Lorne Michaels, with the help of NBC Studios, has brought us 48 seasons of New York’s most beloved sketch comedy show, Saturday Night Live. Every episode is hosted by a different celebrity guest who performs parody sketches with a revolving door of cast members, many of whom have gone on to see highly successful careers in film and television following their time at the show (Adam Sandler, Tina Fey, Will Ferrell, etc.).
As we approach the show’s 50th season, which is rumored to be Michaels’ final season, I have compiled a list of ten sketches you should watch before the creator of SNL steps down from the stage. These ten skits are a mix between highest viewer ratings, most popular cast members, and sketches that I concluded – as an SNL enthusiast – to be criminally underrated.
Individual sketches can be streamed by visiting the SNL Youtube channel. You can also stream entire episodes from past and present seasons of Saturday Night Live on the Peacock app created by NBC Studios.
Original Air Date: October 27, 1990
This sketch from Season 16 is an oldy, but a goodie. Adrian (Patrick Swayze) and Barney (Chris Farley) have to compete in front of a panel of judges (Kevin Nealon, Mike Myers, Jan Hooks) to see who’s “sexiest” dance will win them a spot as a Chippendale.
Original Air Date: December 17, 2016
Starbucks never stood a chance after we met Donny (Casey Affleck), a real Dunkin Donuts customer. In this parody commercial from Season 42, Donny gives us a candid look at why he loves Dunkin.
Target Lady: Meets Her First Lesbian – SNL
Original Air Date: September 25, 2013
In this Season 38 sketch, Target Lady (Kristin Wiig), a quirky employee whose overly enthusiastic behavior leaves customers disturbed, clocks into what becomes one of her most memorable shifts — she meets her first lesbian (Aidy Bryant).
Original Air Date: March 17, 2018
Jeannie (Cecily Strong) brings her much older husband (Bill Hader) to game night with the girls (Heidi Gardner, Aidy Bryant, Melissa Villasenor). This sketch from Season 43 takes an SNL style turn when Jeannie and her husband decide to turn game night into a contraception party featuring the “courtesy blanket”.
Please Don’t Destroy – New Personalities – SNL
Original Air Date: February 2, 2022
In this highly underrated digital short from Season 47, three guys (Martin Herlihy, Ben Marshall, John Higgins) decide to test out new personalities. Because why be yourself when you could be a southern waitress or Snape from Harry Potter instead?
Original Air Date: May 4, 2019
After 25 years, Adam Sandler returns to SNL in this Season 44 commercial parody advertising ‘Rectix,’ a unique and fast-acting solution to erectile dysfunction. A married couple (Aidy Bryant, Adam Sandler) share their very positive experiences using the innovative and slightly unconventional erectile dysfunction remedy with their son (Beck Bennett).
Original Air Date: December 15, 2015
Co-hosts of the game show “Meet Your Second Wife” Helen Walsh (Amy Poehler) and Tina Fey (Tina Fey) introduce three guests (Kenan Thompson, Bobby Moynihan, Taran Killam) to the young ladies who will destroy their current marriages. Like Sandler, Fey and Poehler also got their start at SNL. In this special episode from Season 44 the duo reunited to not only co-host this particular sketch, but the entire episode.
Wedding Objections – Saturday Night Live
Original Air Date: December 13, 2014
Why are you throwing away our marriage? Ian’s (Martin Freeman) wife asks as he stands at the altar about to marry Alberta (Leslie Jones), a woman he met five days prior. This sketch is set at a wedding that every guest attempts to stop, and the longer you watch – the more obscure the objections get. However, when it comes to Ian, the owner of White Castle, and Alberta, a WNBA player – the heart wants what the heart wants.
Original Air Date: March 4, 2018
Harassment Awards is a sketch proving that SNL is never one to shy away from “tricky” topics. On this mock red carpet for the Grabbie Awards, three reporters (Cecily Strong, Beck Bennett, Kate McKinnon) interview a slew of guests (Alex Moffat, Pete Davidson, Kenan Thompson, Charles Barkley, Aidy Bryant) about how they feel regarding their nominations for being the sleaziest gropers in Hollywood.
Weekend Update: Colin Jost and Michael Che Swap Jokes for Season 46 Finale – SNL
Original Air Date: May 23, 2021
Co-hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che decide to mix things up by swapping jokes for the Season 46 finale segment of Weekend Update. This segment showcases the comedic chemistry between Che and Jost by making every contemporary topic of controversy fair game in the name of jokes.