My introduction to Saturday Night Live was unique to me, but I suspect a fairly common experience for anyone who grew up in the ’80s and ’90s. I would stay up late with my older sister Keri — who not only introduced me to SNL but also bought me a cassette of Adam Sandler’s debut comedy album “They’re All Gonna Laugh at You!” for my twelfth birthday (Parental Advisory be damned!) — to watch this comedy show that I would later learn aired live from New York.

My first flashbulb memory of the series is watching Michael J. Fox’s Back to the Future-inspired monologue and Kevin Nealon and Dana Carvey singing “Back in Time” in an elevator. I was instantly hooked, routinely reciting the sketches to anyone who would listen. This was, as I recall, very cool and not annoying. I’ve never read anything by Dale Carnegie, but when you’re in the fourth grade, nothing allows you to win friends and influence people quite like stealing Dana Carvey’s George Bush impression and performing it at recess.

I (John Mellencamp font) grew up in a small town, but my enduring affection for SNL led me to an internship within the hallowed halls of 30 Rock (at Late Night with Conan O’Brien) and, eventually, to Saturday Night Live as a Season 34 cast member. Hello, my name is Bobby Moynihan.

Just kidding. But, man, that would’ve been a great story, right?

Think of this article as a Saturday Night Live mixtape; a series of my favorite sketches that come together to form my own personal “perfect” SNL episode. I selected my cast (10 repertory players, 5 featured players), 8 sketches, 3 commercials/pretapes, and the usual staples that make up a typical SNL episode (a cold open, monologue, Weekend Update host, three Weekend Update desk pieces, a musical guest, and then a bevy of “cut for time” extras).

A couple of notes: SNL has produced over 50 seasons of content, which offers a lot of options. My perfect episode only includes cast members/sketches from the peak of my fandom: late ’80s to 2020-ish. I stayed away from older/newer episodes, so my list doesn’t include icons like Gilda Radner or Eddie Murphy or new standouts like Ashley Padilla or Sarah Sherman.

You won’t agree with many of my choices, which is kinda the point. Even with my self-imposed guardrails, I had to choose from over 30 years of sketch comedy. Hundreds of classics didn’t make the cut. This is my perfect episode of SNL; not the best episode of Saturday Night Live.

Also, if you’re wondering why my episode is a little longer than a traditional installment of SNL, it’s because… umm… the preceding XFL game ended earlier than expected. Yeah… that’s the ticket. Thanks for the extra time, He Hate Me!

Ladies and gentlemen, my perfect Saturday Night Live episode.

My Saturday Night Live Cast (10 Repertory Players, 5 Featured Players):

Repertory Players: Chris Farley, Will Ferrell, Bill Hader, Phil Hartman, Tim Meadows, Amy Poehler, Cecily Strong, Maya Rudolph, Kenan Thompson, Kristen Wiig

*Big Don Pardo Voice* and featuring Rachel Dratch, Vanessa Bayer, Chris Parnell, Tracy Morgan, and Will Forte

Cold Open: Steve Martin’s “Not Gonna Phone It In Tonight” Musical Number

Original Airdate: December 14, 1991 (Season 17, Episode 9)

This article is filled with impossible choices. The “Cut For Time” section at the bottom of the post features a slew of additional sketches that could have easily made this list. If I were to write this same article a month, six months, a year from now, I’m sure I’d include different sketches. Comedy is a prisoner of the moment, and this collection of SNL history is a snapshot of how I’m feeling today.

The exception to the above is Steve Martin’s “Not Gonna Phone It In Tonight” cold open, which, to me, is the platonic ideal of a perfect SNL cold open. The seven-minute musical number brilliantly turns shopworn criticism into incisive comedy by acknowledging the very real burnout of producing live comedy on a weekly basis. It’s silly, self-referential humor at its best, and Martin is the perfect host to pull it off. An absolute tour de force of comedy.

Funniest Moments:

• “I don’t have any lines; I’m not in the show. But something tells me that if I were, I’d be rarin’ to go!” (Tim Meadows)
• “I’m not gonna drink till Update is through, that’s a promise to you, the viewwwwwer.” (Chris Farley)
• Phil Hartman singing about finally meeting the “real” Phil Hartman, Steve instantly shutting him down, and Hartman’s instant acceptance (“okay”).
• Finding a way to end a sketch on a funny, organic note is deceptively difficult, but “Not Gonna Phone It In Tonight” concludes on a pitch-perfect joke: “Live from New York… line?”

Monologue: Joseph Gordon Levitt (“Make ‘Em Laugh”)

Original Airdate: November 21, 2009 (Season 35, Episode 7)

Photo: NBC

Joseph Gordon Levitt’s monologue from his first time hosting SNL is charisma personified. His kinetic performance of Donald O’Connor’s “Make ‘Em Laugh” from Singin’ in the Rain — complete with two incredible wall-assisted backflips — is somewhat of a forgotten gem since it’s not available online due to NBC (presumably) not securing the music rights.

I remember watching it live (or maybe via DVR next-day) and being instantly enchanted by Gordon-Levitt’s wide-eyed verve and obvious elation at having the opportunity to host SNL. I can’t remember a more physically impressive performance from a host. It’s pure joy.

I also thought about John Goodman’s 1999 “Is this a rerun?” monologue, the debut of the famed “Five-Timers Club” during Tom Hanks’ 1990 episode, Jimmy Fallon’s musical Christmas monologue from 2011, Taylor Swift’s catchy monologue song from 2009, Rick Moranis’ classic 1989 offering, and Norm Macdonald’s hilarious rebuke to being fired the previous year during his 1999 opening.

Sketch 1: “Matt Foley: Van Down By The River”

Original Airdate: May 8, 1993 (Season 18, Episode 19)

My perfect episode has to include at least one sketch from the late, great Chris Farley, a man my wife referenced in her wedding vows. It was in that moment that I said to myself, yes, I will, in fact, marry this woman. Good thing she went first, I guess!

There are so many incredible Farley options — “Chippendales Audition,””Japanese Game Show”, the “Schiller Visions” Commercial, “Herlihy Boy,” “Bennett Brauer,” “Zagat’s with Hank and Beverly” (“Day and night she talks; each word more useless than the next”), “The Chris Farley Show” — but “Van Down by the River” is an all-timer.

Three observations I had while rewatching it:

• Christina Applegate was the absolute perfect host for this sketch. “She didn’t smoke it, did she?” is the first big laugh, perfectly setting the tone for the rest of the sketch.
• Phil Hartman is just doing so many Phil Hartman things here, earning myriad laughs with non-joke lines. His rationale for making his kids stay — “C’mon you guys; this set me back a few bucks.” — is not only an A+ dad line, but it also implies that the family is going through with this insanity mainly because the dad already paid Matt.
• Chris Farley was relentless in this sketch. You can tell when he was trying to get someone — often Spade or Sandler — to break. His comedic physicality is unrivaled. Bonus shout-out to Applegate, who, with the help of her hair, does a terrific job of hiding her laughter.

Commercial/Pretape 1: “Happy Fun Ball“

Original Airdate: February 16, 1991 (Season 16, Episode 13)

Photo: NBC

There’s no shortage of classic SNL commercial parodies (Schmitt’s Gay, Colon Blow, Mom Jeans, Oops! I Crapped My Pants!), but I’ll take the short, weird brilliance of “Happy Fun Ball” as my first pretape.

Written by Jack Handey, the sketch takes a simple premise — a commercial about a seemingly benign children’s toy — and heightens the idea to absurd lengths as we learn that Happy Fun Ball is less of a harmless toy and more of a weapon of mass destruction of alien descent.

Best Line: “Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball.”

Sketch 2: “Meet Your Second Wife”

Original Airdate: December 19, 2015 (Season 41, Episode 9)

SNL game show sketches are surprisingly divisive, with some fans bemoaning the formulaic nature and familiar beats. But the tried-and-true game show sketch setup offers an opportunity to take risks and deliver surprise twists. The only thing better than the studio audience howling with delight after being surprised by a sketch premise is the rare but satisfying deafening groan of acknowledgment over a taboo idea.

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler have co-starred in some truly iconic sketches — Sarah Palin/Katie Couric and Palin/Hillary Clinton come to mind — but “Meet Your Second Wife” is a fresh, extremely well-executed conceit full of laugh-out-loud moments.

Funniest Moments:

• “I’m Helen Walsh, and I’m Tina Fey…”
• “Actually, it’s seven.”
• “Oh yeah, your daughter’s gonna love it.”
• All of the reaction shots are fantastic, but Leslie Jones’ are next level.

Brilliant Moments: The decision to have Stacy show how old she is on her hand instead of simply saying “five,” the kayaking of it all, Kenan’s second wife reveal

Sketch 3: “Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer“

Original Airdate: November 23, 1991 (Season 17, Episode 17)

Photo: NBC

“Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer” perfectly illustrates the comedic brilliance of Phil Hartman. The virtuosic performer was nicknamed “Glue” during his time at SNL due to his innate ability to hold all the sketches together.

Written by Jack Handey, “Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer” — a sketch about a caveman from 100,000 years ago who attends law school after he’s thawed out by scientists in 1988 — is an unassailable all-timer. The premise doesn’t just sound insane; it is insane, but the absurdity is buoyed by Hartman’s steady hand.

The sketch is a master class in subverting expectations. Keyrock isn’t your typical caveman; he’s a slick-talking lawyer who skillfully uses his perceived lack of refinement to engender sympathy from the jurors. Keyrock is a huckster, but thanks to Hartman’s innate charisma, he’s a beguiling huckster. How can you possibly vote against him? He’s just a caveman. Our world “frightens” and “confuses” him. It’s a silly premise that’s cleverly executed.

Also, love the comedic symmetry of the pre-sketch ad for “Happy Fun Ball.” Still legal in 16 states!

Commercial/Pretape 2: “First CityWide Change Bank“

Original Airdate: October 8, 1988 (Season 14, Episode 1)

During an episode of Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, Conan relayed something that Jack Handey once said to him while the two were discussing famed SNL writer Jim Downey: “No one loves the comedy of over-explaining more than Jim Downey.”

“It is something that’s always made me laugh, just deliberately wasting someone else’s time,” Downey told Conan. “Just explaining something to them that needs no explanation to begin with.”

Downey’s very particular style of comedy is on full display in his”First CityWide Change Bank” commercials (and “Grayson Moorhead Securities”).

Funniest Line (From the second commercial): “I’ve had people come in with wrinkled $10 bills who want new, crisp bills to put in birthday cards. And we can handle special requests like that, usually the same day.”

Usually the same day. Ladies and gentlemen, the brilliance of Jim Downey.

Sketch 4: “What Up With That?”

Original Airdate: November 21, 2009 (Season 35, Episode 7)

“What Up With That?” is a joyful jolt of adrenaline. Starring sketch comedy maestro Kenan Thompson as host Diondre Cole, the long-running SNL favorite follows a simple formula: Kenan performs the show’s prolonged theme song and then endeavors to interview his A-list guests — Morgan Freeman, Robin Williams, Robert De Niro, Paul Simon, Samuel L. Jackson, Charles Barkley, and a host of notable celebrities have all played themselves on various installments of WUWT —about the topic of the day.

The episode routinely goes off the rails as Diondre eschews actual conversations for myriad musical breaks that feature an assortment of random characters. It’s kinda like if Stefon’s kooky denizens of the NYC nightclub scene were invited to attend “What Up With That?”

While I enjoy the guests being perpetually bewildered at Diondre’s antics and Sudeikis consistently jumping into frame in his red tracksuit to dance, the best bit in “What Up With That?” is poor, poor Lindsey Buckingham. Diondre’s “best friend” is always the third guest who’s constantly getting bumped after they run out of time.

Additional props to Kenan for those silky smooth pipes. One of the many reasons “What Up With That?” works so well is that Thompson is a legitimately talented singer.

An SNL Digital Short: “Laser Cats”

Original Airdate: January 31, 2009 (Season 34, Episode 14)

This one’s for the Quaids. I understand that “Laser Cats” over Hall of Famers like “Lazy Sunday,” “Dick in a Box,” “I’m on a Boat,” “I Just Had Sex,” and so many more is controversial, but to me, “Laser Cats” perfectly encapsulates The Lonely Island’s distinct brand of humor.

As you can tell from this list, I’m a fan of absurdist comedy, and it doesn’t get more nonsensical than cats shooting lasers out of their mouths, Kemosabe. I almost went with Laser Cats 6: The Musical! with Tom Hanks and Elton John (Shooting the “Droz” stuff on the Dr. Oz set was pure genius.), but I can’t resist the ending of “Laser Cats 4 Ever.”

Steve Martin: Do you get that it’s King Lear?
Lorne: Get out.

Andy and Bill exit.

Steve: I thought you meant me, too.
Lorne: I did.

“Laser Cats” Lorne is my favorite Lorne.

Random Line That’s Lived Rent-Free In My Head For Years: I don’t know why, but I repeat Kenan’s “Welcome to the Terrordome” quip all the time.

Musical Guest 1: Adam Sandler Performs “The Chanukah Song“

Original Airdate: December 3, 1994 (Season 20, Episode 7)

Photo: NBC

Look, I know, I know. The Sandman’s never been a musical guest, but full transparency, I spent most of my life fast-forwarding through the musical acts. My sincerest of apologies to Paul Simon and Australian rock band Jet.

Placing Sandler here gives me an extra cast member spot and an additional Weekend Update desk piece. Also, to avoid confusion, I should note that the song is not pronounced “Chanukah” because the C is silent in Chanukah.

Weekend Update With Norm Macdonald:

You guessed it… Frank Stallone Photo: NBC

“In music news, Number 1 on the college charts this summer was Better Than Ezra. And at Number 2: Ezra.”

Norm Macdonald

Nobody did Update like Norm Macdonald. I grew up with the great Kevin Nealon and was a big fan of all the iterations of the Fallon/Fey/Poehler/Meyers/Strong eras. But Norm was always my guy. The Norm/Jim Downey Update desk was truly the Wild West, with Macdonald’s dry, acerbic wit imbuing the franchise with a dangerous unpredictability.

From skewering O.J. Simpson to beloved recurring bits about Frank Stallone and David Hasselhoff, Macdonald’s comedic bravado was unrivaled. Laugh. Don’t laugh. Macdonald didn’t care. He trusted his own comedic instincts over live audience approval, resulting in some of the weirdest, most original jokes in Update history.

“Late today, rescuers intensified their search of shark-infested waters off the Dominican Republic for those still missing after the crash of a chartered 757. Also joining the search? Sharks.”

Norm Macdonald

Note to self: Rewatch Norm Macdonald Weekend Update clips on YouTube.

Tina Fey once referred to Norm as the last dangerous SNL cast member. That inherent danger is what made his version of Update essential viewing. We miss ya, Norm. Thanks for the laughs.

Weekend Update Desk Pieces 1-3: “Stefon,” “Jacob the Bar Mitzvah Boy,” and “The Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started a Conversation With At a Party“

I went with Norm as my Update host, but Seth Meyers is the best of the best when it comes to comedy assists. Manning the desk from 2006-2014 (both solo and co-hosting with Amy Poehler and Cecily Strong), Meyers was the perfect foil for the barrage of eccentrics who walked through the Update door.

Classic characters like Stefon (Bill Hader), Jacob the Bar Mitzvah Boy (Vanessa Bayer), and The Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started a Conversation With At a Party (Strong) were always destined for greatness, but the aforementioned trio (and many more) were elevated to legendary status thanks to Meyers’ rare combination of wry humor, steely patience, and affable curiosity.

Over-the-top characters like Stefon or Garth and Kat (Fred Armisen and Kristen Wiig) were enhanced by Seth (the character) genuinely wanting them to do well, as well as Seth’s (the writer/performer) pitch-perfect portrayal of the straight man.

Random Weekend Update Joke That Lives Rent-Free In My Head: “The hot new toy at this year’s Toy Fair is the Spykee Robot, which can change TV channels, play music from its built-in iPod dock, and send live video through a WiFi connection. Yet another in a long line of setbacks for wooden blocks.” (Seth Meyers)

Sketch 5: “What’s That Name?”

Original Airdate: March 2, 2019 (Season 44, Episode 14)

“What’s That Name?” — a game show in which a Joker-esque host tortures contestants by asking them the names of their casual acquaintances — is a perfectly crafted sketch. Not only is it a masterclass in comedic heightening — going from $5 to $250,000 to $10 million is a brilliant move — but it also somehow manages to blend abject absurdity with relatable humor. Honesty elevates comedy, and despite its ludicrous premise, “What’s That Name?” manages to embody a painfully identifiable universal truth: We’re all terrible with names.

It’s been well documented that Mulaney would routinely try to make Hader break when he played Stefon on Weekend Update by adding new jokes between dress rehearsal and air. I feel like the same thing might have happened in this sketch, specifically the “crew of problematic bachelors called ‘the squad'” bit.

Random Laugh-Out-Loud Moment: The way Bill Hader says “She’s a goddamn partner at her firm, BUDDY.” Specifically the “buddy” part. Unreal.

Sketch 6: “Spelling Bee”

Original Airdate: December 17, 2005 (Season 31, Episode 9)

There’s no shortage of options if you’re going with a classic “weird” Forte sketch (“Potato Chip,” “Trick-or-Treat Sex Offender,” “Falconer,” “Dancing Coach”), but “Spelling Bee” is such a ridiculous joyride of insanity. Forte’s monotonous, hypnotic reciting of letters follows the rollercoaster of comedy repetition. The recognition of the game gets a laugh, but the audience response grows as he continues to repeat letters for 70 glorious seconds.

Who knew that comedic brilliance was spelled B-R-I-L-L-I-A-N-C-Q-Q-Q-Q-Q-Q-Q-Q-E? Also, shoutout to Chris Parnell for his simple response: “Wrong.”

Related: Don’t sleep on yet another fantastic spelling bee sketch: “National Spelling Bee Championship” from 1999’s James Van Deer Beek-hosted episode. Will Ferrell plays a spelling bee host who loses the cards containing the words and is forced to improvise on the spot. The Kevin McHale joke is a pure chef’s kiss.

Sketch 7: “Brian Fellow’s Safari Planet“

Original Airdate: April 13, 2002 (Season 27, Episode 17)

Photo: Everett Collection

Brian Fellow walked so that Tracy Jordan could run. A nonsensical premise with a certified bop of a theme song*, Brian Fellow’s Safari Planet is Tracy Morgan at his best. I was originally going to feature the Matt Damon installment because it’s filled with bangers (and also includes a Porcupine threatening to show its weiner), but The Rock’s episode of Safari Planet is too good to omit.

Morgan and The Rock not only have ridiculous comedic chemistry, but of all of Brian’s many, many animal feuds, his one with the parrot is the funniest.

“That bird better PRAY he don’t screw up my credit! I’m just gonna go get a BB gun and shoot that bird’s eyes out!”

One of the many reasons this sketch has endured is the decision to have the guests play it straight. They’re constantly bewildered by Fellow’s questions and reactions, which allows Morgan the opportunity to shine. Finally, I don’t know why I find this so funny, but Morgan’s hand gesture after he says, “Hopefully, we will fix this in editing” always makes me laugh.

* Ditto for “Astronaut Jones“

Musical Guest 2: Adam Sandler Performs His Chris Farley Tribute Song

Original Airdate: May 5, 2019 (Season 44, Episode 19)

RIP, legend. “Without him, there would be no Lunch Lady in Lunch Lady Land.”

Commercial/Pretape 3: Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey: “Disneyland“

Original Airdate: December 7, 1991 (Season 17, Episode 8)

One thing kids like is to be tricked. For instance, I was going to take my little nephew to Disneyland, but instead I drove him to an old burned-out warehouse. “Oh, no,” I said. “Disneyland burned down.” He cried and cried, but I think that deep down, he thought it was a pretty good joke. I started to drive over to the real Disneyland, but it was getting pretty late.

Jack Handey

10 to 1 Sketch: “Dr. Beaman’s Office: Test Results”

Original Airdate: January 15, 2000 (Season 25, Episode 10)

Earlier this year, Will Ferrell returned to 8H to host the Season 51 finale of SNL. Ferrell portrayed an incompetent doctor in a sketch titled “Post-Op,” which felt like the spiritual successor to Ferrell’s classic “Dr. Beaman” sketch.

I always thought of the first “Dr. Beaman” as the quintessential example of a 10-to-1 sketch, but it originally aired before Weekend Update. This delightful oddball features an array of bizarre one-liners that are permanently etched into my brain, with the most notable one obviously being “Son of a Vondruke.”

Two fun facts courtesy of “The SNL a Day Project”: Host Freddie Prinze Jr. portrayed Dr. Steven Poop in the dress rehearsal version, and the first half of the sketch is actually the dress rehearsal version. Evidently, the live version began with a different phone conversation about Beaman accidentally leaving a baseball inside a patient.

A few observations:

• I love that Ferrell basically shouts “Okay, Beverly” when he’s about to end his phone call.
• Blowfish and Funk Framingham?
• Tim Meadows as Dr. Poop is art.
• Chris Parnell somehow doesn’t break during this sketch. A true gamer.
• Loved the BoDeans reference. Their most successful single, “Closer to Free,” was the theme song for FOX’s Party of Five.
• “And yet, at the same time, you’re a straight shooter. And I can’t fault you for that.”

The character would return in 2001 during the Renee Zellweger-hosted episode.

Goodnights:

Thanks to Adam Sandler, Lorne Michaels, the cast and crew. I had a great time writing this! (Saturday Night Live band starts to play.) Goodnight, everybody!

Cut For Time/Dress Rehearsal:

• Sketch 1: “Dysfunctional Family Dinner” (“I drive a Dodge Stratus!”)
• Sketch 2: “The Chris Farley Show with Paul McCartney”
• Sketch 3: “The First Debbie Downer“
• Sketch 4: “Hamm & Bublé“
• Sketch 5: “Former Porn Stars” (Vanessa Bayer, Cecily Strong) “Thanks, Champagne!“
• Sketch 6: “Cobras and Panthers”
• Sketch 7: “You Think I’m the Beast?”
• Weekend Update Desk Piece 1: “Get in the Cage with Nicolas Cage“
• Weekend Update Desk Piece 2: “Angel, Every Boxer’s Girlfriend from Every Movie About Boxing Ever“
• Weekend Update Desk Piece 3: “Jebidiah Atkinson“
• Weekend Update Desk Piece 4: David Spade’s “Hollywood Minute“
• Commercial/Pretape 1: “United Way with Peyton Manning“
• Commercial/Pretape 2: “Dissing Your Dog“
• Commercial/Pretape 3: “Old Glory Insurance“
• Commercial/Pretape 4: “Technology Hump”
• Commerical/Pretape 5: “Back Home Ballers”
• SNL Digital Short: “Jack Sparrow“
• Hidden Gem: “Happy Birthday Grandma” (Spiritual Sequel to “Dysfunctional Family Dinner”)
• Sentimental Favorite: “Phillip the Hyper Hypo and Grace” (a sketch my mom and I often quote)

If you’ve read this far, you’re obviously a fellow SNL diehard. Fan to fan, I highly recommend Saturday Night Network’s fantastic “Everything You NEED to Know About SNL” series. Streaming for free on YouTube, each video is an episode-by-episode breakdown that explores a full season of SNL through an entertaining mix of fun anecdotes, interesting trivia, and behind-the-scenes tidbits that’ll surprise even the most ardent of Saturday Night Live fans.

I also used the fantastic “One SNL a Day Project” website while researching this article.

Saturday Night Live Season 52 premieres September 26, 2026, on NBC and Peacock.