Though we can all pontificate about which eras of SNL loom largest, there are always skits which can break the generational divide and generate laughter despite one’s age or proclivities. Some SNL sketches, indeed, are so preposterous that they beggar belief; betraying even the professional comics of the SNL cast, insinuating incorrigible laughter amongst them when they should be remaining stone-faced. Though it transpires only occasionally, these “character breaks” are generally welcome, encouraging the audience to engage further in the rollicking fun.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the funniest contemporary SNL skits, ones during which cast members broke into muffled chuckles, yet still persevered on.
Close Encounter (2015)
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Kate McKinnon, Cecily Strong, Aidy Bryant, Bobby Moynihan
The Premise: Several civilians claiming to have been abducted by extraterrestrials are interviewed by government officials to relate their experiences. Naturally, the government is curious to know whether their experiences were legitimate, and if so, what the aliens’ intentions were. The three civilians in question appear to be small-town bumpkins who were merely carousing in the woods one day, prior to their alleged abduction. Two of them relate an almost ethereal experience, while the other civilian, played by Kate McKinnon, describes her own experience as being quite different.
Ms. Rafferty, as she is named, claims she “woke up in a dirty little dome and forty little grey aliens watched me pee in a steel bowl.” Upon being questioned further, all while passively smoking, she continues, gesturing toward her fellow abductees: “These fancy cats are seeing God; meanwhile, I’m starting Phase 2, which is me sitting on a stool, while 40 grey aliens gently take turns gently batting my knockers around.”
Most of the surrounding cast are unable to contain their sniggers, especially the host, Ryan Gosling, who visibly chuckles several times.
Beavis and Butt-Head (2024)
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Mikey Day, Heidi Gardner, Kenan Thompson
The Premise: During a town hall meeting, a media correspondent questions an expert on the potential pitfalls of artificial intelligence. In what was supposed to be a thoughtful discussion, the session is unceremoniously interrupted by a person lurking in the background who bears a striking physical similarity to television’s Beavis, from the cartoon Beavis and Butthead.
The AI expert first notices the shared appearance and remarks upon it to the TV correspondent, played by Heidi Gardner. She exasperatedly turns around and upon scanning the individual, struggles to curtail what would be a prominent laugh; for she observes Beavis incarnate, played by Ryan Gosling. The reporter politely requests that the man identify a different seat, to avoid appearing in the camera shot. Though he removes himself quickly, he is nevertheless replaced by a man who frustratingly bears a resemblance to Butthead, of the same show.
Hilarity ensues, as Butthead, played by Mikey Day; has been even more cosmetically engineered than Gosling. Though the sketch itself was somewhat mundane, the visual enhancements used to create a real-life version of Beavis and Butthead are delightfully funny.
Debbie Downer (2004)
Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Rachel Dratch, Jimmy Fallon, Amy Poehler, Fred Armisen, Horatio Sanz
The Premise: In the Debbie Downer sketch, a family is rapturously visiting Disney World for vacation. Everyone is seemingly enjoying themselves, with the exception of a lone curmudgeon: Debbie Downer, played by Rachel Dratch. While the family attempts to initiate convivial discussion, Debbie continually interjects with profoundly sobering one-liners. They include:
“I guess Roy isn’t doing as as well as they first thought. Roy, of Seigfried and Roy? He was attacked by his own tiger and suffered devastating injury.”
“Did you guys hear about that train explosion in North Korea? The media is so sensitive there, so secretive. They may never know how many people perished.”
“Speaking of heat, if this greenhouse effect keeps up we’ll all be living under water.”
“By the way, it’s official. I can’t have children.”
None of the cast are able to adequately reel themselves in, breaking character numerous times. Debbie Downer, ironically, turned out to be not too much of a downer at all.
The Californians (2012)
Starring: Josh Brolin, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Fred Armisen, Vanessa Bayer, Kate McKinnon, Kenan Johnson.
The Premise: Conceived as a satire of a soap opera about privileged southern Californians, The Californians relentlessly mocks the peculiar tendencies of folks living in the greater Los Angeles area. Each cast member speaks with the cadence of a surf bum, often babbling incoherently; they also similarly place an emphasis on effectively traversing the traffic-scape of Los Angeles, possessing an acute knowledge of which highways save a sufficient amount of time; and, of course, they all proudly display shocks of bleached blonde hair.
Most of the SNL cast, who usually vacillate between stints in New York City and Los Angeles, seem well aware of the idiosyncrasies of SoCal culture. As a resident of Orange County, I can say their parody deserves effusive praise.
Career Day (2018)
Starring: Adam Driver, Pete Davidson, Sasheer Aidy Bryant, Sasheer Zamata, Melissa Villasenor
Premise: It’s Career Day at a local elementary school. A youngster invites his Father, Abraham Parnassus, to visit and discuss the rudiments of his career path. Parnassus, played by Adam Driver, is a bellicose oil baron, much to his son’s chagrin. He violently monologues on the vagaries of the oil industry, speaking frequently about the necessity of crushing one’s competitors “to the ground.” He demonstrates this in a visceral fashion, holding aloft a dead black crow, then throwing it to the ground and aggressively battering it with his walking stick.
Pete Davidson, who plays Parnassus’ son, struggles to remain in character during the entire sketch. When the crow is decimated by Parnassus, the remaining cast-members are also visibly astonished, leading many viewers to believe Driver performed the crow’s dismemberment spontaneously.
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