# All Time Funniest/Least Funny SNL Recurring Sketch **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 9, 2009, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-funniest-least-funny-snl-recurring-sketch/502401 "2009-07-09T02:52:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-funniest-least-funny-snl-recurring-sketch/502401/61 "2009-07-10T18:18:30Z")
IIRC, he reprised it for Iraq War I, complete with satellite dish on his head. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-funniest-least-funny-snl-recurring-sketch/502401/62 "2009-07-10T21:37:51Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > IIRC, he reprised it for Iraq War I, complete with satellite dish on his head. I never caught that. But the originals were very funny. Great delivery. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-funniest-least-funny-snl-recurring-sketch/502401/63 "2009-07-10T22:45:28Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > I actually did like Sandler in a lot of the one-off sketches, but his recurring characters (with the possible exception of Canteen Boy) sucked. Opera Man was the worst. It’s a gimmick that might have been funny the first time, but they overdid it big time. One of the oddest things I saw Sandler do on SNL was a bit (I think it was during Weekend Update) where the setup was that he was an older kid, a little too old for Halloween, but who still wanted candy, and who’d come up with incredibly low-rent costume. “Eh, I’m a guy with a fork for a hand. Gimme some candy!” The only thing that made the bit memorable was the realization that he was basically describing his entire career on SNL. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-funniest-least-funny-snl-recurring-sketch/502401/64 "2009-07-10T23:39:16Z")
Goat Boy does get a lot of flack but it was shockingly ahead of its time. People forget that Goat Boy’s premise was that he was the host for an 80s nostaglia talk show. This was late 90s before VHI rebuilt their entire channel around being an 80s nostaglia talk show. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-funniest-least-funny-snl-recurring-sketch/502401/65 "2009-07-11T01:45:50Z")
> [@Small\_Hen](#): > > Best: Celebrity Jeopardy, of course. I’m also very fond of “The Chris Farley Show” (CF: “Do you, um, you remember the Beatles?” Paul McCartney: “Yes, Chris, I do.”) Farley: “'Cos that was AWESOME!!! Um, ok…next question…” ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-funniest-least-funny-snl-recurring-sketch/502401/66 "2009-07-11T04:30:56Z")
Best: Celebrity Jeopardy, Jimmy Fallon and Rachel Dratch as the Boston teens. Worst: The Lovers. ick. Anything with Tracy Morgan. What was that one about the woman who was spreading joy? Hated every one of those skits. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-funniest-least-funny-snl-recurring-sketch/502401/67 "2009-07-11T10:25:07Z")
No doubt I’ll get disapproving glances for this but I haven’t seen many SNL for obvious reasons. The ones I saw seemed to be self approving,unfunny "up their own arses"progs where the viewers were required to laugh on penalty of being thought unperceptive,unintelligent and uncool if they didn’t. A sort of a "comedic"to use the word in its most liberal sense,Emperors New Clothes or Smugfest. Maybe they have genuinlly produced some incredibly witty thought provoking humour when I haven’t seen it but I’ll never know. I think that I can live with it. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-funniest-least-funny-snl-recurring-sketch/502401/68 "2009-07-11T20:36:21Z")
To add to disapproving glances… Anything with Chris Farley was very unfunny to me. All it was was "I’m a fat guy, watch me YELL MY LINES and then FREAK OUT for no REASON!!! I’m FUNNY!!! ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-funniest-least-funny-snl-recurring-sketch/502401/69 "2009-07-11T21:08:09Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > and the skit where Billy Crystal (and someone else in the cast-cant remember who) would talk about maiming themselves and end each example with “I hate it when I do that” was pathetic… I totally thought that wasn’t from SNL (I thought it was from “Fridays”) but everything on teh internets points me to the contrary so I stand corrected. To be fair, the song is way funnier than the sketch. (and the other member is Christopher Guest.) ---
**Author:** ![Sycorax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@Sycorax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sycorax)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-funniest-least-funny-snl-recurring-sketch/502401/70 "2009-07-11T22:52:46Z")
It’s been a very long time since I’ve watched SNL regularly, so I’m apt to prefer the older, original cast skits. Of the later ones, I thought the worst was Adam Sandler. I just could not understand how anyone could think he was funny, so it was nice to read here that I wasn’t the only one who didn’t like him. When he came on, I muted or changed channels. Also, didn’t see anything funny about Rob Schneider. Chris Farley was another that I didn’t care for. I think he had his moments, but as someone else said, I kept waiting for him to keel over from a heart attack in the middle of one of his skits. I’m surprised no one has mentioned Gilda Radner as a favorite. I didn’t like the hyperactive kid character who, basically, just jumped on her bed and slammed herself into walls – didn’t see anything funny in that. But Roseanne Roseannadanna made me laugh out loud. Also, the regular skit with Bill Murray and Gilda as the pre-pubescent, nerdy kids. Weekend update with Belushi, Chase, and Curtain. Church Lady. Billy Crystal in Fernando’s Hideaway. Loved Phil Hartmann in any SNL skit; Hans and Franz (“we’ll pump you up!”); two wild and crazy guys; Eddie Murphy in just about any skit; Mike Myers and coffee talk. ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-funniest-least-funny-snl-recurring-sketch/502401/71 "2009-07-11T23:43:38Z")
One of my favorites was the Dan Akroyd Irwin Mainway sketches. > [@](#): > > We have with us tonight, Mr. Irwin Mainway, President of Mainway Toys. Uh, Mr. Mainway, your company manufactures the following so-called harmless playthings: Pretty Peggy Ear-Piercing Set, Mr. Skin-Grafter, General Tron’s Secret Police Confession Kit, and Doggie Dentist. And what about this innocent rubber doll, which you market under the name Johnny Switchblade? [holds up doll] Press his head, and two sharp knives spring from his arms. [demonstrates] Mr. Mainway, I’m afraid this is, by no means, a very safe toy. > > …Alright. Fine. Fine. Well, we’d like to show you another one of Mr. Mainway’s products. It retails for $1.98, and it’s called Bag O’ Glass. [holds up bag of glass] Mr. Mainway, this is simply a bag of jagged, dangerous, glass bits. There was another with Halloween costumes. > [@](#): > > My guest tonight is Mr. Irwin Mainway, President of Mainway Novelties, and Chairman of the Board of Mainway Latex Corporation. Mr. Mainway, you are clearly the main flagrant offender in this area. For instance, your company manufactures and distributes this Halloween costume.. [picks it up and holds it] ..Johnny Space Commander mask, which retails for $6.95. It’s nothing more than a plastic bag and a rubber band. This is very dangerous for young children! > > …Alright, Mr. Mainway, if you don’t think that was unsafe, how about this Halloween costume, which you market under the label “Invisible Pedestrian”? [holds up the costume] It’s an all black suit, gloves and mask. Now, it seems to me, Mr. Mainway, a child wearing this costume at night to go trick-or-treating is in grave danger of being hit by a car! > > …What about this? [holds up new costume] Johnny Human Torch? It’s a bag of oily rags and a lighter! Worst. Too many to mention, but I really hate most of Kristen Wiig’s characters despite liking her. Also most of Adam Sandler’s characters with the single exception of the canteen boy skit with Adam Baldwin as the scout leader. ---
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-funniest-least-funny-snl-recurring-sketch/502401/72 "2009-07-12T04:08:28Z")
Lordy! Thanks, I still say that every time i wear my black clothes-invisible Pedestrian! ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-funniest-least-funny-snl-recurring-sketch/502401/73 "2009-07-12T05:32:43Z")
I loved the one with the original cast where they were all the Marvel superheroes at a house party. Garret Morris is Ant-Man, trying to convince folks he has meaningful superpowers, and John Belushi is the Incredible Hulk. He exits the bathroom, and everyone recoils in horror as he says, “C’mon! Ya can’t expect it to smell like roses!” The thought of what horrors the Hulk leaves behind is truly terrifying. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-funniest-least-funny-snl-recurring-sketch/502401/74 "2009-07-12T06:15:49Z")
I feel i may win for least funny. Not that anyone would recall them, but when Gail Matthias and Denny Dillon did their Vickie and friend valley girl impressions. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-funniest-least-funny-snl-recurring-sketch/502401/75 "2009-07-12T06:43:33Z")
> [@Patch](#): > > I loved the one with the original cast where they were all the Marvel superheroes at a house party. Garret Morris is Ant-Man, trying to convince folks he has meaningful superpowers, and John Belushi is the Incredible Hulk. He exits the bathroom, and everyone recoils in horror as he says, “C’mon! Ya can’t expect it to smell like roses!” The thought of what horrors the Hulk leaves behind is truly terrifying. :eek: Oh, man, I’d forgotten about that one!! And, when he first went into the bathroom, didn’t he accidentally sit on the Invisible Girl on the toilet?? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![alfonzos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@alfonzos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alfonzos)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-funniest-least-funny-snl-recurring-sketch/502401/76 "2009-07-12T20:03:37Z")
Least funny recurring sketches: (this going waaaaay back, I know) The Greek Restaurant (“Cheeseburger, cheeseburger, chesseburger. No Pepsi. Coke.”) and the Scotch Tape store in the mall. FTR: Garrett Morris’s baseball player character was Chico Escuela. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-funniest-least-funny-snl-recurring-sketch/502401/77 "2009-07-12T20:39:12Z")
> [@alfonzos](#): > > Least funny recurring sketches: (this going waaaaay back, I know) The Greek Restaurant (“Cheeseburger, cheeseburger, chesseburger. No Pepsi. Coke.”) and the Scotch Tape store in the mall. > > FTR: Garrett Morris’s baseball player character was Chico Escuela. John Belushi’s Albanian immigrant parents ran a restaurant during much of his youth, and Belushi always felt a little guilty for not taking over the family business—The Greek restaurant sketch was a kind of tribute to his dad, and while I agree that its not among the funnier things Belushi came up with, I always felt it was kind of a sweet portrayal of a slice of his life from childhood, and a nice little nod to his family… (By the way, the food they used in the sketch was real, and was actually eaten by the cast) ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-funniest-least-funny-snl-recurring-sketch/502401/78 "2009-07-12T20:41:06Z")
> [@Tamara+](#): > > Lordy! Thanks, I still say that every time i wear my black clothes-invisible Pedestrian! I went trick or treating as the invisible pedestrian one year, when I was a little too old, but still wanted candy. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-funniest-least-funny-snl-recurring-sketch/502401/79 "2009-07-12T21:38:05Z")
> [@alfonzos](#): > > No Pepsi. Coke :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-funniest-least-funny-snl-recurring-sketch/502401/80 "2009-07-12T21:59:12Z")
Any recurring Kristen Wiig sketch is going to be up there for least funny - she’s death to comedy. The Target lady, the liar who has to outdo everybody, that stupid old bitch movie reviewer, her horrible Kathy Lee impression, the literally painful Gilly - why this woman’s not an industry laughingstock like Horatio Sanz and Jimmy Fallon is beyond me. I hate to admit, though - while I hated Tracy Morgan on that show, “Brain Fellows” always cracked me up for no good reason. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-funniest-least-funny-snl-recurring-sketch/502401.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-time-funniest-least-funny-snl-recurring-sketch/502401.md?page=5)