List on the 3s — Top 6 Obscure SNL Skits which Shiny Loves

“List on the 3s” is one of them memes
Everybody let me hear your screams
On a date which contains a 3 it seems
You get new lists with different themes!

And that, my friends, is why they rejected me during my Marky Mark audition and why they decided to go with Mark Wahlberg instead. Well, mostly that he was already named Mark. But I digress…

Hey, guess what? Tonight marks the 33rd season premiere of NBC’s Saturday Night Live. I have been a fan of this show through its highs and its lows (who am I kidding? Mostly its lows). And I’ve prided myself on watching most of the episodes from the mid-1980s and forward (with a brief hiatus during the Jon Lovitz years).  I’ve also been one of those annoying people who learned the sketches line-by-line.  I’ve even dressed up as the Church Lady in front of my entire high school.

There are certain sketches that I’ve found to be genius — perhaps a bit stupid, but also genius — which come to mind. Since we all know that this season of SNL will suck (simply because, per the rules of SNL, the current season always sucks when you compare it to past seasons), think of these while you’re watching tonight’s premiere.

Top 6 Obscure SNL Skits Which I Love

6. White Like Me: (December 15, 1984, Host: Eddie Murphy)

Direct Hulu link

I remember this parody of “Black Like Me” when it first aired.  We hadn’t seen Eddie Murphy do anything like this before,  and it seemed to cross lines that hadn’t been crossed before. I would say that it’s one of the rare sketches that probably would be more controversial today than when it originally aired…



5.  The Falconer: Time Travel: (May 20, 2006, Host: Kevin Spacey)

Direct Hulu Link

The recurring “The Falconer” sketch was never my favorite. But this one was quite exceptional. Premise: The Falconer’s falcon, Donald, is shot by a hunter. The Falconer, 20 years into the future, goes back in time to try to warn himself (and his falcon) in order to save the bird’s life. From there it just becomes insanity.



4. People Getting Punched in the Face Just Before Eating: (October 13, 2007, Host: Jon Bon Jovi)

Direct Hulu link

The “SNL Digital Shorts” were created by a group of three very talented people  who were initially known as the Lonely Island. You’ve probably heard of Andy Samberg, since he’s been part of the acting cast of SNL. But you probably haven’t heard of his partners Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone who joined the writing staff of the show.  They were a new generation of sketch comedy that used the web to market themselves (at first to FOX and Comedy Central with an awesome pilot called “Awesometown” available on their website).

You probably know “Lazy Sunday.” You probably know the Emmy award-0winning “D**k in a Box.”  But this one stands out to me. The premise might seem infantile, but it takes a surreal, ridiculous turn at the end.



3. Tom Brokaw Pre-Tapes (Gerald Ford is Dead): (October 26, 1996, Host: Dana Carvey)

Direct Google Video Link

This still makes me laugh every time. I think it was the first time Dana Carvey did his Tom Brokaw on SNL.   It was funny until Gerald Ford’s actual death a decade later. And then it was even funnier. Just watch…



2. The Penis Sketch / Nude Beach: (October 15, 1988 — Host: Matthew Broderick)

I wish I could find this sketch online. This aired about 20 years ago next month — and was one of the more controversial moments of the show at its time. Why? Because of the repeated use of the word “penis.” It takes place on a nude beach (with strategically placed bamboo) where Matthew Broderick’s character is a bit nervous about his first time going al fresco. His friend tries to calm him down saying that after a while you won’t even notice that everyone’s naked. And then they just talk about penises. Oh – and sing a song with the refrain penis, penis, penis, penis, penis all day long. There’s a nice write-up (with the transcript) here.

This sketch may have sounded immature at the time, but it was brilliantly executed — and tamed a taboo of the era.



1. Men’s Synchronized Swimming: (First aired – October 6,1984)

Direct Google Video Link

Classic premise and classic film-making: Harry Shearer and Martin Short are brothers boldly going where no man has gone before. And Martin Short’s character “is not a strong swimmer.” The above is an excerpt from the aired film.  Unfortunately, the original song which played as the background, Frank Stallone’s “Far From Over,” is missing (probably because it couldn’t get cleared for redistribution).  Whenever I hear that song, however, I immediately think back to this sketch. And Christopher Guest’s choreographer. We dig… a hole!  We dig… a hole!

And the best part about it? Life is imitating art — men are starting to pursue synchronized swimming. And we’re seeing how ridiculous it looks.

Let’s hope Michael Phelps does a remake of this sketch tonight…