Saturday Night Live has been a cultural phenomenon since its inception in 1975, shaping the landscape of sketch comedy and influencing generations of entertainers and audiences alike. The show, known for its sharp wit and satirical take on current events, has produced countless unforgettable sketches that have left an indelible mark on pop culture. As we celebrate the show's 50th season, we delve into some of the most beloved sketches, as chosen by both celebrities and devoted fans across the globe.
Among the standout sketches, "The Californians" takes center stage, poking fun at the distinct lifestyles and accents of Los Angeles residents. This recurring soap opera parody captures the essence of life in the Golden State, resonating with audiences from coast to coast. Alongside this are other iconic moments featuring characters like Matt Foley and the famous "Schweddy Balls" from NPR’s Delicious Dish, each contributing to the rich tapestry of SNL's comedic legacy.
As we explore these memorable sketches, we invite you to reminisce about your favorites and perhaps discover a few new ones along the way. From the insightful humor of "The Californians" to the absurdity of Will Ferrell's antics in "Show Your Patriotism," SNL continues to entertain and provoke thought, ensuring its place in the hearts of many fans for years to come!
Table of Contents
- The Californians
- NPR’s Delicious Dish: Schweddy Balls
- Liza Minnelli Tries to Turn Off a Lamp
- President Reagan, Mastermind
- Bass-O-Matic
- Word Association
- Show Your Patriotism
- Matt Foley: Van Down by the River
- Honorable Mentions
The Californians
As a native of L.A., I love all the references to the freeways, streets, off-ramps, etc. The best is the pause in the mirror — cracks me up no matter how many times I see it. Perfect soap-opera parody. —Shirley Lang, 68, Lincoln, Calif.
The freeway references, the voices, the obscurity of the “problems” and the staff breaking up because they knew all of this even while playing it out. Thank you, “SNL.” — Jim Conlon, 75, Pacific Palisades
NPR’s Delicious Dish: Schweddy Balls
Season 24, 1998. Ana Gasteyer, Molly Shannon, Alec Baldwin on “The Delicious Dish” discussing Pete Schweddy’s favorite holiday dessert: Schweddy Balls. The sketch is priceless and timeless. — Ed Lamoureux, 71, Peoria, Ill.
The combination of the deadpan delivery and pushing the boundaries of what they could get past the censors with the double entendres gets me laughing every time. It’s not the holiday season without Pete’s Schweddy Balls. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. — Mark Akita, 64, Los Angeles
Liza Minnelli Tries to Turn Off a Lamp
I’m sure a lot of my favorites will be on this list, so I have to shout out “Liza Minnelli Tries to Turn Off a Lamp” from Season 37. It doesn’t have many views on YouTube, which is shocking to me because it is so funny. It is peak physical comedy from Kristen Wiig, a great “SNL” combination of a celebrity impression that rides the line between good and bad; a silly concept; great work from the costume department and the live band; and has many quotable lines. Perfect sketch. — Nikki Lanshaw, 32, Bishop, Calif.
President Reagan, Mastermind
During the Iran-Contra scandal, of which Reagan insisted he didn’t recall anything, Phil Hartman played him as an amiable dunce when Jimmy Stewart is visiting, but behind closed doors he’s orchestrating the whole scam: computing bribes in his head, speaking Farsi. I was in the live audience that night. Five years later, I happened to meet Hartman and told him how hilarious he was. I fed him one of Dana Carvey’s lines as Stewart and Hartman did the rest of the scene from memory. — Doug Molitor, 72, Covina
Bass-O-Matic
Dan Aykroyd sells a blender by putting a whole fish into it and turning the blender on. The sketch was so yucky and outrageous and funny that it’s the first sketch that comes to mind when I think of all of the sketches from that era, even more than Aykroyd’s Julia Child and “cheeburger, cheeburger” with John Belushi. — Reva Witcher, 73, Granada Hills
Word Association
Among my favorites from the early years — I’ve been watching since the very first episode — is the job interview-word association with Chevy Chase and Richard Pryor. It was very edgy and would require a “bleep” to be aired today, but it was truly creative, a wonderful commentary on bigotry that starts innocently and nears the end with the N-word, to which Pryor responds “dead honkey” — after replying “honkey” and “honkey, honkey” to the prior two associations. — Brian Podrow, 75, Lake Forest
Show Your Patriotism
Will Ferrell late for a staff meeting. Arrives wearing baggy, bulgy patriotic undies/Speedo. Why? Very hairy — and hilarious. I spent many an hour stuck in meeting rooms like this trying to stay awake. I hoped for a dream come true... — Thomas Hosey, 77, Pittsburgh
Matt Foley: Van Down by the River
Without a doubt, it has to be motivational speaker Matt Foley in “Van Down by the River,” starring Chris Farley (and written by Bob Odenkirk). Pretty sure I’m not the only one who found it hysterical — David Spade and Christina Applegate couldn’t keep a straight face, either, and they both were in it. Farley’s wild physical comedy is unmatched. Bonus, it also stars the late, great Phil Hartman. — Chris Georges, 66, Los Angeles
Honorable Mentions
The 1988 Bush-Dukakis debate: Dana Carvey’s George Bush impression is legendary and on full display here as he fills time with Bushisms: “thousand points of light,” “no new taxes,” “stay the course.” Add to that Jon Lovitz as Michael Dukakis and Kevin Nealon as Sam Donaldson and you have pure gold. “SNL’s” political satire has always had a way of summing up what everyone is thinking, and Dukakis’ retort, “I can’t believe I’m losing to this guy,” hits dead on. — Jeff Harris, 58, View Park-Windsor Hills
