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Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!

This is the iconic phrase which begins each episode of Saturday Night Live, one of the longest-running sketch comedy shows on network television. From fake commercials to parody news programs, SNL has delighted viewers since its premiere in 1975.

As we celebrate 50 seasons of great comedy, we thought it might be fun to spotlight the 10 best sketches. However, before we hop into the list, let’s go over our criteria. We’re not counting the host opening monologues as a sketch, since those don’t follow the traditional sketch format. Musical performances don’t count as a sketch, unless there is a scripted or comedic aspect to it.

 For example, The Lonely Island’s “Dick in a Box” would be considered a sketch, since it has a music video with comedic moments. Performences by the Blues Brothers would not be considered sketches. Believe me, that last one was hard, because I love me some Jake and Elwood.

Comedy is subjective, and everyone has their own idea of what a great sketch is. In other words, this is our top 10 list, which might differ from yours. If you have a hot take on what should be on here, and what I should’ve dropped, feel free to drop it in the comments section.

And with that, live from Popverse (or your laptop screen), it’s SNL’s 10 best sketches….

10. Best SNL Sketches: Superman’s Funeral

Airdate: November 21, 1992

Here at Popverse, we’re comic book geeks, so it was only natural that this sketch would make our list. This aired shortly around the time DC Comics was publishing its Death of Superman storyline, and this was SNL’s way of commemorating the event. The heroes and villains of DC (and even Marvel) attend a memorial service for Superman, and hilarity ensues. Highlights include Al Franken as Lex Luthor, who is barely able to mask his delight. “It should be a great year for me,” Franken’s Luhor says with delight. Sinbad shows up as Black Lightning, complete with his Bronze Age costume. That alone is worth the price of admission. Plus, we also get lots of SNL A-listers, such as Rob Schneider, Chris Farley, Dana Carvey, Julia Sweeney, and more.

9. Best SNL Sketches: I’m on a Boat

Airdate: February 7, 2009

If you’re a millennial, then there is a good chance that you can’t step onto any boat without quoting the song from this sketch. Originally released as a Saturday Night Live digital short, “I’m on a Boat” is a parody of early 2000s era rap videos and all the excess that goes with them. T-Pain joins The Lonely Island for a song that celebrates the act of being on a seafaring vessel while shouting “fuck” as many times as humanly possible. The scenes are intercut with footage of Jorma Taccone having a miserable time on land. Why? Because he isn’t on a boat.

8. Best SNL Sketches  – The Last Voyage of the Starship Enterprise

Airdate: May 29, 1976

A Star Trek parody that finds the crew of the Enterprise visited by NBC executives who inform them that their show has been cancelled. Most people point out John Belushi’s William Shatner impression, but Dan Aykroyd’s DeForest Kelley impression is overlooked comedy gold. After this sketch aired, the SNL crew received a thank you note from Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, who was impressed with how well they lampooned his series.

7. Best SNL Sketches - Undercover Boss: Starkiller Base

Airdate: January 16, 2016

SNL is at its best when it blends two unrelated properties, resulting in an unexpected mashup. In this case it was Star Wars and the reality show Undercover Boss. The premise involves Kylo Ren going undercover as a radar technician to learn what the employees of Starkiller Base really think of him. This sketch aired the week that Adam Driver hosted SNL, so he naturally reprised his role as Kylo Ren, giving the sketch a level of authenticity. Kylo’s disguise fools nobody, and he can’t help but awkwardly praise himself. This sketch has inspired fanart, cosplay, and more, cementing its place in pop culture.

6. Best SNL Sketches - Dick in a Box

Airdate: December 16, 2006

Another music video from The Lonely Island, this time with Justin Timberlake along for the ride. The song is about what could only be described as an unconventional holiday gift idea, which involves surprising your significant other with…well…your dick in a box. The over-the-top premise became a viral hit in the early days of social media. While the song and the video are humorous, Popverse does not suggest trying this in real life.

5. Best SNL Sketches – Roseanne Roseannadanna on Weekend Update 

Airdate: January 21, 1978

You can’t talk about Saturday Night Live without talking about Gilda Radner, a legendary comedian who tragically died too young. Radner was a staple of early SNL, and Roseanne Roseannadanna is possibly her most memorable character. Previously introduced in a 1977 fake commercial sketch, the character really found her footing when she appeared on the 1/21/78 Weekend Update segment. Acting as a special correspondent, Roseannadanna answers viewer male asking for advice on living without heat. Roseannadanna answers with an off-topic rant which is meant to gross the viewer out, as she talks about hair in her food and other disgusting things. No props, no gimmicks, it’s just Gilda Radner giving a comedic monologue, and boy, does she deliver. 

4. Best SNL Sketches - Van Down by the River

Airdate: May 8. 1993

This is Chris Farley at his finest. The sketch revolves around a motivational speaker (played by Farley) who is tasked with scaring two teenagers straight (David Spade and Christina Applegate) after their parents (Phil Hartman and Julia Sweeney) find out they’ve been smoking pot. The speaker is overcaffeinated and begins shouting like a drill sergeant about his life, “living in a van down by the river.” The speaker character was originally written by Bob Odenkirk, but he realized that Farley had the comedic chops to take the character to the next level. Odenkirk was right, because Farley nails it. The SNL cast rarely breaks, but throughout the sketch you can see Spade and Applegate struggle to stifle their laughter. After watching this sketch, it’s hard to blame them.

3. Best SNL Sketches – Landshark/Jaws II

Airdate: November 8, 1975

Landshark is funny, irreverent, and just the right amount of comedy cheese. The sketch, which was part of SNL’s fourth episode, is a parody of the movie Jaws, but this time the shark attacks on land. Chevy Chase voices the landshark, who knocks on the doors of unsuspecting women, tricking them into opening their doors. Once the door is open, a cheap-looking plastic shark attacks them. This sketch is intercut by segments of John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd doing spot on impressions of Matt Hooper and Sheriff Brody from the first Jaws film. The gag may be repetitive, but the comedic timing works every time. Landshark was one of Saturday Night Live’s first iconic segments, and there’s a good reason why it has stood the test of time.

2. Best SNL Sketches - More Cowbell

Airdate: April 8, 2000

When you think of iconic Christopher Walken lines, it’s hard not to think of “needs more cowbell.” The sketch features a fictional version of the band Blue Oyster Cult recording their hit song “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” in 1976. Walken plays a fictional producer named Bruce Dickinson, who instructs the band that the song needs more cowbell. This causes Gene Frenkle (played by Will Ferrell) to play the cowbell more enthusiastically with each take. Walken’s cold delivery of “more cowbell” coupled with Ferrell’s chaotic energy make this one of SNL’s best sketches.

1. Best SNL Sketches - Celebrity Jeopardy

Airdate: December 7, 1996

This recurring sketch was a parody of Celebrity Jeopardy, with Will Ferrall portraying host Alex Trebek. Throughout the sketch (and its subsequent sequels) Trebek struggles to keep his celebrity players focused as they continually disrespect him and disregard the rules of the game. However, the highlight of each segment was the banter between Ferrall’s Trebek and Sean Connery, as played Darrell Hammond. With each step, Hammond’s Connery would up the ante, insulting the humorless Trebek, who struggled to keep his composure. “Suck it Trebek.”

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