Saturday Night Live may be 40 years old, but the show’s most memorable sketches are timeless.
The pop culture staple has evolved over the decades, preserving its touchstone status across generations of Americans and somehow managing to maintain its freshness and relevance. The cast members have always been skilled at lampooning the newsmakers and events of the day, but at its most trenchant, SNL has also provided searing cultural commentary and deconstructed longstanding social convention.
And always, the sketches highlighted here were just plain hilarious.
In anticipation of Sunday’s star-studded, three-hour tribute show on NBC the Daily News ranked the best 15 sketches of all time, along with a handful of honorable mentions. Here, the most unforgettable moments from a show that is etched in our memories.
1. White Like Me
Before there was “White Chicks,” there was Eddie Murphy’s social experiment exploring and contrasting everyday experiences of black and white Americans.
Murphy goes undercover as a Caucasian man in 1980s New York City and studies for his role by watching episodes of “Dynasty” and reading a pile of Hallmark cards.
“I got to keep my butt real tight when I walk,” he tells himself.
When he hits the streets, he is shocked to discover a world of free newspapers and parties on buses.
Murphy was shocked by the level of racial inequality in 1980s New York City, but he was able to secure a loan without collateral, credit or ID.
2. Wayne’s World
Wayne and Garth partied on for years on “Saturday Night Live” and even spawned the show’s most successful movie spinoff.
Not bad for a show that started on public access in Aurora, Ill.
The two teenagers spent many of their sketches fantasizing about gorgeous babes or discussing international politics, but their biggest moment was in 1990 when Aerosmith paid a visit to the set — thanks to Garth’s cousin Barry (played by Tom Hanks) who works as their roadie.
Luckily, the band felt Wayne was worthy enough to sing his show’s theme song with them.
3. More Cowbell
Ask and you shall receive.
This April 2000 sketch spawned a pop culture catchphrase and did wonders for an underappreciated instrument.
The sketch stars Will Ferrell as a member of the Blue Oyster Cult during the recording of their 1976 hit “Don’t Fear the Reaper” for legendary producer Bruce (Yes, Thee Bruce Dickinson) Dickinson.
Will Ferrell “explores the space” in his too-small shirt but it never seems to be enough for Christopher Walken’s Dickinson who just has “gotta have more cowbell.”
4. Motivational Speaker Matt Foley
If someone had a problem with Chris Farley’s “Matt Foley” motivational speaker character they knew where they could find him. He “LIVES IN A VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER!”
Farley, who named the character after a college friend who became a priest, goes all out in admonishing two teenagers to keep them from going down the same path as him, which apparently leads to the aforementioned van by the river.
But during the sketch, Farley’s biggest issue seems to be keeping his pants around his waist.
5. Andy Kaufman’s Mighty Mouse
Of all the future legends in the first cast of “SNL,” a guest stole the debut show.
Andy Kaufman made a big impression on the audience with his one-of-a-kind rendition of the theme song “Mighty Mouse.”
Kaufman appeared on the show several times over his career, but a stunt to let the audience vote on whether he should be banned from the show backfired in 1983 when he lost 195,544 to 169,186.
He never appeared on the show again.
6. Celebrity Jeopardy
The answer was never provided as to what Sean Connery’s beef was with Alex Trebek, but whenever “SNL” had a Celebrity Jeopardy sketch the Scottish actor portrayed by Darrell Hammond was always there to stick it to the host.
Though he provided very few correct questions, Connery always seemed to win enough to return for every sketch and find a way to make any category name racy.
The recurring sketch became such a staple that during Ferrell’s final show as a cast member in May 2002 the real Alex Trebek appeared to congratulate his impersonator Will Ferrell.
“Those celebrities did not know the answer to any of your questions,” Trebek said.
“No, they did not. They were very stupid,” Ferrell answers.
“You’ve got that right,” the real Trebek said before Connery comes over to torture them one last time.
7. Richard Pryor, Chevy Chase Word Association
How about the word “stop”?
Richard Pryor appeared as host during the show’s first season and appeared in this memorably turbulent sketch with Chevy Chase.
Pryor was applying for a custodial job but needed to pass the psychological word association test before concluding his application.
But the exam featured a number of racially offensive words and the interview became more and more explosive until Chase was left cleaning up the mess by making Pryor the highest-paid janitor in America.
8. President Reagan Mastermind
President Ronald Reagan’s evil mastermind side is on display in 1986 thanks to this Phil Hartman impression.
Reagan often professed not to have answers to key questions in public, but the sketch suggests that is merely an act and the former actor was just playing dumb.
Here, he slyly transitions from planning multiple secret operations to a photo-op with a Girl Scout.
“This is the part of job I hate,” he said before greeting little Lisa Myers.
But Lisa got off a lot easier than some of the other people Reagan apparently has plans for.
9. Lazy Sunday
Andy Samberg and Chris Parnell’s digital short “Lazy Sunday” gave a much-needed shot in the arm to the series when it aired in December 2006.
The music video that follows two very intense people as they plan a lazy afternoon matinee of “The Chronicles of Narnia” became an instant hit that was shared online like no other sketch at the time.
It was the beginning of many of these type of parody music videos for Samberg and his Lonely Island comedy troupe.
10. Chippendales
Chris Farley was perfect for the role of a Chippendales dancer — except for his terrible, terrible body.
The 1990 sketch features Patrick Swayze and Farley in a competition to be the next dancer for the male dancing troupe.
Both perform admirably causing a tough decision for the judges but ultimately Farley’s “fat and flabby” figure was the deal breaker.
Swayze was gracious in victory.
“Can I just say, this guy is one hell of a dancer, you know? He’s got the sexiest moves I’ve ever seen! And if you’re really serious about going with me, it can only be because his body’s so bad,” he said.
11. Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton
“I can see Russia from my house.”
That one-liner set off an unforgettable run for Tina Fey impersonating the vice presidential candidate.
In this sketch, Fey as Sarah Palin and Amy Poehler as Hillary Clinton appear together in a sign of solidarity to address sexism on the campaign trail.
Fey uses the moment to unveil her Palin character, who admits she doesn’t know what the Bush doctrine is and believes global warming is “just God hugging us closer.”
But Palin may get the last laugh as she is expected to appear on the 40th anniversary special.
12. Cheerleaders
Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri cheered Spartan athletes on for years, even if none of them seemed to care.
Arianna and Craig never had what it took to be real Spartan cheerleaders but the problem was never enthusiasm.
They appeared on the sidelines for many big games at East Lake High School and used their boombox to perform their own routines — even though they were constantly reminded they were not real cheerleaders.
13. Olympia Restaurant (cheeseburger, cheeseburger)
What they lack in variety made for some great comedy.
The Olympia Restaurant stayed in business on SNL for years despite only serving cheeseburgers, chips (no fries) and Pepsi.
John Belushi led the Greek staff made up of assorted distant cousins and was very successful at pushing his business’ main food groups as the unsuspecting customers poured over the menu.
“Come on, come on,” the impatient owner would always say before pushing the cheeseburgers.
14. Film Beat
It was a moment the host never wants to forget.
Chris Elliott plays host Ted Davis on the show Film Beat in this 1994 sketch and tortures his guest actor Jeff Daniels with a single embarrassing clip from the movie Dumb and Dumber.
Daniels states the scene, where he grunts over a toilet as he takes a major number 2, was not his proudest moment but that the comedy was a nice change of pace.
But Elliott refuses to change course in the interview going back to the clip over and over.
“Do you worry at all about being typecast? At all? I mean, do you worry about always being the guy in the toilet? I mean….Jeff ‘Diarrhea Head’ Daniels,” he asks.
He then cut to a “commercial” that was just the same clip again.
The interview caused a flushed Daniels to storm off the set.
15. It’s Pat: Physical Evaluation
Few “SNL” characters were as complicated as Pat.
Julia Sweeney’s character meant well but the androgynous person always seemed to put the people around him or her in very awkward situations.
Pat’s gender was never actually revealed even in the 1994 movie “It’s Pat” when the character marries another ambiguous gender person named Chris.
Honorable Mentions:
Tom Brokaw Pre-Tapes
Dana Carvey makes sure NBC anchor Tom Brokaw will be reporting any and all major news even if he is on vacation in this 1996 sketch.
Brokaw spends his time behind the desk reporting on possible stories surrounding the death of Gerald Ford, and they get crazier and crazier until the anchor reads “Gerald Ford is dead today and I’m gay.”
“Today you’re not gay but you wake up one day, you like men, Gerald Ford dies and we’re screwed,” his producer insists after Brokaw’s protestations.
Ford died on Dec. 26, 2006 at his home in Rancho Mirage, Calif. He was 93.
D@#! in a Box
For the girl that has everything …
Samberg stars with Justin Timberlake in this 2006 video as the two smooth cats serenade their ladies with a promise to gift them their manhood. After placing it in a box.
The ridiculous sketch, which redefined the junk gift, promises a truly real and special present for the lady.
Hopefully for the lady the gift is the right size. There are no returns.
McLaughlin Group
Those who thought they could teach John McLaughlin something new couldn’t be more WRONG!
Dana Carvey portrays the famed political host in this 1990 sketch that features McLaughlin constantly interrupting his guests to let them know he has the real answers on the important matters of the day.
Does he conduct the show in this manner because he’s a jerk? With a really large ego?
WRONG!
“I was neglected by my parents and I overcompensate to shadow my feeling that I have an inadequate intellect,” he confides in his authoritarian manner.
Mr. Robinson’s Christmas
Eddie Murphy showed audiences a different type of neighborhood in this recurring parody of the PBS show.
In this 1984 sketch, Mr. Robinson demonstrates what can happen when a day is not quite so beautiful — even during the Christmas season.
Murphy is dressed in a Santa suit, but it’s not because of his jolly holiday spirit.
He was recently handed an eviction notice — and needs the costume so he can get in and out of his building undetected.
Hopefully he won’t have to resort to climbing through the chimney.
1992 Presidential Debate
Three very unique personalities required Dana Carvey to pull double duty during this 1992 cold open lampooning presidential candidates George Bush, Bill Clinton and Ross Perot.
Carvey is credited with his innovative George H. W. Bush impression that inspired many comedians to mock the President.
With Perot crashing the election of the two dominant candidates, Carvey successfully portrayed them both during this sketch — though it did lead to some technical difficulties.
When asked to end the sketch Perot, whose part was pretaped, demurred to his live self.
Bush was given the honor to say “live from New York, it’s Saturday NIIIIIGGGGGHHHHHHHTTTTT!!!!!!!”
Tags:
tv ,
saturday night live ,
eddie murphy ,
tom hanks ,
will ferrell ,
andy kaufman ,
andy samberg ,
tina fey ,
amy poehler ,
justin timberlake
Recommended article: Chomsky: We Are All – Fill in the Blank.
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