The extremely talented and witty Fred Armisen has had an interesting career so far. He's alternated between playing drums and performing comedy. Currently, he's the musical director for Late Night With Seth Meyers while continuing to act in films like Judd Apatow's upcoming The Bubble and recording voice work shows like Nick Kroll's Big Mouth.
It's astonishing how many characters that Armisen has created over his years on Saturday Night Live and Portlandia. His willingness to dive fully into the quirky characters really gives them a depth and humor. He's created so many that it's difficult to choose which is best, so this is where IMDb voter opinions come in (although it doesn't include his voice work or cameos).
Oscar On Forever (2018) - Stream On Prime Video - 7.1
This Amazon Prime original tells the story of a couple, played by Armisen and his fellow SNL alumni, Maya Rudolph (The Good Place, Big Mouth). They live a fairly humdrum life in the suburbs but are content to be together. That is, until something goes wrong.
Armisen seems to thrive when playing these average middle-aged husbands, as he does in quite a variety on Portlandia. But it's his ability to portray sincere belief in these men as well-meaning but flawed where he draws out the humor. He and Rudolph are fantastic together and riff off of each other brilliantly.
Reverend Howard Layton On Schmigadoon! (2021-) - Stream On Apple TV+ - 7.3
In this musical comedy, Armisen is part of a large ensemble cast playing the village's Methodist minister, married to a strict woman played by Kristin Chenoweth (Glee, Pushing Daisies). Playing off the storyline of Brigadoon of course, the story begins with a couple hiking and stumbling on this perfect village that they can't leave until true love is found.
Though Reverend Layton doesn't get a large amount of screentime, he gets to sing and still sneaks in some zingers. It's a surprisingly serious role for the comedic actor, but he's surrounded by so many other fantastic funny people like Jane Krakowski, Keegan-Michael Key, and Cecily Strong, that someone must play the straight man.
Karl Cowperthwaite On The Last Man On Earth (2015-2018) - 7.4
In this short-lived but hilarious post-apocalyptic comedy, Phil Miller, played by Will Forte (Sweet Tooth, MacGruber), has been alone for two years just wishing that somebody else has survived. Unfortunately for him, survivors start to show up. The show is packed with some of the best current comedians and actors, like Kristen Schaal, January Jones, and Jason Sudeikis.
Though Armisen doesn't show up until the fourth season, his character and his story arc are fantastic. He plays Karl Cowperthwaite, who's a serial killer that likes to paint a portrait of his victims before taking their lives. Armisen's ability to play the mild-mannered everyman makes his serial killer that much more funny and disturbing.
Tico On Los Espookys (2018-2019) - Stream On HBO Max - 7.5
Armisen created this delightfully quirky comedy for HBO along with Julio Torres (Saturday Night Live, Shrill) and Ana Fabrega (At Home With Amy Sedaris, Father Of The Bride). The plot centers around a group of friends who all share a love for horror and create a business around that love. The humor is intentionally understated and eerie.
Armisen plays a car valet and the uncle of the main character starting Los Espookys, a company that recreates creepy scenes for their customers. Armisen again is a supporting character, but still shines every time he's on screen.
Robert Durst On The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015-2019) - Stream On Netflix - 7.6
Armisen has created an enormous repertoire of characters on SNL, but none so popular that they carried over to other shows. Armisen repeats the character on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, perfectly performing an oddly spot-on Robert Durst (the subject of the HBO documentary The Jinx) with those dark, dead eyes and the inability to act completely human.
Just as life imitates art at times, Armisen also plays Robertina Durst, Robert dressing up as his imaginary sister to fool people. In real life, Durst occasionally wore disguises to fool others. It's a great joy to watch Armisen and Carol Kane interact, competing to be the strangest character.
Geraldo On Our Flag Means Death (2022-) - Stream On HBO Max - 7.8
Geraldo isn't the nicest guy, but he is a pirate after all. He's also one of the many husbands of Spanish Jackie -- played by Leslie Jones (Ghostbusters, Coming 2 America) -- who's pretty darn dangerous and collects the noses of her enemies. Geraldo tends bar for her as well, serving the customers 'nose juice.' When Geraldo sees a way to make some money and get rid of some of the crew of The Revenge, he goes for it.
Armisen plays this bad guy as seriously as possible, but then again, that's a great part of his humor, because these characters take themselves very seriously. It's too bad that viewers only got to have Geraldo around for a few episodes. He certainly added one real villain among the show's loveable pirates.
Candace On Portlandia (2011-2018) - Stream On AMC+ - 7.8
Armisen co-created Portlandia, a brilliant and hugely popular series, with fellow musician Carrie Brownstein from Sleater-Kinney. The skit-based comedy show allowed Armisen to do what he does best -- create a variety of characters steeped in the culture of Portland, Oregon. From hipsters to goths to cyclist activists, Armisen and Brownstein killed it, commenting on the times and finding the humor in such an overly serious world.
The duo struck comedy gold with Toni Rose and Candace Devereaux, the owners of a feminist bookstore called Women and Women First. Based on a real bookstore in Chicago, the two women are serious in their radical beliefs and care very little for their customers, including a myriad of famous guest stars.
Garth On Saturday Night Live (1975-) - Stream On Hulu - 8.0
It's not easy to decide which character is Armisen's best from his more than a decade on SNL. Barack Obama or Lawerence Welk? Michael Bloomberg or Stuart the native Californian?
Often his more outrageous characters draw the most laughs, but he really shines when he's playing off of someone else. Most notably, his performances on Weekend Update with Kristin Wiig as Garth and Kat, a very unprepared singing duo. Both characters have spent a lot of time figuring out their fabulous outfits, but it seems they forgot to write any songs, so they improve the lyrics as they go. Songs like "The Lobster And Crab Lose All Over The Place" and "Let Us Play Some Volleyball On Your Beach" have become SNL classics.
Big Vivvy On Documentary Now! (2015-) - Stream On Netflix and AMC+ - 8.1
Armisen created this mockumentary series with Bill Hader (The Venture Bros., Barry) and Seth Meyers. The episodes each parody the style and tone of distinct documentaries popular today. Somehow they convinced Dame Helen Mirren to host the show, and it include a long list of fantastic cameos like Daryl Hall and Kenny Loggins. Very often the guest stars play themselves, like Mia Farrow and Anne Hathaway.
This again is where Armisen thrives, playing a variety of kooky characters. In this particular case, in the very first episode, the show parodies one of the most famous documentaries of all time, Grey Gardens (1975), and Armisen plays a version of Edith Beale opposite Hader's version of Little Edie.
Mlepnos On Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013-2021) - Stream On Hulu - 8.5
This beloved comedy starring Andy Samberg has kept audiences laughing for eight seasons. Focused around the kooky crew of the Brooklyn-based police station 99, the ensemble cast includes Terry Crews (The Expendables, Arrested Development), Joe Lo Truglio (Super Bad, Reno 911!), and Andre Braugher (Law & Order: SVU, House).
Armisen appears in the pilot as Samberg's character Jake and his partner Amy (played by Melissa Fumero) are investigating a murder. Mlepnos reappears throughout the series trying to sell horse blood and singing at Jake and Amy's wedding. It's one of Armisen's more bizarre characters who's a thrilling surprise every time he reappears.