Top 10 Funniest Chris Rock SNL Sketches

Audiences expected something special when it was announced that Dave Chappelle would be hosting the first “SNL” following the 2016 U.S. presidential election. But just as the election results caught many off guard, this sketch also has a few surprises. As Donald Trump claims more votes and advances towards victory, everyone watching at home is shocked except for Chappelle, that is, until Chris Rock shows up. Making an unexpected cameo that had the crowd cheering, Rock brings his signature observational comedy to a historical moment that left many confused. As all the white people in the room come to the revelation that American isn’t quite as they thought, Rock and Chappelle can’t help but make sarcastic remarks, having been ahead of the curve.

For a period in the early ‘90s, some theorized that President George H. W. Bush might replace Dan Quayle with Colin Powell for the 1992 presidential election. In this Weekend Update segment, Rock delves into why Powell likely wouldn’t become the country’s first black Vice President. The reasons Rock gives aren’t what you might expect, however. According to Rock, if Powell were Vice President, it wouldn’t take long for somebody, such as himself, to remove Bush from the equation. As far as Rock is concerned, his plan is airtight. While Rock was obviously joking, he was right about a couple of things. Bush didn’t replace Quayle with Powell and an African-American has — yet — to hold the Veep’s office.

Three years after leaving “SNL,” Rock returned for his first time as the show’s host. This sketch reunites Rock with Tim Meadows, who plays a recently graduated college student. Rock assumes the role of his father, who shifts from being proud to condescending the second his son starts using fancy college words. No matter what Meadows does or says, Rock finds a way to tie it back to his son’s education, taking everything as a sign of disrespect. Rock isn’t the only one in the family who knows how to guilt-trip, as Tracy Morgan’s grandpa condemns his son for merely counting. The irony is that Meadows is four years older than Rock, while Morgan is the youngest of the three.

Franklin was the first African-American character to appear in the “Peanuts” comic strip. As groundbreaking as Franklin was, Rock argues that more could’ve been done with the character. Rock felt a lot like Franklin growing up, as he was also the only black kid in school. It isn’t long until Rock’s commentary on the first day of school becomes all about Franklin and his lack of dialogue. Compared to the other Peanuts characters, Rock strongly believes that Franklin has gone underdeveloped over the decades. We see where Rock is coming from. If Snoopy is invited to the party, we think it’s also good that Franklin gets his due.

Although Rock’s “SNL” tenure is best remembered for his monologues, he also developed a few recurring characters. One of his most memorable is Onski from the fictional show “I’m Chillin’.” With a wardrobe that screams ‘early 90s hip hop,’ Onski was usually paired with his sidekick B-Fats, played by Chris Farley. “I’m Chillin’” might not have had the biggest budget, but Onski fortunately has sponsors like Bullet Hole Tampons and 168 Street Spring Water to keep him on the air. Aside from busting over-the-top rhymes, Onski and B-Fats use their platform to talk about Sinbad and make mother jokes, but they never quite get around to playing rap videos. “I’m Chillin’” returned when Rock hosted in 1996, although Jim Breuer would fill in for Farley.

Another recurring character from Rock, Nat X was the outspoken host of “The Dark Side,” a fifteen-minute talk show that actually ran even shorter. The sketch reteamed Rock with Farley, who plays a clown named Sandman. Sporting a massive afro, Nat X would often tackle then-topical issues, such as the Rodney King trial. If we had to single out the episode that best represented Rock’s talents as a performer, though, it would have to be Nat X’s interview with Michael Jackson via satellite. Doing a spot-on impression that’s enhanced by the hair and makeup crew, Rock captures the King of Pop to a T. Although Rock is basically interviewing Rock, Nat X and Jackson have such radically different personas, that it’s easy to forget.

Rock is a standup comedian first and foremost. So, when he hosted in 1996, “SNL” gave Rock a platform to do what he does best. Rock kicked off his monologue by discussing malls and how they’ve signified a change in America. Since this was three days before an election, though, Rock naturally dedicated most of the monologue to Bill Clinton. Rock gives Clinton an endorsement of sorts, noting all of the things that they have in common. At the same time, Rock isn’t afraid to delve into the more infamous aspects of Clinton’s first term in office, such as his “don’t ask, don’t tell” military policy and sexual misconduct allegations. Rock also makes some good points about doctors and the lack of recent medical advancements.

It took eighteen years, but Rock finally returned to host “SNL” for the second time, in 2014. Rock’s monologue is fearless to say the least, jumping right into the upcoming NYC Marathon and the tragedy in Boston that occurred a year earlier. He follows up that bit with a few words about the Freedom Tower, which officially opened that year. As you might expect, this amounts to even more controversial jokes. Rock transitions from one infamous date to talking about holiday commercialization, especially when it comes to Jesus’ birthday. Topping off the monologue with commentary on gun control, Rock takes no prisoners. Whether you found his standup hilarious or shocking, you can see why the monologue got Rock trending on Twitter.

It’s hard to believe, but it wasn’t until the year 2000 that all 50 American states officially observed Martin Luther King Jr. Day. One of the most notable holdouts was Arizona, which influenced the NFL to move the 1993 Super Bowl. A few months before Arizona finally voted in the holiday’s favor, Rock gave his two cents on the issue. Rock finds it ridiculous that the citizens of Arizona would reject a day off. When your town is shrouded in extreme desert heat, who would want to leave the comfort of their air-conditioned home? Granted, not everybody gets MLK Day off, which leads to a few other observations. Rock’s parting words on Columbus Day are arguably even more relevant now than they were in 1992.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Dance Vlog
This Sketch is #Flawless

Perspectives
Topical Talking With Lionel Osbourne

Weekend Update: Madonna
Remember When Everyone Went Crazy for the “Sex” Book?

Showtime at the Apollo
It’s Anything but Amateur Night

The Arguing Couple
Fitting, Since Rock Got Leslie Jones Her “SNL” Audition Following an Argument

While Rock didn’t host in 2007, he did surprise “SNL” viewers with a topical cold open. With the 2008 U.S. presidential election just over a year away, Rock shares his thoughts on the potential candidates. On the Republican side, Rock notes John McCain’s age and Rudolph Giuliani’s “pitbull” tendencies. As for the Democrats, it’s clear that the nomination will boil down to Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. Rock makes it no secret that Obama’s got his vote, and correctly predicting that he’d win the election. Thus ensues an uproarious monologue about sexism, racism, and the drawn-out road to progress. This cold open captures Rock at his funniest, proving a fresh take on current events, pulling no punches, and delivering every one-liner with firecracker wit.