Top 10 Most Underrated SNL Sketches Of All Time

While “SNL” has produced some top-rate movie trailer parodies, the one that satirized the gritty British gangster movie genre has somehow remained an underappreciated gem. Host Russell Brand joins Bill Hader and Fred Armisen in a trailer that mocks the impenetrable East London cockney accents often associated with these movies. Although there’s plenty of action to follow, the dialogue is nearly impossible to understand. It’s anyone’s guess as to what the movie’s plot entails. However, it’s still one of the best and funniest spoof-trailers in the “SNL” archives. We would totally be tempted to see this movie...if we actually knew what it was about.

A sketch featuring Americans (and one Canadian) playing Norwegians who are playing Americans? What’s not to love? It’s such a simple premise and yet its execution is so perfect. The Norwegian Actor’s Playhouse acts out the world’s most generic cop drama using broadly American accents and stereotypical culture references. Bill Hader’s own hard to place British accent only makes his championing of this sketch even funnier. Everything in this piece, from their language to their donut shop coffee, is hilariously exaggerated. And everyone involved plays their part seamlessly. If you ask us, it’s criminal that this sketch is so underrated.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if British legends Peter O’Toole and Michael Caine drunkenly hosted a talk show in a Taco Bell/ Pizza Hut Express? Well, wonder no more. The pair of actors, played by Jude Law and Seth Meyers, stumble into the fast food restaurant wearing tuxedos and holding martinis. They quickly come to the obvious conclusion that this must be their talk show. Since they’re completely oblivious to their surroundings, their interactions with everyone around them is hysterical. As they finally wander off in different directions, we can’t help but laugh while wondering why this sketch isn’t more widely celebrated.

In a weird spin on Hollywood dating scenes, the stunning Megan Fox is completely besotted with an extremely weird man played by Will Forte. Speaking in a strained voice that constantly sounds like he’s on the verge of tears, Forte talks about his job as a SWAT team commander. He also details his side hustle which involves raising lambs before taking their lives and selling them as meat. And while she thinks the date is going well, he’s actually not that invested in her. There’s no denying that this is one of SNL’s more bizarre skits. However, the pair play off each other so well that their sketch deserves more recognition.

Josh Brolin’s stint on “SNL” was so great that one of his skits was naturally bound to go under the radar. We had to highlight the sketch that hilariously mocks the trope of using slow-motion to make someone look cool. When a new student arrives at Woodridge High, she learns about a magical and/or cursed hallway which makes people move incredibly slowly. This happens to anyone who walks through, regardless of how cool or uncool they might be. Brolin plays a science teacher who’s determined to prove that it can be explained by science. However, something tells us that he might want to pursue the possibility of a curse instead.

At “SNL”, the final sketch of the night is known as the “ten to one” slot. It’s often reserved for the weirdest skit the writers came up with that week. In one season 35 episode, we see a heated fight break out during a job interview at NASA. Their conflict begins when an interviewee, played by Jason Sudeikis, helps himself to a potato chip, enraging his interviewer, played by Will Forte. The NASA employee grills the potential candidate until the truth disgustingly comes out. Seth Meyers, who was head writer at the time, had a great way to sum up this delightfully odd skit. He said, “We always say sometimes you write sketches that, to five people in America, it will always be their favorite SNL sketch.”

The upbeat conclusion of “It’s a Wonderful Life” made the movie worthy of its title. However, SNL’s so-called lost ending makes things a little bit less wonderful for Mr. Potter. You might recall that Mr. Potter never sees his comeuppance in this classic Christmas flick. But this sketch takes care of that when the happy crowd from the movie becomes an angry mob. While Dana Carvey’s George beats the stuffing out of the old man, the crowd keeps things festive by joyously singing in the background. Yeah, this isn’t really what comes to mind when you think of the words “Christmas spirit”, but you gotta love it anyway.

This might just be Rob Schneider’s most memorable character from his tenure on the show. “The Richmeister”, or as you’d probably remember him better, the “Makin’ Copies’ Guy”, is an obnoxious attention-seeker who needlessly hands out nicknames to everyone and never fails to annoy his co-workers. The character was arguably Schneider’s breakout “SNL” role. And it all actually began as a joke between him and Adam Sandler. While the character might have been more appreciated when he debuted, his sketches have fallen out of the limelight over the years. It’s a real shame because it’s one of Rob Schneider’s truly great roles.

We’d like to believe that life is always a Cabaret for Liza Minelli and we’re clearly not alone. The premise of this sketch is exactly what the title suggests and it’s utterly brilliant. As Liza Minelli, played by Kristen Wiig, prepares to catch the opening night of “Cats” on Broadway, she tries and repeatedly fails to turn off a lamp. Wiig’s over-the-top impression and outrageous physical comedy bring a lot of pizzazz to a simple task. The sheer insanity that comes with turning off a lamp makes this sketch an underrated must-see. If you like Broadway, Liza Minelli, and Kristen Wiig, we guarantee this will be your new favorite “SNL” sketch.

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

“The Cobras”
If Only All Gangs Turned to a Life of Song and Dance

“Jingleheimer Junction”
It’s Kids’ TV, What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

“The Actress”
Talk About Dedication to The Art

“Family Dinner - Shrek”
We Guess Some People Don’t Like the Ogre

“Bar Fight”
Well, It’s No “Eye of The Tiger”, But It’s A Catchy Fight Song

“Hamm & Bublé” might be an unsung masterpiece. But the genius “Closet Organizer” guy from the same episode is even more underappreciated. We first see the character in a classic SNL spoof-commercial. In a priceless twist, we meet him once again when he goes out for a drink later that night. The seamless set-up for the bar skit is so brilliantly executed. And we love the excellent yet unexpected link between the sketches. It’s not often we get an SNL crossover in this style. But when we do, we believe it deserves a lot more appreciation.