Top 10 Times SNL Made Fun of Children's TV Shows

With “The Muppet Show,” Jim Henson aspired to entertain audiences of all ages. He succeeded with the exception of resident curmudgeons Statler and Waldorf. These two never missed an episode, if only to heckle Kermit and company. If this were any other comedy show, a bouncer probably would’ve been sent in to intervene. “SNL” had the same idea, casting Keegan-Michael Key and Kenan Thompson as a couple of security guards who put the elderly Muppets in their place. Although the sketch takes a dark turn, the appreciation for the source material is evident in the craftsmanship. The only things more legit than the Statler and Waldorf puppets are the spot-on impressions from an unseen Beck Bennett and Mikey Day.

We’re all familiar with the classic “Schoolhouse Rock!” segment, “I’m Just a Bill.” The catchy tune explained how a bill becomes a law… unless it dies in committee or the president vetoes. In this 2014 sketch, President Barack Obama takes a more direct approach to rejecting a bill: pushing it down Capitol Hill. While Kenan Thompson plays the Bill, “SNL” went to the trouble of animating his tumble down the steps. This happens a few times as Obama introduces another figure who “Schoolhouse Rock!” neglected to mention. His name is Executive Order, and he just happens. That’s about it. While executive orders can be challenged, it isn’t as easy as shoving a bill down the stairs, which the president proceeds to do over and over.

Keke Palmer landed one of her earlier acting gigs playing True Jackson on Nickelodeon. When she hosted “SNL” in 2022, Palmer got to work with two other Nickelodeon alumni. Behind the scenes, Palmer suggested to Kenan Thompson that they do something like “Kenan & Kel”... or “Kenan & Kelly.” The real Thompson loved the idea, but in the sketch, Kenan immediately regrets signing on. The sketch faithfully recreates the Rigby’s set, although the silly comedy soon spirals into heavy drama. While Palmer brings unbound energy to Kelly, you can’t top the OG Kel Mitchell. Despite auditioning for “SNL” years earlier, Mitchell ultimately wasn’t cast alongside Thompson. Through this sketch, Palmer inadvertently reunited the duo. We can’t wait to see them in Jordan Peele’s “Yep” next!

After “Hannah Montana” ended, Miley Cyrus aimed to distance herself from her kid-friendly image, showing she was ready to be taken seriously as a more adult performer. What better way to get this across than by making fun of Disney Channel on “SNL?” Cyrus plays herself while Kenan Thompson fills in for Raven-Symoné. Funny considering that Kenan was a Nickelodeon kid, although he dabbled in a few Disney projects back in the day. The sketch feels less like a satire and more like an exposé as Cryus reveals the highly specific children’s sitcom cliches we didn’t notice growing up. Loud acting = funny, check. Stupid and/or lame authority figures, check. Spying in a doorway… man, this sketch easily could’ve been called “Every Disney Channel Show.”

Sometimes, we outgrow the shows we watched as kiddies. What about when the kids on those shows outgrow their roles, though? That’s what happens in this sketch featuring Rachel Dratch as a girl named Maria who’s… let’s say, blossoming into a young lady. Actually, she’s already in full bloom, which the director of “The Fun Friends Club” uncomfortably notices. So does Ray Liotta as Smiley the Dragon, a thinly veiled Barney parody. It doesn’t help that the songs and choreography unintentionally emphasize that Maria is more developed than her younger co-stars. You gotta love how they hired real kids as extras. Although the director finds a clever solution, puberty will eventually hit all of the kids like a pile of raw melons.

During World War II, Bugs Bunny and a platoon of others appeared in propaganda cartoons that might be considered problematic by modern standards. Nevertheless, Ronald Reagan feels it’s time to bring these cartoons back with the Iraq War in full swing. The X-Presidents thus enlist SpongeBob SquarePants. Not only is SpongeBob on model, but they got Tom Kenny himself to provide his voice. Like Kel Mitchell, Kenny unsuccessfully auditioned for “SNL,” although he quickly rebounded with several voiceover roles at Nickelodeon. When SpongeBob takes issue with the cartoon’s racist caricatures, among other script issues, the X-Presidents detain him. The Powerpuff Girls come to the rescue with Amy Poehler voicing Blossom. The girls meet their match, though, which even the X-Presidents acknowledge is pretty messed up.

We’re not saying Mitt Romney tanked his election campaign by targeting Big Bird and PBS’ funding, but it definitely gave Barack Obama a boost. After being mentioned during the first presidential debate in 2012, Big Big was welcomed to the “Weekend Update” desk. “SNL” could’ve just had a cast member impersonate Big Bird, much like how Chloe Fineman played Elmo years later. Yet, they got the real deal with Caroll Spinney voicing Big Bird. Despite being on an adult-oriented show, Big Bird is played sincerely with jokes that wouldn’t feel out of place on “Sesame Street.” Rather than ruin our childhoods, this bit makes us feel like kids again. Big Bird doesn’t have to worry about Romney anymore, although Ted Cruz is another story.

Preschool programs don’t abide by logic. In a show like “Paw Patrol,” nobody questions why a town’s first responder duties fall to a pack of dogs and their little boy owner. Reality clashes with childhood fantasy in this sketch as Oscar Isaac’s city councilman calls out Mayor Goodway for her questionable choice of law enforcement and rescue workers. He receives testimonies from other concerned citizens, who don’t just take issue with replacing the police and firefighters with canines. It’s that there are only six dogs. Even if they can talk and drive vehicles, there aren’t enough dogs to handle every crisis in Adventure Bay. This political ad makes some valid points, although if you ask us, it sounds like cat propaganda.

Some words won’t fly on network TV, even a late-night comedy show. This goes double for a fictional children’s program like “Jingleheimer Junction.” Tim Meadows hosts this “Thomas & Friends”-esque show as Jingleheimer Joe. He’s accompanied by the Junction Gang: Katie Kindness, Carly Caring, and Umberto Unity. Joe’s confusion turns to horror when the gang introduces a new member, Fred Friendship. Do we have to spell out why this conjunction junction needs to be censored? The Junction Gang does, attempting to arrange the letters on their shirts in a particular order. As the gang preaches a message of “togetherness,” Joe is forced to take more aggressive measures. It builds to a train wreck sure to leave audiences saying, “What the uckf?”


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

We Imagine This Is What James Gunn’s Unfiltered “Scooby” Script Would’ve Been Like

“Pee-Wee’s Playhouse: Repossessed”

If You Think The Turtles Aged Poorly, Look in the Mirror, 80s Kids!

To Be Fair, The Flag Was Impossible to Find on “Double Dare”

Kenan as Snoopy, Nuff Said

We can’t think of a more wholesome figure than Mister Rogers. There is a degree of innocence to Eddie Murphy’s performance as Mister Robinson, addressing his audience in a kindly manner. The words coming out of his mouth are anything but wholesome, however. Living in an inner-city apartment (often falling behind on rent), Mister Robinson teaches his young audience about failed marriages, where babies really come from, and how to make a clean getaway when the landlord comes a-knockin. In addition to being a hilarious send-up of Fred Rogers (who was a good sport about it), Mister Robinson became one of Murphy’s most iconic characters. When Murphy reprised the role in 2019, Mister Robinson got older, but the neighborhood and its problems remain the same.


What children’s show would you like to see “SNL” tackle? Let us know in the comments.