‘SNL’ Season 42: The 10 Best Sketches

The single greatest moment of this SNL season came not when McCarthy hit the stage as Spicer for the first time, but during her second sentence, when the studio audience realized it was her, and erupted accordingly. Moments of genuine surprise are sadly few and far between on SNL these days, but this one hit big, and with big laughs to follow. McCarthy captured the odd early aggression of Spicer’s press conferences and took just the right step further, turning Spicer into a whirling dervish of media hate. The best comic portrayals of political figures expose the target’s weaknesses while never falling into pontification. McCarthy’s portrayal pulled this off so well that the impression got Spicer in dutch with the big boss. The show is already on the verge of overkill with this impression, but this first appearance was comedy gold.

Men. Ugh, amiright? In this sketch, news reporter Kenan Thompson is covering a sinkhole collapse, and interviewing witnesses Margot Robbie, in a sexy black dress, and Mikey Day, in a buttoned-up short sleeve shirt. Given his look, Day isn’t wearing a pocket protector, but he might as well be. Turns out the two are married, and the comic escalation here is pitch perfect as Thompson’s interest shifts from the sinkhole to wondering how on Earth a geek like Day got a woman like Robbie to marry him. Soon, the whole news team is involved (save for anchor Cecily Strong, whose aggravation adds to the hilarity). A great early look at Day’s talent, and a model for aspiring sketch writers on how to pile one laugh on top of another.

How funny was this sketch, featuring Day as a wealthy centenarian with unconventional medical needs? So funny that Kate McKinnon couldn’t help from breaking, which is rare. But it speaks to Day’s talent that, in addition to playing versions of the tread-upon milquetoast, he’s also adept at the sort of slapstick comedy we rarely see on the show anymore.

The vibe between MSNBC Morning Joe anchor team Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski has always been awkward, even before they made their feelings for each other public (the pair recently announced their engagement). Kate McKinnon and Alex Moffat capture it perfectly. McKinnon flits breathily through the sketch, while Moffat nails Scarborough’s condescension before the pair comes together, turning their vague disgust into very specific lust. The small touches here, from Moffat displaying just a bit of tongue while flirting, to the disturbed looks on their panelists’ faces add to an already deeply funny and revealing sketch.

The only sketch on this list for the second year in a row. Totino’s is SNL‘s ongoing Super Bowl saga, and I hope they find ways to continue it for as long as Vanessa Bayer remains on the show. The third annual installment of the genre-jumping pizza rolls commercial parody finds Bayer preparing to feed her “hungry guys,” until a surprise guest arrives – Stewart, who turns this into an erotic French film. Pent-up housewife Bayer, who reveals she’s never been given a name, finally enjoys sensory fulfillment of her own, hungry guys be damned.

A riff on the Kendall Jenner/Pepsi debacle that found a unique way to illustrate just how ill-advised the whole affair was. Beck Bennett plays the commercial’s director, relishing his big break just moments before it shoots. Relaying the idea to others over the phone, he learns all too late what he’s done. The kicker – where Jenner’s friend clearly sees nothing ill-advised – really brings this home.

A twist on an old parody, switching from having clueless white liberals on the panel, to a working class man, played by Hanks, who has a lot more in common with the African-American contestants than anyone expected. A clever look at our political divide, and how, with all the divisions facing Americans today, issues of economic class might just be more important than race or political party.

Johansson and her fellow scientists discovered a way to read a dog’s thoughts and translate them into words. Just one problem – her dog turns out to be a Trump supporter. Johansson and her colleagues are borderline apoplectic at the rational approach this dog, voiced by Beck Bennett, takes in countering her every anti-Trump argument. But also, having an adorable dog shake off his brain helmet during a live show doesn’t hurt.

Run after the election but before the electors cast their votes, this uses the note card scene from Love, Actually to show Hillary Clinton trying to seduce a Trump elector, played by Cecily Strong, into voting for anyone else. Few words are spoken, but McKinnon has absorbed Clinton on such a subconscious level, she doesn’t need to speak to convey the desperation.

Hats off to Bobby Moynihan, whose last episode was Saturday. This sketch is a great example of why he’s been a cherished cast member, as he plays a god-awful lawyer who only has his job because he gave his partner’s relatives both of his kidneys. As Aziz Ansari recalls just how terrible he was as a lawyer, the building incredulity is enhanced by Moynihan, failing in the simple act of putting a book back on a shelf. Moynihan has played oddballs of every stripe in his nine years on the show. Here, he shows how funny the underdog can be.

Larry Getlen is the author of the book Conversations with Carlin. His greatest wish is to see Stefon enjoy a cheeseburger at John Belushi’s diner. Follow him on Twitter at @larrygetlen.