| Debbie Downer | |
|---|---|
| Saturday Night Live character | |
 | |
| First appearance | May 1, 2004 |
| Last appearance | February 16, 2025 |
| Created by | |
| Portrayed by | Rachel Dratch |
| In-universe information | |
| Gender | Female |
Debbie Downer is a fictionalSaturday Night Live character who debuted in 2004[1] and was created and portrayed byRachel Dratch.[2]
Dratch's character usually appears at social gatherings and interrupts the conversation to voice negative opinions and pronouncements. She is especially concerned about the rate offeline AIDS, which she repeatedly claims is the number one killer of domestic cats.[3] Dratch came up with the idea for the original sketch during an awkward vacation interaction in Costa Rica.[4]
Evolving from the character's popularity, the nameDebbie Downer eventually became an establishedslang phrase. The phrase refers to apessimistic person who frequently adds bad news and negative feelings to a gathering, thus bringing down the mood of everyone around them. The worddowner had been used in this meaning since at least the 1970s.[5] AFunko Pop collectable figure of the character was released in 2025.[6]
The first appearance of Debbie Downer was on May 1, 2004, with guest hostLindsay Lohan.[3][7] Debbie and five members of the McKusick family —played by Lohan,Jimmy Fallon, Dratch,Amy Poehler,Fred Armisen, andHoratio Sanz—are eating breakfast at a restaurant inWalt Disney World.[3] While the family makes small talk, Debbie makes negative comments on worrying current events such asfeline AIDS, followed by a knowinglook at the camera and a cartoonish "wah-wah" sound made by amuted trombone.[3] The sketch was written by Dratch andPaula Pell and was originally set in an office.[4]
In the sketch, everyone on camerabreaks character and begins to laugh because of both the "wah-wah" sound effect—which the cast did not expect—and Dratch flubbing a line early on and correcting herself.[3] It was listed at number 99 as part ofTV Land's "Top 100 Most Unexpected Moments in TV History"[8] and has been named one of the show's best and most memorable sketches.[9][10]
Debbie Downer appeared in a sketch in the 2004–05 season opener withBen Affleck as the guest host.[7] The cast members who appeared in this sketch were more composed and did not laugh out loud at Debbie's pronouncements. This trend continued throughout the rest of the season.
In future airings of the Affleck episode, the live Debbie Downer sketch was replaced by the dress rehearsal version, along with an opening title card explaining that the dress rehearsal "worked better." In the dress rehearsal, the cast all cracks up just as they did in the Lindsay Lohan episode.
The character appeared two more times that season: once atThanksgiving dinner[11] (withLuke Wilson as host) and another at theOscars withHilary Swank (playing herself). The latter sketch revealed that Debbie babysat Swank when Swank was a child.Will Forte appeared in the sketch as Swank's then-husband,Chad Lowe.
In 2005, the season premiere ofSaturday Night Live featured a Debbie Downer sketch at the end of the episode. HostSteve Carell's character,Bob Bummer, is just as negative, and he and Debbie fall in love.
The December 17, 2005, episode, hosted byJack Black, included aChristmas-themed sketch showing Debbie in her childhood during a visit fromSanta Claus. This episode contradicts her debut sketch, as here she refers to her last name being "Downer."
On April 15, 2006, Debbie returned for her final appearance before Dratch departed the show. In this episode, Debbie appeared at a bachelorette party for her sister (portrayed by Lindsay Lohan) at a strip club inLas Vegas despite not being invited.
During the May 8, 2010, episode hosted byBetty White, there was a Debbie Downer sketch filmed during dress rehearsal, but it was cut from the live show due to time constraints.[12] The episode is now posted on NBC.com'sSaturday Night Live page, featuring video clips of old and new sketches from the show's 35-years-and-counting tenure. A group of suburban women (all played by the guest actresses listed in addition to then-current cast memberKristen Wiig) are having a lingerie party and, as usual, Debbie Downer ruins everyone's fun. One housewife (played byAmy Poehler) yells at Debbie and asks her why she's so miserable all the time. Downer thinks back to her childhood where during her birthday, her depressed grandmother (played by White) tells her to enjoy her birthday cake now becausegluten allergies run in her family.
During theSNL 40th Anniversary Special, Dratch appears briefly at the beginning as Downer, telling the audience that starting a show with a musical performance decreases viewership.
Debbie appears in the March 7, 2020 episode hosted byDaniel Craig, where she is a guest at a wedding, bringing her melancholy with her. She complained about thecoronavirus and, once again, feline AIDS.[13]
During theSaturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special, Dratch reprised her role playing a bartender who can't stop bringing up depressing topics such as the toxicity of both alcohol and the planet, before ultimately toasting toSNL's anniversary and "continuing advancements in curing feline AIDS". The special guest of the sketch wasRobert De Niro.[14]
Every Debbie Downer sketch opens with a prologue. The prologue is followed by the Debbie Downer theme song (and corresponding video), which in turn is followed by the body of the sketch. Each sketch closes with a repeat of the last line of the theme song and with one more negative fact from Debbie. The sketch ends with a close-up of Debbie's pained expression.[citation needed]
Theme song lyrics:
The Christmas sketch began with a special theme song. It featured an animated Debbie, looking much likeThe Grinch, and a tune similar to "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch". Steve Carell's Bob Bummer also had his own theme song.[citation needed]
| Date | Host |
|---|---|
| May 1, 2004 | Lindsay Lohan |
| October 2, 2004 | Ben Affleck |
| November 20, 2004 | Luke Wilson |
| February 19, 2005 | Hilary Swank |
| October 1, 2005 | Steve Carell (as Bob Bummer) |
| December 17, 2005 | Jack Black (Debbie Downer Christmas) |
| April 15, 2006 | Lindsay Lohan |
| May 8, 2010 | Betty White (unaired) |
| March 7, 2020 | Daniel Craig |
| February 16, 2025 | N/A (SNL 50th Anniversary Special) |