On Saturday Night Live, not all skits are performed live, and some people might argue that a significant number of the show’s most hilarious moments were recorded prior to their airing. By sorting through iconic mock movie trailers, intriguing commercial spoofs, touching short films, and undeniably funny Digital Shorts by The Lonely Island, we believe we have amassed the top highlights from pre-recorded SNL history.
First CitiWide Bank (Season 14)
In simpler terms, this timeless satirical advertisement introduces a seemingly unprofitable venture – a bank exclusively dedicated to exchanging coins and notes. The spokesperson, portrayed by Jim Downey, humorously highlights the versatility of First CitiWide Bank by repeatedly demonstrating different methods they use to dispense specific amounts of money endlessly.

Almost Pizza (Season 37)
You’ve probably encountered products designed as alternatives for everyday grocery items like margarine or vegetable bacon. An intriguing yet unsettling advertisement for a product named “Almost Pizza” – whose actual composition remains shrouded in mystery, beyond being inedible, distributed by Pfizer, and apparently alive – presents a chilling twist on this idea.

Prose And Cons (Season 7)
One of Eddie Murphy’s most hilarious quotes from SNL, or arguably throughout his entire career, comes from a brief mockumentary titled “Prose and Cons.” This piece focuses on a prison poetry-writing program, where Tyrone Green (played by Murphy) showcases his talent for rhymes and rhythm in his award-winning poem. However, it becomes clear that he lacks the skill to spell correctly.

SNL Digital Short: United Way (Season 32)
One amusing Saturday Night Live sketch showcases professional athletes, with Peyton Manning portraying a character who we sincerely hope is quite different from his real-life persona as the former Denver Broncos quarterback. In this skit, he plays in a fictional United Way commercial where he demonstrates dismally unsuitable behavior for children to emulate. From berating them during a casual game of football to instructing them on how to illegally break into a car, his actions in the sketch are far from exemplary.

Please Don’t Destroy – Three Sad Virgins (Season 47)
In the wake of The Lonely Island’s departure from Studio 8H and the conclusion of SNL Digital Shorts, Please Don’t Destroy (consisting of Ben Marshall, John Higgins, and Martin Herlihy) assumed the mantle as the new creators of comedically bizarre mini-adventures on the show. One of their most notable skits, “Three Sad Virgins,” began with enthusiasm about working with Pete Davidson, but eventually turned into a cringe-worthy music video overflowing with immature jabs at them. This production also featured an unexpected participation from Taylor Swift in the video, which was not something Please Don’t Destroy had anticipated.

Mom Jeans (Season 28)
The hilarity of SNL’s fictional ad for “Mom Jeans” is surpassed only by the tale behind its creation, as Tina Fey humorously recounted to Jess Cage on Sirius XM. She explained that she stumbled upon a particularly unflattering pair of jeans at J. Crew, brought them to Studio 8H, and, feeling remorseful, concocted this commercial as a satirical jab at the fashion tastes of suburban moms.

Deep Thoughts By Jack Handey (Various)
Jack Handey’s “Deep Thoughts” was a collection of musings or humorous insights, not always deep but certainly memorable. The topics varied widely, from Jack’s uncles living in caves who happened to be bears, to his pick for the most dangerous animal being a shark on an elephant’s back.

Don’t Look Back in Anger (Season 3)
In a different take, Tim Schiller directed the movie “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” which features John Belushi portraying an older version of himself. This unique casting choice, where he depicts being the sole survivor among the Not Ready For Primetime Players, was initially amusing but now carries a more poignant tone. The humor stems from Belushi’s legendary lifestyle, yet it serves as a somber reminder that he, unfortunately, became the first of the original cast members to pass away, leaving an indelible mark on Saturday Night Live in such a brief timeframe.

Love Is A Dream (Season 14)
The video titled ‘Love is a Dream’ isn’t comedic, but it’s filled with warmth and nostalgia. In this video, we see Jan Hooks portraying an elderly woman who discovers a tiara and vintage necklace in her safe deposit box. This discovery leads her into a vibrant daydream where she is a young socialite, being courted by a character played by Phil Hartman, who also plays the part of the bank’s security guard.”
“The video ‘Love is a Dream’ isn’t laugh-out-loud funny, but it’s wonderfully heartwarming. It stars Jan Hooks as an elderly woman who finds a tiara and vintage necklace in her safe deposit box, which takes her on a journey into a fantastical world. In this dreamscape, she appears as a young socialite being pursued by Phil Hartman, who plays both the romantic interest and the bank’s security guard.

White Like Me (Season 10)
One humorous Saturday Night Live sketch featuring Eddie Murphy, arguably the funniest one post his tenure, was broadcast when he returned as a host in 1984, well after his initial departure. In this sketch, the famous Beverly Hills Cop actor drew inspiration from John Howard Griffin’s book “Black Like Me” to create a short mockumentary titled “White Like Me.” In this production, Murphy transforms himself and explores what it feels like to be Caucasian.

Lazy Sunday (Season 31)
On Sundays, “Lazy Sunday” didn’t mark the start of SNL Digital Shorts, but it signaled a fresh chapter for the series and became a significant milestone in internet fame. The music video showcases Andy Samberg and Chris Parnell delivering their best performances as they rap about the most amusingly ordinary tasks, such as smoking Chronic, which is quite surprising – reading The Chronicles of Narnia.

New Disney Movie (Season 40)
It would be fantastic if we could confirm that this is an actual Dwayne Johnson movie coming up, as it might turn out to be the best live-action animated Disney film so far. However, in this fictional trailer, the former wrestler transformed actor assumes the lead role of Bambi, where he and his woodland companions reimagine the story, seeking revenge for their mother’s death by serving a taste of their own medicine to the hunters.

Wayne’s World With Madonna (Season 16)
Some standout SNL sketches starring renowned musicians often included “Wayne’s World” segments. For example, one such sketch depicted a flashback to when Wayne Campbell (played by Mike Myers) shared a memorable romantic moment with Madonna (portraying herself). This scene is so vivid that even Garth (played by Dana Carvey) claims to have personally experienced the memory.

Papyrus (Season 43)
As a passionate admirer, I can confidently say that Academy Award nominee Ryan Gosling truly outdid himself as an exceptional host in his captivating short film titled “Papyrus.” In this compelling piece, he portrays a man who finds himself on the brink of madness due to the fact that the iconic logo for a box-office hit like the 2009 blockbuster Avatar was simply adorned with the unassuming font of the same name.

MacGruber (Various)
Without a doubt, Will Forte’s most memorable character from his SNL era is undeniably MacGruber. Despite his purported expertise in crafting life-saving gadgets using everyday items, he consistently fell short when faced with numerous locked doors and dangerous explosives. The clumsy, MacGyver-esque secret agent gained such a massive following that he headlined one of the most cherished SNL films and even starred in his own spin-off series.

Homeward Bound (Season 1)
Gary Weis’ SNL short films might not have been consistently hilarious, but they consistently entertained, stirred emotions, or tugged at heartstrings. One particularly impactful piece aired during the show’s inaugural Valentine’s Day episode. It was a heart-wrenching montage of people reuniting with their loved ones in an airport lobby, set to the Simon & Garfunkel song “Homeward Bound.

Mr. Bill (Season 1)
Initially, during its debut season, what is now known as SNL, referred to as NBC’s Saturday Night back then, invited viewers to submit their home videos. The best entry would be transformed into a regular character on the show, and that role became Mr. Bill, a clumsy clay doll whose misfortunes and signature phrase “Oh no!” have ensured his survival despite numerous mishaps.

Happy Fun Ball (Season 16)
Similar to many real-life advertisements, the funniest fictional commercials on SNL often reel you in with an appealing introduction, only to surprise you with a startling disclosure about the product later on. For instance, consider the “Happy Fun Ball,” which initially appears as any other innocent, shiny, red toy, but a warning disclaimer reveals that it should never be handled by human hands.

Laurie Has A Story (Season 14)
Laurie Metcalf is one of only a few SNL performers to receive an Academy Award nomination, but it’s understandable if you don’t immediately recall her time at Studio 8H. In truth, there are limited reminders from her short tenure, with one notable example being a short film titled “Laurie Has a Story,” which she starred in alongside host Catherine O’Hara. This delightful production poignantly portrays the challenge of concluding a story at a dinner party when it seems as though every possible interruption imaginable occurs.

Synchronized Swimming (Season 10)
One standout, yet often overlooked, sketch from a somewhat divisive era in Saturday Night Live’s timeline is a documentary-style short featuring beloved comedy veterans Martin Short and Harry Shearer. In this piece, they portray a pair of ambitious synchronized swimmers who may not be perfectly suited for the sport.

La Dolce Gilda (Season 3)
If you still needed another reason to reminisce about Gilda Radner, consider this stunning tribute to her talent and the paths her career might have taken if she hadn’t passed away so early. In the film La Dolce Gilda, a black-and-white homage to Federico Fellini directed by Tom Schiller, she portrays an Italian movie star persona of herself, struggling under the weight of fame and adoration.

Saturday TV Funhouse: Charlie Brown Christmas (Season 28)
In Robert Smigel’s animated segment, “Saturday TV Funhouse,” they reinterpreted the heartwarming scene from “It’s Christmas Charlie Brown” where the Peanuts characters transform Charlie Brown’s pathetic tree into a stunning Christmas tree in an instant. This leads them to understand that they can enhance anything or anyone simply by waving their arms, even turning Pig-Pen and Schroeder into the evening’s musical performers, Phish. They quickly capitalize on this “amazing power,” creating a profitable business from it.

Don’ You Go Rounin’ Roun To Re Ro (Season 36)
Anyone who has watched a British gangster movie (like some early films by Guy Ritchie) and found they needed subtitles will likely find this mock trailer amusing. “Don’t You Go Running Round ‘Round” is a humorous spoof of U.K. crime dramas, featuring thick accents and mostly incomprehensible dialogue.

Open Heart Surgery (Season 1)
In the first season of SNL, Albert Brooks presented a collection of brief skits. However, his stint with the show was cut short by “Open Heart Surgery,” a 13-minute piece that Lorne Michaels had not expected to be so long. Rob Reiner, who hosted the show at the time, insisted on its airing. In this sketch, Brooks portrayed an untrained actor attempting a heart surgery onscreen.

Closet Organizer (Season 35)
The distinctive feature of the “Closet Organizer” ad, featuring Will Forte as a man in a blue jumpsuit who organizes chaos, stands out among SNL’s collection of pre-recorded skits due to its live follow-up that aired on the same night. Later in the show, host Jon Hamm portrayed a bar patron attempting to identify Forte, eventually realizing he was “the Closet Organizer guy.

Dissing Your Dog (Season 37)
In 2023’s movie “Strays”, Will Ferrell portrayed the character of Border Terrier Reggie, which could lead one to question his affinity for dogs given some of his roles on Saturday Night Live (SNL). For example, in a skit titled “Dissing Your Dog”, he played Dale Sturtevant, who suggested that using sarcastic remarks as a training method could be effective when dealing with pets.

That’s When You Break (Season 40)
The music video titled “That’s When You Break” was created exclusively for SNL’s 40th Anniversary special. In this video, Andy Samberg and Adam Sandler cleverly incorporate Tina Turner’s “Simply the Best” into a song that celebrates the history of SNL cast members who frequently laugh uncontrollably on air. The humor escalates significantly when they repeatedly mention Jimmy Fallon and Horatio Sanz’s numerous on-air laughter fits.

Bear City (Various)
The series “Bear City,” directed by T. Sean Shannon, appeared on SNL episodes from the early 2000s. This collection of short films was set in a town inhabited by bears who had evolved into a more structured society following a meteor impact that scattered a mysterious chemical on Earth, altering their brain chemistry.

Compulsion: Cologne (Season 13)
In the 80s, around the mid-1980s, Calvin Klein launched a series of advertisements for a perfume named Obsession, which were heavily influenced by daytime soap operas. However, they were more exaggerated and cheesy than the original soap operas. Similarly, in the spirit of Calvin Klein’s approach, Saturday Night Live created an ad for a fictitious, indulgent cleaning product called “Compulsion.

Djesus Uncrossed (Season 38)
One of Saturday Night Live’s more convincing fictional movie previews is titled “Djesus Uncrossed,” a depiction envisioning how a film about the Son of Man (portrayed by Christoph Waltz) might appear if directed by Quentin Tarantino. Regrettably, it turned out to be one of Saturday Night Live’s most notorious instances as various religious viewers found the concept of a violent revenge storyline centered around Jesus to be overstepping boundaries.

Saturday TV Funhouse: The Ambiguously Gay Duo (Various)
Without a doubt, the segment that garnered the most attention in Saturday TV Funhouse was “The Ambiguously Gay Duo.” The characters Ace (portrayed by Stephen Colbert) and Gary (Steve Carell), who were masked vigilantes, had their sexual orientation often speculated by their adversaries. They came to symbolize Robert Smigel’s collection of edgy animated shorts, becoming the iconic figures of the series.

Colon Blow (Season 15)
In this commercial, Phil Hartman appears promoting a cereal boasting an incredible 30,000-fold more fiber than typical cereals. But what truly elevates the skit to legendary status is the intriguing title of the product: Colon Clearout.
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