"SNL" goes back even further than 1975. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the best sketches dealing with historical scenes, figures, and/or a time before “SNL” started.
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00:00So in football, there is no kicking?
00:03There's a little kicking.
00:05Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks
00:08for the best sketches dealing with historical scenes, figures, and or a time before SNL started.
00:14Excuse me, Lordship, would you care for one of Lord Salisbury's sticks?
00:17Oh, yes, I would.
00:18Number 10, Salem Witch Trials.
00:20Sending viewers to colonial America, this Saturday night live scene takes on the fear of witchcraft.
00:26Who speaks for thee?
00:28Ah, I do, Your Honor. Larry Grovner, Salem Public Defender's Office.
00:33Your Honor, can I have five minutes with my client?
00:37A defendant is accused of several crimes that include practicing the dark arts.
00:41With the help of Martin Short's lawyer, Larry Grovner, this sketch is even funnier than it originally sounds.
00:47Consorting with the devil, copulating with demons, and using the blood of Christian children in a pagan ritual.
00:54That's going to be a problem. Let me level with you.
00:58Ed, it's Ed. This court is very tough on witches.
01:03There's also Jim Belushi's prosecutor who doesn't hold back in the best way possible.
01:07Witch!
01:11Short's manic acting here creates an underrated character in his catalog.
01:15Any fans of stories about the Salem Witch Trials will appreciate the period jokes here.
01:20Finding the funny in a scary situation, SNL transports you to Massachusetts for some dark humor.
01:25Il lacerato spirito del mesto genitore.
01:31Your Honor, we'd like to change our plea.
01:34Number nine, Tombstone.
01:36Take a look at this scene from the 1992 film, Cough Cough Bang Bang.
01:41If you remember the 1990s western of the same name, you'll admire this sketch's silly premise.
01:46Jake Gyllenhaal's actor channels Doc Holliday's sickness in a fake movie not unlike Tombstone.
01:51Where's your little lap dog, Doc Holliday?
01:55Well, I do declare I'd rather be a lap dog than a yellow-bellied chicken.
02:02Trying to hide his illness, the cowboy is so outrageously sick that you have to laugh.
02:07Gyllenhaal really gets into the role as he coughs and stumbles around with pure dedication.
02:12What is your the fastest gun this side of the Mississippi?
02:16Instead of showing Holliday as a heroic gunslinger,
02:22this sketch turns him into a comically ill man who's grossing everyone out.
02:27Come on, man. At least cover your mouth.
02:30The host gets big laughs as he reaches for some mixed nuts or tries to duel his enemies.
02:35One, two.
02:40This is far from a mythic depiction of the historical figure, giving him and the Wild West a comic edge.
02:49In one of Christopher Walken's most surprising roles, he plays a special Civil War colonel.
02:54Annabelle.
02:59I fear my visit is an inconvenience.
03:03Nonsense, Colonel Angus. We're always happy to see your shining face.
03:08This would be pretty tame without the character's name and title.
03:11It allows SNL to get away with some memorable innuendos,
03:14letting the cast members say funny things as 19th century people.
03:18Colonel Angus, the pleasure is all mine. I've heard so much about you.
03:23Well, my dear, don't believe everything you hear about old Colonel Angus.
03:28Walken plays his part with a one-of-a-kind energy that's both offbeat and entirely hilarious.
03:33Every other performer does their best to play it straight, never letting on to what they're actually saying.
03:38Colonel Angus, I hear rumors.
03:42The incident at Big Beaver.
03:46Yes, true. I'm afraid ten men were lost.
03:50The period details and costumes bring an authenticity that makes the sketch that much funnier.
03:56Well, I think Colonel Angus is delightful.
03:59You won't after 45 minutes.
04:02No, you can only take so much, Colonel Angus.
04:05Number seven, Vincent Price's Halloween special.
04:08In this black and white sketch, horror icon Vincent Price joins forces with famous friends to celebrate Halloween.
04:14Thank you and welcome to my Halloween special.
04:18Tonight, prepare yourself for a night of spooks and scares,
04:22as we have invited over some of our most famous friends for some tricks and also some treats.
04:29His celebrity guests include Gloria Swanson and a drunk James Mason,
04:33livening up the sketch with all kinds of funny asides.
04:36I'm a pirate, can't you tell? It's about the acting. I'm an actor.
04:41That's what I do, and when I say I'm a pirate, I'm a pirate.
04:47She's a pirate, Price. My Jolly Roger was at full mass the whole drive over.
04:52Kristen Wiig, Jon Hamm, and Fred Armisen suit up to provide wonderful impressions of entertainment legends.
04:58Things turn into a disaster as Bill Hader's Price criticizes his unruly compatriots.
05:03Is this music working for you because it is not working for me?
05:07At every turn, the comedic performers give a believable look at old Hollywood along with some hilarious jokes.
05:13Cinephiles are guaranteed to have a blast with this wild scene.
05:17Well, have a happy Halloween, everybody.
05:19Number six, Lulu Diamonds.
05:21In an homage to Mae West, Melissa McCarthy becomes a similar actress in a series of old Hollywood films.
05:27Oh, calm down, boys. I'm just getting started.
05:30Her character carries a trademark phrase as she entices three adoring men.
05:34Oh, Lulu, marry me, please.
05:36I got a better idea. Why don't you come upstairs and see me up there sometime?
05:40The scene looks just like a film you'd find on TCM, but then things take a humorous turn.
05:45Diamonds keeps falling down the stairs as her co-stars give hilarious reactions.
05:49Oh, Lulu, no.
05:51Oh, cheese and crackers.
05:55And that was the best of 50 takes.
05:59McCarthy doesn't hesitate either, showing that she can do physical comedy with the best of them.
06:04The actress ramps things up as her vintage character tries to start from the top.
06:08Finding the funny in every fall, this sketch brilliantly parodies West's comedy work.
06:14Son of a beastie.
06:15Number five, King Tut.
06:17Steve Martin has never been a cast member on SNL, but he has had some amazing moments on the show.
06:23When he was a young man, he never thought he'd see
06:27People standing in line to see the boy king
06:31His work here combines his performance style, music skills, and a funny way of talking about King Tut.
06:37Now if I'd known that line of justice
06:41I'd taken all my money and bought me a museum
06:45Referencing the Egyptian pharaoh's exhibit in the 1970s,
06:48Martin turns this sketch into one of the most famous moments of the early show's history.
06:52Dancing by the fire
06:54Disco Tut
06:56The ladies loved his style
06:58Horse Tut
07:00The comedian's song is a funky track complete with funny rhymes, period wardrobe, and a saxophone solo.
07:06You might not learn a whole lot about the historical figure, but you will almost certainly be entertained.
07:11Got a condo made of stoner
07:13King Tut
07:14Number four, Jesus Uncrossed.
07:17Taking Quentin Tarantino's ideas of alternate history, SNL parodies the New Testament.
07:22Guess who's back?
07:24Christoph Waltz spoofs his own work with the filmmaker by giving a new take on Jesus Christ.
07:29This biblical epic finds the prophet in outrageous scenes, taking revenge and cutting through Romans with swords.
07:35Jesus hates Christ!
07:37The age is silent.
07:39The sketch throws in funny references to everything from Django Unchained to Pulp Fiction with some choice cast members.
07:45Tarantino's deadpan take on the religious leader cannot be missed as he dishes out one-liners.
07:49Jesus, oh, chill man, chill.
07:53When you get to heaven, say hi to my dad.
07:56While the sketch might take a few liberties with Christian gospels, it's also a highly entertaining parody of Tarantino's career.
08:03No more Mr. Nice Jesus.
08:07Number three, Roe v. Wade Cold Open.
08:10Released in the spring of 2022, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's leaked opinion about Roe v. Wade referenced some antiquated sources.
08:18SNL finds a way to goof on Alito by putting a sketch in the Middle Ages.
08:22Whatever is the matter, ye looketh lost in thought.
08:25Oh, it's nothing. It's just, while I was cleaning the hole on the side of the castle where we poop,
08:31and then it falls through the sky into a moat full of human feces, I started to think about abortion.
08:37Host Benedict Cumberbatch gives this Old English setting some authenticity,
08:41venturing back to a time when people had a backward understanding of women and health.
08:45We should make a law that would stand the test of time so that hundreds and hundreds of years from now,
08:49they'll look back and say, no need to update this one at all, they nailed it back in 1235.
08:54It's commendable that the show even decided to spoof the topic at all.
08:57Cumberbatch and his co-stars dive into the ridiculous premise, playing confident and dumb with confidence.
09:03Shouldn't women have the right to choose, since having a baby means like a 50% chance of dying?
09:09Yes, but that's why we're also offering maternity leave.
09:12When you're done with 20 years of continuous maternity, you can leave.
09:15The scene finds a way to take you back to the 1200s, make you laugh, and tell you an important message.
09:21We've always got the choice to keep fighting!
09:26Wow, that's uh, that's really inspiring.
09:31And after hearing your perspective, I suddenly realize, you're a witch and we're gonna set you on fire!
09:36Alright, wouldn't be the first time.
09:41In a party filled with wigs and gowns, some distinguished guests show up with some interesting names.
09:46What a marvelous entertainment, Salisbury.
09:48And these chopped steaks are delicious, especially with this exquisite mushroom sauce.
09:53Well, thank you. Coming from you, Worcestershire, that certainly is a compliment.
09:56Most of these are tied to various inventions and innovations.
09:59The sketch then features a funny twist as one couple enters with an unfortunate surname.
10:04Lord and Lady Douchebag!
10:08This prompts some hilarious lines at their expense, with characters using the term in such a way that it starts to sound more derogatory.
10:14I haven't seen you in the House of Lords in ages.
10:17Don't tell me for the first time in memory we're gonna have a parliament without a douchebag.
10:22My dear Sandwich, parliament has always had its share of douchebags and always will.
10:28Spoken like a true douchebag.
10:31It's enjoyable to imagine all of these costumes and pageantry for a simple joke.
10:35From the early seasons of SNL, this scene still stands out for its clever writing and attention to detail.
10:41Tell me, did Lady Douchebag help you in the project?
10:44Help? Why, she was the inspiration.
10:48Before we unveil our top pick, here are some honorable mentions.
10:52History of Punk
10:53Fred Armisen's rocker has a funny fascination with Margaret Thatcher.
10:57What are your feelings on Miss Thatcher?
10:59Uh, I like her. A really sweet face, willing to make the hard choices, I respect that.
11:06The Age of Discovery
11:08Bad Bunny becomes king in this hilarious retelling of Spanish explorers.
11:18New Mayan Calendar
11:21The show spoofs the misunderstanding that surrounds the mysterious calendar.
11:25Man, you just ran out of space and stopped, didn't you?
11:27No, that is not the case!
11:29That's a lie!
11:31Okay, yes, you got us, we ran out of space.
11:33It's not our fault, this guy didn't carve a big enough circle.
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11:52Number 1, Washington's Dream
11:54When Nate Bargettzi suits up as George Washington, he plays the first American president as an innovative and surprisingly funny character.
12:01We fight for a country of our own, a new nation, where we choose our own laws.
12:07Hear, hear, sir.
12:09Choose our own leaders.
12:10Yes, sir.
12:12And choose our own systems of weights and measures.
12:15Washington introduces his new ideas for the U.S. measurement standards.
12:19Yes, I dream of that one day.
12:22Our proud nation will measure weights in pounds and that 2,000 pounds shall be called a ton.
12:30And what will 1,000 pounds be called, sir?
12:33Nothing.
12:34Anyone who's ever wondered about yards, quarts or inches will see the humor in this sketch.
12:38The scene finds funny ways to engage with America's unique way of measuring things.
12:42This nod to the earliest years of the United States also asks many hard questions, such as why certain sports use meters or yards.
12:50I must confess it feels a little complicated, sir.
12:53Why not use meters and kilometers?
12:56We will, soldier.
12:58But only in certain unpopular sports like track and swimming.
13:02Bargettzi sells each line with his dry delivery, turning this into what could easily be a modern SNL classic.
13:09It's York, a land of liberty, where all men are free.
13:17Which era of SNL is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below.
13:21Where did you get the name Johnny Canal? Is that your real name?
13:25No, sir, it's not.
13:27Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo.
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13:39.