Gold plated diapers...and some other awesome moments from SNL's 40 Years

A few weeks ago when the Funkhouser crew decided to do an SNL week to celebrate the 40th anniversary I was excited.  So many things to write about!  Best sports skits, top ten SNL cast members, best hosts, music guests, I could barely contain myself.  Then I sat down and started writing.  “Is Chris Farley a top five person?”  “Is Christopher Walken or Tom Hanks a better host?”  “That’ll move the chains!”  Suddenly I found myself struggling to stay afloat in the sea of sketch comedy.  In that case I took the next logical step, watch a ton of clips online and go from there.  This did not help.  So I threw out the following question to my friends “I’m writing a post on SNL, what should I write about?”.  I asked ten people this question and got ten different answers.  Not just different answers to that question, but ten answers to what might as well have been ten different questions.  That’s the beauty of Saturday Night Live.  Some skits are universally funny, but everybody has their own favorites which makes watching both an individual and collective experience.  SNL has explored every facet of civilization and made it funny.  Sports, movies, tv shows, politics, world events, religion, nothing has been off limits for SNL’s writers.  Speaking of which, for 40 years (FORTY YEARS!), SNL has churned out writers and comedians without missing a beat.  It’s hard enough to maintain such a high level of entertainment with a consistent group of writers/performers, but the staff at SNL is constantly evolving, which makes the feat more impressive.  I’m not sure, but Lorne Michaels may not be human. A lot will be written about SNL during the buildup to the big milestone (like this awesome breakdown of SNL movies).  For my contribution to this celebration I will simply post my ten favorite SNL sketches with a little commentary on each.

10.  Homeland

http://www.hulu.com/watch/423747

Anyone who is a fan of the show Homeland will immediately appreciate this.  Anne Hathaway perfectly sums up Carrie Mathison and Bill Hader’s Saul Berenson is fantastic.

9. Lazy Sunday

http://www.hulu.com/watch/1397

As a fan of the Chronicles of Narnia, Dr. Dre, and Sunday afternoon matinees, this video is quite simply awesome.

8. Pranksters

http://www.hulu.com/watch/274872

Christopher Walken, whammy blammy wowy zowy.

7. Lunch Lady Land

http://www.hulu.com/watch/285735?playlist_id=849

Two SNL stars I grew up on, Chris Farley and Adam Sandler, and  the beginning of my love for sloppy joes.

6. Celebrity Jeopardy

http://www.hulu.com/watch/284558

So many good “Celebrity Jeopardy” skits, it was tough not putting Norm MacDonald’s Burt Reynolds here, but Jimmy Fallon’s Robin Williams gets the nod.

5. Brian Fellow’s Safari Planet

http://www.hulu.com/watch/19051

Another recurring skit, but this features the Rock, and it’s hilarious.

4. SNL Digital Short: United Way

http://www.hulu.com/watch/1603

The Peyton nobody knew existed.

3. SNL Digital Short: D**K in a Box

http://www.hulu.com/watch/1402

This is Emmy Award-winning, and opened my eyes to how funny Justin Timberlake is .

2. NPR’s Delicious Dish Schweddy Balls

http://www.hulu.com/watch/4156

A holiday classic.

1. More Cowbell

http://www.hulu.com/watch/536145

Behind the music, Christopher Walken, Jimmy Fallon laughing, Will Ferrell in his goofy greatness, just a perfect blend.

 

I doubt any two people’s top tens are the same, and that is why SNL is still going strong 40 years later.  What are your favorites?  Fire off in the comments below.