Jan Hooks had the distinct privilege of being a Saturday Night Live cast member back when the show wasn’t super terrible. I used to love SNL. I really, really did. When I was growing up, the cast consisted of Will Ferrell and Tim Meadows, but then again, when did the cast not consist of Tim Meadows? Sure, actors like Chris Kattan didn’t necessarily represent the glory days of the famous skit show, but it sure was better than the drivel they’re pumping out now.

Jan Hooks left SNL in 1991 when she was offered a role on the CBS sitcom Designing Women. Jan played the character of Carlene Frazier Dobber until the show went off the air in 1993.

She did guest spots on shows like The Martin Short Show and The Dana Carvey Show, using her comedic talents to her advantage. She also guest starred on the ABC comedy Hiller and Diller with Richard Lewis and fellow SNL alumni Kevin Nealon.

In 1998, Jan starred in the film Simon Birch as Miss Leavey. From 1996 to 2000, Jan frequently starred on 3rd Rock from the Sun as Vicki Dubcek, daughter of the Solomon’s land lady. She became a major love interest for Harry Solomon, who was played by French Stewart. In 2001, she guest starred in Providence, Futurama, and Primetime Glick as Dixie Glick. She reprised that role in 2004 in the feature film Jiminy Glick in Lalawood.

Jan has appeared numerous times on the Simpsons, provided the voice for Manjula Nahasapeemapetilon, the wife of Apu, owner of the Quickie-Mart.

Hooks has had a pretty decent career since leaving Saturday Night Live. I think she’s enormously talented and extremely hilarious, and I can only hope that she continues to find work that allows her to flex her “funny” chops.