Saturday Night Live viewers first learned what it means to have Spartan spirit 29 years ago today.
Classic SNL characters Craig and Arianna–aka the Spartan Cheerleaders–were introduced early in the show’s 21st season on November 11, 1995. Their portrayers, Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri, had just joined the cast at the start of the season.
The quickly popular characters debuted at around the same time as Molly Shannon’s Mary Katherine Gallagher and Ferrell and Chris Kattan’s Roxbury Guys. All were very welcome additions to the SNL repertoire following what was widely perceived to be a lackluster 20th season.
The Spartan Cheerleaders, who were always seen in their red, white and black uniforms, would come to be known for their elaborate cheer choreography and usually unflappable confidence, even when repeatedly told that they do not belong on East Lake High’s Spartan Squad.
In their very first sketch, the peppy duo stand on the sidelines of a football game where they energetically rattle off multiple chants and dance to “Gonna Make You Sweat” while periodically trying to catch the attention of friends and family members well out of earshot.
Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri's Spartan Cheerleaders made their first of 17 SNL appearances on this day in 1995. Full story: https://t.co/WPoN7XlynY pic.twitter.com/9FagwAwDXI
— LateNighter (@latenightercom) November 11, 2024
Toward the end of the sketch, a student played by host Quentin Tarantino interrupts the pair to demand their uniforms back, prompting Arianna to tearfully protest, “Just because we didn’t make the squad doesn’t mean we don’t have Spartan spirit!”
“Yeah! Let’s show him,” Craig says right before they close the sketch by jumping back into their C+C Music Factory routine.
The Spartan Cheerleaders appeared five more times that season and another 11 times over the next four seasons. They were last seen on December 4, 1999 in a holiday parade sketch that aired during Oteri’s final season.
