants to do something "even bigger" in his life.

Cohen has learned to try to keep his emotions grounded. This is what happens when you get drafted out of Ohio (University, not State) in the seventh round by the Detroit Lions in 2008 and go through your rookie season on the first 0-16 team in NFL history. Or when you get signed and released by eight different teams in seven years – a career that has included stops with both the New England Patriots (2010 and 2011) and Seahawks (2011 and now). Or when you live your mornings in the YMCA, alternating between weight training and yoga and boxing.

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Landon Cohen played 13 games for the Chicago Bearsin 2013. (Getty Images)

And after all that? Then you spend the larger part of the past three years parking cars. That's what makes Cohen a fun NFL story this week: His existence on a Super Bowl roster is more a matter of sheer determination rather than blessed talent. Ask any NFL player, and they will say this is the truly admirable grind – having the mental strength to see a roster need and fill it. Maybe only for a week, or a month … or, if fortune smiles on you, an entire season. And when it ends? You work a normal job, like running a valet service.

There are a lot of NFL guys like this – annually blending in with mortals while awaiting the next opportunity to put on that NFL cape. In the rarest of opportunities, they get to step out of the phone booth and onto the Super Bowl stage.

"It's crazy," said Jeffrey Dawkins, Cohen's childhood friend and a co-owner of their Spartanburg valet business, The Valet, LLC. "A couple weeks ago, he was parking cars. Now he's in a three-point stance. Crazy."

It's crazy because Cohen has actually managed to juggle both pursuits. Unsure if he'd get another NFL shot after signing and getting cut by the Philadelphia Eagles in less than one day in 2012, Cohen started his own business. Sitting out the entire 2012 regular season, he launched an events-based car-parking service in his hometown of Spartanburg with Jeffrey and another childhood friend, Terence Dawkins.

Called "The Valet, LLC", the trio started out by soliciting partnerships and parking cars themselves. The ground-up venture eventually launched a website and began packing the schedule with anything and everything – parties, weddings, city events and private contracts. A little more than three years later, they've added nine employees and built a thriving business out of a hustling mantra: "We run fast and drive slow."

Cohen has been getting NFL work in bits and pieces, too, including nearly an entire 2013 season divided between the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears. He even signed on with the Buffalo Bills in 2014 but was ultimately cut before the regular-season opener.

Each time the NFL work ended, he headed back to Spartanburg to a focused existence: train in the morning and run the valet business in the evening, which included doing plenty of the work himself. That is, if he can actually get inside your car.

"Some cars I can't even fit in," Cohen said with a laugh.

Occasionally he'll get noticed or asked about the NFL, but it has never been something he'd flaunt or obsess over.

"I don't talk about football unless I'm playing," Cohen said. "If I'm valeting, nobody knows I play football until it comes out in the paper or something like that.

"If I'm valeting, I'm valeting. If I'm volunteering, I'm volunteering. I don't set myself up for disappointment. I kind of stay right there in the middle. Never get too excited, never get too down. It's been years of practicing living that way. But you get 100 percent of me in whatever I do. If I'm valeting, you got 100 percent of me, not 50 percent of me thinking about football."

And this week? It's all football. With the Patriots leaning heavily on a physical running game with LeGarrette Blount, defensive line depth should be at a premium. That gives Cohen a high percentage chance of being on the active roster Sunday night, in a similar rotation to the NFC championship.

That's as far ahead as Cohen is thinking. There are no preparations for bringing home a Super Bowl ring. And even beyond Sunday, there is no thought of whether this moment might be a foothold to a more stable NFL career.

"I just live my life, man," Cohen said. "Taking care of my little dog, Beyoncé."

See a need and fill it. Big or small. Parking cars or playing in the Super Bowl, that's what Cohen plans on doing. That said, his mantra might get a little tweak this week.

Run fast on Sunday. Drive slow on Monday.

Dog Vs. Cat Diary

Ryan's 40th Birthday Present

Dear Ryan,

Sometimes the best gift of love that one man can give to another is to tell him how much he has meant.

If it wasn't for you (with a special nod to Lori for seeing my blog post way back then), I would not have had the opportunity to coach basketball. To experience the pain and thrill and life lessons that derive from basketball scores. To sit by your side, strategize day and night, learn how to help high school students - and often howl with laughter along the way.

I would not have had a stream of math students you've referred to me to sharpen my tutoring skills these last six years. Almost certainly I would not have tutored 700 hours and 90 students last year. Their lives, and certainly mine, would be poorer without the support you've given to get me started. How much longer would I have suffered a joyless insurance job without that adventure unfolded before me?

You have a way of making me feel like the most important person in your life when I'm with you, however infrequently we may see each other and despite the role you play in helping literally hundreds of other people throughout the year.

Take care of yourself friend. The world needs at least another 40 years out of you.

Joe

Prescription For A Bruised Spirit

Bruises to the spirit come in all sizes. I've never experienced the sudden loss of a loved one, or a job, or my health. I'm no expert in true hardship; I'm an utter and absolute novice. The prescriptions I write won't heal many, but if it might help one, then why not?

In August I set a goal of getting a certain part in a musical. Auditions were in January. For five months I went all in. I found several versions of the musical online. From these I painstakingly transcribed the entire script into a Word document. I made a playlist of all the songs that the character would sing; played them daily in the shower and sang them on the treadmill; choreographed dances. Taught myself an Austrian accent by downloading audio files, practiced an English accent and Spanish as well. Developed stage blocking and gestures and memorized all the lines. Not only for the role I wanted, but also for the next-largest role as well as a backup. As the audition approached, I stayed up late into multiple nights performing the entire show for both roles, with a strategy of taxing my energy and voice more strenuously than the show would require so as to be over prepared. I altered my sleeping, drinking and eating schedule so that I'd be physically peaking at the evening audition. Hired an accompanist, developed choreography for my audition song, rehearsed incessantly. I dressed flexibly so that I could look the part of the lead or the second lead, depending on what I was called up to read. I was competing against only two others, at least one of whom was actually gunning for a different role.

I didn't get either part.

I wasn't good enough.

I knew the risks going in. Investing hundreds of hours with the chance of failure is something you can prepare for intellectually, whether it's theater or relationships or business or charity. Still, in the moment, there may be no escaping the surge of physical adrenaline and emotional despair that biologically fires off when it happens. I didn't sleep well that night, but I did begin to heal. Here's how.

1. I celebrated my blessings. I was offered an alternate role which still uses my abilities well and provides a great opportunity to serve the patrons if I continue to work hard; the hours of preparation will serve me well in the role, and probably helped me get the role in the first place. I get to spend time with familiar friends and make new ones. I congratulated several friends on their success.

2. I briefly vented my disappointment privately to a few family, but denied anger at the door. Things happen according to God's plan. I cannot get mad at God, I am simply too blessed. There is a reason, a good reason, for this unexpected path that I will eventually find, starting with a full night of sleep.

3. I distracted my mind. Replay of failure on an endless mental loop is a soul-sucker especially at night, and the natural reaction in the absence of an explanation. In this case, I did some reading and watched some Netflix. I didn't sleep until 2am, which would have been longer had I spent that time re-shocking the adrenaline with useless memories. Instead, I cued up a couple feel-good, obstacle-overcoming, tear-jerker flicks that washed clean away any potential pity parties out of my system.

4. I allowed my body time to recover. Fortunately I didn't have any morning appointments. I stayed in bed until 11am.

5. I moved on to the next success. Small ones like a made bed, shower and shave. Medium ones like a run to the grocery store. Big ones like a workout and signing a maintenance contract for our condominium association.

6. I used failure as a learning tool. I visited with the director for feedback about my audition and got the right mix of suggestions and kudos to bring healthy closure to the uncertainty. I came away feeling like I know my limitations, a big help in knowing how to better invest my time in the future.

Through decades of ambition, setback and comeback I've come to believe this: That the only way to truly achieve a perfect winning record is to score it according to whether I gave it perfect effort. In this case, I did. Along the way we will at times feel deep sense of loss, but this is not truly defeat unless we let it be so. We win when, no matter how heavy, we persist to hold our heart high, keep our eyes forward, and power ourselves with the boundless energy of a smile.

14 Remarkable Facts About Mr. Cub Ernie Banks, RIP

By Mark Townsend:

The legacy left behind by Chicago Cubs legend and baseball Hall of Famer Ernie Banks goes well beyond his accomplishments on the playing field. Sure, the game of baseball was his passion and his driving force, but it wasn't what defined him. When you think of Ernie Banks, you think of the person he was, the energy and enthusiasm he possessed and the kindness and loyalty he showed every day of his life.

With news of his death on Friday evening, you can't help but feel like some of the world's optimism and happiness died along with him. He was so filled with both that it always rubbed off on those who met him. That's the man we'll remember and honor, and that's exactly how it should be.

However, we'd be doing his legacy a disservice if we didn't take a step back and marvel at all that he did accomplish while carving out a Hall of Fame career on the diamond. 

With that being said, here's a look at 14 remarkable facts about No. 14 in your Wrigley Field program, Mr. Cub himself, Ernie Banks:

1. Banks played in 1,285 regular-season games over 19 seasons at Wrigley Field. That makes up 16.48 percent of the 7,797 games that have been played at Chicago's baseball landmark.

2. Unfortunately, Banks never played in a single postseason game and holds the record for most career games without a playoff appearance. 

3. Mr. Cub's rare national showcases were reserved for All-Star games. Selected to 14 All-Star games, he hit .303 with one homer, three doubles and three RBIs. The home run came at Municipal Stadium in 1960. 

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(AP)

4. Banks' high school, Booker T. Washington in Dallas, did not have a baseball team while he attended. Instead, Banks played summer softball in a local church league, and later played for the Amarillo Colts. He was eventually spotted and recruited by a Negro League scout named Bill Blair. 

5. As a 19-year-old, Banks signed with the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues in 1950. After serving two years in the U.S. Army and spending time with the Harlem Globetrotters, Banks would come back to baseball. When he debuted with the Cubs in 1953, he was the first black player in franchise history. 

6. Banks had five seasons of 40 or more homers from 1955-60, all of which came as a shortstop. No other National League shortstop has had one season of 40-plus homers. 

7. Banks is also the first shortstop to reach 250 career homers. Cal Ripken Jr. (346), Alex Rodriguez (344),  Miguel Tejada (292) and Derek Jeter (255) have all followed suit, but it was Banks who revolutionized the position and changed the way it was viewed by players and scouts. 

8. Continuing the home run theme, Banks had four consecutive 40 or more home run seasons from 1957-60. As Aceball Stats notes, neither Hank Aaron nor Willie Mays ever had three straight seasons with 40 homers. 

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(AP)

9. In 1962, Banks made the full-time move to first base. He went on to hit another 215 home runs, becoming one of only four major leaguers with 200 or more home runs at two different defensive positions.

10. Oh, and Banks could pick it in the field, too. In 1960, he topped three-time defending Gold Glove shortstop Roy McMillan to win that award for the only time in his career. Maury Wills took over the following season, winning two in a row.

11. Banks won back-to-back MVPs in 1958 and 1959 despite the Cubs finishing a combined 64 games out of first place. A feat made even more impressive by the presence of Aaron, Mays, Eddie Mathews and even Warren Spahn in the NL. 

12. Speaking of Spahn, Banks is the only player to have a multi-HR game against both Spahn and Sandy Koufax. Seriously, if he could square up those two Hall of Famers, it's no wonder he never wanted to leave the field.

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(Getty)

13. Ernie Banks is the Cubs all-time leader in games played (2,528) and extra-base hits (1,009), and ranks second in HRs (512), RBIs (1,636) and hits (2,583).

14. Banks was a first ballot Hall of Famer and the only BBWAA inductee in 1977. He earned 83.8 of the vote, but never once had to ponder which cap to wear.

Community Players Theatre To Announce 2015-16 Season At January 31 Party

By Julie Kistler at A Follow Spot:

Community Players always seems to be first out of the gate when it comes to announcing their new seasons. If you want to keep track, theaters around here generally go in this order: Community Players (late January), Illinois State University (mid-February), Heartland Theatre (late March), and Illinois Wesleyan University (April). Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts announces its schedule in late May or early June, Univesity of Illinois Theatre starts getting out the word in late July, and the Station Theatre in Urbana generally announces late in the summer.

This year, for the first time I can recall, Community Players has decided to offer a Season Announcement Party to share their 2015-16 news.

This event will take place on Saturday, January 31 at 7 pm at the Players' theater on Robinhood Lane. It is free and open to the public, with refreshments and a chance to meet and chat with Players' staff, crew and actors.

Although Community Players' season choices are a mystery at this point, we can still guess. In fact, that's half the fun. Because Players frequently produces newish musicals and classic plays, and because they offered a survey of possible choices this year, you might think it's easy to guess. Au contraire! I don't remember what was on the survey, so that won't help at all, plus "newish musicals and classic plays" is a bigger crop than you might think. Of course, that won't stop me from guessing...

If past schedules are any indication, they will open with a play in September, follow with a musical in November, add a play in January, a musical in March and a play in May, and finish with a musical in July.

So what do we think? Time for another go-round with Annie? Maybe Pippin? Newsies?  A Christmas Story: The Musical seems like a natural. Cinderella, too. On the other hand, Once and Kinky Bootsdon't sound like Community Players fare at all.

On the straight play side, it's been awhile since Players did Driving Miss Daisy or Barefoot in the Park or Deathtrap, all community theater favorites. Oddly, classics like Enter Laughing and Twelve Angry Men have never made the cut at Players, at least according to their history page. Peter and the Starcatcher, a newer play, sounds like a good match, as does One Man, Two Guvnors. Act One?

I expect to strike out completely on these guesses, mind you. There's just that much material out there. But feel free to make your own prognostications and then join the fun at Community Players on Saturday, January 31 at 7 pm to see what they actually chose. 

Top 25 Funniest SNL Members, Ranked

By Lauren Browning, Business Insider. Like most rankings, there are several "Wha?" choices in here IMHO.

Now in its 40th season,  "Saturday Night Live" has produced some of the funniest people of all time. 

Crowdsourced ranking site Ranker helped us find the funniest SNL cast members in the show's history. Over 35,000 people voted on the best SNL cast members.

Nearly all of them hailed from Chicago's Second City comedy troupe or LA's comedy troupe Groundlings before getting their big break on SNL. 

Here are the top cast members who made the list. 

25. Darrell Hammond

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Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images 

Darrell Hammond holds two SNL records: the longest tenure on SNL (14 seasons), and the most impersonations (107 and counting). His most famous impression is of former president Bill Clinton. This past fall, SNL creator Lorne Michaels hired Hammond to serve as the show's announcer, replacing the late Don Pardo.

24. Jason Sudeikis

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Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images 

Jason Sudeikis joined SNL as a writer in 2003, and became a part of the cast in 2005. He frequently portrayed Mitt Romney on the show, and simultaneously guest starred in Tina Fey's show "30 Rock" as her love interest Floyd DeBarber. While on SNL he also appeared in movies including "Horrible Bosses" and "Hall Pass." Sudeikis left SNL in 2013.

23. David Spade

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Kevin Winter/Getty Images 

David Spade became very close with fellow SNL alum Chris Farley during Spade's 1990-1996 tenure on SNL. The two comedians were so close that SNL creator Lorne Michaels put the duo together on the big screen in 1995's "Tommy Boy." Spade also starred with Farley in the movie "Black Sheep," and was cast in the television show "Just Shoot Me."

22. Billy Crystal

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Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images 

Billy Crystal was an SNL cast member for the 1984-1985 season. He was known for his great impersonations of Sammy Davis Jr. and Howard Cosell, as well as his fictional character Fernando Lamas. Crystal left to pursue a film career, and starred in hits like "When Harry Met Sally" and "City Slickers." He has also hosted the Academy Awards nine times. 

21. Norm Macdonald

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Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Macdonald was on SNL from 1993-1998 and made his mark as the "Weekend Update" hostfrom 1994-1997. As the host of the segment he often made controversial jokes about O.J. Simpson and Michael Jackson. Macdonald has since starred in movies like "Dirty Work" and "Screwed."

20. Jon Lovitz

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Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images 

Jon Lovitz was cast on SNL in 1985 and stayed for five seasons. Lovitz created memorable characters like the pathological liar Tommy Flanagan, and Hanukkah Harry. After SNL he appeared in films including "A League of Their Own" and "Rat Race."

19. Martin Short

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Christopher Polk/FOX/Getty Images 

Martin Short joined SNL for a brief one-season stint in the show's tenth season. Short's best roles were as oddball Ed Grimely, and uptight sketchy lawyer Nathan Thurm. Directly after leaving the show, Short starred in the movie "Three Amigos" with SNL alums Steve Martin and Chevy Chase. 

18. Chris Rock

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Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Eddie Murphy fan Chris Rock joined SNL in 1990 and stayed on for three seasons. Some of his best characters on the show were Luther Campbell and Old Man Ernie. His HBO show "Bring The Pain" earned Rock two Emmy awards. He also starred in the CW show "Everybody Hates Chris."

17. Bill Hader

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Kevin Winter/Getty Images 

Lorne Michaels and Tina Fey discovered Bill Hader, who joined SNL in 2005. His most notable character is the over-the-top New York club correspondent Stefon, who married his love, Seth Meyers, in Hader's final SNL episode in 2013. Like fellow SNL alum Eddie Murphy, Hader was nominated for an Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2012. 

16. Jimmy Fallon

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The "Tonight Show" host got his start on SNL in 1998. He created a slew of original characters and nailed impressions of John Lennon, Mick Jagger, and Robert De Niro. Fallon also co-hosted "Weekend Update" with Tina Fey until he left the show in 2004. 

15. Chevy Chase

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Original cast member Chevy Chase anchored the "Weekend Update" segment before leaving the show after only one season. Chase has since returned eight times as a host. He has starred in four "National Lampoon's Vacation" movies, and the cult classic "Caddyshack." In recent years he was on the NBC show "Community."

14. Kristen Wiig

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Kristen Wiig was on SNL from 2005-2012, and was the senior female cast member after Amy Poehler's departure in 2008. Wiig's SNL characters like Gilly and Dooneese, and impressions of Kathy Lee Gifford and Nancy Pelosi were fan favorites. Wiig left the show to pursue her film career, and has starred in movies like the critically acclaimed comedy "Bridesmaids."

13. Amy Poehler

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Actress Amy Poehler was an SNL cast member from 2001-2008. She earned two Emmy nominations while on SNL, and was the co-host of "Weekend Update" for four years. Since leaving the show, Poehler has taken the lead role on NBC's "Parks and Recreation." Poehler, along with fellow SNL alumna Tina Fey, have hosted the Golden Globes for the past three years.

12. Adam Sandler

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After being discovered in LA, Sandler wrote and performed for SNL from 1990-1995. One of Sandler's most memorable moments on SNL was when he performed the famous "Hanukkah Song." He has since gone on to star in movies including "Billy Madison," "Happy Gilmore," and "Grown Ups." 

11. Gilda Radner

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The late Gilda Radner was one of SNL's original cast members when the show premiered in 1975. Radner was on SNL for five years and is remembered for her performances as annoying news woman Roseanne Rosannadanna, and Barbara Walters parody Baba Wawa. She won an Emmy in 1978 for her work on SNL.

10. Dana Carvey

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During his time on SNL from 1986-1993, Dana Carvey showed his versatility impersonating real people, like George Bush, and characters, like the Church Lady. Carvey, along with Mike Myers, made box office hits "Wayne's World" and "Wayne's World 2" based on their SNL characters Wayne and Garth. 

9. Mike Myers

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Myers had audiences in hysterics with his SNL characters Linda Richman and Sprocketsduring his six-season tenure on the the show. After leaving in 1995, Myers starred in movies like "Shrek," "Wayne's World," and "Austin Powers." Myers recently reprised his famous role as Dr. Evil on a December SNL episode commenting on the Sony North Korea hack.  

8. Tina Fey

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Tina Fey joined the SNL cast in 1997 as a writer and became the show's first female head writer in 1999. In 2000 she made her on-screen debut as SNL's "Weekend Update" co-host. Fey wrote and co-starred in the movie "Mean Girls," and left SNL in 2006 to focus on her show "30 Rock." After leaving, Fey continued to make SNL appearances as Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, which earned Fey an Emmy in 2009 for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.

7. Chris Farley

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The late Chris Farley was a star member of the SNL cast from 1990-1995. The actor was know for his Chippendales and "The Chris Farley Show" sketches. Farley also appeared in the comedy classics "Tommy Boy" and "Black Sheep" that were produced by SNL creator Lorne Michaels. 

6. Dan Aykroyd

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Ghostbuster Dan Aykroyd was one of SNL's original cast members, joining the cast in 1975 and staying on for four seasons. While on the show, he and colleague John Belushi developed characters like the Blues Brothers, a comedic musical duo, which yielded three albums and a movie of the same name. After leaving SNL, Aykroyd earned an Academy Award nomination for his role in "Driving Miss Daisy." 

5. Will Ferrell

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SNL creator Lorne Michaels told "People" magazine in 1998 that "Will is the glue that holds the show together." Ferrell was hired in 1995 and stayed on the show until 2002. While he had many memorable moments on the show, some of the best are his impersonations of  George W. Bush and Neil Diamond. After SNL, Ferrell has gone on to star in comedies like "Old School," "Elf," "Anchorman," and "Step Brothers."

4. Phil Hartman

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Joining in 1986, Phil Hartman had an eight-season-long stint on SNL. He's known for his impressions of Barbara Bush, Frank Sinatra, and Bill Clinton, among others. After SNL he did voice over work on "The Simpsons," and starred in the NBC comedy "Newsradio" before his death in 1998. 

3. Eddie Murphy

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Eddie Murphy started as an extra on SNL in 1980, and earned a full-time spot when producers had four extra minutes to fill and sent Murphy on stage to perform his stand-up routine. Murphy stayed on for four seasons before pursuing his film career, where he earned a Golden Globe for his performance in "Dreamgirls" and nominations for "Beverly Hills Cop" and "The Nutty Professor."

2. John Belushi

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The other half of the Blues Brothers, John Belushi was also one of SNL's nine original cast members and stayed on the show until 1979. He is best known for playing a samurai, a killer bee, and a cone-headed alien. Before his death in 1982, Belushi starred in movies like "The Blues Brothers," "Neighbors," and "National Lampoon's Animal House."

1. Bill Murray  

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A member of the "five timers club", Bill Murray joined the SNL cast in 1977 and stayed on for three seasons. He took on many personas, from Nick the lounge singer to impersonating "Family Feud" host Richard Dawson. Murray also wrote for the show and won an Emmy for outstanding writing. Since he left SNL, he has earned an Academy Award nomination for "Lost In Translation" and a Golden Globe nomination for his 2014 film "St. Vincent."