'Saturday Night Live' #TBT: The Top 10 Skits of Season 41
Saturday Night Live entered its fifth decade with another year of highs (Amy Schumer, Larry David), lows (Donald Trump, Russell Crowe), and in-betweens (Matthew McConaughey, Drake). But the good stuff to emerge during Season 41 — which wraps up on May 21 with former cast member Fred Armisen returning to host — was often very good, with skits that ranged from the sublimely satiric to the outrageously out-there. Some tackled issues as timely as gun control and #OscarsSoWhite, while others just got goofy by celebrating space pants and getting horny to Robbie from Dinosaurs. Here are our picks for the season’s top 10 sketches, none of which involves a certain Republican presidential candidate.
10. “Mafia Meeting” (above)
Although Peter Dinklage and Saturday Night Live mostly went together like oil and water, the Game of Thrones star aced his one-man Devo impersonation. “Boys and girls/I think you’ll find/That my pants will blow your mind,” he sang, completely blowing our minds with his Method commitment to the most ridiculous song in the world. It so thoroughly overshadowed the rest of the sketch, the cast just stopped to watch Dinklage show off his space pants.
9. “Tidal”
Ariana Grande may not have been the season’s best host (that honor goes to Tina Fey and Amy Poehler), but she was the host who surprised us the most, proving she had serious comedy skills to back up her killer singing voice. Both of those talents were on display in her showcase skit, offering up killer impressions of Rihanna and Britney Spears while also cracking wise. “Sorry, not a big fan,” she says when asked to imitate … herself.
8. “Screen Guild Awards”
SNL once poked fun at itself for its own much-discussed diversity problem, so taking on the #OscarsSoWhite controversy was only natural. Presenting Best Actor at the fictional Screen Guild Awards, Cecily Strong rattled off a list of nominees who played such “major” roles as Dave the Librarian or Unseen Voice on Phone. What do they have in common? They’re all white guys in movies that are otherwise about black characters. It’s funny because — this year at least — it was true.
7. “Brunch”
Chris Hemsworth is the perfect Thor, but he’s less convincing as Claire — the lady who brunches and endlessly talks about how hot the Australian hunk is. He’s definitely not very persuasive to his supposed friends, who gradually (and hilariously) awaken to the fact that their “Claire” is actually a self-esteem-challenged Hemsworth in a wig and dress.
6. “Bern Your Enthusiasm”
SNL revived several beloved TV comedies this year, including a 30 Rock reunion hosted by Tracy Morgan and the return of Seinfeld’s Elaine Benes. But the first new episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm in five years provided us with the most cause for celebration. OK, so technically this was Bern Your Enthusiasm, with Larry David playing Bernie Sanders rather than himself, but from its soundtrack to Cecily Strong’s Susie Essman to Bernie’s well-earned comeuppance, it was classic Curb all the way.
5. “Undercover Boss: Starkiller Base”
Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren might lack some of the menace of Grandpa Vader, but at least he makes an effort to get to know the cannon fodder he’s ordering around. This mash-up of Undercover Boss with Star Wars was expertly done, and we hope “Matt the Radar Technician” makes an appearance in Episode VIII.
4. “Close Encounter”
The hurricane-level comic force that is Kate McKinnon blew through this alien abduction sketch, reducing first-time host Ryan Gosling — and even experienced players Aidy Bryant and Bobby Moynihan — to tears (of laughter).
3. “Guns”
An outspoken gun control advocate outside of Studio 8H, host Amy Schumer took aim at the national obsession with firearms in the guise of an inspirational commercial. As satire, it totally hits the bull’s-eye.
2. “First Got Horny 2 You”
A sequel of sorts to “(Do It on My) Twin Bed,” the ladies of SNL revisit their childhood sexual awakenings, which range from Taylor Hanson and Carson Daly to the guy from The Nanny and the Menendez brothers. Hey, no one every said that horniness was logical.
1. “Meet Your Second Wife”
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler destroy the “trophy wife” phenomenon with a game show that introduces men to their much, much younger second wives. This one goes in the SNL Hall of Fame alongside “Bass-o-Matic,” “Happy Fun Ball,” and “More Cowbell.”
