Best ‘Saturday Night Live’ Sketches This Season, So Far
Saturday Night Live is experiencing a resurgence in ratings and cultural buzz this season, in large part due to its pointed critiques of one Donald J. Trump and his administration.
Alec Baldwin’s impression of Trump, as well as Melissa McCarthy’s take on press secretary Sean Spicer, have both become social media sensations. And with a strong lineup of hosts from Tom Hanks to Scarlett Johansson, Season 42 has turned out some hilarious, memorable sketches.
Here’s a rundown of the some of the best so far:
Haunted Elevator (ft. David S. Pumpkins)
The sketch that received the most buzz this season wasn’t political, but a completely silly, random journey through an odd haunted house.
Donald Trump vs. Hillary Clinton Debates
Baldwin may be retiring his Trump impression soon, but the performances he delivered as the real estate mogul-turned-president became instant classics:
Sean Spicer Press Conferences
What a genius move to get McCarthy to play the short-tempered, gum-chewing press secretary. Get this woman another Emmy!
“Welcome”
Throughout SNL’s history, politics has been its bread, butter, and side of chips, as this snarky critique of Trump’s Muslim travel ban demonstrates. “You’ll also need fingerprints, blood sample, urine sample, stool sample … and you will be required to eat a hot dog in front of us.”
“Election Night”
Dave Chappelle’s first time as host could not have come at a better time — the weekend after the election. With an assist from Chris Rock, Chappelle skewers white liberals who thought Hillary Clinton was unbeatable.
“Hillary, Actually”
SNL threw out a bone to mourning Clinton supporters with this clever bit inspired by the movie Love Actually.
“Complicit”
The show didn’t just reserve its sharp commentary for Trump — his daughter, Ivanka, also got a dig. This fake commercial for her perfume calls her “a feminist, an advocate, a champion for women… but, like, how?”
“Black Jeopardy”
SNL not only can be snarky, it can be insightful, like in this sketch featuring a white Trump supporter who actually fares pretty well in the game of “Black Jeopardy.”
“Christmas Miracle”
This sketch brings back Kate McKinnon’s hilarious chain-smoking character Ms. Rafferty, who made Ryan Gosling lose it in a previous sketch about alien abductions. Now, she’s the subject of an inquiry into miraculous phenomena, like Santa Clause.
“La La Land Interrogation”
The movie mistakenly announced as the Oscar Best Picture winner had a lot of ardent fans. But it also had left many viewers, like Aziz Ansari, feeling “meh.”
“Wells for Boys”
SNL has had some great fake ads (think “Autumn’s Eve”), and this one fits right into that tradition, touting a Fisher-Price playset for “sensitive boys” — a plastic well they can “wish upon, confide in, and reflect by.”
Target Commercial
For when you just need a big, empty parking lot you can just come sit in for a sec. This pretty much summed up 2016.
SNL returns with host Louis C.K. and musical guest The Chainsmokers on April 8. Watch clips and full episodes of SNL for free on Yahoo View.
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