Top 100 Saturday Night Live Episodes of All Time

MsMojo

Live from New York, it’s time to revisit the sketches, hosts, and musical moments that defined Studio 8H. Join us as we spotlight legendary nights featuring Betty White with Jay-Z, Steve Martin and The Blues Brothers, Richard Pryor with Gil Scott-Heron, Dave Chappelle with A Tribe Called Quest, Adam Driver with Halsey, Ariana Grande, Ryan Gosling with Chris Stapleton, Pedro Pascal with Coldplay, and more. Which episode still makes you crack up? Sound off below!

Transcript

00:00:00I saved this damn show from the gutter, and it's thanks to me, this is the thanks that I get for saving this show!

00:00:06Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today, we're counting down our picks for the all-time greatest episodes of Saturday Night Live

00:00:13that have aired throughout its over 50-year history.

00:00:16After all, there's no other pair of Czech brothers who cruise and swing so successfully in tight slacks.

00:00:24Number 100. Ariana Grande and Stevie Nicks. Season 50.

00:00:29This was only Ariana Grande's second time hosting, but one could have sworn she was already a five-timer.

00:00:35Oh, yes, okay, got mile, first word, now first word.

00:00:38Oh, uh, uh, pathetic, fat, bad, evil, no nuts.

00:00:42Oh, oh, oh, uh, poor, ugly, short guy, pathetic little gay guy.

00:00:47In the show's milestone 50th season, this was easily one of the standout episodes,

00:00:52as Grande delivered an equal mix of music-driven and character-based sketches that fully demonstrated her versatility.

00:00:59It was also the birth of the Domingo series of sketches, which have admittedly overstayed their welcome.

00:01:10But this debut certainly had something special.

00:01:13We're out, the shots are flowing, yeah.

00:01:15Guys on the dance floor grooving, yeah.

00:01:17We say no thanks, she's taking, yeah.

00:01:20Woo!

00:01:21Sing it!

00:01:21Grande has long proven she's a master at impressions, and in this episode, she delivered even further proof,

00:01:28with her hilarious takes on Celine Dion and Jennifer Coolidge.

00:01:31Clearly, she's on a path to greatness on the SNL stage.

00:01:34But football isn't the only sport that connects us to our past, no?

00:01:38There is another sport whose timeless emotions ignite the bittersweet memories that live inside my soul.

00:01:44And in the octagon.

00:01:46Number 99, Lin-Manuel Miranda and 21 Pilots, season 42.

00:01:52Coming off the massive success of Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda's hosting debut felt like a celebration of theatrical storytelling on SNL stage.

00:02:01Of course, we got multiple music-driven moments, not just in the opening monologue,

00:02:06but also in the hilarious theater kid's send-up Crucible cast party.

00:02:09With performances and sketches like Substitute Teacher and The Music Man,

00:02:22Miranda got to showcase his versatility without turning the night into a one-note showcase.

00:02:26Wells Fargo's got something even better than instruments.

00:02:30They're called bank accounts.

00:02:32And I'm giving everyone at least three of them.

00:02:35Yeah!

00:02:35The cast members were also integrated thoughtfully, often serving as collaborators rather than mere straight men.

00:02:42You could tell that Miranda was a huge fan of the show,

00:02:45not just because he said it repeatedly in his opening monologue,

00:02:48but also because of how fully committed he was throughout.

00:02:51Now we're eating just...

00:02:54Okay, Brooklyn, I'll destroy it for you.

00:02:58Unless you think it's good, then try and find a publisher.

00:03:02I'll destroy it for you.

00:03:03Number 98, Zooey Deschanel and Carmen, Season 37.

00:03:08Zooey Deschanel's hosting turn fit neatly into SNL's early 2010 sensibility,

00:03:13with sketches that leaned into her whimsy and adorkable energy.

00:03:17She's what, alright? She's positively damp, and I mean that in the best possible sense to you.

00:03:20I'm sorry, I have no idea what the hell you just said.

00:03:24Everything you say sounds like...

00:03:27I don't know.

00:03:29The episode favored character pieces and relationship-based humor,

00:03:32often playing off Deschanel's recognizable screen persona without letting it become a crutch.

00:03:37Ensemble sketches benefited from her ability to blend in rather than dominate,

00:03:41even when she was sitting next to Abby Elliott doing an admittedly impressive impression of her.

00:03:46This lamp used to be an antique watering can.

00:03:49And if you can believe it, this trendy necklace used to be an old badminton racket.

00:03:56Musical guests' Carmen make their first and only SNL appearances,

00:04:00with performances of Brokenhearted and I Told You So,

00:04:03rounding out a night that feels very much of its time.

00:04:06While not built around blockbuster moments, the episode's consistency is its strength.

00:04:20Number 97.

00:04:21Jack Black and Neil Young.

00:04:23Season 31.

00:04:24There are many things to praise about this episode,

00:04:27but its cultural impact can be summarized in two words.

00:04:31Lazy Sunday.

00:04:31F*** the chronic blood pools of Narnia!

00:04:34Yes, the chronic blood pools of Narnia!

00:04:37We love that chronic blood pools of Narnia!

00:04:39Pass that chronic blood pools of Narnia!

00:04:42Written and performed by Andy Samberg and Chris Parnell,

00:04:45this musical parody not only revitalized SNL,

00:04:48but it also contributed to the rise of YouTube.

00:04:50Lazy Sunday aside,

00:04:52this episode still benefited from Jack Black's ability to go big without overwhelming the ensemble.

00:04:57Topper poked me in the eye!

00:04:58Well, you jumped in front of my finger at the very last second.

00:05:01Okay, well, if no one's gonna point at me,

00:05:03I've gotta aim myself at someone's finger.

00:05:05I'm just trying to get some finger-loving up in here.

00:05:07In The Wind and Cable News photoshoot sketches,

00:05:10Black worked well with the rest of the cast.

00:05:13The in-house performers also got their chance to shine in segments like Two A-Holes and Spelling Bee.

00:05:18This was the episode that gave the show a much-needed jolt after a lackluster previous season.

00:05:23Business. B-R-D-T-F-K-L-M-G-H-R.

00:05:36Number 96. Michael Jordan and Public Enemy. Season 17.

00:05:40Opening the 1991-92 season,

00:05:43this episode paired SNL with one of the most recognizable figures in the world.

00:05:48Because I'm a role model, I've been able to do so many things for the young people.

00:05:51It's been a lot of concern that I've been doing too many commercials.

00:05:55But in my own defense, I don't do every commercial that they bring to me.

00:05:59Michael Jordan approached hosting with a willingness to poke fun at his own mythos,

00:06:04which became the episode's comedic backbone.

00:06:06Sketches frequently played on his public image,

00:06:09allowing the cast to frame him as both icon and participant.

00:06:12What do you want?

00:06:14Uh, I'll have a Gatorade picture, please.

00:06:18You know, Gatorade can go with anything. It mixes well.

00:06:20Even in sketches that weren't sports-themed,

00:06:23Jordan still brought an affable energy to them that made them worth watching.

00:06:26The cultural relevance was further underscored by musical guest Public Enemy,

00:06:30who performed their song Bring the Noise in tribute to Miles Davis.

00:06:34SNL episodes hosted by athletes can either go very wrong or very right,

00:06:39and this one sits comfortably in the latter category.

00:06:41All I have to do is be the best Michael I can be.

00:06:45Because I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me.

00:06:51Number 95, Robert Klein and Bonnie Raitt, Season 3.

00:06:56I went to a small school, a very obscure school called Alfred,

00:07:00and, uh...

00:07:01Good for seven claps at the Saturday Night Live show.

00:07:06Good for about nine claps at Alfred University.

00:07:09The second of only two hosting gigs by stand-up comic Robert Klein,

00:07:13this episode came during SNL's experimental era.

00:07:16And that's clear from the unconventional structure of some of the sketches.

00:07:20The episode opened on a very strong note,

00:07:22with a musical parody of Mr. Mike and Tina Turner,

00:07:25featuring Garrett Morris as Turner.

00:07:27There's a good job in the city

00:07:29Working for the band every night and day

00:07:32Well, I never lost one minute of sleep

00:07:35And worried about the three things you might have been

00:07:38Then we got a solid stand-up monologue from Klein,

00:07:41followed by certain segments that became recurring sketches

00:07:43like Olympia Restaurant and Nerds Rock.

00:07:45Hello, Olympia Restaurant.

00:07:47Cheeseburger, cheeseburger, two Pepsi, one chip.

00:07:50Cheeseburger, cheeseburger, two Pepsi, one chip.

00:07:52You have to go for cheeseburger.

00:07:55Cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger.

00:07:57Perhaps the single most memorable thing about this episode

00:07:59was the running lobster joke that was established during Weekend Update

00:08:03and continued to pop up throughout the episode

00:08:05until the climax and the final sketch of the night.

00:08:08John Volusia has been seized by an immense claw that's waving about.

00:08:14Oh, it's horrible.

00:08:15Number 94.

00:08:16Kerry Washington and Eminem, season 39.

00:08:19At the time of this episode,

00:08:21SNL was under fire for having no black female cast members.

00:08:24While the show rectified this by hiring Sashir Zamata later in the season,

00:08:28they addressed the issue in the cold open of this episode,

00:08:31with Kerry Washington having to play multiple famous black women.

00:08:34Uh, Mr. President, great news.

00:08:36Beyoncé has just arrived for dinner, too.

00:08:39Beyoncé!

00:08:40Don't even.

00:08:41Um, she'd love to pop in and say hello?

00:08:44Is Jay-Z with her?

00:08:46Uh, no.

00:08:47From there, the episode soared to incredible heights,

00:08:50bolstered by Washington's surprisingly great comedic skills.

00:08:53The Scandal star played a wide range of characters

00:08:55and fully committed to every one of them.

00:08:58But there was something particularly captivating

00:09:00about her overbearing girlfriend in The Fox.

00:09:02What does my girl say?

00:09:04I got you, got you, got you, cow!

00:09:06Got you, got you, got you, cow!

00:09:08Got you, got you, got you, cow!

00:09:10What does my girl say?

00:09:12You don't need a nest of now!

00:09:13While not flawless, the night remains notable

00:09:16for the conversations it sparked

00:09:18and for Washington's clear effort

00:09:20to elevate the material she was given.

00:09:22And you're supposed to throw softballs,

00:09:24not basketballs, not Snapple bottles,

00:09:27not a freaking plugged-in computer printer.

00:09:30What are you who's even turned on a host?

00:09:33On a black lady!

00:09:34Know your history!

00:09:36Number 93, John Mulaney and Jack White.

00:09:39Season 43.

00:09:40Back in 2018, John Mulaney made his hosting debut

00:09:44alongside Jack White as musical guest

00:09:46and immediately proved he was a natural.

00:09:49Sir Patrick Stewart was introducing the musical guest

00:09:51and this is how he did it.

00:09:52He went, ladies and gentlemen, salt and pepper!

00:09:56Like he was surprised by pepper.

00:10:00It was no surprise, however,

00:10:01considering he was a former writer

00:10:03and was already familiar with the terrain.

00:10:05As a host, Mulaney was effortless.

00:10:07He blended naturally into the different roles

00:10:10he took on throughout the night.

00:10:11From a messy reality TV star

00:10:13to a waitress at a drag brunch

00:10:15who has a score to settle with their former boss.

00:10:18When was the last time someone smiled

00:10:20because you walked into a room?

00:10:23I can't imagine anyone deriving joy

00:10:26from seeing such an overprivileged husk

00:10:29of a shallow human being.

00:10:32Oh, Curr!

00:10:33This night also marked the birth of the Diner Lobster,

00:10:36which kicked off the tradition

00:10:38of big Broadway-inspired sketches

00:10:39in John Mulaney-hosted episodes.

00:10:42It was the best possible introduction

00:10:43to Mulaney's impressive skills

00:10:45as a comedic performer.

00:10:46Who am I?

00:10:50Lobster number one!

00:10:56Number 92, Zach Galifianakis

00:10:58and of Monsters and Men, season 38.

00:11:01Alright, your question is,

00:11:02what is the capital of Wisconsin?

00:11:09Oh, I thought this was gonna be

00:11:12a Game of Thrones geography.

00:11:15You know, regular United States geography.

00:11:19Having already hosted twice before,

00:11:21Zach Galifianakis' offbeat comedic sensibility

00:11:24was already well-established,

00:11:26and this episode exploited that

00:11:27in the best way possible.

00:11:29The night favored awkward pacing,

00:11:31deliberately strange character beats,

00:11:33and sketches that thrived on Galifianakis' ability

00:11:36to undercut expectations

00:11:37without winking at the audience.

00:11:39Listen, I called you dirty a lot yesterday.

00:11:42Didn't I?

00:11:43You did.

00:11:43Okay.

00:11:44And yet, I'm a total slob.

00:11:46I mean, maybe I don't deserve

00:11:48to be in this country either.

00:11:50I was born in Minnesota, racist Jim.

00:11:53Rather than overpowering the cast,

00:11:55he slotted neatly into the ensemble,

00:11:57elevating low-key premises through sheer oddness.

00:12:00Even the musical guests added to the offbeat energy

00:12:02with their whimsical indie folk music.

00:12:13Overall, the episode's tone felt intentionally unpolished,

00:12:17which worked in its favor,

00:12:18especially during the brilliant

00:12:19Daryl's House two-parter.

00:12:21It stands as a strong example of SNL

00:12:23embracing a host's specific comedic rhythm,

00:12:26rather than forcing them into a generic mold.

00:12:29Thanks for stopping by, John.

00:12:31Well, thanks for having me.

00:12:34Well, for the first time,

00:12:36I had someone to my house.

00:12:38That was a success.

00:12:40Number 91.

00:12:42Tom Hanks and Aerosmith, Season 15.

00:12:45In his fourth time hosting SNL,

00:12:47it was clear that Tom Hanks already felt at home

00:12:49at Studio 8-H.

00:12:50His affable persona anchored a night

00:12:52that balanced character work with sharp parody,

00:12:55including sketches that played off his everyman charm

00:12:57rather than subverting it,

00:12:59like Mr. Short-Term Memory.

00:13:00Bill, these are...

00:13:02these are really beautiful flowers.

00:13:05I guess I should have brought you something.

00:13:08Jeff,

00:13:09didn't you bring me those flowers?

00:13:13Uh, yeah.

00:13:15Yeah, yeah.

00:13:16Aerosmith's performances added to the high-energy atmosphere,

00:13:20giving the night a distinctly early 90s feel.

00:13:22They also popped up during perhaps

00:13:24the most iconic rendition of the beloved sketch Wayne's World.

00:13:33From classic recurring segments

00:13:35to hilarious original ones,

00:13:37this episode shows how effective SNL can be

00:13:40when a seasoned host understands the rhythm of the show

00:13:42and lets it do what it does best.

00:13:44Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

00:13:49You know it.

00:13:51Rock bottom!

00:13:54Number 90.

00:13:55George Carlin,

00:13:56Billy Preston,

00:13:57and Janice Ian.

00:13:58Season 1.

00:13:59Everything about this episode carries the weight of a beginning.

00:14:02Airing in October 1975,

00:14:05the first-ever episode of Saturday Night Live

00:14:07doubled as a mission statement,

00:14:09and George Carlin was an inspired choice to set the tone.

00:14:12Because football represents something we are.

00:14:14We are Europe Junior.

00:14:16When you get right down to it,

00:14:18we're Europe Junior.

00:14:19We play the Europe game.

00:14:20What was the Europe game?

00:14:22Let's take their land away from them.

00:14:24Rather than traditional sketches,

00:14:26Carlin delivered stand-up segments throughout the night,

00:14:29establishing the show's counter-cultural edge

00:14:31and its willingness to blur formats.

00:14:33The original not-ready-for-prime-time players

00:14:35were still finding their footing,

00:14:37but the DNA was already there.

00:14:39Political irreverence,

00:14:41youth-driven humor,

00:14:42and a live-wire unpredictability.

00:14:45My left arm felt numb.

00:14:47Well, my arm was gone.

00:14:50Since then, I've had to learn how to do everything with my right hand.

00:14:52Just when did this incident take place?

00:14:55Oh, I'd say maybe three, four months ago.

00:14:59Musical guests Billy Preston and Janice Ian

00:15:01reinforce the show's eclectic sensibility.

00:15:03It may feel rough by later standards,

00:15:06but its historical importance alone

00:15:08more than warrants its placement on this list.

00:15:10Please do not be alarmed.

00:15:11This is only a simulated assault and burglary.

00:15:14Repeat, this is a simulated assault and burglary.

00:15:16This could happen to you at any time.

00:15:17In fact, it just has.

00:15:18Honey, call the police!

00:15:19Do something!

00:15:20No, no, no, no, don't call the police.

00:15:22I am the police.

00:15:23Number 89.

00:15:24Miskel Spillman and Elvis Costello.

00:15:27Season 3.

00:15:28I understand you're an upperclassman at the university.

00:15:31That's right.

00:15:32And you're majoring in theater.

00:15:35Yes, but I'm also going to teach.

00:15:39Oh, so you'll have something to fall back on.

00:15:42Exactly, exactly.

00:15:44Number 88.

00:15:45Anne Hathaway and Rihanna.

00:15:47Season 38.

00:15:49Listen, Carrie, for some reason,

00:15:51David doesn't want you to do the interrogation.

00:15:53No, David, no, no, David, no, no, David, no, no, no.

00:16:00She makes some good points, David.

00:16:03Number 87.

00:16:05Bruno Mars.

00:16:06Season 38.

00:16:07She was more like a pink queen

00:16:10from a movie scene.

00:16:11I said I don't mind, but I think I mean

00:16:14I am the one.

00:16:15Oh, they skip songs!

00:16:17What?

00:16:17Who the hell skips Billie Jean?

00:16:19Number 86.

00:16:21Margot Robbie and The Weeknd.

00:16:22Season 42.

00:16:24I apologize.

00:16:25I assumed you were a very wealthy man.

00:16:27Uh, yeah, I wish.

00:16:28She's kind of the breadwinner in our house.

00:16:31Well, we're a team, and if I felt weird

00:16:35about being the main income earner,

00:16:37I wouldn't have married a puppeteer.

00:16:39He does puppets!

00:16:40Number 85.

00:16:41Alec Baldwin and Christina Aguilera.

00:16:44Season 32.

00:16:45Alec Baldwin has hosted SNL so many times,

00:16:48he might as well be a cast member.

00:16:49For such a veteran, it can be hard to single out

00:16:52one episode as his best,

00:16:54but if any comes close, it's this.

00:16:57We've got a real Blue Ribbon kind of a show today.

00:17:00Some great, great, great, great stuff.

00:17:01Later on, we're gonna hear a couple of terrific numbers

00:17:03from Puddle of Mud, one of the great rock bands out there.

00:17:06For his 13th turn as host,

00:17:08Baldwin brought his trademark aloof charm

00:17:10to now-classic sketches like Carpool.

00:17:12While Christina Aguilera added a contemporary pop flavor,

00:17:16it was Baldwin's ease in sketches,

00:17:18often playing exaggerated versions

00:17:20of self-serious characters that anchored the night.

00:17:22Hey, is that your lady?

00:17:23Nice pull, friend.

00:17:25I'm not saying I want to get in on with your girlfriend,

00:17:27just somebody who looks exactly like you, girlfriend.

00:17:30I didn't mean exactly.

00:17:31Hey, are you bi?

00:17:34Of course, there were also cameos.

00:17:37Baldwin's 30 Rock co-stars,

00:17:38Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan,

00:17:40popped up during the opening monologue.

00:17:42Later, he was joined by Steve Martin and Martin Short

00:17:44in a playful showdown over who had hosted the most.

00:17:47We look alike, sound alike, even dress alike.

00:17:50I usually get my suits at Brioni.

00:17:51How about you, Anthony?

00:17:52Men's Warehouse.

00:17:55Anthony, hold that thought about Men's Warehouse.

00:17:57I gotta mention our sponsors.

00:17:59Number 84, Lindsay Lohan and Usher, season 29.

00:18:03I didn't say a word during It's a Small World

00:18:05when you talked about low birth weight

00:18:07or during the fireworks when you went to

00:18:09when you went to that about feline AIDS.

00:18:11It's the number one killer of domestic cats.

00:18:18Number 83, Anna Kendrick and Pharrell Williams, season 39.

00:18:24Go ahead, sing!

00:18:25Hot and dangerous.

00:18:30If you're one of us, then roll with us

00:18:32because we make the hipsters fall in love

00:18:34when we got our hot pants on and up.

00:18:36And yes, of course we do.

00:18:39Number 82, Steve Martin, Randy Newman, and Dirt Band, season 3.

00:18:43What else do you think our survey showed people like to bite?

00:18:48Organically inactive meat or vegetable matter

00:18:50between two starched planes?

00:18:53It's a long walk back to France

00:18:55if you don't get this one right, prime ant.

00:18:57Number 81, Buck Henry, Jennifer Warnes, and Kenny Vance, season 2.

00:19:02Oh yes, I belong to a fraternity.

00:19:04Was you the real old lady before?

00:19:05You were a fraternity?

00:19:05Oh, I didn't.

00:19:06Really?

00:19:06Which one?

00:19:07Was it?

00:19:08He said, yeah!

00:19:09Rockdale!

00:19:10Rockdale!

00:19:11Rockdale!

00:19:13You bubble!

00:19:14Ah, five y'all to Watashi!

00:19:16Number 80, Robin Williams and Paul Simon,

00:19:19season 12.

00:19:20You ever see that look in his eyes?

00:19:22Sometimes he talks like a badly dubbed Chinese kung fu movie, isn't it?

00:19:26Well, I feel I'm doing better now.

00:19:29I...

00:19:29I don't even think he speaks.

00:19:32I think Nancy dubs him.

00:19:33The first time Robin Williams hosted

00:19:35was during the turbulent Dick Ebersole era of SNL.

00:19:38His second gig came in season 12,

00:19:41after Lorne Michaels returned,

00:19:42and showed Williams in rare form.

00:19:44His unfiltered, improvisational energy

00:19:47injected the show with a jolt of pure comedic momentum,

00:19:50right from the cold open where he played Ronald Reagan.

00:19:53Do you feel the secret arms deal to Iran was a mistake?

00:19:56Well, I was expecting you to ask that.

00:19:59And I would like to answer that with a definitive...

00:20:01Um...

00:20:04No.

00:20:08No!

00:20:09Williams was a great fit with the rest of the cast,

00:20:11and his physical commitment gave the cast plenty to react to,

00:20:14rather than compete with,

00:20:16particularly with John Levitz and Phil Hartman in And So Adieu.

00:20:19Godfrey, all I want you to do

00:20:21is deliver the Declaration of War papers.

00:20:23The Armistice papers.

00:20:24That's right, sorry, forgive me.

00:20:25Oh, pardon me.

00:20:26Continuity!

00:20:27All right?

00:20:28Let's just do this,

00:20:29and we'll be out of here.

00:20:30Thank you, Godfrey.

00:20:31No tension.

00:20:31Musical guest Paul Simon delivered three performances

00:20:34instead of the usual two,

00:20:36with the highlight being Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes,

00:20:38for which he was joined by Ladysmith Black Mombazo.

00:20:41Number 79.

00:20:43Eric Idle, Joe Cocker, and Stuff.

00:20:45Season 2.

00:20:46We're all out of swine flu vaccine.

00:20:49We ran out of it hours ago.

00:20:51We're using some old polio vaccine from the 50s.

00:20:54Polio vaccine!

00:20:56All right, chap.

00:20:57Let's just get what we came for and buzz off, shall we?

00:20:59Number 78.

00:21:00Steve Martin and Blondie, Season 5.

00:21:03Captain, what happened?

00:21:05We were in pursuit of the vandal, sir.

00:21:07We were egged.

00:21:09Egged?

00:21:09Yes.

00:21:10Help us with rotten eggs, sir.

00:21:11Egged as man, sir.

00:21:13Number 77.

00:21:15Paul Simon and George Harrison, Season 2.

00:21:18In a previous interview with the Italian Bob-wa-wa-wa,

00:21:23Oriana Fawaci, or whatever her name is,

00:21:26you referred to yourself as a gun swinger,

00:21:30sort of a lone wanger of foreign policy.

00:21:33Number 76.

00:21:35John Mulaney and David Byrne, Season 45.

00:21:38We're on a plane to nowhere.

00:21:43Come on inside.

00:21:47They say it's about to take off.

00:21:51Number 75.

00:21:52Adam Driver and Halsey, Season 45.

00:21:55Adam Driver consistently proves to be one of SNL's most committed and surprising hosts.

00:22:00And having already hosted twice before,

00:22:03his January 2020 episode was arguably his best yet.

00:22:06You're telling me I've been gallivanting around town with some cheap off-brand generic ketchup?

00:22:12Don't you dare!

00:22:14You're not even Heinz, you dirty hunt!

00:22:17Driver, who is known for his intense dramatic roles,

00:22:20turns his on-screen persona on its head in most of these sketches.

00:22:23The episode delivered a return of Kylo Ren Undercover Boss,

00:22:27where Driver once again donned his Star Wars villain costume

00:22:30to go undercover as an intern at Starkiller Base.

00:22:32One blue star milk?

00:22:34That's mine, with sarlacc cream, yes?

00:22:36Oh.

00:22:38I'll go back.

00:22:39Don't go back, straws.

00:22:41Great, we'll just suck it out of the little hole in the top.

00:22:44But there are also a string of original sketches that hit just as hard,

00:22:47from the absurdity of the Del Taco commercial shoot

00:22:50to the near profanity of Science Room.

00:22:52Driver's episodes always leave the audience wanting more,

00:22:56and this one was no exception.

00:22:58Because what comes first in the Science Room?

00:23:01Um, the guy.

00:23:03The guy?

00:23:04Yeah, my older sister said the guy always comes first.

00:23:09I don't know what that means.

00:23:11Oh my god, no, no, that's not what that means!

00:23:13Number 74, Christopher Lee and Meatloaf, Season 3.

00:23:17The island of lost luggage

00:23:19is one of the most terrifying motion pictures ever made.

00:23:23Warning, no one will be seated

00:23:24during the horrifying tote bag sequence.

00:23:27Number 73, Steve Martin and Martin Short and Brandi Carlile, Season 48.

00:23:33He's always been a cruel old man.

00:23:36He hates us orphans.

00:23:38Let me guess, you tossed the coin way up in the air, right?

00:23:41That's a classic mistake.

00:23:43What you want to do is toss the coin straight down.

00:23:46Number 72, Kristen Wiig and Ray, Season 49.

00:23:51Which is it, Nina?

00:23:52Are you afraid of being Jumanji'd into Jumanji?

00:23:54Or is being Jumanji'd that Jumanji comes out?

00:23:56Jumanji is a series of jungle emergencies.

00:24:02Jungle emergency.

00:24:04That, sir, is Jumanji.

00:24:06Number 71, Fred Armisen and Courtney Barnett, Season 41.

00:24:11Okay, is there any more food?

00:24:14I need to get something down my throat to fight what is coming up.

00:24:19Number 70, Jake Gyllenhaal and the Shins, Season 32.

00:24:23This mid-season offering placed Jake Gyllenhaal in one of SNL's classic contexts,

00:24:28an actor known more for dramatic roles taking on comedy with full commitment.

00:24:32Now, is it true that 10% of all the profits go to a special cause?

00:24:37Mm-hmm.

00:24:38We are raising money for global warnings.

00:24:40When Keiji and I heard that the polar bears were straight up confused because of climate changes,

00:24:44we were like, yo, let's make some noise.

00:24:46By 2007, Gyllenhaal had built a reputation for intensity on screen,

00:24:51and the episode subtly played against that image,

00:24:54allowing him to try both earnest and absurd material.

00:24:57Right from the opening monologue, Gyllenhaal shows he's game,

00:25:00stripping down to a dress and wig and giving the performance of his life.

00:25:04Tear down the mountains, yeah, scream and shout.

00:25:07You can say what you want, but I'm not walking out.

00:25:11I'm gonna step on the river, push, track, and kill.

00:25:15Not gonna leave you this morning, I will.

00:25:18The rest of the episode went just as well,

00:25:23with Gyllenhaal throwing himself fully into the material,

00:25:26whether he was encountering anthropomorphic food on a date,

00:25:29or learning acting from a law and order guru.

00:25:31Kevin, there is someone I want you to meet.

00:25:37In all my years, I have never seen anyone grasp the spirit of the show better than that.

00:25:43It might not have had any instant classics,

00:25:46but the episode felt refreshingly unpredictable.

00:25:49Number 69, Steve Carell and Usher, Season 33.

00:25:53Number 68, Anya Taylor-Joy and Lil Nas X, Season 46.

00:26:09This is our St. Paddy's Day, acting sloppy because we're gay.

00:26:13Who cares about him? You're so cool and so funny.

00:26:17I don't want to be funny, I want to be hot.

00:26:19Number 67, Don Rickles and Billy Idol, Season 9.

00:26:24Now, I'll tell you this.

00:26:26Blind cop jumped in once in a while.

00:26:28Now, I'll tell you this.

00:26:29That's the trouble.

00:26:30Tex, you're gonna change it to Tex, huh?

00:26:32You like that? You like that?

00:26:33To Tex, huh?

00:26:34I can go higher than you, you bum.

00:26:35I can go higher than you.

00:26:37Number 66, Jim Carrey and Iggy Azalea, Season 40.

00:26:41I'm gonna swim, run the shindle,

00:26:46run the shindle,

00:26:49Number 65, Martin Short and Paul McCartney, Season 38.

00:26:56Only a handful of SNL Christmas episodes can compare to this one.

00:27:00The December 2012 installment aired one day after the Sandy Hook tragedy,

00:27:04so it opened on a somber tone,

00:27:06with the New York City Children's Chorus performing Silent Night.

00:27:09Silent night, holy night, wondrous star, let thy light.

00:27:25Things took on a more festive note afterwards, with a series of holiday-themed sketches like A Tony Bennett Christmas, featuring Alec Baldwin as Bennett.

00:27:32Yep, there were multiple cameos, including Carrie Brownstein and Samuel L. Jackson in What's Up With That,

00:27:38Wichita Jackson let a curse word slip.

00:27:41I want to thank my guest, the incredible Samuel L. Jackson.

00:27:44Man, f***.

00:27:45Hey!

00:27:47Also, come on, Sam.

00:27:50It's some bullshit.

00:27:52Come on now.

00:27:54That costs money.

00:27:55Paul McCartney's musical performances spanned tender balladry and lively collaborations,

00:28:00including playing with surviving members of Nirvana on Cut Me Some Slack.

00:28:03All in all, it was a great way to spread holiday cheer.

00:28:08Watch me burn!

00:28:15Number 64, Will Ferrell and Usher, season 37.

00:28:19Anyway, Vince, Angela, what a run.

00:28:24Thanks, you guys, for always encouraging me.

00:28:26You loaned me money for chef school.

00:28:29Fast forward three months, now I'm a professional psychic.

00:28:32Number 63, David Duchovny and Rod Stewart, season 20.

00:28:36Look, seriously, we'd like to see the house.

00:28:38Oh, I'm serious, too.

00:28:39I'm deaf as a dog now, 15 years in front of speakers, baby.

00:28:42Oh, God, we're so sorry.

00:28:44When can we see it?

00:28:45Well, if you're ready to rock, I'm ready to roll.

00:28:49Wow!

00:28:50Number 62, Molly Shannon and Linkin Park, season 32.

00:28:55Down to church, does anyone have any issues or concerns?

00:28:57Yeah, I just want to let everyone know that I'm finally going to take that trip to Italy.

00:29:01I'm going to Italy, too.

00:29:04We'll be flying for spots or something.

00:29:08Number 61, Tina Fey and Carrie Underwood, season 33.

00:29:12Who are you?

00:29:13I'm Nan Winters Rodriguez, and I remove dead animals from underneath people's homes with a dead animal vacuum or a hook.

00:29:20And I'm the best.

00:29:20Now stand aside, I've got to suck a family of unlucky raccoons out from under that Dunkin' Donuts.

00:29:26Number 60, Nate Bargatze and Foo Fighters, season 49.

00:29:31When stand-up comedian Nate Bargatze stepped into the SNL host chair for the first time, audiences weren't sure what to expect.

00:29:37The episode quickly proved that sometimes a straight-ahead comedian with impeccable timing can anchor a show just as effectively as a big movie star.

00:29:45Have you cooked this kind of food before?

00:29:47No, sir. I'm sorry.

00:29:51But you must have grown up around it, right? I mean, where are you from?

00:29:55Rhode Island.

00:29:56Bargatze's humor, rooted in everyday observations and laid-back delivery, shaped the night's overall tone and gave sketches a grounded center.

00:30:04The cold open and a now-often-quoted Washington's Dream sketch leaned into his dry persona while letting the cast play off his rhythm.

00:30:12And the slaves, sir, what of them?

00:30:14You asked about the temperature.

00:30:17I did not.

00:30:25We show up two different unrelated scales of temperature.

00:30:30One of them will make sense to the entire world, and the other will be super random.

00:30:35Our great nation will use the random one.

00:30:37Bargatze's performance seemed to turbocharge the rest of the cast, as they were firing on all fronts.

00:30:42For example, in The Chef Show and Airplane Sketches.

00:30:46It's no wonder he returned the next season.

00:30:47Lawyer sounds hard, and I should know, I also have a hard job.

00:30:52Thank you. What do you do?

00:30:54I'm a teacher, so I teach future lawyers and doctors.

00:30:58Look how much fun she's having. Look at her face.

00:31:07I have to say, I am at a loss for words.

00:31:11Yeah, because it's brilliant, right?

00:31:12No, because I don't know how to sell it.

00:31:14Well, I know how to sell it.

00:31:16Celebrity endorsements, like Marilyn Monroe.

00:31:18Number 58. Josh Brolin and Adele. Season 34.

00:31:23The only pole I care about is the North Pole, and that is melting. It's not great.

00:31:29What? The real one?

00:31:34Bye!

00:31:40Number 57. Will Ferrell and King Princess. Season 45.

00:31:44So, John, Pocahontas tells us you're turning 30 soon.

00:31:48Yep. Yeah. Couple of weeks.

00:31:51And you do know she's 12, right?

00:31:54Yeah, I do. I do.

00:31:56Oh, I see.

00:31:58Number 56. Lady Gaga. Season 39.

00:32:02Look at your father!

00:32:07Ashley!

00:32:09Ashley!

00:32:14Wow!

00:32:15Number 55. Roseanne and Tom Arnold and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Season 17.

00:32:21Few episodes of SNL capture a moment in pop culture quite like this one did in early 1992.

00:32:27At this point, Roseanne Barr was one of the most watched comedians on television thanks to her eponymous sitcom,

00:32:33and her appearance with then-husband Tom Arnold played into their tabloid-era celebrity.

00:32:37I have my own TV show, you know, like Bill Cosby.

00:32:41Right, and he is...

00:32:43A TV star like me?

00:32:48TV. Hmm.

00:32:50The night included culturally resonant pieces like the George H.W. Bush cold open,

00:32:54alongside recurring favorites such as Coffee Talk,

00:32:57where Barr's personality fit naturally into the irreverent tone.

00:33:00I have trouble with my, uh, woman's problem, and I'm gassy.

00:33:05But don't worry, I promise I wouldn't say anything.

00:33:11I'll just sit here in the dark like a dog.

00:33:14Nonetheless, she also pushed herself throughout the episode,

00:33:17appearing in some sketches where she played against type, like in the sorority sisters bit.

00:33:22I'm so psyched for the mixer on Saturday. What time does it stop?

00:33:25Eight o'clock sharp. Don't be late.

00:33:28Ah, depression!

00:33:29My mother-in-law's having a temperament party that night!

00:33:32That is so sad.

00:33:35It was a more versatile showing from Roseanne than her first hosting gig the previous season.

00:33:40Number 54.

00:33:41Zach Galifianakis and Vampire Weekend.

00:33:44Season 35.

00:33:45And there's a sturdiness to it.

00:33:49The bidet.

00:33:51It can accommodate a fairly heavy carriage.

00:33:55I think it's a very standard bidet.

00:34:01Number 53.

00:34:02Paul Rudd and Beyoncé.

00:34:04Season 34.

00:34:05Man, high school's for tools.

00:34:07Boy, get up!

00:34:08Get up here!

00:34:10You flunking out, huh?

00:34:11Think that's cool?

00:34:13I flunked out once, too.

00:34:14And then, bam!

00:34:15Next thing I know, I'm traveling through time in a phone booth with George Carlin.

00:34:20Number 52.

00:34:21Sigourney Weaver and Buster Poindexter.

00:34:24Season 12.

00:34:24All right, all right, ladies.

00:34:26I'm gonna come clean with you.

00:34:28I'm gonna tell you the truth.

00:34:29You see, the fact is that that's my double.

00:34:34Yeah, I'm a spy.

00:34:36Yeah, in fact, I'm a double agent.

00:34:38Number 51.

00:34:39Linda Hamilton and Mariah Carey.

00:34:41Season 17.

00:34:43Age?

00:34:4330.

00:34:45Height?

00:34:455'8.

00:34:47Sex?

00:34:49Yes, please.

00:34:51That's my little joke.

00:34:55Number 50.

00:34:57Eric Idle and Kate Bush.

00:34:58Season 4.

00:34:59Monty Python's Eric Idle brought his legendary British absurdist humor to SNL in December 1978,

00:35:06in an episode that perfectly blended his unique style with the American sketch comedy format.

00:35:10In the event of a tie, I should start the clock, like so, and there will be a choice of either a...

00:35:17Idle, a seasoned comedic writer and performer, delivered a delightfully surreal and clever show.

00:35:27The episode seemed to draw inspiration from Monty Python sketches in creating segments that were tailored to Idle's humor.

00:35:33From the What Do You Game Show to the Consumer Probe sketch.

00:35:36Diana's also wearing trumpeter swan slippers.

00:35:40And they're very rare.

00:35:42And I wouldn't wear those outside because they cost $20,000 a piece.

00:35:47Tragically, there are only about 60 of these magnificent birds left.

00:35:5258.

00:35:52Musical guest Kate Bush made her unforgettable SNL debut,

00:35:56performing The Man with a Child in His Eyes and Them Heavy People with her distinct ethereal style.

00:36:01This was Idle's third hosting gig at the time, but it was arguably his best showing.

00:36:06I want you all to empty the left-hand side of your brains.

00:36:09Empty all the thoughts out of the left-hand side and leave the right as it is.

00:36:14Now you're experiencing a form of abject clarity.

00:36:18Number 49.

00:36:19Tina Fey and Amy Poehler and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

00:36:23Season 41.

00:36:25Toby, this is Alicia.

00:36:26She's currently a sophomore at Rutgers.

00:36:28Well, that's not that bad.

00:36:31I mean, the other ones were younger, right?

00:36:34Slow down.

00:36:35See, Alicia has a serious boyfriend.

00:36:37And she just found out she's three months pregnant with, you guessed it, your second wife.

00:36:42Number 48.

00:36:43Ryan Gosling and Leon Bridges.

00:36:45Season 41.

00:36:46Meanwhile, I'm starting phase two, which is me sitting on a stool

00:36:50while 40 gray aliens take turns gently batting my knockers in.

00:36:56Number 47.

00:36:58Natalie Portman and Fall Out Boy.

00:37:00Season 31.

00:37:01When I was in Hopper, I smoked weed every day.

00:37:04I cheated every test and snorted all the yay.

00:37:07I got a dev proxy, you got a bunch of dudes.

00:37:10I'll fit right there on your face and take your s***.

00:37:12Number 46.

00:37:15Mick Jagger.

00:37:16Season 37.

00:37:17But there's one more thing.

00:37:20You have a brother.

00:37:26Jevin?

00:37:29What are you doing here?

00:37:32Number 45.

00:37:34Seth MacFarlane and Frank Ocean.

00:37:36Season 38.

00:37:37Hosting a season premiere comes with the added responsibility of setting the tone.

00:37:41And with this episode, Seth MacFarlane did a great job establishing one for season 38.

00:37:46His musical monologue signaled a throwback sensibility,

00:37:50drawing from classic variety show rhythms.

00:37:52My head is filled with voices

00:37:55And the doctors don't know why

00:37:58For a second I'm a normal talking regular gent

00:38:02But next I'm George Takaya

00:38:05From there, nearly everything put on display was an original and genuinely funny premise.

00:38:10MacFarlane himself does some great character work

00:38:13Disappearing into the parts he plays in sketches like The Stuttering Drill Sergeant.

00:38:17How about you Monroe?

00:38:18Do you agree with Richards?

00:38:20Was the question confusing?

00:38:23Um...

00:38:24Do I stutter?

00:38:25A little bit that time!

00:38:27That wasn't stuttering Monroe!

00:38:28But we also got impressive performances from cast members like Bill Hader in Puppetry Class.

00:38:33Word came down from Top Brass

00:38:35Make it disappear

00:38:37We...

00:38:39We didn't know any better

00:38:40We were...

00:38:41We were kids

00:38:42I watched myself pick up the flamethrower

00:38:45And I just went off

00:38:48Nearly every idea landed with precision

00:38:51And that's largely because of MacFarlane's perfect fit with the cast

00:38:54It's also the episode that introduced Cecily Strong, Aidy Bryant, and Tim Robinson to the world

00:39:00This election is so important...

00:39:02Don't!

00:39:04This election is so important for Latino Vordone!

00:39:07Get it!

00:39:08Stop it!

00:39:09I'm sorry, do you guys...

00:39:10Do you guys need a second?

00:39:11No, I'm sorry

00:39:12He's like so stupid all the time

00:39:15Number 44

00:39:17Sharon Stone and Pearl Jam

00:39:19Season 17

00:39:20I like to laugh

00:39:21It's nice

00:39:23It sends ripples of pleasure through my body

00:39:27Leaving here is gonna be sad

00:39:36Number 43

00:39:38Steve Martin and James Taylor

00:39:40Season 17

00:39:41Hey Steve!

00:39:42Steve, how's it going?

00:39:43You know what you are?

00:39:44You're a coward!

00:39:45Oh, hey Steve, you think you're gonna run some lines?

00:39:48You're just a coward too!

00:39:52Not a coward?

00:39:53Not a coward?

00:39:55Coward?

00:39:55Number 42

00:39:57Peyton Manning and Carrie Underwood

00:39:59Season 32

00:40:00These guys are so good

00:40:02And I'm very, very scared of them

00:40:04I mean, can I be real with you right now?

00:40:08I mean, like, really, really real?

00:40:10Yes

00:40:11I just thought about going out there for the second half

00:40:14And a little bit of pee came out

00:40:16Number 41

00:40:18Andy Samberg and St. Vincent

00:40:20Season 39

00:40:22What's the thing where it counts time but, like, in reverse?

00:40:25Cowgirl

00:40:25No

00:40:26Oh

00:40:27No, a stopwatch

00:40:30Oh, right, a stopwatch

00:40:31Did someone say time flies?

00:40:34No, not yet

00:40:35No, not yet

00:40:35Number 40

00:40:36Ariana Grande

00:40:37Season 41

00:40:39Ariana Grande's hosting debut succeeded largely because the episode knew exactly what to spotlight

00:40:44Sketches like the Sound of Music spoof and title segment showcased her vocal range and talent for impressions without overwhelming the audience

00:40:52What can you do, Shakira?

00:40:54I can try

00:40:55Pulling double duty, Grande remained present throughout the night and showcased a much better than expected comedic timing

00:41:12Whether she was playing a mermaid or singing about feminism, or the lack thereof, Grande found moments to shine

00:41:19This is not a feminist song, so technically it can't be wrong

00:41:24This is not a feminist song, I feel like we've been singing so long

00:41:29Our ancestors, they fought for us, so they deserve a song

00:41:33The episode's impact was immediate online, as many of the sketches quickly went viral

00:41:38It was also reportedly the birthplace of her whirlwind romance with Pete Davidson

00:41:42More importantly, though, it established Grande as a genuinely capable comedy performer

00:41:47Not just a pop star passing through

00:41:50Name a bad habit that you just can't quit

00:41:52Jennifer

00:41:53I'm just like a snackaholic, I mean, I love Pringles

00:41:56If no one's looking, I'll eat like a whole can

00:41:58Like, every day is my cheat day, you know what I mean?

00:42:00Number 39

00:42:02Justin Timberlake and Sierra

00:42:03Season 34

00:42:05There I was, laughing with my comfort slacks around my ankles by the fish tank at Target

00:42:10Classic bag

00:42:12Then guess who runs into me?

00:42:15My preacher from church

00:42:17And guess what he said?

00:42:19That heaven has a target

00:42:20Number 38

00:42:22Eric Idle and Bob Dylan

00:42:24Season 5

00:42:25I hear you've just written a book about Bruce and Christy Jenner

00:42:28That must have been a really rewarding experience

00:42:30Yes, it really was really interesting to write

00:42:35I mean, they are a wonderful couple

00:42:37Number 37

00:42:38John Travolta and Seal

00:42:40Season 20

00:42:41That's not what I said at all

00:42:43I came here to show you

00:42:45My gratitude

00:42:46Honor

00:42:47And respect

00:42:49Five reindeer can throw fatty food

00:42:52Chuck Connors called Collect

00:42:53You got a lot of nerve coming here

00:42:55Jibbering a lot of gibberish like that to me

00:42:58Number 36

00:42:59Will Ferrell and Green Day

00:43:01Season 34

00:43:02Sean Connery, would you pick a category?

00:43:05I'll take Catch the Seaman for 800

00:43:07Number 35

00:43:15Buck Henry and Bette Midler

00:43:17Season 4

00:43:18Buck Henry was an SNL hosting legend

00:43:21Having hosted 10 times

00:43:22And the season 4 finale was a testament to his comedic prowess

00:43:26But what, I ask you, what has television become?

00:43:29I'll tell you

00:43:29It's become a gaudy, painted tart

00:43:33Writhing in a wanton, tawdry display

00:43:36Of cleavage, bare midriffs, and jiggling buttocks

00:43:40Henry's dry wit and understated delivery

00:43:43Made him a perfect foil for the original cast

00:43:46Recurring sketches like Uncle Roy were brought back

00:43:48With Henry's calm delivery

00:43:50Allowing the more eccentric cast members to shine

00:43:52Without losing control of the scene

00:43:54Musical guest Bette Midler

00:44:07Brought her signature theatrical flair to the stage

00:44:09Performing hits like Married Men and Martha

00:44:12Although Henry had settled into the role of hosting finales

00:44:15This one held an even more special significance

00:44:17As it was the final episode of original cast members

00:44:21Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi

00:44:22Everybody lost something in the fight?

00:44:24Yes

00:44:25What?

00:44:26Golf clubs

00:44:26You all lost golf clubs in the fight?

00:44:30Yes, yes

00:44:32See, we all golf together, you know

00:44:35And that's why we have to keep them here

00:44:36Oh, what a shame

00:44:37Number 34

00:44:39Steve Martin and the Kinks

00:44:41Season 2

00:44:42For the last nine years

00:44:44You've only been filing under the name

00:44:45You've only been filing under the name

00:44:48Mr. and Mrs. Conehead

00:44:49Do you have a first name?

00:44:51I am Beldar

00:44:52I am Fremant

00:44:54Number 33

00:44:55Elliot Gould and Leon Redbone

00:44:57Harlan Collins and Joyce Everson

00:44:59Season 1

00:45:00The computer has identified the alien vessel as a 1968 Chrysler Imperial

00:45:05With a tinted windshield and retractable headlights

00:45:07And the little blue and orange numbers

00:45:10That's called a California license plate

00:45:14Number 32

00:45:15Dwayne Johnson and George Ezra

00:45:17Season 40

00:45:18He hit me in the rear

00:45:19Oh, dear

00:45:20I got it

00:45:21No, no, no, Miss Reese

00:45:22Stop, Miss Reese

00:45:23I'm closer to Dr. Bones

00:45:24By the time you get over here

00:45:25The poison won't enter his bloodstream

00:45:26Here's your eye, Miss Reese

00:45:28I appreciate you trying

00:45:29To help

00:45:31But it has to be short, long

00:45:32He's slightly closer

00:45:33And time is of the essence

00:45:35Number 31

00:45:36Bill Hader and Arcade Fire

00:45:38Season 43

00:45:40This woman is your friend

00:45:41She always dreamed of being a mom

00:45:43It's been a very difficult journey for her

00:45:45And she needs your support

00:45:47If you can't give her that

00:45:49Then you're not a kind friend

00:45:52You're right

00:45:54Number 30

00:45:55Justin Timberlake and Lady Gaga

00:45:57Season 36

00:45:58Whenever Justin Timberlake returns to SNL

00:46:14There is a checklist of sketches one can reliably expect

00:46:18And they dominated this episode

00:46:20We got the singing and dancing mascot in the Liquorville sketch

00:46:23Then his R&B crooning persona returned alongside Andy Samberg

00:46:27This time in Three Way, The Golden Rule

00:46:29Another raunchy comedic song featuring musical guest Lady Gaga

00:46:33Timberlake also reprised his Barry Gibb talk show character with Jimmy Fallon

00:46:48Much to the audience's delight

00:46:50This episode came at the height of Lady Gaga's Born This Way era

00:47:05And her electrifying musical performances sent a jolt through Studio 8H

00:47:10Overall, this episode felt like a celebration of the show's golden moments

00:47:14And it closed out the season on a high note

00:47:16The secret word is grape

00:47:19I want you to clear your mind

00:47:22Okay

00:47:22I'm sending you the word telepathically

00:47:28That's grape

00:47:30Number 29

00:47:32Bill Murray and Sting

00:47:33Season 18

00:47:35Okay folks, if you look over on your left side

00:47:37You can see we're flying over northern Arizona

00:47:39And we're getting a nice tailwind

00:47:41So we should be riding at our destination

00:47:43It's not Arizona, it's Utah

00:47:46Number 28

00:47:48Madeline Kahn and Carly Simon

00:47:50Season 1

00:47:51I wonder whose idea this was

00:47:53God's

00:47:54Oh come on

00:47:55God doesn't go around thinking up sickening things for people to do

00:47:59Maybe God makes us do it so we can appreciate how good the rest of our life is

00:48:04Number 27

00:48:05Donald Glover and Childish Gambino

00:48:08Season 43

00:48:09He ate my brother

00:48:11That guy came in

00:48:14And yet Mr. Miller

00:48:16May I remind you and the court

00:48:18That all dinosaurs at Jurassic Park

00:48:21Are female

00:48:22Your honor, the witness has lied under oath

00:48:25I declare a mistrial

00:48:26Because Mr. Miller's credibility is extinct

00:48:29Number 26

00:48:31Steve Martin and Van Morrison

00:48:33Season 4

00:48:34So Debbie

00:48:35Perhaps you have many electrical devices that you use for sex

00:48:40We have now a vibrating machine that we brought from Czechoslovakia

00:48:47Number 25

00:48:49Kristen Stewart and Alessia Cara

00:48:51Season 42

00:48:52Although this episode was hosted by Kristen Stewart

00:48:55The real MVP of the night was undoubtedly Melissa McCarthy

00:48:58The Oscar nominated actress blew everyone out of the water

00:49:01With her turn as then White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer

00:49:04The Constitution gives our president lots of power

00:49:09And Steve Bannon is the key advisor

00:49:13Okay

00:49:15And our president will not be deterred

00:49:20That masterpiece notwithstanding

00:49:22Kristen Stewart did her best to subvert expectations anyone may have had

00:49:26Based on the public perception of her being stiff and awkward

00:49:29She sometimes leaned into that awkwardness

00:49:31Like in the hilarious Totino's commercial spoof alongside Vanessa Bayer

00:49:35I should bring these out

00:49:36Stay with me

00:49:38Other times she capitalized on her adorable charm

00:49:50Like with the pre-taped Meet Cute short

00:49:52Despite the unexpected F-bomb in her opening monologue

00:49:55Stewart never lost her balance throughout the episode

00:49:58And she returned two years later to host

00:50:00Classic college story you know

00:50:02I drank 40 beers and got naked and grabbed a chainsaw

00:50:05Went behind Northclaw and cut down like 35 pine trees

00:50:08I've done it, you've done it

00:50:11But of course this time I get caught, right?

00:50:14Number 24

00:50:15Bill Hader and Hosier

00:50:16Season 40

00:50:18I bet you don't even know what country you in

00:50:20I do know what country I'm in

00:50:22What?

00:50:22Wait, wait, wait

00:50:23What country you in?

00:50:24What country you in?

00:50:26Africa

00:50:27Oh!

00:50:28Listen

00:50:29Oh, nah

00:50:29Hey

00:50:30Hey, if you want to see this cheap-ass white man again, you better send us $200 cash.

00:50:36Number 23, Larry David and the 1975, season 41.

00:50:41Well, what do you mean?

00:50:42You don't think so. Shake my hand.

00:50:43You coughed into your hand.

00:50:45Then shake it after a cough.

00:50:47No, I didn't. Shake my hand.

00:50:49Oh, no. You specifically coughed into your hand. I saw it.

00:50:51No, I didn't. Come on, Mr. Sanders. Don't be rude. Shake my wife's hand.

00:50:55Number 22, John Mulaney and Thomas Rhett, season 44.

00:50:59I mean, what do I even say to your mom? We have nothing to talk about.

00:51:03You'll be great. I've told her all about you.

00:51:05Now put out the church band and wave that band.

00:51:09Church band? I didn't bring a church band.

00:51:12Oh, I have an extra.

00:51:14Number 21, Justin Timberlake, season 38.

00:51:18Jessup, Jessup, you ever get a whiff of them magnolias?

00:51:22Oh, sure had.

00:51:23Yeah.

00:51:24About the finest foliar as I ever seen this after the Mason Dixon.

00:51:28Yeah.

00:51:29Number 20, Christopher Walken and Christina Aguilera, season 25.

00:51:35Christopher Walken's idiosyncratic charm and distinctive delivery have always made him a

00:51:40captivating SNL host, and his April 2000 episode is perhaps his most iconic.

00:51:46I just want to say to the guy in the shirt.

00:51:48Kenneth?

00:51:48Yeah. You're not all that.

00:51:53Checkity check yourself before you wreck yourself. That's the truth.

00:51:57Walken's unique cadence and intense stare were perfectly utilized in every sketch.

00:52:03This episode is legendary for the more cowbell sketch, where Walken, as music producer Bruce

00:52:09Dickinson, reportedly demands more cowbell from Will Ferrell's Gene Frankel.

00:52:13Can I just say one thing?

00:52:15Yeah, baby, just say it.

00:52:17I'm staring here, staring at rock legend Bruce Dickinson.

00:52:20I'm a cock and a walk, baby.

00:52:22And if Bruce Dickinson wants more cowbell, we should probably give him more cowbell.

00:52:26And it wouldn't be a Walken episode if there wasn't a revival of the Continental sketch.

00:52:31Elsewhere, straightforward premises were elevated purely through delivery, like in The Census Taker,

00:52:36which could have fallen flat if not for Walken's oddball cadence.

00:52:40How long have you lived at this address?

00:52:42Oh, man. There you go with the numbers again. Just take your time.

00:52:46Well, what do most people say?

00:52:51That's not important. I feel enormous amount of pressure to get this right. I want to win that car.

00:52:57It's a textbook example of SNL writing to a host's rhythm rather than forcing reinvention.

00:53:03Number 19. Ray Charles. Season 3.

00:53:06As one of the very first musicians to pull double duty on the show,

00:53:10there wasn't really a template for legendary singer Ray Charles to follow.

00:53:13He ended up setting his own template.

00:53:15They think that I think that this is kind of get hauled.

00:53:25The joke is really on them because, you see, I'm not the real Ray Charles.

00:53:31Of course, his musical performances were the highlights of the night,

00:53:34as he delivered soulful renditions of some of his classic songs,

00:53:38including I Can See Clearly Now and Oh, What a Beautiful Morning.

00:53:41But beyond that, Charles still put on an impressive comedic showcase,

00:53:57with sketches that leaned into his character without resorting to novelty.

00:54:01Despite his limitations, Charles gave as much as he could to the segments,

00:54:05and with many relying on his musical skills,

00:54:07it ended up feeling like a highly entertaining Ray Charles primetime special.

00:54:11You tell me the truth. How'd you like that?

00:54:14Ray, you like it. I like it.

00:54:16But these white people ain't ready for this kind of stuff, man.

00:54:19Now let's go and eat.

00:54:21All right, man. Okay.

00:54:22Number 18. Dave Chappelle and A Tribe Called Quest. Season 42.

00:54:27It was November 2016.

00:54:30Donald Trump had just pulled a stunning upset against Hillary Clinton.

00:54:33SNL needed a host who could piece it all together.

00:54:36And Dave Chappelle was the perfect choice.

00:54:38The whites are furious.

00:54:39I've never seen anything like it.

00:54:41I haven't seen white people with this man since O.J. birth.

00:54:45There's a split screen with white people on both sides.

00:54:47Ah!

00:54:48Chappelle's raw and insightful monologue addressed the nation's mood

00:54:51with a mix of humor and gravitas.

00:54:53The sketches that followed maintained that awareness without being overtly didactic,

00:54:58from the kids talk politics bit to the election night sketch.

00:55:01Oh, my God. I think America is racist.

00:55:05Oh, my God.

00:55:10You know, I remember my great-grandfather told me something like that.

00:55:13He was like a slave or something.

00:55:15For as charged as the air was,

00:55:17there was also some impressive non-political segments,

00:55:20like The Chappelle Show and The Walking Dead Fusion.

00:55:23Look at this pasty bastard.

00:55:25Oh, God, no.

00:55:28Good God, have some goddamn respect for yourself.

00:55:32Man the f*** up!

00:55:35What do you want, money?

00:55:36Sex?

00:55:36Even the choice of musical guest held significance.

00:55:40As A Tribe Called Quest delivered poignant performances from their final album,

00:55:44We Got It From Here.

00:55:45Thank you for your service.

00:55:46All you black folks, you must go.

00:55:51All you Mexicans, you must go.

00:55:54Number 17.

00:55:56Tom Hanks and Lady Gaga.

00:55:58Season 42.

00:55:59This could have been just another random Halloween episode,

00:56:01but by the end,

00:56:03many already knew it was a classic that would be referenced for years to come.

00:56:07This episode is particularly famous for the debut of the now iconic David S. Pumpkins sketch,

00:56:13featuring Tom Hanks as a bizarre, enigmatic Halloween character

00:56:16that quickly became a viral sensation.

00:56:23What's my name?

00:56:25David S. Pumpkins!

00:56:28Any questions?

00:56:30Yes!

00:56:31Several!

00:56:32Even if that was the only memorable sketch,

00:56:34the episode would still have been great.

00:56:36But it also delivered perhaps the best entry in the Black Jeopardy! series,

00:56:40with Hanks playing a conservative contestant.

00:56:42I gotta tell you, I love those movies.

00:56:44I bought a box set at Walmart,

00:56:46and if I can laugh and pray in 90 minutes,

00:56:50that is money well spent.

00:56:51Oh, you know what, sir?

00:56:52I really appreciate you saying that.

00:56:53I like that.

00:56:54Oh, no, no.

00:56:55It's all yours.

00:56:57No, it's all yours.

00:56:58Hanks' warmth and familiarity

00:56:59was perfectly complimented by Lady Gaga's powerful performances of Ayo and Million Reasons from her album Joanne.

00:57:06Truly an unforgettable night.

00:57:08It's time to fall down to pray

00:57:12and try to make the worst seem better.

00:57:16Lord, show me the way.

00:57:20Number 16.

00:57:22William Shatner and Lone Justice, Season 12.

00:57:25This episode began on a rather touchy note.

00:57:27Although delivered as a tongue-in-cheek moment,

00:57:30William Shatner's brutally honest opening monologue saw him address the Star Trek fandom head-on,

00:57:35telling them to move on already.

00:57:37Having received all your letters over the years,

00:57:39and I've spoken to many of you,

00:57:41and some of you have traveled, you know, hundreds of miles to be here,

00:57:44I'd just like to say,

00:57:46get a life, will you people?

00:57:48Regardless, Shatner still went on to parody the sci-fi juggernaut

00:57:52in a restaurant-themed sketch later in the night.

00:57:54Known at the time for being a rather serious actor,

00:57:57Shatner threw himself fully into the comedic pool throughout the episode,

00:58:01delivering hilarious performances in a series of consistently solid sketches.

00:58:05How are we on the French dressing?

00:58:07Good, Captain.

00:58:08All right, I tell you what I want.

00:58:09I want you to take the French dressing,

00:58:11and mix it with a little mayonnaise and relish.

00:58:14Aye, aye, sir.

00:58:14And push it to the limit, Mr. Sooner.

00:58:15I want full relish!

00:58:17Some, like the It's a Wonderful Life spoof,

00:58:19have even become all-time classics.

00:58:21Just goes to show that when a host arrives ready to commit fully to the bit,

00:58:25there's no limit to how funny the episode can get.

00:58:28Where'd you end up, Sarge?

00:58:29Oh, in a small town called Billisle, Wisconsin.

00:58:32I knew they'd run out of gas.

00:58:34Oh, yeah, well, they ran out of gas, all right.

00:58:36Just that I slept through two fill-ups.

00:58:39Number 15.

00:58:40Maya Rudolph and Sleigh Bells, Season 37.

00:58:43Maya Rudolph remains one of SNL's most versatile performers,

00:58:46as she easily goes from delivering spot-on impressions

00:58:49to incredible character work.

00:58:51All of that was on full display when she returned to host SNL

00:58:54for the first time since leaving the cast.

00:58:57The episode avoided over-reliance on nostalgia,

00:59:00but still featured a return of Bronx Beat,

00:59:02with Amy Poehler also reprising her role.

00:59:04That young dancer, Roger, rabbited his way into her heart.

00:59:08And he can wear the hell out of a baseball cap.

00:59:09Yeah, good for you.

00:59:10Good for you, J-Lo.

00:59:11Good for you, J-Lopez.

00:59:12Good for you, Jenny Lopez.

00:59:13Have a glass of wine, you know what?

00:59:14Have two glasses of wine.

00:59:15You know, have some sangria.

00:59:16Yeah.

00:59:16Rudolph also capitalized on her chemistry with Kristen Wiig

00:59:19for the memorable Super Showcase Spokesmodel sketch.

00:59:22You'll be golfing all day and leaving before dinner.

00:59:25Gotta see a febble beach.

00:59:27And last but all, you'll be a rough swagger with this.

00:59:30It's like I was matching golf clubs by golf club guys.

00:59:34For all...

00:59:35Then, there were the impressions.

00:59:38Rudolph played Maya Angelou to perfection

00:59:40in the I Know Why the Caged Bird Laughs prank show.

00:59:42She also embodied Beyoncé in a sketch about celebrities visiting her

00:59:46following the birth of Blue Ivy.

00:59:49Why don't you tell me about the birth?

00:59:51It was perfect, LL.

00:59:53We were in the hospital.

00:59:54Just me, my husband Jay, and Kanye.

00:59:59First, my water broke, and I was like...

01:00:02As his first time hosting SNL since his departure from the cast,

01:00:13Jimmy Fallon's return was certainly going to bring back

01:00:15major nostalgia for the audience.

01:00:17It delivered right from the jump

01:00:19with a cold open that saw the return of multiple alumni.

01:00:22I haven't seen you since you left 8th grade with mononucleosis.

01:00:25Yeah, well, that mononucleosis just turned 15, and her name's Linda.

01:00:30Linda!

01:00:31Gorgeous name!

01:00:32Gorgeous!

01:00:32Hats off to you!

01:00:33Throughout the night, fans got throwbacks to memorable moments from the show's history,

01:00:37but the episode also delivered on new experiences,

01:00:40with Fallon doing a great Regis Philbin impression in the Today Show sketch.

01:00:44What are you doing here? Didn't you just retire?

01:00:47I did, but I'm back, baby!

01:00:49You can't kill me! I'm like Tupac Shakira!

01:00:53Then Fallon took on names like Sting, Russell Brand, and Justin Bieber

01:00:56in the Christmas duet segment, alongside musical guest Michael Bublé.

01:01:01I once saw a man named Angel get high.

01:01:04We'd all be lucky to meet a man like Angel

01:01:06if he just pranced through your door.

01:01:09Hello, I'm Angel. Do you got any drugs?

01:01:11Of course, Fallon couldn't return without stopping by the Weekend Update desk.

01:01:15Number 13. Adam Sandler and Shawn Mendes. Season 44.

01:01:20It's hard to believe that after he was fired from SNL in 1995,

01:01:24Adam Sandler never hosted the show until 2019.

01:01:28His opening monologue directly addressed that history,

01:01:31as Sandler delivered a hilarious song titled,

01:01:33I Was Fired.

01:01:34I was fired.

01:01:36I was fired.

01:01:38I was fired.

01:01:39It's so sad to tell.

01:01:42Well, I never saw it coming.

01:01:45I got fired from SNL.

01:01:48Sandler embraced the nostalgia,

01:01:50reprising some of his most beloved characters

01:01:52and bringing his unique brand of humor back to the stage.

01:01:55Fans got a triumphant return of Opera Man on Weekend Update,

01:01:59as well as a touching musical tribute to Sandler's late friend

01:02:02and fellow cast member Chris Farley.

01:02:04On Saturday night, my man would always deliver

01:02:09whether he was a bumblebee girl or living in a van down by the river.

01:02:17Beyond those nostalgic moments,

01:02:19the episode also delivered spanking new bits that could well become classics down the line,

01:02:24including the hilarious Rectix commercial and the Romano Tours sketch.

01:02:27People love us, but every so often a customer leaves a review that they weren't,

01:02:32they were disappointed or didn't have as much fun as they thought.

01:02:35So here at Romano Tours, we always remind our customers,

01:02:39if you're sad now, you might still feel sad there, okay?

01:02:44This was a long overdue and well-executed homecoming.

01:02:48Number 12. Patrick Swayze and Mariah Carey. Season 16.

01:02:53Patrick Swayze's hosting turn remains inseparable

01:02:55from the iconic Chippendales audition sketch with Chris Farley,

01:02:58which became a breakout moment for Farley.

01:03:00That sketch's impact often overshadows the rest of the episode,

01:03:16but the surrounding material supports its success through solid ensemble work.

01:03:20Swayze, who was a massive star at the time,

01:03:23fully committed to every comedic challenge,

01:03:25from performing as a Latino singer to spoofing his ghost character.

01:03:29Oh, Molly, you're playing our song again.

01:03:32I love you, baby.

01:03:34I'll never leave.

01:03:38Molly, stop. Stop, Molly.

01:03:40His willingness to be silly and self-deprecating endeared him to the audience.

01:03:44This was also Mariah Carey's debut as a musical guest on the show,

01:03:48which came just shortly after she released her momentous self-titled debut album.

01:03:52I had a vision of love

01:03:55And it was all that you've given me

01:03:59I realized the dream

01:04:03It remains one of the most frequently referenced episodes in the show's history.

01:04:08Number 11.

01:04:10Carrie Fisher and the Blues Brothers.

01:04:12Season 4.

01:04:13For their second performance on the SNL stage,

01:04:15Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi's musical project,

01:04:18The Blues Brothers, opened the show on a very strong note.

01:04:21Got what I got

01:04:22The hard way

01:04:24And I'll make better

01:04:26You should every day

01:04:28So

01:04:29Don't you fret

01:04:32From there, it never faltered.

01:04:34This episode came during the peak of Star Wars mania,

01:04:37so it's no surprise that Carrie Fisher delivered her opening monologue dressed as Princess Leia,

01:04:41And also appeared in another Star Wars theme sketch.

01:04:44Welcome to Party Beach.

01:04:46Say, what's your name?

01:04:47I'm Princess Leia.

01:04:49Wow.

01:04:50Real princess from outer space.

01:04:52Princess Leia.

01:04:54What?

01:04:55It was a showcase of Fisher's surprisingly great comedic skills,

01:04:58As she seemed to blend seamlessly into the cast,

01:05:01Working wonderfully in ensemble bits like the Loud family sketch.

01:05:04Hi, Kevin.

01:05:05Yeah.

01:05:07Well, Gene's date will be over any minute,

01:05:08So why don't we meet here?

01:05:12Well, I don't know.

01:05:14We'll see.

01:05:16Goodbye.

01:05:16The episode doesn't hinge on a single defining moment,

01:05:20Instead benefiting from consistent execution and confident pacing throughout the night.

01:05:24Number 10.

01:05:25Justin Timberlake.

01:05:27Season 32.

01:05:28This episode marked a turning point in SNL's digital era.

01:05:31Justin Timberlake pulled Double Duty as host and musical guest for the first time.

01:05:36And his appearance coincided with the rise of SNL digital shorts.

01:05:40In the episode, Timberlake debuted F*** in a Box alongside Andy Samberg,

01:05:44Which became an instant viral sensation and won an Emmy.

01:05:48One.

01:05:49Cut a hole in a box.

01:05:51Two.

01:05:52Put your junk in that box.

01:05:54Two.

01:05:55Make a pop in the box.

01:05:57And that's the way you do it.

01:05:59It's like F*** in a box.

01:06:01Beyond that breakout moment, the episode maintained strong variety,

01:06:05With Timberlake moving fluidly between musical and character-based sketches.

01:06:09He also brought back his character Robin Gibb for the Barry Gibb talk show with Jimmy Fallon.

01:06:13Well, President Bush listened to the Iraq study group's recommendations.

01:06:18Do you have any thoughts on this, Robin?

01:06:20The episode's legacy lies in how clearly it signaled SNL's embrace of internet-driven comedy,

01:06:31Expanding the show's reach far beyond its traditional late-night audience.

01:06:35No, Dad.

01:06:36When you're coming home, son, I don't know when we'll get together there.

01:06:42I will not cry for you.

01:06:44You just won!

01:06:45Yeah!

01:06:46That was a year!

01:06:47You're fucking dead!

01:06:47Ryan Gosling's comedic presence is always a welcome sight, and his third-time hosting proved he only gets better.

01:06:58I shouldn't have proposed, Brad.

01:07:01You see, our dog died, and I wanted to fix it.

01:07:06Oh, you know, maybe there's someone else you could tell about this.

01:07:09I have no one else to tell.

01:07:12Gosling expertly navigated a variety of roles, showcasing his incredible versatility and willingness to be absurd.

01:07:19The episode was a highlight reel of memorable sketches, including the now-iconic Beavis and Butthead segment,

01:07:25where Heidi Gardner famously broke character.

01:07:28The man with the gray shirt and exposed gums.

01:07:32Sir!

01:07:39He also brought back the Close Encounter sketch, which saw the return of alum Kate McKinnon.

01:07:44Musical guest Chris Stapleton brought his soulful country sound to the stage,

01:07:48performing White Horse and Mountains of My Mind.

01:07:50But he also lent his presence to the absolutely hilarious musical short, Get That Boy Back.

01:07:55Why's my new girl not speaking English?

01:08:00I just tried to pay my taxes, but they said I don't exist.

01:08:06Number 8.

01:08:07Pedro Pascal and Coldplay, Season 48.

01:08:10Pedro Pascal's infectious charm and comedic range made his February 2023 hosting gig an instant classic.

01:08:17You eat that poison?

01:08:18It makes me feel big, okay?

01:08:21I need to feel big!

01:08:23Because Bowser's out there.

01:08:24But he's the main bad guy.

01:08:27Fresh off his success in The Last of Us and The Mandalorian,

01:08:31Pascal effortlessly embraced the SNL absurdity,

01:08:34showcasing an unexpected talent for sketch comedy.

01:08:36The episode featured the hilarious fan cam sketch,

01:08:39where he played a teacher tormented by his students' internet obsession.

01:08:43It also delivered sketches like the Mario Kart parody and Pascal's turn as an overprotective mom,

01:08:48which have now become modern classics.

01:08:50Britney, what are you studying?

01:08:52Um, I'm actually studying fine art with a concentration in 17th century Baroque architecture.

01:08:59So she doesn't like money.

01:09:00Even more, this episode marked the birth of Lisa from Temecula,

01:09:04Ego Wodum's disruptive guest who wants her meat cooked to a crisp.

01:09:08I'm just making sure everything's okay.

01:09:10Actually, everything is not okay.

01:09:15There is wine all in there, food, and it's all over the floor now.

01:09:19Y'all need to do better.

01:09:20Coldplay delivered two dynamic performances,

01:09:23adding a touch of indie rock magic to an already stellar episode.

01:09:26Number 7.

01:09:28Eddie Murphy and Lizzo, Season 45.

01:09:31It had been 35 years since SNL last had its breakout star Eddie Murphy host.

01:09:35His return was a highly anticipated and incredibly emotional event,

01:09:39and it did not disappoint.

01:09:41Murphy's opening monologue was a stand-up masterclass,

01:09:44full of self-referential humor and celebrity cameos from Dave Chappelle,

01:09:48Chris Rock, and Tracy Morgan.

01:09:50See, this is why I came back to Saturday Night Live for moments like this.

01:09:53Like, when was the last time we was together like this?

01:09:56Last Thursday at Sinbad's.

01:09:57He brought back many of his most beloved characters,

01:10:05instantly transporting audiences back to the golden age of SNL.

01:10:09Viewers rejoiced at the return of Gumby, Mr. Robinson, and Buckwheat,

01:10:13all delivered with his characteristic flair.

01:10:15My neighbor has gone through so much.

01:10:18It's gone through something called gentrification.

01:10:21Can you say gentrification, boys and girls?

01:10:24It's like a magic trick.

01:10:26White people pay a lot of money, and then poof, all the black people are gone.

01:10:31He also brought back Velvet Jones,

01:10:33this time as a contestant on the recurring Black Jeopardy! sketch.

01:10:37The episode managed to both celebrate Murphy's legacy

01:10:39and reaffirm his continued impact on the show.

01:10:42She is independent, and she can make her own money.

01:10:45She doesn't need to have sex with anyone.

01:10:48Well, that's very nice.

01:10:51Welcome to the modern era, Mr. Jones.

01:10:52Yeah, and it's all in my new book entitled,

01:10:55How to Be an Instagram Host.

01:10:57Number 6, Jim Carrey and Soundgarden, Season 21.

01:11:02I bet you'd love it if I just threw out the whole monologue and went,

01:11:06Somebody stop me!

01:11:11That's good, that's the good thing for it.

01:11:13Years after he was rejected from joining the SNL cast,

01:11:16Jim Carrey returned to the stage in May 1996 for the first time as host.

01:11:20By this point, he was already a huge movie star

01:11:23known for his unparalleled physical comedy and boundless energy,

01:11:27which he brought in abundance to Studio 8H.

01:11:29Carrey was incorporated into multiple recurring bits,

01:11:32including the Spartan cheerleader sketch,

01:11:34as well as Roxbury guys,

01:11:36transforming the duo into an iconic trio.

01:11:39Hey, you want it, Dad?

01:11:40No more.

01:11:42What it is?

01:11:48You, me, you, me.

01:11:50He also shined in the unforgettable Jacuzzi lifeguard sketch,

01:11:54demonstrating his ability to elevate even the simplest premise.

01:11:57Attention swimmer!

01:12:00Attention swimmer!

01:12:03You are 2-4!

01:12:05Return immediately!

01:12:06Musical guest Soundgarden delivered two powerful performances

01:12:10with Burden in My Hand and Pretty Noose,

01:12:13adding a grunge rock edge to an episode

01:12:15that perfectly captured Carrey's chaotic brilliance.

01:12:18Number 5.

01:12:19Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake, season 39.

01:12:22Although he was just the musical guest,

01:12:24you'd have thought Justin Timberlake was co-hosting this episode with Jimmy Fallon.

01:12:28Bag down, tissue up, that's the way I wrap it up.

01:12:33I like a bag, it's about an evolution.

01:12:35Go with the roll, my favorite solution.

01:12:36Bag down, tissue up, that's the way we wrap it up.

01:12:40But absolutely no one was complaining,

01:12:42as the chemistry between the two is simply effortless.

01:12:45Timberlake not only appears in the cold open,

01:12:47but also in the Family Feud sketch

01:12:49and in the revival of the beloved Barry Gibb talk show.

01:12:52I wasn't done!

01:12:54Don't answer from my show and interrupt me!

01:12:57I'm gonna rip out your bones

01:12:58and then you take a selfie with your skeleton!

01:13:01Take a selfie with your skeleton!

01:13:03A selfie with your skeleton!

01:13:06But even without Timberlake by his side,

01:13:08Fallon still shines,

01:13:09returning to the Weekend Update desk,

01:13:11where he spent four seasons during his original run.

01:13:14This episode also delivered one of the first instances

01:13:17when all of the female cast members came together to deliver a music video

01:13:21in the iconic Do It On My Twin Bed,

01:13:23which received an Emmy nomination.

01:13:25Let's do it in my twin bed, twin bed.

01:13:27Not gonna like it, like it.

01:13:29But it's the only option, option.

01:13:31Where we can get it poppin', poppin'.

01:13:33Let's do it in my twin bed, twin bed.

01:13:35Poppin' ball on it.

01:13:36Number four, Richard Pryor and Gil Scott-Heron, season one.

01:13:41White dudes take acid.

01:13:42They do, they take acid and go see The Exorcist.

01:13:48They're crazy.

01:13:48White dude gave me some acid once at a party, too.

01:13:50And I thought I was crazy before I took it.

01:13:53It seen me right up.

01:13:54This episode arrived before SNL had fully established its identity,

01:13:58yet it remains one of the clearest statements of purpose in the show's history.

01:14:02Richard Pryor's monologue immediately set a confrontational tone,

01:14:05which was taken even further on the now legendary

01:14:08Word Association sketch with Chevy Chase.

01:14:10I think you're qualified for this job.

01:14:12How about a starting salary of $5,000?

01:14:15Yo mama.

01:14:18Uh, $7,500 a year.

01:14:21Yo mama.

01:14:23The further the episode went on,

01:14:25the more political weight it seemed to add on,

01:14:27as Pryor cleverly used various methods to hit home his point.

01:14:31Apparently, Pryor agreed to host the episode on the condition

01:14:34that jazz poet and singer Gil Scott-Heron would be the musical guest,

01:14:37and what a thematically solid choice that was.

01:14:47This was the first time SNL truly showed that it could be funny,

01:14:51provocative, and culturally essential all at once.

01:14:54The bed must be on the floor!

01:14:58The bed is on my foot!

01:15:01The bed is on my foot!

01:15:09Due to a sudden illness,

01:15:11Truman Capote, who was originally set to host this episode,

01:15:14cancelled,

01:15:15allowing Candice Bergen to make her third appearance as host.

01:15:18Her ease with the format certainly allowed the cast to take bigger swings,

01:15:22particularly in absurd sketches like Consumer Probe.

01:15:25Well, I just don't understand why you can't make harmless toys like these alphabet blocks.

01:15:29What? It's harmless?

01:15:31All right, okay, you call this harmless?

01:15:33I mean, uh, I got a sliver in here, look at that!

01:15:35This was also the episode that gave us the iconic

01:15:38Right to Extreme Stupidity League sketch,

01:15:40which devolved into chaos after Bergen messed up her line.

01:15:43As a matter of fact, you're extremely stupid.

01:15:46Well, you're right, Fern, you know, and I'm proud of it.

01:15:52You know, we all can't be brainy like Fern here.

01:15:57Frank Zappa's presence added an unusual edge,

01:16:00with a legendary performance of I'm the Slime,

01:16:02featuring then-announcer Don Pardo as the slime.

01:16:05Overall, the episode did well in capturing an era

01:16:07when SNL was still testing the limits of what could be done on network TV.

01:16:11It was so tall, and really bushy, and very bushy,

01:16:19with a lot of really neat ornaments, oh God!

01:16:23Something like this?

01:16:25Ah!

01:16:26Number 2. Steve Martin and the Blues Brothers, Season 3.

01:16:30By Season 3, SNL was no longer experimenting.

01:16:34It had already begun consolidating its power,

01:16:36and this episode captures that shift clearly.

01:16:38Why, just 50 years ago, we would have thought your daughter's illness

01:16:41was brought on by demonic possession or witchcraft.

01:16:45But nowadays, we know that Isabel is suffering from an imbalance of bodily humors,

01:16:51perhaps caused by a toad or a small dwarf living in her stomach.

01:16:55Steve Martin was already one of the show's most reliable recurring hosts,

01:16:58and for his fifth hosting gig,

01:17:00he leaned into that familiarity without ever coasting.

01:17:03Many of his well-known sketches were resurrected,

01:17:05most famously, to wild and crazy guys,

01:17:09which was met with thunderous approval from the audience.

01:17:11Jörg, my brother, there will certainly be a lot of swinging in our bachelor pad tonight.

01:17:18Hold it, let's catch some rays.

01:17:22You and what army?

01:17:25The confidence Martin opened the night with lasted until the end,

01:17:28through other impressive bits like his King Tut musical number.

01:17:31The Blues Brothers' performance of I Don't Know reinforced how fully Dan Aykroyd

01:17:36and John Belushi had crossed into becoming mainstream pop culture phenomena.

01:17:39Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel

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01:18:06Sometimes an SNL episode feels like a cultural event,

01:18:15and Betty White's long-overdue hosting debut was exactly that.

01:18:19When I was younger, I was so concerned with how my muffin looked.

01:18:24But as I got older, I started to think,

01:18:28to heck with it, this is my muffin and I don't care how it looks.

01:18:32I'm just gonna let it all hang out.

01:18:35The result of a massive Facebook campaign,

01:18:38this episode smartly leaned into White's willingness to play against her wholesome image.

01:18:42The delicious dish sketch with Anna Gasteyer and Molly Shannon is legendary,

01:18:46as is her fearless work in Scared Straight alongside Kenan Thompson.

01:18:50Why, I recall my childhood in rural Kansas.

01:18:53I was born to tears, till all of a sudden, a twister hit.

01:18:58It carried me to a magical land full of witches and wizards.

01:19:03Is that what you want?

01:19:04As the Mother's Day episode, it saw the return of several female SNL alum,

01:19:09many of whom were inspired to get into comedy by trailblazers like White.

01:19:12The writing across the board was sharp,

01:19:14and White's appearance seemed to energize the entire cast.

01:19:17There is no room for both me and my wife on his sofa.

01:19:21I am so sorry, but I need one of you to volunteer to leave.

01:19:24I will.

01:19:25I have to go to the subway anyway.

01:19:27You took my husband!

01:19:28He stole him from me!

01:19:29The episode was capped off by equally great musical performances from Jay-Z,

01:19:33who dedicated his song Young Forever to the legendary actress.

01:19:36Do you really want to live forever?

01:19:39Uh, forever.

01:19:41Yes!

01:19:42And ever young.

01:19:45Dedicated to the most incredible Betty White.

01:19:48What's your all-time favorite SNL episode?

01:19:51Let us know in the comments below.

01:19:52Outro Music

01:19:58.

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