Top 10 SNL Sketches That Broke the Whole Cast
#10: “Jeffrey’s with Sean Hayes”
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This early 2000s sketch sees Sean Hayes and Jimmy Fallon as two workers at a fashion store called Jeffrey’s. Rather than assist their customers, the duo instead spend their time lobbing insults at their choice of clothes. While Fallon gets the giggles at Horatio Sanz’s lame comebacks, both of them lose it when their supervisor, played by Will Ferrell, rolls up in a motorized wheelchair. And, to be fair to them, if Ferrell pulled up in that outfit and pulled out a cell phone that small, we’d have a hard time containing our laughter too.
#9: “The Love-ahs with Barbara and Dave”
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This entry in the recurring sketches featuring Roger and Virginia Klarvin, better known as the “Love-ahs,” sees the couple in a hot tub joined by a man named Dave and later by their friend Barbara Hernan-DEZ. Like most of their scenes, this one has the couple speaking in bizarre accents and making wildly sexual small talk with a stranger. And of course, while Jimmy Fallon will laugh at the drop of a hat, the fact that Will Ferrell was reportedly doing things with his foot under the water probably didn’t help Fallon stay in character! His laughter is infectious and soon enough the Love-ahs and Barbara are giggling too. And isn’t laughter a true expression of love?
#8: “Matt Foley: Van Down By The River”
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When a father and mother discover their children, Brian and Stacy, have been doing drugs, they hire Matt Foley, a motivational speaker, to talk to them. Enter Chris Farley at the top of his game! Foley motivates the kids by describing how horrible his own life is, with a particular emphasis on how he lives in a van down by the river. The larger-than-life Farley’s over-the-top performance has both David Spade and Christina Applegate struggling not to laugh as he gets in their faces, lifts Spade up, and crashes into the coffee table. This sketch is the first of many Matt Foley appearances and it’ll make you laugh whether you’re in it, or you live in a van down by the river!
#7: “Close Encounter”
Another debut of a recurring sketch, this one sees a trio of alien abductees interviewed by scientists at the Pentagon. While the first two, played by Cecily Strong and host Ryan Gosling, describe a wonderful experience, the third, played by Kate McKinnon, had a different kind of abduction. Her description of urinating in front of a bunch of gray aliens, and the weird things they do to her has to be heard to be believed! Gosling especially is smiling throughout, though even the scientists played by Aidy Bryant and Bobby Moynihan are less than government professionals. McKinnon’s character may not have been dealing with the best of the best, but her performance here gives us a transcendent experience.
#6: “Lisa from Temecula”
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At a birthday dinner for Shayna, the spotlight is quickly stolen by her sister, Lisa from Temecula. Along with her insistence that Paul, Pedro Pascal’s character, is “hoping for some butt,” her order of an extra-extra well-done steak proves distracting for everyone. As actress Ego Nwodim saws on the piece of meat, the table cartoonishly jumps around; spilling food and drink alike. Pascal breaks first, as his character has a story to tell, but the rest of the table isn’t far behind, including Nwodim. Much like Lisa’s steak, the comedy here is extra well done, so they couldn’t help but laugh.
#5: “Super Showcase Spokesmodels”
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On this fake game show, a contestant played by Vanessa Bayer loses out on showcase prizes when she gets a question wrong. Bill Hader’s host has the showcase models, Shonda and Vonda, played by Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig, show her what she didn’t win. Shonda and Vonda’s absurd accents make it difficult for Wiig and Rudolph to get through their displays of various products made by ridiculous generic names with straight faces. Wiig having to drive a golf cart around adds even more hilarity and Hader gets the giggles. Only Bayer keeps it together. Sounds like she could use some laughs - by Laugh Guy.
#4: “Gus Chiggins, Old Prospector”
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At a military briefing for the Afghanistan Conflict, the soldiers are all puzzled during roll call, when it becomes clear that one of them is an old prospector. The prospector, Gus Chiggins, proves distracting, given his old-timey sayings and numerous noisy pans. Eventually, their commanding officer reveals that Gus is really a character actor, but that just raises more questions. Will Ferrell’s goofy old-man voice is too much for even this gathering of comedic actors and practically everyone breaks at some point during the sketch. Gus doesn’t need to do any panning - because this sketch is straight-up gold!
#3: “More Cowbell”
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Speaking of Will Ferrell breaking everyone, this is one of the most famous “SNL” sketches of all time for just that reason. In a recording session for Blue Öyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear the Reaper,” fictional band member Gene Frenkle, played by Ferrell, goes ham on playing the cowbell during the song. Far from being upset about it, producer Bruce Dickinson, played by Christopher Walken, just wants to hear more of it! Ferrell’s enthusiastic performance and tight t-shirt, as well as Walken’s deadpan delivery of increasingly ridiculous lines, leave everyone else struggling to keep the laughter in! And for the record, we’ve tried to get doctors to prescribe more cowbell for fevers, but no luck. They think they know better than the Bruce Dickinson?!
#2: “Debbie Downer: Disney World”
The very first appearance of the eponymous Debbie Downer, this sketch sees the character join a family reunion at Disney World. Despite the happy surroundings, Debbie can’t help but bring the mood down with dire commentary on world events. However, in contrast to Debbie’s grim remarks, actress Rachel Dratch and everyone else in the scene can’t stop breaking! Part of this was due to Dratch messing up a line early, setting everyone off, but the frequent “wah-wah” sound effects were used for the first time in the live show, catching the actors all off guard. Host Lindsay Lohan claims she ran offstage because she couldn’t keep it together. We can’t blame her! Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Extremely Stupid” Early “SNL” Had Its Share of Crack-Ups Too “Girlfriends Game Night” When She Sits on His Lap, It’s Impossible to Keep a Straight Face “Scared Straight” How Could Anyone Think About Crime When They’re Laughing This Hard? “Career Day” If Your Dad Looked & Acted Like Adam Driver Here, You’d Laugh Too! “Weekend Update: Stefon on St. Patrick's Day” Bill Hader Always Cracks Up, But Adding John Mulaney Takes the Giggles to Another Level
#1: “The Californians”
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This recurring soap opera sketch is guaranteed to have multiple actors break character! The over-the-top drama of soap operas paired with dialogue mostly centered on southern California’s roads and freeways, which is delivered with nearly incomprehensible valley girl accents is a recipe for hilarity! The sketch’s most recurring actors Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, and Fred Armisen are the most frequent cast to break, though they’re far from the only ones. Just seeing them make goofy faces in the mirror is enough to get us rolling, so it’s impressive they make it through any of the dialogue!
