The 25 Best Holiday Skits in "Saturday Night Live" History
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It’s the most wonderful time of the year—because the geniuses over at Saturday Night Live tend to bring out their best bits just in time for the holidays. There’s an SNL Christmas skit for everyone, from parodies of pop-culture phenomena (see Cecily Strong’s dead-on take on Sarah Koenig in “Serial: The Christmas Surprise”) to the we-can-relate moments that make us all crazy (think every Kissing Family sketch). And who could forget the absurdities: Jennifer Aniston and Rachel Dratch as Christmas street urchins, James Franco and Fred Armisen as guests on Vincent Price's holiday special.
So skip the political talk at your holiday dinner—we’ve rounded up 25 hilarious holiday skits to make your season merry and just a little bit brighter.
"It's a Wonderful Life: The Lost Ending" (1986)
It's a Wonderful Life ends with a very heartwarming scene as the people of Bedford Falls donate their money to George and his family for all of the good they've done for the town. But imagine if, instead of the story ending there, Uncle Billy remembered what happened to the $8,000 he lost and discovered Old Man Potter deposited it into his own account. Now, imagine if George and Co. then went to go get some sweet, sweet revenge on the guy. That's exactly what happens in SNL's "discovery" of this alternate film ending circa 1986.
"The Christmas Candle" (2016)
Anyone who gives candles as presents when they don't know what else to give will relate to this hilarious sketch featuring Emma Stone, Aidy Bryant, and Kate McKinnon. As with many of SNL's song-based sketches, the actors really commit to the bit—which, along with the whole concept, makes it worth watching season after season.
"Sump'n Claus" (2014)
"Everybody's been naughty, everybody's got flaws." Sump'n Claus (Kenan Thompson) has an all too real mantra. Whoever Santa crosses off his list, Sump'n Claus puts on his own to bring all of those imperfect souls envelopes of cold hard cash.
“Debbie Downer: Christmas Eve With Santa Claus” (2005)
This skit is exactly what you'd expect from Rachel Dratch's character Debbie Downer, who basically embodies a less enthusiastic Grinch. In this flashback scene, she meets Santa (played by Jack Black) and points out all of the glass-half-empty views of Christmas and its traditions.
"Christmas Morning" (2020)
Mom deserves more than the robe (and slippers and candles) you gift her year after year. In this all too real sketch, a family—Kristen Wiig, Beck Bennett, Kyle Mooney, and Chloe Fineman—shows off their Christmas gifts. Even the dog gets more thoughtful gifts than the mom, reminding us all to put a little more personalization into gifts for our mothers.
“Delicious Dish: Schweddy Balls” (1998)
SNL writers love a good sexual innuendo, and none were better than this now iconic skit starring Ana Gasteyer and Molly Shannon as monotone NPR radio hosts and Alec Baldwin as their ball-peddling guest Pete Schweddy. The trio goes on at length about the size, appearance, and shape of Schweddy’s dessert balls, miraculously not breaking character once.
“D*** In a Box” (2006)
Still wondering what to get that special lady in your life? Flashback to 2006, when Justin Timberlake and Andy Samberg schooled everyone in the not-so-subtle art of seduction in this Emmy-winning short, in which they’re dressed like cheesy 90’s R&B singers. Shout out to Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig, whose lusty looks alone are worth the watch.
“Sue: Christmas Surprise” (2009)
Everyone loves a good secret, but Kristen Wiig’s Aunt Sue simply can’t contain her excitement when newlyweds played by Taylor Lautner and Abby Elliott reveal that they’re expecting: She attacks a cheese ball, destroys a gingerbread house, and nearly ruins the surprise before she disappears up the chimney.
“Best Christmas Ever” (2018)
Matt Damon and Cecily Strong are either delusional or the best parents ever in this humorous skit about sweetly smoothing over all the annoyances of the day, from kids who wake up at the crack of dawn to the stress of assembling toys the night before Christmas morning to dealing with less-than-polite relatives. But these two take it all in stride with help from the spirit of the season—and, in Strong’s case at least, many glasses of wine.
“’Twas the Night Before Christmas” (2008)
In this darkly funny opening monologue, John Malkovich treats kids to a cynical take on the Christmas classic, complete with details about the impossibility of sleigh-riding physics, an update on California’s home-invasion laws, and a retelling of the Portuguese Santa Claus, who steals children’s toes if they’re not careful. And to all a good night!
“Santa Baby” (2015)
Played by Ryan Gosling and Vanessa Bayer, a deranged couple takes their neighbors hostage at the annual Christmas party and demand to meet Santa (Beck Bennett in costume) when they learn that jolly Old Saint Nick pays the kids in town a visit every year. What they don’t realize: Standing just outside the door, the real Santa sees their disloyalty and walks away dejected.
“Christmastime for the Jews” (2005)
In this genius Saturday TV Funhouse sketch (remember those?) by Robert Smigel, Darlene Love sings a Phil Spector–esque song about the one day each year when Jews take over the town while gentiles hunker down at home with their Christmas trees. It makes you wonder why these aren’t a thing anymore.
“Santa’s My Boyfriend” (2006)
What starts as a sweet Christmas tree-decorating scene turns into a raunchy doo wop-style music video in which Amy Poehler, Kristen Wiig, and Maya Rudolph sing about the many tongue-in-cheek virtues of their mutual boyfriend, Santa. Sample lyric: “When everybody else is putting up their stockings, he’s taking mine down!”
“Christmas Sing-a-long” (2015)
Don’t remember the iconic Broadway standard Debra’s Time? Don’t worry, you will, as Cecily Strong and guest star Chris Hemsworth assure their guests during an already awkward Christmas sing-a-long (do people actually still have these?). What follows is a bizarre number that musical theater lovers are sure to trot out every holiday season.
“Chanukah Song” (1994)
“Here’s a list of people who are Jewish, just like you and me,” sings Adam Sandler in his now iconic Weekend Update skit, which has become a staple on holiday playlists. Sandler refreshed the song with new references throughout the years, but the original is a touchstone for a generation of 90’s SNL lovers.
“Bring It On Down to Wrappinville” (2013)
Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon star as rapping gift wrappers—literally: Timberlake is dressed as a giant tube of paper while Fallon sports an oversized decorative bag—looking to upstage Aidy Bryant’s charity present-decorating station. The duo’s renditions of Ludacris’s “Roll Out” and Run DMC’s “It’s Tricky” get top billing, but Bryant’s unexpected comebacks are just as entertaining.
“Do It On My Twin Bed” (2013)
The Emmy-nominated song reveals a cruel holiday inconvenience: Anyone bringing a new boyfriend home to meet the family for Christmas has to contend with the humiliating fact of their childhood bedroom. Here, an all-star cast starring Vanessa Bayer, Aidy Bryant, Cecily Strong, Kate McKinnon, Nasim Pedrad, and Noël Wells puts a sexy girl-band spin on it. Raise your hand if you have a drunkle bed.
“You’re a Rat Bastard, Charlie Brown” (2013)
Imagine Al Pacino, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Edie Falco, and Larry David sign on to do an independent theater version of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, and you’ve got the makings of this SNL holiday classic, filled with spot-on impersonations by Bill Hader, Jason Sudeikis, and Kate McKinnon, plus a surprise appearance by Martin Short.
“I Wish It Was Christmas Today” (2000)
There’s an adorable garage-band naiveté to this special holiday song, which appears in different iterations just about every year, but a few things remain constant (except that one year The Muppets joined in): Horatio Sans on lead guitar and vocals, Jimmy Fallon on the keyboard, Chris Kattan on head bob, and Tracy Morgan doing…we’re not sure, but it’s damn funny.
“Michael Bublé Christmas Duets” (2011)
Taylor Swift (Kristen Wiig), Justin Bieber (Jimmy Fallon), and M.I.A. (Nasim Pedrad) join perennial holiday crooner Michael Bublé in this hilarious promotional video for his forthcoming Christmas album, but Fallon’s impersonation of British actor Russell Brand takes the cake.
"Glengarry Glen Christmas: Elf Motivation" (2005)
In this parody of the 1992 film, Glengarry Glen Ross, Alec Baldwin hilariously mocks his role in the classic movie as "Winter's Breath," a harsh, profanity-using elf sent to motivate other elves as they build toys for Christmas. When "Winter's Breath" walks in the workshop to hear Santa's Helpers complaining about their broken tools, he gives them a harsh lesson, reminding them to ""Always Be Cobbling," a play on Baldwin's famous line, "Always Be Closing."
"Mister Robinson's Neighborhood: Christmas" (1984)
Everyone knows Mister Rogers, but have you met Mister Robinson? Let's just say, it's not a wonderful day in this neighborhood. Featuring a young Eddie Murphy, this holiday classic gives Old Saint Nick a run for his money...literally.
"Weekend Update: Drunk Uncle on Christmas" (2013)
It's not Christmas without a drunk uncle. And it's not SNL without the classic segment, Weekend Update, so you already know this is going to be a good one. Bobby Moynihan (Drunk Uncle) and John Goodman (Drunker Uncle) join Seth Meyers for a holiday rant that will probably sound eerily familiar to some of your very own cringe-worthy Christmas conversations.
"Two A-Holes in a Live Nativity Scene " (2005)
When two a-holes—played hysterically by Jason Sudeikis and Kristen Wiig—sign up to join a live nativity scene as Mary and Joseph, thinking it was a raffle ("I like to win stuff I don't need"), they cause quite the stir. Between their lateness, obnoxious gum-chewing, and constant texting, their presence is anything but holy. "Why are you even here," the organizer asks, to which they respond "we want to go to Heaven." I'll be damned if you don't know two a-holes just like these two.
"Serial: The Christmas Surprise" (2014)
If you're not familiar with Serial, the OG true crime podcast that everyone was obsessed earlier this decade, I'm not sure where you've been. In this "season," Serial's Sarah Koenig (Cecily Strong) is investigating the mysterious story of Kris Kringle (Kyle Mooney), an elf that allegedly breaks into peoples homes and leaves them presents—but how does he do it? Find out...next time on Serial.
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