# 'The 50 Greatest Comedy Sketches of All Time' **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 1, 2008, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564 "2008-05-01T03:45:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RiverRunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/977dab/32.png) [@RiverRunner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiverRunner)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/21 "2008-05-01T13:23:32Z")
[QUOTE=Paul in Saudi] Blocked by the Saudi authorities. [/QUOTE] I can’t get to it, either, here at work, but if _Who’s on First?_ isn’t #1 and _Niagara Falls_ isn’t on the list, I don’t think I’m missing anything. RR ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/22 "2008-05-01T13:24:31Z")
It’s unknown for certain who created the “Slowly I turned” sketch: > **[Slowly I Turned](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stranger_with_a_kind_face)** > > "Slowly I Turned" is a popular vaudeville sketch wherein a character is relating a story and is triggered into violent outbursts when the listener inadvertently utters a triggering word or phrase. Versions have also been performed in movies and on television. Comedians Harry Steppe, Joey Faye, and Samuel Goldman each laid claim to this routine, also referred to as "The Stranger with a Kind Face" by clowns, "Niagara Falls" by fans of The Three Stooges and Abbott and Costello, "Martha" b The rout... It certainly goes back to vaudeville times. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/23 "2008-05-01T14:45:18Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] Who’s On First should have been #1, in my opinion. [/QUOTE] I agree. {Heads explode. Earth stops turning. Sun disappears into black hole.} A masterpiece of perfect timing, comic reaction, straight man set-ups, and brilliant wordplay. The first time I ran across it was a visit to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown as a kid. Even written out, the routine dazzled me. When I found it on an old radio tape and heard it performed I was in shock and awe. And yes, this comes from someone who is a Marx Brothers fanatic and puts Abbott and Costello in a far lower level of the pantheon. The interplay between Palin and Creese doesn’t rise to the same level. It’s mostly Cleese’s character ranting without the equal contribution of the straight man. Great skit, but probably not as good as the Cheese Shop sketch for that reason. Yes, I think way too much about comedy and humor. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/24 "2008-05-01T15:15:27Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] Who’s On First should have been #1, in my opinion. [/QUOTE] Concur. The dead parrot sketch is brilliant, but Who’s On First is utterly timeless. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/25 "2008-05-01T15:24:53Z")
I’m having problems watching the clips. I can usually see the video, but never get any sound. ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/26 "2008-05-01T15:25:46Z")
Work is blocking the link. Anyone wanna post a quick list of the top ten or so for us suckers at work or living in oppressive countries? ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/27 "2008-05-01T15:35:01Z")
[QUOTE=Flander] Work is blocking the link. Anyone wanna post a quick list of the top ten or so for us suckers at work or living in oppressive countries? [/QUOTE] 10. “Synchronized Swimming,” Saturday Night Live, 1985 9. “Not for Ladies Only,” Saturday Night Live, 1976 8. “Consumer Probe,” Saturday Night Live, 1977 7. “Nairobi Trio,” The Ernie Kovacs Show , 1956 6. “The Idiot in Rural Society,” Monty Python’s Flying Circus, 1970 5. “The Coneheads at Home,” Saturday Night Live 4. “Samurai Hotel,” Saturday Night Live, 1975 3. “Argument Clinic,” Monty Python, 1972 2. “Who’s On First?” Abbott and Costello, 1942 1. “Dead Parrot,” Monty Python, 1969 The 70s were apparently fantastic for sketch comedy. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/28 "2008-05-01T15:45:29Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] Who’s On First should have been #1, in my opinion. [/QUOTE] That’s the first one I thought of. Classic. I like Python and SNL, but _eight_ of the top ton? Really now. ---
**Author:** ![Duhkecco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8491ac/32.png) [@Duhkecco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duhkecco)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/29 "2008-05-01T15:58:54Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] Who’s On First should have been #1, in my opinion. [/QUOTE] Not the version in the [Nerve.com](http://Nerve.com) video. The “Who signs the receipt” section is too long. Costello fumbles his delivery at least once. They both start losing it (at about the 4 minute mark), although they are cute when it happens. I think that this version is better: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sShMA85pv8M](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sShMA85pv8M) ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/30 "2008-05-01T16:02:26Z")
Yeah, this was definitely an American-centric list. Yeah they had Python, French & Saunders and KITH (but no Dr. Seuss Bible!!) in there but…meh. I really don’t think The State and SNL should have gotten so much play. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/31 "2008-05-01T16:04:10Z")
[QUOTE=pulykamell] I like Python and SNL, but _eight_ of the top ton? Really now. [/QUOTE] They used a definition of sketch that is a little bit restrictive, which limited the pool of candidates to a small number of TV shows. Nothing against Who’s on First? or anything, but really, it’s more of a routine than a sketch. So maybe it shouldn’t be there, but it’s so famous they obviously felt they couldn’t leave it out. Niagra Falls is a routine, too, or at least a piece of one, so it’s not there either. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/32 "2008-05-01T16:04:19Z")
[QUOTE=Abirode] Not the version in the [Nerve.com](http://Nerve.com) video. The “Who signs the receipt” section is too long. Costello fumbles his delivery at least once. They both start losing it (at about the 4 minute mark), although they are cute when it happens. I think that this version is better: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sShMA85pv8M](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sShMA85pv8M) [/QUOTE] That is a good version, but damn — the audience is dead. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/33 "2008-05-01T16:17:06Z")
So can we agree that Abbott and Costello should have been on first? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/34 "2008-05-01T16:17:47Z")
[QUOTE=JThunder] So can we agree that Abbott and Costello should have been on first? [/QUOTE] I don’t know… Third place! ---
**Author:** ![janis\_and\_c0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janis_and_c0/32/21_2.png) [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/35 "2008-05-01T16:19:05Z")
I can’t believe they had only one Carol Burnett Shetch on this list… ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/36 "2008-05-01T16:20:20Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] They used a definition of sketch that is a little bit restrictive. [/QUOTE] What definition is that? All I see is: > [@](#): > > After all, the comedy sketch — short, sweet, completely silly or shot through with social commentary — worms its way into the public mind like nothing else, and has easily made the leap to the web when other forms have faltered. > > Any list is bound by the limitations set on it — consciously and unconsciously — by its creators: we kept our 50 selections to stuff that’s appeared on television by choice, and to what’s appeared in English out of necessity. That doesn’t seem especially restrictive to me. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/37 "2008-05-01T16:34:16Z")
[QUOTE=jovan] There’s a sketch I was sort of hoping to see on this list because I thought it was hilarious and I haven’t been able to trace it: It’s an early SNL sketch that features a call-in show. The topic is particularly bland and no-one calls. Frustrated by the lack of calls, the host progressively makes the topic more and more controversial until it becomes completely absurd, ending with something like “commies eating American babies on school buses, I’m for it. What about you?” Does it ring a bell? [/QUOTE] _Talk Back, with Buck Henry_, I remember that one. The topics (with allowance for a twenty-year-old memory) were: Tax-free municipal bonds Forced bussing Communists Dead puppies, I like them. Which eventually turned into “using tax-free municipal bonds to pay for forced bussing of known communists to come to your home and _kill your puppies_!” And still no one called. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/38 "2008-05-01T16:36:31Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > What definition is that? All I see is: I read that last night and forgot about it. There’s the reason there’s no Stooges - it’s not style, it’s that they did short movies and not TV. I was trying to find a stylistic justification for leaving out the Stooges and Marx Brothers bits that could stand alone, like The Party of the First Part. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/39 "2008-05-01T16:39:25Z")
[QUOTE=Bosstone] 7. “Nairobi Trio,” The Ernie Kovacs Show , 1956. [/QUOTE] [The Nairobi Trio](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Uw03hS_EMY) is the sketch I was going to mention. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/40 "2008-05-01T16:44:14Z")
I also immediately thought of “Who’s on First?” for # 1, but you know what? They had it at # 2, I can’t bring myself to be so nit-picky to say they were wrong. Dead Parrot is indeed brilliant enough to at least be arguably considered in the (forgive the pun) ballpark (although the reason they gave seem to me to apply in better fashion to the Cheese Shop and the Bookstore sketches. To me, the brilliance of Dead Parrot is not the slow burn, but the lameness of the shop owner’s excuses, coupled with his ability to offer them in full sincerity). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564.md?page=3)