12 Vintage SNL Sketches That Wouldn't Be Done Today

      Here are 12 SNL sketches that likely wouldn't air today due to evolving comedic standards. As the show celebrates its 50th anniversary, we reflect on moments that were entertaining at the time but may not be acceptable now.

      But First

      NBC – Credit: NBC

      Some SNL sketches and characters — such as Dana’s Church Lady — have aged remarkably well and were even revived recently.

      However, not all Saturday Night Live sketches endure over time because societal norms about what's considered acceptable are continually shifting. With changes in technology — where people can easily voice their grievances on platforms like X instead of writing letters or calling NBC — reactions to certain jokes can quickly gain traction, making the show's creators more cautious about potentially offending anyone.

      Let’s take a look back at some SNL sketches that many would rather forget.

      Pat

      NBC

      One of the most notorious characters from SNL is Pat. The “It’s Pat” sketches revolved around a single premise: no one could determine Pat's gender. Characters would inquire about it, but an answer was never provided.

      It's easy to see why Julia Sweeney’s Pat character is absent from contemporary SNL sketches.

      Notably, there was a Pat movie, which is often considered one of the worst films based on an SNL character — quite a statement.

      Uncle Roy

      NBC

      Buck Henry was celebrated as a brilliant comedy writer, contributing to works like The Graduate and Get Smart. He was also a frequent host of Saturday Night Live during its early years, appearing ten times between 1976 and 1980.

      Henry had his own recurring characters, including Uncle Roy, a predatory babysitter, which are decidedly uncomfortable to watch today.

      Anne Beatts, a writer for the Uncle Roy sketches, was known for her boldness, a necessity for female comedy writers in the 1970s.

      Ching Chang

      NBC

      Dana Carvey created several fantastic SNL sketches and memorable characters like Garth and Church Lady.

      Then came Ching Chang. We cringe even mentioning the character's name.

      While Dana Carvey's portrayal was not intended to be harmful, it is difficult to watch now. It’s clear why a collection titled Best of Dana Carvey was never produced. Let’s focus instead on his more positive characters, like Church Lady.

      Lyle, the Effeminate Heterosexual

      NBC

      Here’s another appearance by Dana Carvey! While this character is less controversial, it still feels like something that would likely be avoided today due to its potential to offend. Like many SNL characters, it relies heavily on a single premise evident in the character’s name.

      Carvey portrays Lyle, whom everyone assumes is gay based on his mannerisms. The humor stems from the acceptance of his supposed sexuality by everyone around him, including his wife.

      Much of the comedy revolves around Lyle’s surprise that anyone might think he’s gay.

      John Belushi’s Samurai

      NBC

      It’s possible for a white actor to portray a samurai. Look at Tom Cruise's performance in a film! However, in John Belushi’s samurai sketches, he took on the role of a Japanese samurai.

      This meant that, along with his traditional attire and hairstyle, Belushi performed in gibberish Japanese. He appeared in numerous sketches, primarily with Buck Henry, who enjoyed the original sketch and requested samurai sketches during his hosting stints, even after an incident where Belushi accidentally injured Henry.

      Robert Goulet

      NBC

      Will Ferrell played the famous crooner Robert Goulet multiple times. His impression was not inherently problematic. However, one specific instance of Ferrell's performance would be deemed unacceptable today.

      In one sketch, Goulet sang well-known rap songs like "Thong Song." Some of the lyrics included the N-word, which Ferrell used live on air.

      While Chevy Chase and Richard Pryor did a sketch involving the word back in 1975, it was directly tied to racial issues, with Pryor being central to the narrative.

      Canteen Boy

      NBC

      We would argue that the notorious Canteen Boy sketches aren't problematic, albeit a bit lazy and occasionally amusing. Adam Sandler’s Canteen Boy appeared several times, but only once did it cause significant offense, prompting Alec Baldwin to reference it in his monologue during a later hosting gig.

      Canteen Boy embodies the classic Sandler character, almost serving as an anti-character. He’s a quirky assistant scoutmaster with a canteen. In one sketch, Baldwin portrayed the scoutmaster who made unwelcome advances toward Canteen Boy, who was well aware of the situation and summoned animals to fend off Baldwin's character.

      Nevertheless, the concept of a sexually aggressive scoutmaster raised concerns, leading to modern SNL avoiding such themes.

      Jazz Man

      NBC

      Billy Crystal was on Saturday Night Live for just one season, during the challenging 1984-85 period when the show sought to revitalize itself. This included bringing in familiar