30 SNL Fails That Somehow Became Comedy Gold

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most memorable, entertaining, and/or enduring mishaps on the sketch series.

#30: “One Uppers”

With this kind of concept, it’s not hard to see how things turned out. A friendly dinner slowly evolves into a one-upping contest. Jack Black’s character starts things off, but the reaction shots spell an impending disaster. The performers have to turn to the camera, make a face, and endure a bird sound effect. This keeps going as Bowen Yang, Ego Nwodim, and other co-stars join in on the fun. Not long after that, everything starts to crumble as the cast try to keep up with the directions. There’s also a few extra surprises and noises that get the performers giggling. Thankfully for us, the unintended result is still funny.

#29: Kristen Stewart’s F-Bomb

When somebody like Kristen Stewart hosts “SNL,” some might be wondering if she’ll be good at comedy. This monologue proves that she’s versatile and she can roll with the punches. Near the end of her segment, Stewart’s excitement starts to work against her. She forgets that she’s still on network TV when she drops an f-bomb. The shocked audience reacts accordingly as Aidy Bryant and Kate McKinnon stand alongside the presenter. To her credit, the host manages to turn the moment around. She’s able to finish out her introduction, apologize, and make a joke. Now that’s what we call a professional.

#28: Phil Hartman’s Frankenstein Laughs

This “SNL” star might have been one of the best ever. Phil Hartman was one of the most reliable in the show’s history, often keeping his cool while others broke. This makes this particular sketch that much more surprising. Hartman dons a Frankenstein monster costume, sitting among other characters in a talk show. A talking point about fire finally breaks up the comedian. While the actor collects himself, it’s still funny considering his costume and the overall premise. Even the best in the business can lose it every once and a while. With a joyful chuckle, this skit lives on as a reminder of the man’s comedic spirit.

#27: “Weekend Update: Stefon on Halloween’s Hottest Tips”

As a long-running “Weekend Update” character, Stefon loves to talk about the night life in New York. The role became one of Bill Hader’s finest creations. Even when he laughed, he had a way of making it part of the sketch’s greater power. This segment focuses on the October holiday with a few inspired lines. Hader reads the script, but deep down he knows that it holds a few surprises. Writers such as John Mulaney often threw in lines to catch the performer off guard. Case in point, this skit involves one unlikely name for a vampire. It inspires a massive break from the actor and might be among the correspondent’s best appearances.

#26: “Weekend Update: Miss Eggy on the White House Correspondents’ Dinner”

Ego Nwodim’s underrated time on “SNL” includes plenty of notable characters, but this one ranks especially high. Her role as Miss Eggy is a confrontational comic that takes over “Weekend Update.” Part of her act includes crowd work, with this moment coming when the audience speaks up. Nobody could’ve imagined that it might back fire. The viewers all swear in unison and throw off the cast members. Nwodim tosses out a hilarious comeback, performing damage control with a healthy dose of comedy. The censors are once again tested as the audience offers up a blunt response.

#25: “Africa Tourism”

When she hosted SNL, Adele proved that she could handle herself on a sketch program. The “Africa Tourism” skit was unforgettable for the constant breaking. As the vacation descriptions get more absurd, the performer starts to giggle. She can’t contain herself in between Kate McKinnon and Heidi Gardner either. What could have been a typical ad parody becomes something more, with the vocalist trying to keep up. Her flubs show that she’s not impervious to some hilarious line choices. With this outrageous script, the British artist is given a difficult task and tries her best to course correct. It’s hard not to laugh along given some of the things her co-stars are saying.

#24: The Laughing Doormen

Not every “SNL” sketch makes it to air. When you watch this skit, you’ll know exactly why that is. Fred Armisen and Bill Hader play doormen talking to people outside a building. With some questionable accents, these performers ramble on and start to giggle. The contagious laughter almost stops the scene dead at several points. To add insult to comedic injury, it seems like the two comedians just want to make each other lose it. This entertaining trainwreck continues as other performers like Bobby Moynihan and Jamie Foxx endure the running time. It might be a serious fail, but it also makes us want to laugh.

#23: “Animal Confession”

Despite his dramatic pedigree, John Lithgow can do a fantastic job on “SNL.” His serious persona works especially well in this religious sketch. Rather than taking confession from people, this priest hears from dogs. This demands the utmost professionalism from every animal involved. While several well-trained pups appear, a few don’t end up doing their job right. Lithgow has to laugh as his co-stars bark or wander around the set. He also has to hear their fake voices, which only adds to this absurd journey. Let’s just say that this might be among the cutest fails ever.

#22: “The Californians: Stuart Has Cancer”

If you’ve seen any of these sketches, you know just how crazy “The Californians” can get. These parodies of soap operas can get pretty wild in terms of scripts and acting. This particular entry in the series breaks up several cast members, making for a fantastic incarnation. Fred Armisen decides to really push the boundaries of his vocalizations. With Bill Hader hanging on for dear life, multiple performers try desperately to keep a straight face. Both the dress rehearsal and the final cut go about the same way. Armisen might be the source of the laughter, but he does make this West Coast-themed skit another classic.

#21: “The Love-ahs with Barbara and Dave”

In a hotel hot tub, a swinging couple welcomes an unsuspecting traveler. This sets the stage for a comedic masterpiece that can’t end without some laughter. Will Ferrell and Rachel Dratch play the creepy pair, with every word sounding stranger than the next. Jimmy Fallon isn’t the only one laughing either. Ferrell struggles through one of his lines, while Dratch holds on for dear life. The ridiculous setting only makes the scene harder to take seriously. As the script breaks them up, the actors chuckle through what should be considered another iconic series of lovable mistakes.

#20: “Beavis and Butt-Head”

Nobody could’ve expected this one to go viral. Ryan Gosling and Mikey Day don some convincing makeup, with a distracting connection to a TV show. Heidi Gardner then starts to break as she looks back at them. The laughs don’t stop there either, with Gosling doing his best over-dramatic acting. Breaking turns this ridiculous idea into one of the more famous sketches in recent memory. As the cast and host crack each other up, the audience might be wondering how this “Beavis and Butt-Head” skit even happened. It’s all super entertaining regardless of the intended effect.

#19: “Pepper Boy”

With Dana Carvey and Adam Sandler doing accents, this sketch really gets going. Both waiters prepare to dish out pepper with panache. The big turn comes when Chris Farley utters a line with gravitas. Adam Sandler needs to turn his face and mask his reaction, almost breaking character multiple times. You might even hear Carvey telling Sandler not to break under his breath. The tight-knit cast almost egg each other on while struggling to not fall over laughing. It might not go off without a hitch, but it does make for an entertaining and wacky skit.

#18: “Doctor”

Even the insane setup to this sketch doesn’t prepare you for its surprises. As soon as Ryan Gosling walks out in his outfit, the fuse is lit and the skit starts to wobble. While the plot of this scene is hard to guess, you know that Gosling is about to crack at any moment. When he points the camera the wrong way, he starts a long series of giggles. This doesn’t even count when Molly Kearney hits Bowen Yang’s foot with a wheelchair. There’s mistakes, laughter, and chaos galore before it’s all over. For a “Saturday Night Live” sketch, we couldn’t ask for anything more.

#17: “Gift Wrap”

This holiday-themed sketch starts off normal enough, but then a fake injury happens. James Franco plays an employee that starts bleeding. You’ve seen this kind of thing before, but the mishap comes when blood gets into Leslie Jones’ mouth. She can’t stay in character when she’s gagging either. The gross-out scene is nothing short of surprising, but rarely do special effects go quite this wrong. We feel bad for the actress, while we also recognize that it’s hard not to laugh. Even Kenan Thompson looks concerned for his scene partner. We’re just glad that nobody ended up getting sick on the set.

#16: “Corksoakers”

When Janet Jackson hosted, she entered into what could be called a classic sketch. The singer’s role deals with some excitable winemakers that specialize in corks. While Jimmy Fallon and company do fun accents, Jackson has to ask questions without laughing. She can’t quite pull off her dialogue without chuckling. The artist is helpless against this funny scene, with her co-stars mostly keeping themselves together. You almost think that it’s going to collapse, but even Jimmy makes it through without completely derailing the skit. This one certainly builds up to an entertaining and somewhat shaky landing.

#15: “Jeffrey’s with Sean Hayes”

At this designer clothing store, the employees are snooty and the boss has an interesting form of transportation. The breaks happen earlier with Horatio Sanz, but they become even bigger when Will Ferrell shows up. His boss character rides a scooter, cracking up Jimmy Fallon and host Sean Hayes. We don’t blame them either given the absurd sight. As Ferrell prepares to say his lines, his accessories only provide more chances for giggling. This fashion skit is chock full of some outrageous moments that break up the ensemble. Fallon almost guarantees that they keep happening, unable to keep a straight face for long.

#14: “Dr. Beaman’s Office: Test Results”

In any number of sketches, you might be asking yourself how an idea came about. This is especially true for this medical scene. Lines and insults come out of nowhere, with Tim Meadows showing up to do a comic dance. Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon both break after an amazing depiction of the robot. While the skit ends up being even funnier, we’re not sure if this could’ve ever been normal. The all-around train wreck certainly deserves a watch for how spectacular it is. Ferrell’s superb acting only enhances the experience, giving this chaotic premise another north star.

#13: “Extremely Stupid”

During the earlier years of “Saturday Night Live,” you might not see as many big character breaks. Five-timer host Candice Bergen helped give the show one of its first notable fails. Bergen is supposed to be the smart one in this sketch, with Gilda Radner playing stupid. The guest host ends up flubbing the name of Radner’s character. Things get even better when the dialogue continues, with the performers showing just how much the skit has gone wrong. You could easily argue that this made the sketch five times funnier. In the end, Bergen doubling-over with laughter gives this scene another iconic visual.

#12: “The Barry Gibb Talk Show: Bee Gees Singers”

Back in the 2000s, Justin Timberlake showed up on “SNL” and helped to start a tradition. He and Jimmy Fallon play members of the Bee Gees in this skit. The sketch takes a hilarious turn as Timberlake struggles. Fallon is so dedicated with his falsetto, breaking his co-star in the process. Given the absurdity of this idea, the music and crazy dialogue are bound to trip up anybody. It’s incredible that the “Tonight Show” host doesn’t start the chain of laughter himself. It’s no wonder that the beloved sketch became a recurring bit for all its comedic tension.

#11: “Matt Foley: Van Down by the River”

In what might be his most iconic sketch, Chris Farley gets into his motivational speaker role. The character Matt Foley was never funnier than during his debut on “Saturday Night Live.” Not only was the audience laughing, the co-stars also got a kick out of it. Farley gets up close and personal with David Spade and Christina Applegate. The result is some smirks and giggles, with Spade trying to hide his face from the camera. Those kinds of reactions helped to make this an all-time moment for the show. With the lead performer going all-out, the wild antics make for extra laughter.

#10: “Chris Farley as Bennett Brauer”

In this moment from “Weekend Update,” Chris Farley comes out with ready-to-use air quotes. His character Bennett Brauer delivers his commentary with lots of emphasis and self-deprecation. The key moment comes when Farley prepares to lift off, but his wires get caught. Kevin Nealon then has to help his co-star out of a bind. The lead performer improvises through it all, making this even funnier. Even Nealon has to laugh as he and the crew come to the rescue. All of the mistakes make this even more memorable, with Farley’s eventual flight packing even more of a punch after the buildup.

#9: “Inside the Beltway”

This skit features a mishap that rarely happens on “SNL.” In the middle of the sketch, a stagehand walks out before her cue. This gets cast members like Aidy Bryant laughing for the rest of the sketch. Even a well-oiled machine like “Saturday Night Live” runs into problems, with this one being a funny glimpse at the behind-the-scenes talent. The laughter is contagious as Cecily Strong also joins in the breaking. While this mistake might not happen again, we do appreciate the fact that it prompts such a huge response. The scene probably wouldn’t be remembered if not for this funny misstep.

#8: “Hollywood Dish with Scarlett Johansson”

This movie star tries to survive an interview with two crazy journalists. The questions keep coming until the interviewers do a spit-take, resulting in a huge splash. Kristen Wiig ends up covered in slushie as Bill Hader tries to keep a straight face. Scarlett Johansson even breaks after watching Hader help wipe Wiig off. It’s not hard to imagine why the laughs keep coming. Making the sketch even better, the three look like they’re enjoying themselves the entire time. The drink definitely makes this skit even more hilarious, letting the wild physical comedy take over.

#7: “Court Show”

Providing chaos to this premise, dogs don’t always do what they’re supposed to do. Cecily Strong’s judge tries to keep order despite one unruly co-star. She holds a puppy while delivering lines, but laughs as the pet loses it. This enjoyable and off-script moment gives this skit the edge it needs. There’s already a legion of canines here, but one in particular provides this scene with an entertaining mistake. It’s honestly surprising that there isn’t another problem given all of the other four-legged stars. In the final minutes, Strong breaks once more after all of the initial craziness. We kind of wish they’d bring back more animals just to try this again.

#6: “Massive Head Wound Harry”

Dana Carvey’s character walks into this sketch with a bad injury. He has a prosthetic on to mimic the wound, but then a pet gets hold of it. The canine almost rips off part of the headpiece as Carvey tries to keep it. With the audience losing it, this happy accident is just plain fun to watch. We also love to see a dog there to liven things up. The lead actor also manages to work through the mistake while staying in character. Teetering between professional and unprofessional, this skit is exactly what you need to cheer yourself up.

#5: “Super Showcase Spokesmodels”

When you let Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig do crazy accents, you open the door for skits like this one. The actresses also do some fantastic physical comedy here. Once they start to break, both performers just go with the flow. Bill Hader also laughs at the many fumbles throughout this skit. Rudolph and Wiig crack each other up as they show off prizes, making every second that much better. These all-stars steer the scene to a close with golf cart crashes and hilarious surprises. Regardless of the mistakes, this still ranks among the performers' finest sketches.

#4: “Lisa from Temecula”

Some people really love their steak well done. The character Lisa orders one and cuts into it, shaking the table throughout this wild sketch. Talk about a bold move for a scene on live television. Thankfully for us, the destruction prompts some hilarious breaks. Pedro Pascal looks to be having the time of his life. As the table settings shake, the ensemble leans into the absurd premise. Bowen Yang also loses it in a funny outburst near the end. Everything that goes wrong helps to make this yet another shining example of a beautiful disaster.

#3: “Close Encounter”

This sketch features Ryan Gosling doing what he does best on “SNL.” He loves to laugh and “Close Encounter” puts him to the test. The actor listens to Kate McKinnon’s character give absurd speeches, eventually losing it. You can see the other cast members all distracted by their fellow performer. It makes the script more difficult to get through, but it also gives the skit massive replay value. McKinnon’s dialogue is so crazy that it’s surprising nobody fell over laughing. By the end, Gosling can barely get his lines out as he tries to stop giggling.

#2: “Girlfriends Game Night”

Bill Hader enters this scene funny and leaves it in shambles. We couldn’t ask for anything more, gasping for breath after laughing so hard at his character. Hader also has to laugh after running into the set and his co-stars. The actor even has to hide his face behind Cecily Strong, having shifted the furniture with his motorized scooter. It’s a ridiculous premise to begin with, but the result couldn’t have been more hilarious. You couldn’t have written a better way to throw this scene a curveball. Luckily for the audience, standards and practices didn’t shut this down before it got to air.

#1: “Debbie Downer: Disney World”

“Debbie Downer” is a recurring skit, but most people remember this particular version. It’s easy to see why because this is a straight-up catastrophe. You couldn’t ask for more of a chaotic fail than this one, prompting some of the most laughter by an ensemble ever. Rachel Dratch can barely say her lines at one point, giggling through a historical breakdown in “SNL” history. It’s so much fun that you can never watch it too many times. This whole sketch feels like lightning in a bottle, making it unlikely that it could ever be duplicated.

Did we forget another notable failure on “SNL?” Let us know in the comments below.