Top 10 SNL Fails That Became Iconic
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Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most notable mistakes, breakdowns, and/or unexpected complications that made “SNL” sketches funnier. Did we forget another amusing disaster? Let us know in the comments below.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
#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.
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