SNL50 - Top 30 Filmed Sketches

 

While the majority of Saturday Night Live is presented live on stage, there are some pre-filmed stuff to show as well. This has been happening more often lately. What impresses me is that these pre-tapes are often shot on Friday and edited in time for Saturday night, and it’s even more impressive when you see some of the production value poured into these things. With too many to choose from, here’s a Top 30.

HONORABLE MENTION: DRAG RACING
EPISODE: S02E03 (10.02.1976)
HOST: Eric Idle
MUSICAL GUESTS: Joe Cocker, Stuff
This is a silly, short gag with guys dressed in drag racing down a speedway.
LINK: Not Available

HONORABLE MENTION: FOOT FETISH
EPISODE: S06E01 (11.15.1980)
HOST: Elliot Gould
MUSICAL GUEST: Kid Creole & the Coconuts
This is a stop motion film of two shoes at the beach getting it on and giving birth to a baby shoe. Cute.
LINK: Click here

30. FISH HEADS
EPISODE: S06E03 (12.06.1980)
HOST: Ellen Burstyn
MUSICAL GUESTS: Aretha Franklin, Keith Sykes
While not made exclusively for SNL, this incredibly strange video by Barnes & Barnes was featured on SNL and became more popular because of it.
LINK: Click here

29. THE RUTLES
EPISODE: S02E03 (10.02.1976)
HOST: Eric Idle
MUSICAL GUESTS: Joe Cocker, Stuff
I believe Eric Idle did a similar video when he was doing Monty Python. He’s reporting on a Beatles knock-off and the van with the camera is moving too fast causing the reporter to sprint down the street.
LINK: Not Available

28. THE BULGE
EPISODE: S10E01 (10.06.1984)
HOST: No Host
MUSICAL GUEST: The Thompson Twins
Jim Belushi sees a guy stuffing his crotch with paper towels. He ends up going way too far with the stuffing. Censors thought the smoothness was too obscene so they were told to add more bumps which it made the monstrosity even more disturbing.
LINK: Not Available

27. SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING
EPISODE: S10E01 (10.06.1984)
HOST: No Host
MUSICAL GUEST: The Thompson Twins
I’m a little surprised that this one is not online. This classic with Harry Shearer and Martin Short as male synchronized swimmers is a lot of fun.
LINK: Click here

26. WHITE LIKE ME
EPISODE: S10E09 (12.15.1984)
HOST: Eddie Murphy
MUSICAL GUEST: Robert Plant
Eddie Murphy dons white face and learns that white people give each other things. I really like the white guy on the ‘party’ bus clapping off beat.
LINK: Click here

25. MEET CUTE
EPISODE: S42E13 (02.04.2017)
HOST: Kristen Stewart
MUSICAL GUEST: Alessia Cara
Key bits of information are needed to truly make a connection. Surprised Claire doesn’t clue in that they did not make any concrete plans.
LINK: Click here

24. CAN YOU PICK ME UP?
EPISODE: S49E19 (05.11.2024)
HOST: Maya Rudolph
MUSICAL GUEST: Vampire Weekend
A sweet tribute to mothers. The child is pretty annoying and shouldn’t go to sleepovers. My favourite reasons are ‘your house smells weird’ and cicadas.
LINK: Click here

23. I WAS A BRIDESMAID
EPISODE: S48E16 (04.01.2023)
HOST: Quinta Brunson
MUSICAL GUEST: Lil Yachty
I’m glad that groomsmen don’t have to go through all this. You women have it rough.
LINK: Click here

22. DEATH BY CHOCOLATE
EPISODE: S33E10 (04.12.2008)
HOST: Ashton Kutcher
MUSICAL GUEST: Gnarls Barkley
More literal than you maybe expected. And there’s that OC song again. I like Ashton’s costume.
LINK: Click here

21. PAPYRUS
EPISODE: S43E01 (09.30.2017)
HOST: Ryan Gosling
MUSICAL GUEST: Jay-Z
It is odd that Avatar used that font.
LINK: Click here

20. THE OAKMONT FALL CLASSIC
EPISODE: S50E02 (10.05.2024)
HOST: Nate Bargatze
MUSICAL GUEST: Coldplay
Golf and nature don’t always mix. Talk about one in a million gold swings.
LINK: Click here

19. THE BEYGENCY
EPISODE: S39E19 (05.03.2014)
HOST: Andrew Garfield
MUSICAL GUEST: Coldplay
I think I would be in the same boat as Andrew Garfield. I should watch my back. Love the 24 cameos and the resulting scream.
LINK: Click here

18. THE REAL HOUSEWIVES
OF DISNEY
EPISODE: S37E16 (03.03.2012)
HOST: Lindsay Lohan
MUSICAL GUEST: Jack White
I think Jasmine gets the best lines in this one. They beat Wreck-It-Ralph to the punch by a few years.
LINK: Click here

17. CHICAGO IMPROV
EPISODE: S43E21 (05.19.2018)
HOST: Tina Fey
MUSICAL GUEST: Nicki Minaj
As an improv actor, I love the intensity they add to this challenging form of drama. I love the terminology even though the New York Times is confused.
LINK: Click here

16. OLD FRIENDS
EPISODE: S49E07 (12.09.2023)
HOST: Adam Driver
MUSICAL GUEST: Olivia Rodrigo
Do some googling before texting an old friend.
LINK: Click here

15. HOME VIDEOS
EPISODE: S49E10 (01.27.2024)
HOST: Dakota Johnson
MUSICAL GUEST: Justin Timberlake
Love the twist of the baby announcement.
LINK: Click here

14. ST. JOSEPH CHRISTMAS
MASS SPECTACULAR
EPISODE: S40E09 (12.13.2014)
HOST: Martin Freeman
MUSICAL GUEST: Charli XCX
They get a lot of the church stuff right. The sweaty hands, different liturgical readings, sermon jokes, and all forty-four verses.
LINK: Click here

13. A TEACHER
EPISODE: S46E09 (12.19.2020)
HOST: Kristen Wiig
MUSICAL GUEST: Dua Lipa
Talk about stopping someone dead in their tracks.
LINK: Click here

12. U.S. CUSTOMS WELCOME VIDEO
EPISODE: S42E13 (02.04.2017)
HOST: Kristen Stewart
MUSICAL GUEST: Alessia Cara
Love the harsh edits to this stereotypical video.
LINK: Click here

11. A CHRISTMAS CAROL
EPISODE: S48E08 (12.10.2022)
HOSTS: Steve Martin, Martin Short
MUSICAL GUEST: Brandi Carlile
Those are some sharp coins. Maybe go down the stairs next time. The escalation is pretty funny.
LINK: Click here

10. OLD ENOUGH!
LONGTERM BOYFRIENDS!
EPISODE: S47E20 (05.14.2022)
HOST: Selena Gomez
MUSICAL GUEST: Post Malone
Toddlers, long term boyfriends, same thing. Love the crying in Sephora and running across the street.
LINK: Click here

9. ONE DIRECTION’S #1 FAN  
EPISODE: S39E08 (12.07.2013)
HOST: Paul Rudd
MUSICAL GUEST: One Direction
That must have been so fun to shoot with Paul Rudd interacting with One Direction fans.
LINK: Click here

8. BEREAL
EPISODE: S48E01 (10.01.2022)
HOST: Miles Teller
MUSICAL GUEST: Kendrick Lamar
Love the dedication to BeReal.
LINK: Click here

7. OUTSIDE THE LINES
EPISODE: S38E17 (04.06.2013)
HOST: Melissa McCarthy
MUSICAL GUEST: Phoenix
Some creative ways to ‘motivate’ players. I like them hiding in the corner from the T-Shirt gun.
LINK: Click here

6. STATEN ISLAND ZOO - SLOTHS
EPISODE: S32E13 (02.10.2007)
HOST: Forest Whitaker
MUSICAL GUEST: Keith Urban
I love sloths. The info in this video may not be entirely accurate. I enjoy the crappy editing style.
LINK: Click here

5. LONELY CHRISTMAS
EPISODE: S47E08 (12.11.2021)
HOST: Billie Eilish
MUSICAL GUEST: Billie Eilish
Your neighbours might not be who they seem.
LINK: Click here

4. BASKETBALL SCENE
EPISODE: S42E18 (04.15.2017)
HOST: Jimmy Fallon
MUSICAL GUEST: Harry Styles
I suck at basketball so I can relate to these background actors. This is also why you shouldn’t lie on your resume.
LINK: Click here

3. JOHN MADISON HIGH SCHOOL
GRADUATION
EPISODE: S43E20 (05.12.2018)
HOST: Amy Schumer
MUSICAL GUEST: Kacey Musgraves
I’ve been to enough high school graduations. They nail all the parts. Love the photo section.
LINK: Click here

2. BIRTHDAY CLOWN
EPISODE: S42E17 (04.08.2017)
HOST: Louis CK
MUSICAL GUEST: The Chainsmokers
This is so awkward. “You don’t want this.”
LINK: Click here

1. THAT’S THE GAME
EPISODE: S45E06 (11.16.2019)
HOST: Harry Styles
MUSICAL GUEST: Harry Styles
So funny negotiating with a moron.
LINK: Click here