Comedy gold was struck! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most iconic “Saturday Night Live” sketches that wasted no time in winning the hearts of fans and have effortlessly secured their place in the show’s enduring legacy.
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00:00 "One day, our proud nation will measure weights in pounds and that 2,000 pounds shall be called
00:07 a ton."
00:08 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most iconic Saturday
00:14 Night Live sketches that wasted no time in winning the hearts of fans and have effortlessly
00:21 secured their place in the show's enduring legacy.
00:25 "Lobster in a diner's never cool!"
00:29 Number 10, Black Jeopardy! with Tom Hanks.
00:34 This recurring sketch parodies the game show Jeopardy! by placing well-meaning but clueless
00:40 white people in a game designed for black contestants.
00:44 In this iteration, however, Tom Hanks plays Doug, a middle-aged Trump supporter who surprisingly
00:50 performs well.
00:51 "The new iPhone wants your thumbprint for your protection.
00:55 Oh, okay then, Doug."
00:57 "What is...
00:58 I don't think so.
00:59 That's how they get you."
01:00 "Yes!
01:01 Yes!"
01:02 Aired during the hotly contested 2016 election cycle, which left the nation deeply divided,
01:11 it quickly resonated with audiences and sparked numerous cultural discussions.
01:17 "They out here saying that every vote counts.
01:19 Oh, Doug again.
01:21 What is... come on, they already decided who wins the report happens."
01:24 "Yes!
01:25 Yes!"
01:26 For one, it highlighted just how much people have in common, despite their many apparent
01:33 differences.
01:34 But at the same time, it acknowledged the inherent biases many still possess.
01:40 "If I can laugh and pray in 90 minutes, that is money well spent."
01:45 "Oh, you know what, sir?
01:46 I really appreciate you saying that.
01:47 I like that.
01:48 I really do."
01:49 "Oh, no, no, no, no.
01:50 It's all good.
01:51 It's all good."
01:52 It may have been just a game show parody, but this is arguably one of the best political
01:58 sketches in SNL history.
02:00 "You people are fun.
02:02 Can I say that?
02:04 Is that okay?
02:05 Can I say that?
02:06 We're getting you a pass this time."
02:07 9.
02:08 Back Home Ballers
02:09 As an adult, nothing beats escaping all your worries for a delightful holiday weekend at
02:16 your parents' house.
02:19 This music video sketch, which aired in 2014, perfectly captures all the best parts of that
02:27 experience, summed up in a hard-hitting rap song.
02:40 Joined by host Cameron Diaz, the girls humorously rap about napping, having a well-stocked fridge,
02:47 using free Wi-Fi, and eating out of just about every bowl you can find.
03:01 The song is not only hilarious, it's also effortlessly catchy and highly relatable.
03:12 After all, who hasn't found themselves stuck in the same awkward conversations with a neighbor
03:17 - just like little baby Aidy?
03:24 Thankfully, the festive fun doesn't stop at Thanksgiving.
03:34 Christmas is just around the corner.
03:38 8.
03:40 Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood
03:44 One of the greatest stars SNL has ever produced, Eddie Murphy left an indelible mark on the
03:51 show during his four-year tenure as a cast member.
04:04 Perhaps his most memorable character from that period was Mr. Robinson, a spoof of Fred
04:10 Rogers' persona from the beloved PBS children's show Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.
04:23 Unlike his inspiration, Mr. Robinson is a dubious individual living in a run-down apartment,
04:30 who often teaches his viewers about illegal activities.
04:44 After debuting on the sixth season of SNL, the morally questionable character quickly
04:50 became a fan favorite, appearing nine times during Murphy's time on the show.
04:55 Thirty-five years later, Mr. Robinson made a glorious return to Studio 8H for one final,
05:02 hilarious lesson on gentrification.
05:07 7.
05:17 The Lonely Island Digital Shorts
05:20 After decades on the air, SNL has only survived due to its ability to adapt to shifts in cultural
05:28 relevance.
05:34 In the mid-2000s, amid the rapid global spread of the digital revolution, The Lonely Island
05:40 ensured the show's continued success with their series of digital shorts.
05:45 Since then, several iconic installments have aired, featuring celebrity hosts such as Natalie
05:51 Portman.
05:55 Yet none captured the zeitgeist quite like that which starred Andy Samberg and Justin
06:02 Timberlake as two R&B musicians gifting their lovers the ultimate Christmas package.
06:14 Unsurprisingly, it became a viral hit, amassing millions of views on YouTube, winning an Emmy,
06:27 and paving the way for follow-up shorts featuring the same characters.
06:36 6.
06:40 Haunted Elevator Featuring David S. Pumpkins
06:43 He's here to scare the hell out of you with... two dancing skeletons and some weird music?
06:58 In the Haunted Elevator sketch, Beck Bennett and Kate McKinnon play a couple on a frightening
07:04 amusement park ride.
07:06 While they initially encounter some terrifying characters, their adventure takes a strange
07:12 turn when they come across David Pumpkins and his dancing skeletons.
07:17 With Tom Hanks as Pumpkins and Mikey Day and Bobby Moynihan as the skeletons, this bizarre
07:24 sketch marked a departure from SNL's political tone at the time and became an unexpected
07:30 hit with audiences.
07:36 And the skeletons are...
07:38 PART OF ME!
07:40 Why are they dancing?
07:41 Where is the music coming from?
07:43 Who is David S. Pumpkins?
07:46 Well the scariest thing to the mind is the unknown.
07:53 I'm David Pumpkins!
07:55 We don't know.
07:57 And that's exactly what makes it iconic.
08:00 Any questions?
08:01 ANY QUESTIONS?!
08:06 Number 5.
08:07 Debbie Downer - Disney World
08:10 The last thing you want on a family trip to Disney World is someone ruining the mood with
08:15 gloomy topics of discussion.
08:17 Unfortunately, that's exactly what you get with Debbie Downer.
08:21 Did you guys hear about that train explosion in North Korea?
08:27 The media is so sensitive there.
08:32 So secretive.
08:33 Portrayed by Rachel Dratch, Debbie Downer is a pessimistic lady who consistently injects
08:39 negativity into any conversation.
08:42 With that costume on, he's probably in the early stages of heat stroke.
08:50 While some of the entries on this list earned their place for their remarkable execution,
08:56 the sketch only became iconic for how terribly it went.
09:07 As Debbie Downer continued with her dismal pronouncements, accompanied by the sad trombone
09:13 of course, the entire cast, including Dratch herself, devolved into uncontrollable laughter.
09:21 By the end, the audience was also in stitches and a classic SNL character was born.
09:48 Number 4.
09:49 Two Wild and Crazy Guys
09:51 Individually, Dan Aykroyd and Steve Martin are two of the most uproarious individuals
09:58 to ever grace the Studio 8H stage.
10:02 Pair them together, however, and their comedic chemistry creates instant magic.
10:13 Beginning with the third season premiere, both men brought to life the iconic characters
10:18 in the Two Wild and Crazy Guys sketches.
10:28 The plot revolves around the misadventures of two flamboyant Czechoslovakian brothers,
10:34 George and Jortug Fesrunc, as they navigate the American dating scene.
10:40 However, with their exaggerated accents, flashy attires, and overall cultural out-of-touchness,
10:47 their attempts at wooing always fall flat.
10:54 Today, the premise of guys cluelessly trying to court women is pretty much cliche, but
11:03 in many ways, the Fesrunc brothers did it first.
11:13 Number 3.
11:14 Wayne's World
11:15 By the time this sketch debuted on the 13th episode of SNL's 14th season, Mike Myers
11:22 had only spent a few weeks as a cast member.
11:32 After its debut, everyone would come to recognize him as a star.
11:36 Myers plays Wayne Campbell, an energetic metalhead who hosts a public-access TV show in his basement
11:43 with his best friend Garth Algar, played by Dana Carvey.
11:53 As the two shared their offbeat opinions and engaged in hilarious banter, they coined several
12:00 catchphrases that quickly gained popularity.
12:14 Viewers embraced the laid-back charm of Wayne and Garth, which would lead to multiple subsequent
12:19 appearances.
12:20 The sketch ultimately transcended its original SNL roots, as it spawned two successful feature
12:28 film adaptations.
12:33 Number 2.
12:34 Matt Foley - Van Down by the River
12:43 The world lost a treasure with the tragic demise of Chris Farley.
12:48 The comedic genius appeared in several unforgettable sketches, such as the iconic Chippendales
12:54 audition in his debut season.
13:00 However, at the mention of his name, the first character that likely comes to mind is Matt
13:11 Foley, who was introduced in this Season 18 sketch.
13:24 When a married couple finds illicit substances in their children's room, they call on Foley,
13:30 a super-aggressive, down-on-his-luck motivational speaker, to set them straight.
13:43 But whatever expectations they had are completely shattered alongside their coffee table by
13:49 Foley's abrasive antics.
14:00 The sketch immediately gained the adoration of fans, and is now deemed one of the best
14:06 in SNL history.
14:13 Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
14:18 The Roxbury Guys.
14:20 Yet another hilarious brother duo attempting and failing woefully to court women.
14:40 Close Encounter.
14:42 Miss Rafferty's fantastical tales are sure to leave anyone in stitches.
14:56 Lisa from Temecula.
14:58 Ego Nuodim does an extra, extra, extra well-done job bringing this prickly character to life.
15:10 Career Day.
15:20 Bring Your Father to School becomes a blistering account of an oil baron's work culture.
15:39 Liza Minnelli tries to turn off a lamp.
15:42 Kristen Wiig is a master at physical comedy, and this sketch proves exactly why.
16:09 #1.
16:10 More Cowbell.
16:12 SNL icon Will Ferrell wrote and starred in this sketch that has long been hailed as one
16:18 of the show's greatest.
16:20 It takes place in 1976, during the recording of the song "Don't Fear the Reaper" by
16:26 Blue Oyster Cult.
16:34 Ferrell portrays the overly enthusiastic cowbell player, whose exaggerated performance irks
16:41 his bandmates, but never quite satisfies the eccentric producer played by Christopher Walken.
16:56 This leads Walken to demand for more cowbell.
17:04 As always, Ferrell commits to the character, to the point of breaking nearly every cast
17:10 member in the sketch.
17:18 Needless to say, the audience ate up every moment of it.
17:22 We guess, for some people, there just isn't anything like too much cowbell.
17:34 Did your favorite SNL sketches make our list?
17:37 Let us know in the comments below.
17:47 Do you agree with our picks?
17:48 Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo, and be sure to subscribe and ring the
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17:54 [music]