Top 10 SNL Sketches We Can't Believe Nobody Broke Character In

“Close Encounter” is among the most memorable modern “SNL” sketches. Not just because of the outrageous dialogue or Kate McKinnon’s performance as Ms. Rafferty, but due to Ryan Gosling’s uncontainable laughter. McKinnon broke Gosling again a few years later when he returned for “Another Close Encounter.” Gosling isn’t the only one guilty of breaking, as Liev Schreiber struggled to conceal his smile in “Paranormal Occurrence.” When McKinnon’s last episode as a series regular opened with “A Final Encounter,” many anticipated somebody to lose it. Even as Rafferty gets too close for comfort, guest host Natasha Lyonne stays in character. Resident breaker Aidy Bryant also keeps it together while McKinnon and Cecily Strong remain committed, as always. If Gosling returned, though, it might’ve been another story.

Save Laraine Newman as the bass drinker, Dan Aykroyd single-handedly carries this classic sketch as a fast-talking spokesman. On one hand, having fewer cast members in a sketch lessens the odds of somebody breaking. However, placing the weight of a sketch on one person’s shoulders can backfire as well. In Aykroyd’s case, he not only has to speak a mile a minute, but also operate a blender with a bass inside. At one point, the blender of fish guts almost tips over, which could’ve stalled Aykroyd. Yet, Aykroyd remains in complete control of the sketch, never stumbling over his lines. While Newman has significantly fewer lines, she also deserves credit for staying in character as she sips that “terrific bass.” Did she really drink that?

Chris Farley was notorious for cracking up the cast as Matt Foley, the most notable example being his debut, which had David Spade and Christina Applegate desperately trying to hide their smiles. Breaking became routine for Foley sketches, but one of the smoothest iterations involved children, strangely enough. With Foley donning a red suit, Satana emerges from his sleigh down by the river to motivate the kiddies. You’d think that kids would be more susceptible to break, especially compared to professional comedic performers. Surprisingly, the kids all maintain horrified looks throughout. One possible exception involves Sally Field’s child, who’s either covering his face due to tears or laughter. Either way, he stays in character. While the cast doesn’t visibly break, Foley naturally breaks the set.

The Palin–Couric interviews were instantly iconic, but the “SNL” parody was arguably an even more substantial zeitgeist moment. Tina Fey returns as Sarah Palin while Amy Poehler goes from channeling Hillary Clinton to portraying Katie Couric. Fey compared Palin’s actual interview to somebody getting “lost in a corn maze,” which she brilliantly conveys here. Although Fey wears an “increasingly adorable” grin throughout, she recites each head-scratching line without ever breaking character. Poehler is given an equally challenging task as Couric, having to preserve a dead serious face throughout. A less seasoned comedian would be giggling with every response. While a smile almost creeps up on Poehler’s face, she continually contains any eternal laughter with mystified looks, incessant blinking, and awkward silence.

“Colonel Angus” is a sketch you probably didn’t entirely understand as a kid. Now that you know what Colonel Angus means, it’s hard not to snicker every time somebody says it. The “SNL” cast deserves the Medal of Honor for getting through this sketch unscathed, all while doing southern accents right out of “Gone with the Wind.” Where some sketches require the cast to go big, the success of this one depends on how understated they can be. The cast acts as if there’s nothing silly/dirty about Colonel Angus, although anyone who reads between the lines can tell otherwise. Casting Christopher Walken as the colonel was beyond inspired, as few do deadpan better than him. Any other actor might’ve cracked a naughty grin.

Molly Shannon got more than a few cuts and bruises as Mary Katherine Gallagher, literally throwing herself into the role. With most of these sketches ending in a pratfall, we often find ourselves asking, “Oh, gee, is she okay?” Thankfully, Shannon always bounced back. Mary Katherine took one of her most violent tumbles in this sketch amid a berserk monologue. Going full Amy Fisher on a stall, she turns the lady’s room into her own personal wrestling ring. We’re not sure what’s more impressive, Shannon’s unwavering resilience in the face of such brutal physical comedy or the fact that the rest of the cast doesn’t break. We wouldn’t be surprised if the trio portraying the Black Angels were genuinely intimidated by Shannon at this moment.

Chris Farley strikes again in the sketch that propelled him to “SNL” superstardom. It takes an enormous amount of confidence to be a Chippendales dancer, especially when the audition is televised. While Farley and Patrick Swayze possess very different physiques, both are equally committed to staying in character as two men dancing their hearts out. While some wondered if Farley would go through with the potentially embarrassing sketch, he remained a team player to the end. For Kevin Nealon, who played a judge, this was one of the hardest sketches to endure without laughing. He distracted himself by focusing on Farley’s stretch marks, rearranging them into words in his mind. Jan Hooks supposedly restrained her laughter by looking at Nealson, having previously dated him.

John Belushi’s samurai stands out as one of the most unhinged characters ever to grace “SNL.” Matching the energy Belushi brought to the role was nearly impossible, but playing the straight man wasn’t much easier. In this sketch, Buck Henry matter-of-factly delivers his lines as if he’s talking to an everyday stockbroker rather than one who also happens to be a samurai. While Henry’s composed demeanor is commendable, his dedication to the role shines through the most as the sketch wraps. Creating a “window” with his katana, Belushi accidentally strikes Henry on the noggin. The injury briefly throws Henry off balance, but not off course. Once the “window” is finished, Henry completes the bit by throwing himself out. When doing live television, always carry band-aids.

Virtually any installment of “Celebrity Jeopardy!” could’ve made this list thanks to two players: Will Ferrell and Darrell Hammond, neither of whom ever broke as Alex Trebek and Sean Connery, respectively. We imagine it was especially difficult for Ferrell, having to preserve Trebek’s stone-faced professionalism even as Connery bombards him with savage insults. This particular sketch stands out thanks to a few surprises, including Norm Macdonald as Burt Reynolds and Tom Hanks as Tom Hanks. The Oscar winner couldn’t be more convincing as an oblivious version of himself, never clueing us in that he’s in on the joke. Hanks returned as a Trump supporter for a round of “Black Jeopardy!,” once again devoting himself to a role without winking or laughing at the camera.

As Margaret Jo McCullen and Teri Rialto, Ana Gasteyer and Molly Shannon captured the soft-spoken spirit of the hosts you often hear on public radio. Maintaining that low-key manner of speaking sounds simple enough. When you’re given a line as hilarious as “Schweddy Balls,” though, holding back your laughter becomes something of an exercise in tolerance. Gasteyer and Shannon are joined by Alec Baldwin as Pete Schweddy, whose name provides a delectable double entendre. Chowing down on the Schweddy Balls, the three are never anything less than civil with the X-rated nature of the name being completely lost on them. Saying “Schweddy Balls” once with a straight face is challenging enough. Doing it several times has got to be a Christmas miracle.