What is the legacy of the Spartan Cheerleaders on SNL?

The Spartan Cheerleaders, played by Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri, remain one of SNL's most iconic and beloved sketches 30 years after their debut. The characters, who didn't make the official high school squad but still proudly cheered, left a lasting impact with their unforgettable chants and characters that fans still dress up as for Halloween.

How did the Spartan Cheerleaders sketch come to life on SNL?

Ferrell and Oteri dreamed up the Spartan Cheerleaders characters during their first week on SNL, with Oteri drawing inspiration from her own experience as a high school cheerleader who "had no team spirit." The nearly 20 sketches they wrote and performed, along with writer Paula Pell, ran through 1999 and became a beloved part of the show.

What was the creative process like for the Spartan Cheerleaders?

According to writer Paula Pell, the trio behind the sketch - Oteri, Ferrell, and Pell - would sometimes stretch out the writing process just to avoid moving on to more stressful sketches. They would be "in that little tiny office crying laughing" as they came up with the characters' signature elements like spirit fingers and their "perfect cheer."

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Spartan Cheerleaders Celebrate 30 Years of Unhinged SNL Laughs

Spartan Cheerleaders Celebrate 30 Years of Unhinged SNL Laughs

25 Oct, 2025

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Summary

Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri's Spartan Cheerleaders sketch debuted on SNL 30 years ago
The characters were outsiders who didn't make the official squad but still proudly cheered
The sketch ran through 1999, giving fans iconic chants and memorable characters

Spartan Cheerleaders Celebrate 30 Years of Unhinged SNL Laughs

Thirty years ago, Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri burst onto the Saturday Night Live stage as the Spartan Cheerleaders, and their iconic sketch has endured as one of the show's most beloved and unhinged moments. Ferrell, now 58, and Oteri, 63, were just five weeks into their SNL careers when they first donned the Spartan uniforms and brought to life the characters of Craig and Arianna - outsiders who didn't make the official high school squad but still proudly cheered on at chess matches, bake sales, and even a screening of Titanic.