Top 10 Hilarious SNL Game Show Parodies
#10: “Wheel of Fortune”
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This Season 31 sketch parodies the classic American game show “Wheel of Fortune”. Host Tom Hanks plays the long-running host Pat Sajak, in a hilariously spot-on impression that seems to come effortlessly to him. Although the real-life Sajak has surely come across some not-so-savvy contestants over the years, the ones played by Amy Poehler, Fred Armisen and Kristen Wiig in this sketch are in an entirely different league. With just one letter left to guess, the three struggle to solve the puzzle, to the increasing frustration of Hanks’ Sajak. While all four are incredible, the scene stealer in the bit is arguably Tina Fey, whose Vanna White gets big laughs without even uttering a single word.
#9: “Hollywood Squares”
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The Season 46 finale of “Saturday Night Live” gave audiences a brilliant throwback in the form of a “Hollywood Squares” spoof. The game show, which went through multiple iterations throughout its run, reached a peak in popularity in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. This sketch pokes fun at celebrity culture, as quite a few of the figures who were beloved in that period have since lost favor in light of their involvement in high-profile scandals. It’s a pretty simple premise, but as soon as the inserts start rolling in with the multiple disclaimers, you can’t help but laugh uncontrollably. By the end, nearly all the squares are blurred out, leaving just Baby Spice and a great commentary on censorship.
#8: “Japanese Game Show”
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Chris Farley was taken from us way too soon, but the “SNL” star left behind a catalog of iconic sketches, such as this parody of over-the-top Japanese game shows. Farley plays a confused American tourist who mistakenly ends up on a cutthroat game show in Japan. Farley’s character, who doesn’t speak a lick of the language, surprisingly scales through the competition, even as the stakes get particularly outrageous. After winning the last level by utilizing the little Japanese he knows, he realizes that the top prize is not exactly what he would have hoped for. It’s hysterically absurd, although we’re not quite sure if this sketch, featuring white actors playing Japanese characters, would fly these days.
#7: “Deal or No Deal”
Over the years, there have been quite a few parodies of NBC’s “Deal or No Deal” on “SNL”. A Season 31 sketch featured Fred Armisen as host Howie Mandel and Antonio Banderas as a contestant who, much like most viewers, is confused about how the game works. Armisen returned as Mandel for another iteration two seasons later, this time opposite Steve Carell. Carell plays an indecisive contestant whose dysfunctional relationship with his father is played up to hilarious effect. In 2019, just as “Deal or No Deal” was revived for a fifth season, the sketch was retooled with Steve Harvey playing the host, for some reason. This one pitted the deal-loving former President Donald Trump against some of his nemeses in Congress.
#6: “The Price Is Right: Celebrity Edition”
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“SNL” sketches that take shots at multiple celebrities at once are a great way for the cast members to flex their impression skills. That brings us to this Season 43 segment that spoofs “The Price Is Right” with a high-profile twist. This version features celebrity guests, including Lil Wayne, Tilda Swinton, Chris Hemsworth and Bernie Sanders, paired with contestants from the studio audience. Host Larry David dusts off his impeccable Sanders impression, while the real Liam Hemsworth appears alongside his then-fiancée Miley Cyrus, who plays one of the regular contestants. In the end, Sanders and Pete Davidson’s Derrick win the game, but in the SNL-verse, that just means they have to contend with the incompetent ‘Super Showcase’ spokesmodels in the final round.
#5: “Secret Word”
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The secret word is Kristen Wiig is one of the all-time greatest performers to ever grace “SNL”. Okay, that’s not just one word. And it’s not exactly a secret. A play on the American game show “Password,” this recurring sketch features Wiig as the overly theatrical and oft-delusional Broadway actress Mindy Elise Grayson. Over its many versions, the joke of the sketch never changes: Grayson breaks the cardinal rule of the game by immediately revealing the secret word to the contestant. But Wiig’s exceptional portrayal of the clueless actress manages to keep it fresh and hysterical every time. Grayson always ruins the game before it even begins, so it’s a wonder why they keep bringing her back.
#4: “Black Jeopardy!”
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The first “Black Jeopardy!” sketch aired on March 29th 2014 with host Louis C.K. as a white professor of African-American studies. Although the bit showed promise, it clearly needed a few revisions to become perfect. Two iterations later, it reached that goal. In Season 42, American treasure Tom Hanks played a conservative white man hoping to power through the black culture-centered categories. Hanks’ exceptional performance paired with the brilliant writing made this an instant classic. Even more, it seemingly provided better commentary on race relations in America than most of the million-and-one political sketches “SNL” had aired in the past. The show’s writers hit the jackpot again the following season, this time with Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa as the out-of-touch contestant.
#3: “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”
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It’s a bit strange to go on the game show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” when you have no intentions of actually becoming one. That was the premise of this Season 25 sketch featuring Darrell Hammond as host Regis Philbin and Will Ferrell as the contestant. After scaling through the ‘Fastest Finger First’ round and easily winning $100, Ferrell’s Rich Preylant decides to throw in the towel. Clearly, being rich means something entirely different to some of us. Another memorable iteration of this parody came in Season 35, with Kenan Thompson’s Steve Harvey as the host. During the game, Harvey mumbles his way through the questions and mispronounces the options, to the utter confusion of the contestants.
#2: “Celebrity Family Feud”
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As earlier mentioned, “SNL” sketches based solely around celebrity impressions have become some of the show’s most famous bits. This one spoofs the long-running game show “Family Feud” with Kenan Thompson playing the renowned host Steve Harvey. Unsurprisingly, Thompson shines in every version, while struggling to keep the game moving with the contestants’ sometimes ridiculous performances. It’s hard to pick what iteration of this parody takes the cake, but the Political and Super Bowl editions certainly stand out from the pack. Cast members like Kate McKinnon, Beck Bennett, Melissa Villaseñor and Aidy Bryant consistently give masterclasses with their phenomenal impressions. But even the celebrity hosts pull their weight, with Ariana Grande, Margot Robbie and Andrew Garfield being some of the best.
#1: “Celebrity Jeopardy!”
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The greatest “SNL” game show parody just happens to be one of its most beloved recurring sketches ever. The original “Jeopardy!” spoof, this version sees Will Ferrell play the legendary game show host Alex Trebek with Darrell Hammond as his arch-nemesis Sean Connery. In most of the sketches, Connery constantly antagonizes Trebek, making lewd remarks about his mother and intentionally turning the categories into vulgar phrases. The sketches also feature other celebrities, most notably Burt Reynolds played by Norm Macdonald, who keep botching the game to Trebek’s increasing frustration. The late Alex Trebek even made a cameo in one of the bits where he cancels ‘Final Jeopardy.’ This marked Ferrell’s last episode as a cast member on the show.
