What is the best “Saturday Night Live” sketch of all time? Count that among one of life’s many impossible questions.
The sketch show’s 50-year history has spawned countless pop culture moments. Sketches like “Wayne’s World” led to entire movie franchises. More recently, Marcello Hernandez’s character Domingo has made meta appearances in the real world.
But fans have individual relationships with “SNL,” too — the sketches you feel like no one but you and your friend group loves, remembers and quotes.
In honor of the 50th anniversary, TODAY.com staffers rounded up our favorite “Saturday Night Live” sketches from over the years. Find a hidden gem, revisit an old favorite — and most certainly laugh.
'The Californians: Stuart Has Cancer' (2012)
As a California native and Los Angeles resident, “The Californians” sketches are spot-on and hilarious. The way that the characters describe having to navigate the freeways, streets and traffic is something every person living in LA understands. Also, it’s even funnier when Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig break character and laugh.
— Liz Calvario
'Brian Fellow’s Safari Planet: A Goat and a Miniature Horse' (2001)
I remember watching “SNL” when I was younger and just loving the hilarious — and at times inappropriate — "Brian Fellow’s Safari Planet" sketches. The skits perfectly utilized Tracy Morgan's comedic skills of being able to be naïve and sassy at the same time. I love how Brian Fellow always has beef with the animals because “that’s crazy!”
— L.C.
‘What Up with That’: Robert De Niro and Robin Williams (2010)
I love this sketch of exuberant interruptions. Kenan Thompson’s energy is always turned up to 11 as Diondre Cole, the host of a BET talk show that always devolves into song. In this version, Robert De Niro gets hilariously annoyed at the "rude" interruptions; Robin Williams hardly says a word but says so much. Equally fun is the recurring cast, like Jason Sudeikis in a track suit. Watch out for that snare drum!
— Elena Nicolaou
'D--- in a Box' (2006)
Andy Samberg and Justin Timberlake’s digital short “D--- in a Box” was ahead of its time, while still perfectly capturing the essence of “SNL.” From the meme-worthy physical boxes to the absurd lyrics, the song is still simply iconic. Plus, it was a clear precursor to The Lonely Island’s “I’m on a Boat” with T-Pain, and what else can really be said about that song’s impact on America at the time?
— Anna Kaplan
'Target Lady' with host Daniel Radcliffe (2012)
I don't know what it is — maybe magic? But when Kristin Wiig starts speaking as "Target Lady," I instantly laugh. Wiig specializes in people with unbounded enthusiasm and I find this to be her most endearing character. Given the popularity of Target, to a certain degree, we are all Target Lady. Daniel Radcliffe committed to the bit.
— E.N.
'Big Boys' with host Keke Palmer and musical guest SZA (2022)
🎵 It’s cuffing seaaaason 🎵 In the fall of 2022, Keke Palmer and SZA sang a ditty on “SNL” about single gals seeking out big boys to keep ‘em warm through the winter months. The catchy tune took over TikTok shortly after it aired — and even now, it’s an earworm the internet just can’t shake. Major points for that alone.
— Bryanna Cappadona
'Rap Roundtable' with host Timothée Chalamet (2020)
When Timothée Chalamet isn’t out nabbing Oscar nominations as a Serious Actor, he is actually incredibly funny. Take “Rap Roundtable,” when he and Pete Davidson played amateur rappers with such ridiculousness that even Chalamet couldn’t suppress his giggles. There is nothing funnier on “SNL” than an actor breaking!!
— B.C.
'Back Home Ballers' with host Cameron Diaz (2014)
Group chats everywhere love to resurface “Back Home Ballers” before Thanksgiving to remind each other of the real reason we head home for the holiday: to bask in a life taken care of at your parents’ house. Stocked fridge — check. Open laundry — check. WiFi with longest gibberish password on Earth — check. Remember, if you want something, just holla.
– B.C.
'Close Encounter' with host Ryan Gosling (2015)
“Close Encounter” represents everything there is to love about “SNL” — there’s the star power of host Ryan Gosling, an abundance of character breaks and for me, the specific memory of watching this sketch live with people I love. It was 2015, and I came home from a night of babysitting to my parents absolutely losing it, for an at first undecipherable reason. My dad picks up the remote and rewinds the TV (again), and my mom explains that they’re going to watch an “SNL” sketch for the third time in a row, just for me to see it, too. By the time Kate McKinnon said, “I don’t think I was dealing with the top brass,” we had to pause to TV to make sure we didn’t miss a line through all the cackling. And as Gosling was laughing out loud behind his hand — almost missing his queue before getting an assist from Cecily Strong— tears were streaming down my face. Partly because of the skit, but mostly because of the joy of laughing alongside my family.
— Maddie Ellis
'Matt Foley: Van Down by the River' with host Christina Applegate (1993)
I've loved so many "SNL" sketches that choosing just one is like picking between my children. But it's my children that actually inspire my pick. Like sullen "teens" David Spade and Christina Applegate, my kids can relate to getting a total dress down on the couch and I can only wish that I'd had Chris Farley, aka motivational speaker, Matt Foley, to fill them with fear over eating a "steady diet of government cheese" and living in a van down by the river. Written by Bob Odenkirk, this genius sketch that singularly sums up "SNL's" comedy magic to a tee. An unhinged Farley, spitting, spouting, re-adjusting his too-tight belt and ad libbing his lines, Spade breaking character and hiding his laughter beneath his hand, all topped off by a completely unscripted set failure when Farley falls and breaks the coffee table — yet manages to finish the sketch without missing a beat. Whoops-a-daisy! If there's ever been a reason to steer clear of "rollin' doobies," Matt Foley, is it. Thank you, "SNL," thank you.
— Sarah Wesley Lemire
'Church Chat' (1986)
“SNL’s” 12th season premiere in 1986, following the critically panned Season 11, featured the first appearance of new cast member Dana Carvey portraying the self-righteous and judgmental Church Lady. It became a recurring sketch that hilariously tackled the headlines of the day, but this first appearance of Carvey’s condescending Church Lady in particular signaled the dawn of a new era for “SNL,” with her famous lines “Satan!” and “Well, isn’t that special!” entering the pop culture lexicon. Nearly four decades later, Carvey still plays the character when he stops by the show.
— Drew Weisholtz
'Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer' (1991)
You can choose many Phil Hartman sketches, but this one from Season 17 in 1991 is so ridiculous it merits citing. He plays a caveman who fell in ice, only to be thawed out centuries later and become a lawyer, simultaneously overwhelmed and taken in by the conveniences of the modern world. It’s the type of ludicrousness that makes “Saturday Night Live” what it is. “Your world frightens and confuses me” became one of the many lines that the late Hartman, who also aced impressions of Ed McMahon, Phil Donahue and Bill Clinton during his “SNL” tenure, perfectly delivered and highlights just how versatile and brilliant a performer he was.
— D.W.
'Wayne’s World: Aerosmith' (1990)
“SNL” turned comedy into a kind of rock and roll, so it was only fitting that lovable, burned out rock fans Wayne and Garth welcomed Aerosmith to their little cable access show in what may be the quintessential “Wayne’s World” sketch, from Season 15 in 1990. “Wayne’s World” was a smash sketch that later became a hit movie. Getting Aerosmith to play along here (the bit where the band debates the future of communism is fantastic) made sense in much the same way it made people laugh. This sketch also gets bonus points for frequent host Tom Hanks playing a dedicated roadie.
— D.W.
'Chippendales Audition' with host Patrick Swayze (1990)
This piece from Season 16 in 1990 was an instant classic. Patrick Swayze parlayed the moves he showed off a few years earlier in “Dirty Dancing” by going toe-to-toe with Chris Farley as two men competing for one spot to be a Chippendales dancer. Swayze has the seductive moves and Farley is a slovenly mess, but we’re to believe it’s a dead heat as they perform. Swayze was the sex symbol, but it’s Farley we can’t stop watching. The sketch takes itself very seriously, which is what makes it even funnier — that and the fact that it’s Farley at his physically comedic best.
— D.W.
'Sue: Christmas Surprise' with host Taylor Lautner (2009)
The "Christimas Party” skit featuring her character Sue was a running joke among my group of friends growing up, especially when it comes to the cheese ball! Her “excitement," aka anxiety, is hilarious, and as I’ve gotten older, realize it’s somewhat relatable! Just ... to the extreme.
— Nicoletta Richardson
'Celebrity Jeopardy!: French Stewart, Burt Reynolds, & Sean Connery' (1999)
In my opinion, the best "Celebrity Jeopardy" sketch of all time. This is Macdonald at his all-time wackiest, changing his name to “Turd Fergeson” and making Will Ferrell as Trebek call him the name for the entire episode, which catches on for future sketches. Hammond as Connery is also a staple of the series and a perfectly appropriate over-the-top impression of the actor. He insults Trebek the entire episode, writing, “Suck it, Trebek!” for his final Jeopardy answer. Ferrell’s reactions and demeanor as Trebek when talking to the clueless celebrities are perfect.
— Dan Aulbach
'Black Jeopardy' with host Chadwick Boseman (2018)
The late Chadwick Boseman’s “Black Jeopardy!” sketch will forever live on as one my favorite "SNL" moments. In the sketch, Boseman reprises his "Black Panther" role of King T’Challa and, like the other contestants, responds to statements as it relates to their Black culture. One of the now viral clues in the “Black Jeopardy!” category of “White People,” centered around a “Karen” bringing her potato salad to a Black person’s cookout. Bosemen’s humorous and culturally relatable response as T’Challa immediately became a meme. Aside from being in the biggest film of that year, Boseman’s appearance on the show showed fans he was not only funny, but an all-around star.
— Candice Williams
'The Coneheads' (1977)
Who doesn’t love aliens that come to Earth and tell us (with zero filters) how they see the world — and with the utmost honesty and humanity?
— Mish Coffey
