From Mike Myers to Adam Sandler and Will Ferrell to Gilda Radner, some of the biggest names in comedy were members of Saturday Night Live.  The sketch show has been an important part of comedy culture since it first debuted on NBC back in 1975. These are my 7 favorite Saturday Night Live sketches throughout the history of the show.

This was no easy challenge. I’ve been watching the show for as long as I can remember, and it’s been on-air long before that. Season 49 of SNL debuted back in October. However, the show has been a staple on NBC since 1975.

Iconic SNL Sketches

When it comes to Saturday Night Live, everyone has their opinions and of course they all differ. I’m sure you’ve heard the typical “it’s just not funny any more” or “All the good cast members left.” People love hating on the show, but they always come back…and it certainly isn’t going anywhere. The show has been on the air for, like, 48 years now and it continues to pump out amazing sketches and funny people.

Considering the fact that the show has been on that long, I’m sure everyone has their own list of favorite sketches. It’s probably like a snowflake or a fingerprint where no two lists are the same. My friends all love SNL as much as I do, but I’m positive our lists of favorite sketches would look nothing alike.

When putting my list together I wanted to stay true to my favorite sketches, while trying to go back across multiple eras of the show. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen many episodes from the 70s or 80s. I’ve seen the popular ones, sure. However, I’m largely unfamiliar with that era so you probably won’t find many sketches from back then on my list. That means some timeless sketches are being left out.

In fact, most of the sketches that many consider to be among the best didn’t make the list. That means no More Cowbell, no Chippendale Auditions, and no Schweddy Balls. Enough about what didn’t make the list. Let’s check out what did make it!

• Jacuzzi Lifeguard

  This sketch makes me laugh every time. Seriously, it doesn’t get old. Will Ferrell and Jim Carrey team up for non-stop laughs in this one. Jim Carrey plays a lifeguard at a tiny little hot tub who takes his job very seriously. I think my favorite part is when Tim Meadows shows up. So great! I think about this anytime I’m in a public pool or hot tub…or see a lifeguard. Basically, I’m always thinking of this.

• Matt Foley: Van Down By The River

  Look, some classics had to make the list. I dressed up as Matt Foley one year for Halloween. If you’re looking for an easy cheap costume, you should do the same next year. Chris Farley brings his A-game in this sketch breaking tables and yelling. There’s nobody like him.

• Brutus

  Jonah Hill stars in this sketch from one of the times he hosted the show. He’s a proud member of the Five-Timers club, and it’s clear to see why he keeps getting invited back. Everything goes wrong for him in this sketch, but he has to keep it together! Doesn’t get old.

• Devil Can't Write No Love Song

  Another gem from the Best of Will Ferrell DVD I had growing up. This could be my favorite SNL sketch of all-time. The lyrics and songs he comes up with are hilarious and at the same time oddly catchy. They still get stuck in my head all the time.

• Celebrity Jeopardy: French Stewart, Burt Reynolds, & Sean Connery

  There’s no arguing that this is one of the greatest SNL sketches of all-time. This is the sketch that gave life to “Turd Furguson” an alias that will forever live on in infamy. It simply doesn’t miss. Of course Norm Macdonald steals the show as Burt Reynolds, but Darrell Hammond is gold as Sean Connery and delivers lines we still quote today, and then Jimmy Fallon is funny as French Stewart. It doesn’t get much better than this.

• Schiller Visions: Hidden Camera Commercials

  That’s right, another Chris Farley sketch. What can I say? I love the guy. I even named my dog after him, so of course he’s going to make the list more than once. I love his reaction in this sketch to finding out he’s been duped. That slow reveal is nothing short of iconic. That’s why it’s still a popular meme and GIF today.

  I was torn between this and one of The Chris Farley Show sketches, but ended up going with this. Those are always so great too, and had to bring it up. It was a tough call.

• Sandler Family Reunion

  This sketch makes me giggle. Everyone has an impression of Adam Sandler. He’s one of the easiest people to try to imitate. Now, with this sketch, we get to see comedians and our favorite SNL cast members do theirs. It’s funny to see that their impressions of him are just as cheesy and bad as all of ours. Cracks me up seeing them as all of his great characters throughout his career. It’s admittedly not as witty as some of the other sketches throughout SNL’s storied history, but it makes me laugh. That’s what counts.

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