Top 10 Best Classic Saturday Night Live Skits
Since October of 1975, the classic show Saturday Night Live has been making people laugh like no other. For generations, this show has brought light to people all over the world, making them laugh, smile, and spreading cheer to others. Listed below are some of the most iconic skits Saturday Night Live has to offer:
#1: Motivational Speaker (1993)
One of the undoubtedly most talented duos on the show, Chris Farley makes a fool out of himself while Kevin Spade can barely contain his laughter. Taking on the role of “Chris Foley: Motivational Speaker”, Farley screams, runs, tumbles, and cries his way into the hearts of people across the country. The skit contains parents worried after finding an illegal rolled up drug in their kids’ bedrooms, so they hire a motivational speaker to speak some sense into the little rebels. Farley enters the screen out of breath from running, because he had just consumed multiple cups of coffee. He introduces himself by stating, “Hi, I’m Chris Foley, motivational speaker. I am thirty five years old, I am divorced, and I live in a van down by the river”. One of the most famous lines from this skit comes after Farley informs the kids that they should NOT be “rollin’ doobies”, because it will screw up the rest of their lives. Farley states that, “you’re gonna be doin’ a lot of DOOBIE ROLLIN’ when you’re LIVIN’ in a VAN down BY THE RIVER!” Farley’s comedic gift and hilarious stature is what makes this skit a true timeless classic.
#2: Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood (1981)
“Ohhhhhh, it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood… Hello boys and girls!” In an alternate universe, Mr. Rogers would be a criminal living in a run down apartment and constantly running from the cops… Oh wait! That alternate universe is real! Mr. Robinson is very educational for children as well. In each skit, there’s a new word of the day featured such as, “scumbucket”, and “eviction notice”. He also teaches kids important life lessons, like how to avoid Mr. Landlord, and what to do if you find your significant other is cheating on you. This classic skit also features puppet shows, and a nice holiday Santa Claus. Truly a wonderful classic, even for the kids.
#3: Jacuzzi Lifeguard (1996)
What happens when you put Jim Carrey and Will Ferrel in the same hilarious skit? The audience is provided with six minutes of pure comedy gold. This SNL classic shows a leisurely swimmer (Will Ferrel), wanting to relax for a bit in the hotel’s jacuzzi. However, he is introduced to a lifeguard (Jim Carrey), who takes his job of saving lives a little too seriously. In the five foot wide, three foot deep jacuzzi, Carrey keeps a close eye on Ferrel, the only occupant of the jacuzzi. Carrey takes his job so seriously that he even performs unnecessary CPR on Ferrel when he gets a cramp… In his toe. Ferrel and Carrey prove to be one of the funniest duos presented on SNL, and they make it apparent through this skit.
#4: “Hello” Thanksgiving Skit (2015)
Celebrating Thanksgiving can be pretty tough when faced with relatives that not everyone gets along with. Knowing this, SNL created an arguing proof solution: blaring “Hello” by Adele. Not only will everyone stop arguing, but they’ll all start singing in unison at the top of their lungs. At least, that’s how it goes in the skit anyways. Through Adele, racist grandma, pedophile uncle, and forty year old Karen are all able to get along for once. It’s truly a miracle, one that gets a ton of laughs, that is.
#5: Da Bears (1991)
Through spot on Chicago accents, beer, and lots of yelling, the Da Bears SNL skit has proved to be a favorite in the hearts of many for years. The skit features four die hard Cincinnati Bearcats fans, discussing and watching the game at a pub. The four fans refer to the bearcats as “da bears”, making this the tagline for the whole skit. This skit could be considered a classic on just the accents alone, but of course, there’s beer present too.
#6: Celebrity Jeopardy (1996)
What started out as one skit, reenacting a celebrity jeopardy episode turned into a series of reenactments! Each skit features “Burt Reynolds”, “Sean Connery”, “Alex Trebek”, and a surprise celebrity. No matter the episode, Sean Connery is always making a dirty joke, and Alex Trebek is driven insane by his contestants. No one ever gets a question right, but it’s these components that make the series a classic.
#7: Adam Sandler Songs (1995)
There is no one Adam Sandler SNL song that is better than the other. Whether he’s singing about Hanukkah, Thanksgiving, or acting as an opera man, each song proves its worth as a classic SNL skit. These songs each bring a huge amount of cheer to its viewers. One of Sandler’s most touching songs however, was his recent tribute in 2018 to his old friend and former SNL cast member, Chris Farley, who passed away due to a drug overdose in 1997. This tribute brought tears to the eyes of anyone watching the episode. All of Sandler’s songs can be considered a true SNL classic.
#8: Lunch Lady Land (1992)
"This is a song..."
This is uhh, This is a new song...
It's through the eyes of one of the greatest people alive, I feel...
The Lunch Lady"
Featuring another great duo, Adam Sandler and Chris Farley create a wonderful song and dance number about some of our most hard working citizens, the lunch ladies. With Farley’s whimsical dancing and Sandler's impeccable songwriting skills, this skit is easily one of SNL’s best. Farley, making a fool out of himself as always, even makes Sandler crack up and break character while singing. The song tells a love story between the Lunch Lady and the famous meal, Sloppy Joe. Although somewhat strange, this skit still proves to be a classic.
#9: Spartan Cheerleaders (1995)
Now hear this out… Chess Cheerleaders. Those are exactly the characters that Will Ferrel and Cheri Oteri play as Craig and Ariana. These overenthusiastic cheerleaders perform catchy cheers, well rehearsed dances, and even a scene in which they get into an argument with one of the chess players. Arguably the best scene comes towards the very end, when Ferrel and Oteri perform a rehearsed dance to Tone Loc’s “Funky Cold Medina”. It’s so perfectly in unison that it’s what truly makes this skit a classic.
#10: “We are going to pump, YOU UP!” (1989)
Finally, meet Hanz and Franz, two Austrian workout buddies ready to “PUMP [clap] YOU UP!'' Claiming to be cousins of the famous Arnold Schwarzenegger, Hanz and Franz created a workout routine to get anyone into shape. They even have their own workout home-video. This classic skit features Dana Carvey as Hanz (left), and Kevin Nealon as Franz. This classic remains timeless through the hilarious “masculine” actions of Carvey and Nealon as they try to prove how “man” they are, and how you can be too.