SNL50 - Top 10 Saturday TV Funhouses

 

Saturday TV Funhouse was the brainchild of Robert Smigel. He had a lot of things on his mind that he wanted to share which were usually critiques of the government and large corporations. Making it animated makes it easier to swallow I guess. 

HONORABLE MENTION:
PLANNING NEW YORK
EPISODE: S50E15 (03.29.2025)
HOST: Mikey Madison
MUSICAL GUEST: Morgan Wallen
This is not a TV Funhouse but it is animated. This is a pretty accurate picture of how messed up New York City is when it comes to city planning. Very funny.
LINK: Click here

10. TITEY
EPISODE: S23E17 (04.04.1998)
HOST: Steve Buscemi
MUSICAL GUEST: Third Eye Blind
Wouldn’t put it past Disney to do this, make an animated film about the Titanic. Jason Alexander is the ship and Whoopi Goldberg is the iceberg. Very silly stuff.
LINK: Click here

9. THE X-PRESIDENTS
EPISODE: S27E10 (01.12.2002)
HOST: Josh Hartnett
MUSICAL GUEST: Pink
Fun use of presidential catchphrases. Lots of ‘can’t believe they are showing that’ moments while they hunt down Bin Laden. Plus a special appearance by the Ambiguously Gay Duo.
LINK: Click here

8. MARAKA
EPISODE: S32E16 (03.24.2007)
HOST: Peyton Manning
MUSICAL GUEST: Carrie Underwood
A darker version of Dora the Explorer where she asks awkward questions to kids and waits for answers. “Can you help me decide if Robert Blake was innocent?” “Don’t question it, just do it!”
LINK: Click here

7. CONSPIRACY THEORY ROCK!
EPISODE: S23E16 (03.14.1998)
HOST: Julianne Moore
MUSICAL GUEST: Backstreet Boys
Very Schoolhouse Rock! but so much darker. I think writer Robert Smigel got in trouble for this one.
LINK: Click here

6. THE LIFE OF A CATCHPHRASE
EPISODE: S25E18 (05.06.2000)
HOST: John Goodman
MUSICAL GUEST: Neil Young
Such a fickle audience. I feel bad for the cast members who are mocked, especially Lovitz.
LINK: Click here

5. THE ANATOMINALS SHOW
EPISODE: S26E20 (05.19.2001)
HOST: Christopher Walken
MUSICAL GUEST: Weezer
Why someone would make an ‘anatomically correct’ Yogi Bear and friends who freely talk about bodily functions is beyond me but it’s still funny.
LINK: Not Available

4. ARE YOU HOT?
EPISODE: S28E15 (03.15.2003)
HOST: Salma Hayek
MUSICAL GUEST: Christina Aguilera
I can’t believe this was actual show on TV. Lorenzo Lamas criticizes loads of cartoon characters. Love that he did the voice over.
LINK: Click here

3. BAMBI 2002
EPISODE: S27E19 (05.11.2002)
HOST: Kirsten Dunst
MUSICAL GUEST: Eminem
Disney trying to be trendy. They used to be really obsessed with that vault. This does not age well with the Subway Jared Fogel references.
LINK: Click here

2. A PEANUTS CHRISTMAS
EPISODE: S28E08 (12.14.2002)
HOST: Al Gore
MUSICAL GUEST: Phish
Ah, the power of the Peanuts gang waving their arms around. They possess an awesome power.
LINK: Click here

1. CHRISTMASTIME FOR THE JEWS
EPISODE: S31E09 (12.17.2005)
HOST: Jack Black
MUSICAL GUEST: Neil Young
Darlene Love knocks it out of the park with this catchy Christmas tune for the Jewish community. Such fun lyrics and visuals. Great animation.
LINK: Click here