Top 20 SNL Sketches We Still Reference Today

#20: The Delicious Dish

Dry public radio shows are easy to mock, but “SNL” took the self-serious programming and made it laugh-out-loud funny with these sketches. While the super dry subject matter and frequent use of the phrase “good times,” have certainly stuck with us, one edition of the sketch has entered the realm of legends. The guest? Alec Baldwin, playing chef Pete Schweddy, there to share his specialty - his Schweddy Balls. The sheer number of double entendres packed into a few minutes is genuinely impressive and still has us cracking up after decades. “Good times…”

#19: Roseanne Roseannadanna

Frequent Weekend Update guests often become iconic, and one of the earliest was Gilda Radner’s Roseanne Roseannadanna. The correspondent with the massive hair would read out fan mail, specifically from a Mr. Richard Feder, on some current news or topic, only to go off on a tangent involving celebrities and something disgusting. Her brash, oblivious attitude, impossible hair, and several memorable catchphrases helped ensure Roseanne Roseannadanna’s place in “Saturday Night Live” history. But hey, “it just goes to show you, it's always something — if it’s not one thing, it's another.”

#18: “Lazy Sunday”

There have been many “SNL” Digital Shorts, but few have had the kind of impact as “Lazy Sunday.” The Lonely Island song was an overnight sensation and basically helped popularize YouTube as a platform. Andy Samberg and Chris Parnell rapping about getting cupcakes and seeing the “Chronic- what?! -cles of Narnia” on a Sunday afternoon” remains incredibly catchy and full of fantastic lines. Mr. Pibb and Red Vines are indeed crazy delicious. Also, does anyone else find it crazy that this is now only the second most popular hip hop song to mention Alexander Hamilton?

#17: David S. Pumpkins

Sometimes a sketch is so weird that it just works! A haunted elevator ride takes a turn for the bizarre when, instead of the usual spooky scares, a couple encounters the strange David S. Pumpkins and his two skeleton back-up dancers. The trio’s quirky dance, as well their insistence that Pumpkins is “his own thing” and that the skeletons are “part of it” are just fun to reference at any opportunity. Pumpkins has returned several times since the original sketch aired, and even gotten his own animated Halloween spin-off. “Any QUESTIONS?!”

#16: Fernando

Anyone can say you look good, but only a “Saturday Night Live” fan will say you look marvelous. It’s not just about the words. It’s also about that Latin lover accent that Billy Crystal used to bring his Fernando character and his popular catchphrase to life. Given that these sketches date back to the early and mid-1980s, the catchphrase might not resonate as much with the younger generation. It was so big back in the day, though, that Crystal had a hit single with it. It’s never hard to find an opportunity to use it either - and it makes people feel good whether they get the reference or not.

#15: Close Encounter

Kate McKinnon has many great characters on “SNL,” but perhaps her most memorable is Colleen Rafferty, a woman whose encounters with the extraordinary and paranormal are decidedly…weird. Rafferty is usually interviewed along with two other people, but while their encounters with things like aliens, Santa Claus, and ghosts are positive, hers are not - and they frequently end up with her being pantsless. Rafferty’s blunt descriptors of her close encounters, as well as her rhyming descriptions of her privates still have us in stitches…along with the other cast members and hosts. Looking at you Ryan Gosling!

#14: The Festrunk Brothers

Mention the Festrunk brothers and you’ll probably be met with some blank stares. Tell them that you are a “wild and crazy guy,” and see those stares change to looks of happy recognition. While it works as a solo statement, we prefer to break this one out at parties with a friend. In a party situation, there is no shortage of moments where the two of you can belt out, “We are two wild and crazy guys,” while - of course - doing the requisite body-shaking dance moves.

#13: Total Bastard Airlines

Just think about how many times you say, “bye,” every day, every week. It’s an opportunity ripe with potential - if only you had a quote/catchphrase that fit…. Well, we do. This sketch sees David Spade and Helen Hunt play flight attendants saying goodbye to the passengers as they debark the plane. They don’t just say goodbye. They say, “buh-bye,” with all the ungrateful and snarky attitude imaginable. It’s such a simple premise and yet, it quickly made its way into our popular culture lexicon back in the 90s - and remains there to this day.

#12: “Coffee Talk”

Mike Myers created so many amazing characters on “Saturday Night Live” and provided a generation with more quotes and catchphrases than we knew what to do with. If we’re getting dressed in front of someone, we can act shy like Simon and tell them to stop looking at our bum. If we’re getting overwhelmed, we channel Linda Richman and declare that we are, of course, “Verklempt.” Perhaps our favorite “Coffee Talk” quote has gotta be, “Talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you a topic…” Those of you who can remember some of the specific conversation topics she provided have an advantage. Otherwise, it’s time to test your on-the-spot improv skills.

#11: “The Chanukah Song”

Adam Sandler is arguably better known for his film career, but easily his biggest highlight on “Saturday Night Live” is with this little holiday ditty. Played during “Weekend Update,” Sandler shares his own Chanukah song. Along with some creative rhymes with the word Chanukah, like Yarmulke, Veronica, and harmonica, the song mainly consists of a list of celebrities who are Jewish or part Jewish…as well as a few that aren’t. It’s a catchy song and one that proved popular enough to make it onto the Billboard Charts. Even today, many “SNL” fans revisit it every holiday season, regardless of faith.

#10: Debbie Downer

We’ve all met that person who manages to bring down the mood, but Debbie Downer gave that person a name, a face, and a theme song. Rachel Dratch’s iconic character never fails to rain on everyone else’s parade by commenting on the prevalence of feline AIDS or other topics guaranteed to kill the vibe. Debbie’s awkward personality and the numerous “wah wahs” that accompany her downer lines have both her fellow cast members and us struggling to contain our laughter. Debbie Downer’s name alone has become slang for somebody who kills a conversation, and we still use the term all the time.

#9: A Nonpartisan Message from Gov. Sarah Palin & Sen. Hillary Clinton

There have been hundreds, if not thousands of political sketches on “SNL.” But this cold open is one that we still come back to today. The classic duo of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler play then-vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin and then-senator Hillary Clinton. The pair discuss the presence of sexism in the 2008 presidential election, with Clinton being furious throughout at the disparity in the way they’ve both been treated. Still, it’s arguably Fey who steals the show here, since her folksy, air-headed portrayal of Palin is so spot-on that people still think that the real Palin actually said that she can see Russia from her house!

#8: Matt Foley, Motivational Speaker

Chris Farley was a true force of nature during his time on “Saturday Night Live” and maybe no character of his exemplifies said force better than motivational speaker Matt Foley. From his sarcastic “La-Di-Fricken-Da” to his constant references to his living situation, Farley’s Foley is forever ingrained in our minds. It comes out more often than you might think. Also, just try and tell people you live in a van down by the river without also hunching over, grabbing your belt, and twisting from side to side. Because we can’t. We do skip the falling through the coffee table part, though.

#7: Mary Katherine Gallagher

Sometimes when we get nervous about ranking a list, we stick our hands under our armpits and then we smell them. If you’re a fan of 90s “Saturday Night Live,” then you’re laughing - or at least smiling - right now. If you’re not, you probably think we’re kinda gross. Well, to the latter, we just have to say that we’re definitely not gross. We’re a SUPERSTAR! Mary Katherine Gallagher was one of the first breakout “SNL” characters of the second half of the 1990s and her catchphrase, declaring herself a “Superstar” was one of the reasons why. Talk to a true fan and you’ll get the quote along with the forward lunge and the arms raised as well.

#6: “Like a Boss”

Thanks to its repeated, titular refrain, “Like a Boss” might just be the catchiest “SNL” song EVER. Andy Samberg taking Seth Rogan through his typical day as “da boss” in this Digital Short starts off pretty ordinary, but gets gradually more tragic, sexual, and just plain bizarre. Then again, maybe we just haven’t had a position high enough on the corporate ladder to jump out a window, have sex with a fish, or turn into a jet on the daily! The phrase “like a boss” has become synonymous with doing something with gusto or pride. Like me, finishing this voiceover, like a-...well, you get it.

#5: “The Californians”

What do you do when you walk into a room and see someone you weren’t expecting? Do you simply say hi and ask them what they’re doing there? That must be because you’ve never seen “The Californians” sketches on “SNL.” If you had, then there’s no way you could find yourself in such a situation and not muster up your best over-the-top West Coast accent for an elongated, “What're YOUUUU Doin' Herrre?” If the person responds with the precise driving route they took to get there, you know they’re a fan also.

#4: Wayne’s World

Going back to Mike Myers, no “SNL” sketch of his garnered more fanfare and produced more quotes than “Wayne’s World.” When it comes to Wayne and Garth, the question isn’t which quotes, but which one do we start with? The slightly un-PC “shwing” and the iconic contradictory “not!” might not see the constant use they did decades ago. We still like to throw them in there sometimes for a little retro cred. With friends, the “Party on Wayne,” “Party on Garth” call and response is still a classic. And yes, we’re the ones who will still drop down to our knees and declare that “we’re not worthy!” (and no, it isn’t always done ironically either).

#3: Church Lady

So, why wasn't the Church Lady’s famous quote at number one on our list? Whose fault is that? Could it beeeeeeeee… Satan!? Nope, the lord of the underworld had nothing to do with this one’s position on our list, but there’s no doubting the special place this Church Chat quote holds in our “SNL”-loving hearts. You know we love us some good sarcasm, and the Church Lady’s “well, isn’t that special” is sarcastic gold when it comes to references from the long-running show. If you can follow it up with Dana Carvey’s Church Lady dance moves, that’s just bonus points.

#2: More Cowbell

There are “SNL” memes, and then there’s More Cowbell! This fictionalized recording session of Blue Öyster Cult’s “(Don't Fear) The Reaper” blew up online and has remained in the public lexicon ever since! If ever a cowbell comes up in conversation, you know somebody’s gonna’ say that they’ve gotta have more cowbell baby! Or maybe you’re sick, and the only prescription for your fever is, you guessed it, more cowbell! While none of us can match the exuberance of Will Ferrell as fictional cowbell player Gene Frenkle, or Christopher Walken’s distinctive way of speaking as THE Bruce Dickinson, we could all still use a little more cowbell in our lives.

#1: Stefon

With his intricate and off-the-wall club descriptions, “Weekend Update” city correspondent Stefon cracked up audiences and himself for years on the show. If we could quote a full club description from one or more of his appearances, that would be amazing. Regardless of that, when someone asks us for advice on where they should go in the city, we can’t help but respond, “New York’s hottest club is…,” followed by, “This place has everything,” and our own weird combination of attractions. Whether you want to always go with “New York” or swap in the name of your city, that’s up to you. Dealers choice.

Is there an “SNL” sketch you talk about all the time that we forgot to talk about? Tell us your favorites in the comments - “like a BOSS!”