South Dakota's history with 'Saturday Night Live.' It's not just Gov. Kristi Noem impersonation

During this weekend's episode of "Saturday Night Live," the long-running sketch comedy program on NBC, South Dakota's Gov. Kristi Noem got a send-up during the show's cold open.

Actress Heidi Gardner played Noem as a vampire as she visited former President Donald Trump, played by James Austin Johnson, at his home in Mar-a-Lago, Florida.

"Hello, I'm Governor Kristi Noem and 'I Vant to take your abortion rights," in an accent out of any movie set in Transylvania.

To which the mock hosts asked, "What the hell was that? The Governor of South Dakota. A political impression that no one asked for."

Noem's character continued: "I also wanted to say happy early Columbus Day, sir." This a clear nod to next week's national holiday, which South Dakota celebrates as Native American Day.

Funny or not is subjective, but it is rare for a South Dakota politician to be included on that national comedic stage. Even including the non-political happenings, the Mount Rushmore State only has a small history with the show.

Here are the notable South Dakota appearances on 'SNL' over the years. And let us know if we missed any!

Chris Katan played then-South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle in a sketch about tax cuts in 2001

Former South Dakota Sen. George McGovern hosted the show in 1984, 12 years after his failed presidential bid

Sen. John Thune was skewered on the show's 'Weekend Update' segment for comments on a minimum wage bill in 2001

In 2009, Sioux Falls native and then 'Mad Men' star, January Jones hosted the show

In 2014, the show featured a "commercial" for a South Dakota waterbed store. It's "waterbeds are the best"

In 1979, America's "first gay couple to attend high school prom" happened in Sioux Falls, and ended up on 'Weekend Update'

It was May 23, 1979 and newspapers across the nation ran an Associated Press story about the first gay couple to attend a high school prom.

The headlines ranged from celebratory to chiding. Some papers ran the full story, while some condensed it to just a few paragraphs. But every story started the same way — the dateline, telling readers across the country that 17-year-old Randy Rohl and 20-year-old Grady Quinn had made a small but significant step in LGBTQ history in a town called Sioux Falls.

The event continued to be national news — to the point that it resulted in what may very well be the sole mention of Sioux Falls on "Saturday Night Live," with Bill Murray making an off-color joke about the situation during Weekend Update.

In 1977, Gov. Dick Kneip got his shot at hosting, too

Gov. Dick Kneip was a co-host on the Nov. 19, 1977, edition of the late-night show. 'SNL' held a contest dubbed "Anyone Can Host," and out of more than 150,000 applicants, Kneip was one of five selected. (Thank you to the dozens of readers who brought this to my attention so I could add it!)

Sioux Falls' own Gail Matthius was a cast memeber

Sioux Falls native Gail Matthius was a full-season regular cast member on 'SNL' for the 1980-1981 season. In 1981, she co-hosted 'Weekend Update' with fellow cast member Charlie Rocket, among other popular characters she brought to the show. 

Did we miss any? Email ctmyers@argusleader.com