# '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:** 3
**Author:** ![brickbacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/41 "2008-05-01T17:02:23Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] Also, the Pretaped Call In Show was the most sublime. Missing was Wanda, from In Living Color. [/QUOTE] True, but I don’t know if it was even Mr. Show’s best sketch. Here are some of my favorites: 1. [The Rapist](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DeikFMnHwU) 2. [Lie Detector](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_2KUXDACoU&feature=related) 3. [Lawfirm Interview](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcaVSTsYyOI&feature=related) 4. [More money than you do](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF8wLg5Asgo&feature=related) 5. [East Coast vs. West Coast Ventriloquism](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne0RrK5qJ-k&feature=related) 6. [Lifeboat Jerry Springer satire](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N__UBXS_o7U&feature=related) 7. [Hitler servant clones](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ymfs21xeDc&feature=related) 8. [Pallies (Goodfellas Parody)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJT-piL3eas&feature=related) 9. [Angry Marriage](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfUv5t71_Xo&feature=related) 10. [Incompetent kidnapper](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLuZGlwStBM&feature=related) 11. [The Bob Lamada Story](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxPjYSay9g0&feature=related) 12. [Taint model](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=related&v=Anm44OEkFFk) 13. [Hail Satan Network](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCiTlMrMAhU&feature=related) 14. [McHutchence vs Greeley III](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCfMgqnq2uo&feature=related) 15. [Josh Fenderman](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6fez3AHUzQ&feature=related) 16. [The Fairsley Difference](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP4yX2rkpBc&feature=related) 17. [Vaunnies Mustardayonnaise](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OuPEubf-UY&feature=related) 18. [America blows up the moon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHpX5aa5Lz4&feature=related) 19. [Globochem](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uco5Ed-5y2U&feature=related) 20. [Coupon: The Movie](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLnoLmCqT30&feature=related) 21. [Recruiters](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy878f83Xa4&feature=related) 22. [Good to see you again](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AISLBrQ-ODE&feature=related) 23. [Ronnie Dobbs](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA6Z0LGqkkA&feature=related) 24. [Rev. Winton Dupree](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM4hp9kz_A4&feature=related) 25. [Cockring Warehouse](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un5SHBNRBQI&NR=1) 26. [Ma & Pop Porno Shop](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM1GIZSGH4g&feature=related) 27. [Change for a dollar](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGuT97v4pv0&feature=related) 28. [Good News! (Cure to homosexuality)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFo8NGO4nTA) 29. [Show me your weenis!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCimI9QUtc0&feature=related) 30. and [The Pre-taped call-in show](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrlS9_n8GX4&feature=related) ---
**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, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/42 "2008-05-01T17:10:27Z")
I’d forgotten about The State’s “Monkey Torture” sketch. That was very good. ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/43 "2008-05-01T17:24:53Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] [The Nairobi Trio](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Uw03hS_EMY) is the sketch I was going to mention. [/QUOTE] Um, why? I watched it, and it really didn’t strike me as funny. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/44 "2008-05-01T18:00:13Z")
Well I would have included the Jaws parody from Carol Burnette or a Mrs. Swahiggins Also I would have included Buck Henry as the babysitter on SNL. No Fire Marshall Bill from In Living Color? No Jim Carrey at all? ---
**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, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/45 "2008-05-01T18:06:46Z")
[QUOTE=Zebra] No Fire Marshall Bill from In Living Color? No Jim Carrey at all? [/QUOTE] 38. White, White Baby - In Living Color I never thought the Fire Marshall Bill skits were all that awesome. I’d have put Homey the Clown ahead of Bill. But the White White Baby rap is a good call. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/46 "2008-05-01T19:08:49Z")
[QUOTE=Zebra] Well I would have included the Jaws parody from Carol Burnette or a Mrs. Swahiggins Also I would have included Buck Henry as the babysitter on SNL. No Fire Marshall Bill from In Living Color? No Jim Carrey at all? [/QUOTE] You missed him. He sings the Vanilla Ice parody. I thought one of Daymon Wayans skits, “This old Box”, should have been there. It was a parody of _This Old House_ with Damon as the skeevy homeless guy improving his cardboard box. ---
**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, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/47 "2008-05-01T19:09:10Z")
[QUOTE=hotflungwok] Um, why? I watched it, and it really didn’t strike me as funny. [/QUOTE] How old are you, kid? 😛 [The Wiki article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nairobi_Trio) explains it better than I can. ---
**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, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/48 "2008-05-01T19:54:40Z")
When it comes to SNL skits, I’m surprised that Eddie Murphy’s Buckwheat sketch made the cut, but not [White Like Me](http://halfricanrevolution.blogspot.com/2008/03/classic-flashback-eddie-murphys-white.html). ---
**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, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/49 "2008-05-01T20:02:27Z")
[QUOTE=pulykamell] When it comes to SNL skits, I’m surprised that Eddie Murphy’s Buckwheat sketch made the cut, but not [White Like Me](http://halfricanrevolution.blogspot.com/2008/03/classic-flashback-eddie-murphys-white.html). [/QUOTE] White Like Me is more of a vignette than a sketch. I’ll be damned if I can elucidate the differences, though. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/50 "2008-05-01T20:08:25Z")
[QUOTE=Bosstone] Concur. The dead parrot sketch is brilliant, but Who’s On First is utterly timeless. [/QUOTE] Trying to slice them so thinly to determine which is better is pointless. Both are perfect comedy. It’s too bad that “Dead Parrot” has been imitated, replayed, and quoted so often that it’s become cliche, but it has been so because it’s so magnificently hilarious. I did think they missed a big one in omitting the Tim Conway dentist sketch. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/51 "2008-05-01T20:22:13Z")
Without looking, I expect to see “Who’s on First” at the top. … Well, I am slightly disappointed. Not a bad choice, maybe even #2. I think #15 should have been higher. I recall Word Association had me laughing for a long time. I still smile at the thought of “Dead Honkey”. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/52 "2008-05-01T20:30:26Z")
I missed the edit window: It seems like a shame that they couldn’t lift any scenes from Marx Brothers films or the Vessel with the Pestle from the Court Jester. I know old timers will be upset the the Jack Benny skit of “Your money or your life” “I’m thinking, I’m thinking.” did not make it. The one thing I hate with these lists is that there is no easy to look at complete brief list of the top 50. Jim ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/53 "2008-05-01T20:34:53Z")
No love for **Matt Foley: Motivational Speaker**? ---
**Author:** ![blinkingblinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@blinkingblinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkingblinking)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/54 "2008-05-01T20:42:14Z")
[British list](http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/greatest/comedy_sketches/results.html) ---
**Author:** ![blinkingblinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@blinkingblinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkingblinking)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/55 "2008-05-01T20:52:52Z")
What about Alas Smith and [Jones](http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Alas+Smith+and+Jones&search_type=) and [Not the nine o’clock news](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSINO6MKtco) ---
**Author:** ![Leechboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9fc348/32.png) [@Leechboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leechboy)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/56 "2008-05-02T00:49:19Z")
What, no love for Australian Comedy? Shaun Micallef’s [Drunk Sketch](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5-Vp5lG-R8), [English: Have A Go](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7EtVgZhXj8), or the exasperating [Godzilla Toy Interview](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuHJ31rm0y4) The D-Generation’s [Sh\*tscared](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFHvL9ZqiVI) (One of a bunch of great sketches from those characters), [Elderly Operations Center](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzyMsPAffds) or [Wild Men](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR16TObQs3o&feature=related) Clarke & Dawe’s [Front Fell Off](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcU4t6zRAKg) or [Iraq Strategies](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-fssfdTXdU) ---
**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 2, 2008, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/57 "2008-05-02T00:51:29Z")
[QUOTE=Bosstone] White Like Me is more of a vignette than a sketch. I’ll be damned if I can elucidate the differences, though. [/QUOTE] Actually, maybe the fact that it takes place outside the studio and is not real-time/live on a stage precludes its inclusion from the list. ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/58 "2008-05-02T01:00:34Z")
These great Two Ronnies Sketches bring tears to my eyes. If you like wordplay, you’ll love these. [You can say that again](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9-8WgbFvoQ&feature=related) Fork Handles Name Droppers Swedish Made Simple/ FUNEX Mastermind Crossed lines Optician Water, water Another good classic from Eric Idle [Rutland Weekend Television - Gibberish](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU0QZQRTNr0). ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/59 "2008-05-02T08:18:02Z")
I agree that “Who’s on first” should’ve been #1 – I’m a much bigger fan of Python than Abbot & Costello, but A&C is just plain funnier in this particular case. Anyway, here’s the [Kids in the Hall’s take on the routine](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfXFOllCE7s). Skip ahead to 1:50 if you’re pressed for time. Also, just because there wasn’t much KITH in the linked list: [Never Put Salt In Your Eyes](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=On6FSphbpUY). ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564/60 "2008-05-02T11:28:53Z")
I gotta get up at 5am and it was gone midnight before I got to bed because of this thread-- and I only got to #30. The Pre-Taped Call In Show and the AbFab originating sketch had me laughing out loud. Also, I remember The Spanish Inquesition to be shorter and funnier. One and two should be flipped in my opinion. P.S. The Kids in the Hall one where the guy refused to admit he was wrong? It’s like they know my husband. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-50-greatest-comedy-sketches-of-all-time/447564.md?page=4)