“Saturday Night Live” has been a television institution for 50 years airing thousands of memorable sketches in homes across the country. In that time, the cast and writers have been inspired by many things, from ’90s cartoons to parenting and so much more, but food and drink have always been a source of comedy for the late-night sketch-comedy show.
With “SNL50: The Anniversary Special” coming out on Sunday, Feb. 16, we thought we would take a look back at the most absurd and absolutely gut-bustingly funny sketches from the iconic show — through a food-focused lens.
There’s everything from send-ups of existing food brands like Heinz and Sam Adams or restaurants like McDonald’s and Starbucks to completely made-up food concepts that now live in the collective unconscious. “Brownie Husband,” anyone?
Here we go!
‘Bass-O-Matic’ — Season 2 (1976)
Gross-out humor is on full display in this sketch where Dan Akroyd’s salesman character advertises a blender that “lets you use the whole bass, without scaling, cutting or gutting.” The real icky-but-hysterical moment happens after Akroyd blends an actual fish and pours it into a glass.
‘Little Chocolate Donuts’ — Season 3 (1977)
John Belushi makes fun of the commercials for a certain sports-themed cereal popular in the late ’70s. Playing himself in all his (athletic?) glory, Belushi smokes and eats sugary “Little Chocolate Donuts” yet is able to best any other athlete in his way.
‘The Olympia Restaurant’ — Season 3 (1978)
“Cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger!” One of the show’s most enduring catch-phrases was uttered in this early sketch where patrons are annoyed that they can only get cheeseburgers, chips and Pepsi at the Olympia Restaurant.
‘The French Chef’ — Season 4 (1978)
In this gory parody of “The French Chef,” Julia Child (Dan Aykroyd) has an accident with a sharp knife while demonstrating how to bone a chicken and tries to improvise a tourniquet out of a chicken bone and other items in her well-appointed kitchen.
‘Anal Retentive Chef’ — Season 14 (1989)
Eugene — played with tensely wound-up brilliance by Phil Hartman — is an anal retentive chef that is very particular about everything he does in the kitchen. Does he ever cook anything? Well, no.
‘Colon Blow’ — Season 15 (1989)
This Phil Hartman-led skit takes aim at high-fiber cereals. Its subject, Colon Blow, is a cereal with 30,000 times the fiber as regular oat bran cereals — you can imagine how this ends.
‘Nikey Turkey’ — Season 16 (1990)
A Nike commercial parody where Chris Rock plays a spokesperson who raps about Nikey Turkey, poultry you can pump up to be large enough to feed any family on Thanksgiving.
‘Schiller Visions: Hidden Camera Commercials’ — Season 17 (1992)
Tom Schiller wrote and directed short films for “SNL” for 11 years, and one memorable classic shows one customer’s (Chris Farley) rather outsized reaction when he finds out he’s drinking instant coffee on a hidden camera commercial.
“Schiller Visions” shows just how far Farley was willing to go in a sketch, turning from an even keeled customer out with his wife to an enraged monster that needs to be held down by an entire room full of people in minutes.
‘Hub’s Gyros’ — Season 18 (1993)
Rob Schneider, Adam Sandler, Chris Farley and Robert Smigel play gyro shop workers who are very into the requests of their patrons. Jason Alexander, Tim Meadows and David Spade star as the customers, one who eventually asks the mustachioed gyro shop boys to please end the sketch.
‘Crystal Gravy’ — Season 19 (1993)
This unsettlingly funny sketch has lived in infamy for decades: a commercial for Crystal Gravy, the clear gravy that lets consumers drown their plate and still see the food underneath.
In the time since this aired, several folks, including food writer Dennis Lee, have tried to make a real version of the fake product.
‘Adam Sandler: Lunch Lady Land’ — Season 19 (1994)
In this sketch that shows the camaraderie between best-friend castmates, Adam Sandler sings “Lunch Lady Land,” a ditty about a lunch lady (Chris Farley), how angry food revolted against her and how she was saved by Sloppy Joe (Kevin Nealon).
Farley’s interpretive dance to the lyrics is particularly memorable — and almost breaks Sandler several times.
‘Zagat’s with Hank & Beverly Gelfand: Anniversary’ — Season 20 (1995)
Hank and Beverly Gelfand, a married couple played by Adam Sandler and Chris Farley, read Zagat’s, a restaurant guide, to decide where they’re going to for their anniversary. Beverly is much more invested than Hank, though. Beverly’s sister — played by David Duchovny — also stops by.
‘NPR’s Delicious Dish: Schweddy Balls’ — Season 24 (1998)
In this Christmas-season set sketch, innuendo is king. NPR hosts of “The Delicious Dish” Margaret Jo McCullin (Ana Gasteyer) and Terry Rialto (Molly Shannon) invite baker Pete Schweddy (Alec Baldwin) to discuss his famous holiday dessert: Schweddy Balls.
In about six minutes, the trio wrings every uproarious double-entendre they possibly can — cementing its place in “SNL” history.
‘Cooking Class’ — Season 29 (2004)
Jack Black plays a chef who refuses to cut his long curly hair, much to the chagrin of anyone who eats his food. In this sketch, he teaches a cooking class to cast members Fred Armisen, Rachel Dratch, Horatio Sanz and Chris Parnell.
‘Jamie Lee Curtis for Activia’ — Season 33 (2008)
Jamie Lee Curtis — played by the indomitable Kristen Wiig — snacks on one too many cups of Activia while filming a commercial for the yogurt brand. While filming with the director (Ashton Kutcher), the star has some unexpected intestinal issues on set, leading to absolute and uproarious hilarity.
‘Jon Hamm’s John Ham’ — Season 34 (2008)
Jon Hamm punnily presents a product that no one could possibly need: Jon Hamm’s John Ham — ham you can eat in the bathroom.
This sketch, in which Hamm gives flavors of his “Mad Men” character Don Draper, inspired at least one artist to make a vintage-style poster in honor of the roll of sliced deli meat.
‘Brownie Husband’ — Season 35 (2011)
Tina Fey stars as a woman who can do it all, but doesn’t have time for a man — at least a human one. Luckily for her, Duncan Hines has just introduced its new product: Brownie Husband, the very first companion dessert for the single woman.
‘Andre the Giant Gets an Ice Cream’ — Season 37 (2011)
Jason Segel, who once said on “Late Night with Conan O’ Brien” that he has been 6’4” since he was 12 years old, plays Andre the Giant in a very short-yet-sweet sketch.
The sketch contributes to a tradition where someone plays a star doing something exceedingly simple, like Liza Minelli trying to turn off a lamp.
‘Almost Pizza’ — Season 37 (2012)
A mother (Kristen Wiig) convinces her family (Bill Hader and Nasim Pedrad) to eat what may look and smell like pizza, but is not actually pizza. Obviously her family has many questions, and none of them get answered in what is one of the most absurd sketches on this list.
‘Top Dog Chef’ — Season 38 (2013)
A punny parody of “Top Chef,” hosted by dog versions of Tom Collichio and Padma Lakshmi, this sketch is filled with canine humor as dog chefs from around the world compete in a televised cooking contest.
‘Pizza Business’ — Season 38 (2013)
Melissa McCarthy’s utter commitment is on full display in a sketch between her and Jason Sudekis. McCarthy plays a deeply strange woman who applies to receive a small business loan to help fund her desire to eat lots of pizza, and you can’t help but root for her.
‘McDonald’s Firing’ — Season 38 (2012)
Host Anne Hathaway plays a manager at McDonald’s who is announcing a firing at a staff meeting. Two employees (Bobby Moynihan and Cecily Strong) severely jump the gun assuming it’s them and lay waste to each and every one of their coworkers.
These characters ended up coming back in subsequent sketches set at Best Buy and Barnes and Noble.
‘Guy Fieri’s Full Throttle Christmas Special’ — Season 39 (2013)
Bobby Moynihan plays Food Network host and electric-hair-haver Guy Fieri in this holiday sketch. In it, he invites his celebrity friends including Kid Rock (Brooks Wheelan), Criss Angel (Kyle Mooney) and Dog the Bounty Hunter (John Goodman).
‘Dunkin Donuts’ — Season 42 (2016)
“SNL” has a loving relationship with Boston — especially the accent. In fact, “The Boston Teens” is a beloved series of sketches. In that same vein, Casey Affleck plays Donny, a real Dunkin’ customer with very, very local flair.
‘Totino’s with Kristen Stewart’ — Season 42 (2017)
Back in 2017, “Twilight” star Kristen Stewart came out during her ‘SNL’ monologue. Later in the show, the two-time host had a romantic entanglement as “Sabine” with a surprising character: the lead of Vanessa Bayer’s recurring Totino’s Pizza Rolls sketches.
The steamy sketch reaches hilarious heights when Sabine asks, “What’s your name?” and Bayer’s character answers, “I ... I’ve never had one.”
‘Italian Restaurant’ — Season 43 (2017)
An engaged couple played by Cecily Strong and host Ryan Gosling react poorly to being tricked that the Italian food they’ve been eating is actually from Pizza Hut.
Gosling’s hothead character threatens to fight a bewildered Mikey Day several times — slightly breaking character near the end of the sketch.
‘Coffee Shop’ — Season 44 (2018)
In this sketch reminiscent of Season 43’s “Italian Restaurant,” newlyweds played by Adam Driver and Cecily Strong are shocked to find out the Domenico’s coffee they’ve been drinking is actually from Burger King.
‘Chopped’ — Season 44 (2019)
“Chopped” judges (Emma Thompson, Aidy Bryant and Alex Moffat) review the dishes made by two finalists (Melissa Villaseñor and Leslie Jones) and from the ingredients to the final dishes, each moment becomes more absurd than the last.
‘Extreme Baking Championship’ — Season 44 (2019)
Baking competition show contestants (Don Cheadle, Heidi Gardner, Leslie Jones, Kyle Mooney) show the judges (Aidy Bryant, Beck Bennett and Ego Nwodim) their sweet creations, but most of them are more worthy of being on “Nailed It” than “Great British Bake Off.”
‘Tasty Toaster Tarts’ — Season 45 (2019)
Chance the Rapper stars in this sketch depicting a fake commercial for Tasty Toaster Tarts. The lighthearted tone quickly turns to dark comedy in the send-up of ‘80s and ‘90s ads for kids snacks. Roasty Toasties, Wingo Dingos, Topsy Turvies and tons of other snacks are abound in the tightly written sketch.
‘Pizza Ad’ — Season 45 (2019)
Will Ferrell, Kate McKinnon, Kyle Mooney and Heidi Gardner play a family who have won parts in a Bertucci’s pizza commercial. Unfortunately for everyone, they’ve offended mom right before filming.
‘Samuel Adams’ — Season 46 (2020)
A commercial advertises Sam Adams’ new pumpkin beer by asking “real Bostonians” what they think. While most of them enjoy it, a father (Bill Burr) has a much more unfiltered opinion.
‘Amazon Go’ — Season 46 (2021)
A commercial advertises a new grab-and-go grocery shopping experience, but Kenan Thompson, Ego Nwodim and Punkie Johnson have suspicions. Cecily Strong has a disembodied-but-pleasant voiceover role in the side-eye of a sketch.
‘Hot Ones with Beyoncé’ — Season 46 (2021)
Host Maya Rudolph does an instantly-memorable Beyoncé impression in this sketch where she has a very hard time being interviewed on “Hot Ones.” Host Sean Evans (Mikey Day) continually checks in on the the “Cowboy Carter” singer after she eats an extremely hot wing.
‘Arby’s’ — Season 48 (2022)
A commercial for a new Arby’s deal is met with deep suspicion by the customers in it. This meta-commentary on the chain’s “We have the meats” tagline is played to perfection by Kenan Thompson.
‘Grimace’ — Season 48 (2022)
Host Miles Teller plays Grimace, the purple maybe-tastebud who surprises his fellow McDonald’s mascots (played by Kenan Thompson, Mikey Day, Bowen Yang and Sarah Sherman) with a new, jacked look.
‘Waffle House’ — Season 48 (2023)
Host Jenna Ortega and Marcello Hernández play a couple who are having an intense but necessary conversation about their relationship outside of a Waffle House location that is bustling with activity. The sketch is a reference to the diner chain’s reputation for fights, brawls and scuffles.
‘Lisa from Temecula’ — Season 48 (2023)
Ego Nwodim struck comedy gold — and a recurring sketch — with the blunt and assumptive Lisa, who’s in town to celebrate the birthday of her sister (Punkie Johnson).
Nwodim causes host Pedro Pascal and nearly all of her scenemates to break as she aggressively attempts to cut her “extra-extra-well-done” steak, shaking the table and nearly knocking over everything, except for a pitcher of sangria that seems to defy gravity. Bowen Yang also bursts out laughing when Nwodim asks if people are complaining “’cause we Black?”
‘Chef Show’ — Season 49 (2024)
In this sketch, two chefs — played by Nate Bargatze and Ego Nwodim — are being judged in a food competition show to see who can cook the best soul food. The winner surprises everyone, including surprise guest and former “Top Chef” host Padma Lakshmi.
‘New Barista Training’ — Season 50 (2025)
Host Timothée Chalamet plays Benny, a coffee employee who has surely watched “The Original Kings of Comedy” more than once. Mikey Day, Heidi Gardner, Devon Walker, Ashley Padilla and Jane Wickline also star.
