The 13 Most Outstanding SNL Sketches from 50 Years of Saturday Night Live

      Here are the 13 greatest SNL sketches from the 50 years of Saturday Night Live.

      Of course, this is a matter of personal opinion. If you feel we overlooked a sketch, feel free to tell us in the comments.

      Now, here are what we consider to be the best SNL sketches of all time.

      The Olympia Restaurant (1978)

      John Belushi in the Olympia restaurant sketch. NBC

      Early SNL sketches often had a spontaneous feel and sometimes struggled with pacing as everyone tried to sync up. This sketch, however, is different: it portrays a typical morning at a Greek diner that steadfastly refuses to change, featuring a straightforward, relatable premise and a charming slice-of-life quality. Its rhythm is as soothing as a morning routine.

      While SNL is often recognized for its exaggerated characters, nearly everyone in this sketch performs it authentically, adding to its appeal. Gilda Radner shines as the one customer who seems to understand the establishment, and Bill Murray delivers the funniest moment with his frantic nodding, using just one word.

      Knowing that John Belushi's immigrant father ran a struggling restaurant during Belushi’s childhood in Wheaton, Illinois, makes the sketch even more poignant.

      Key line: “Cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger, four Pepsi, two chip.”

      Fred Garvin, Male Prostitute (1979)

      NBC

      In this sketch, the talented Margot Kidder plays a bank vice president on a business trip who encounters Fred Garvin, a distinctly Midwestern and decidedly unsexy sex worker.

      Dan Aykroyd embodies the role of a kindhearted, down-to-earth gigolo and Kidder serves as the perfect straightwoman. The absurd setup is played with genuine vulnerability by all involved. Like many characters created by Aykroyd, Fred Garvin became a prototype for numerous serious yet ridiculous characters in the future.

      Though this sketch is often overlooked in discussions of the best SNL sketches, it certainly deserves a place. It’s also referenced in the excellent new movie Saturday Night, where Aykroyd is impressively portrayed by Dylan O’Brien.

      Key line: “Ma’am, you’re dealing here with a fully qualified male strumpet.”

      Buckwheat Dead and America Mourns (1983)

      NBC

      This sketch is a biting satire of the intense media coverage following President Reagan’s assassination attempt in 1981.

      It stands out as one of the best moments after the original Not Ready for Primetime Players left. Eddie Murphy shines as both Buckwheat and the shooter, John David Stutts.

      This sketch also foreshadows decades of non-stop news reporting with the same lack of self-awareness displayed by Joe Piscopo’s Ted Koppel impression.

      Key line: “It’s good to see you all. Hi! I killed Buckwheat.”

      First CityWide Change Bank

      NBC

      In what might be the simplest concept for an SNL sketch, this piece by the legendary writer Jim Downey — who also stars as an eager service representative — expertly lampoons seemingly genuine corporate advertisement campaigns.

      The execution of this very basic idea is flawless.

      Key line: “We will give you the change, equal to… the amount of money that you want change for.”

      Chippendales Audition (1990)

      NBC

      In this sketch, everyone else plays it straight while Chris Farley goes full throttle as Barney, a man determined to become a Chippendales dancer.

      Some, including the brilliant former SNL writer Bob Odenkirk, believe the sketch mocked Farley. However, in interviews with his numerous friends on Dana Carvey and David Spade’s Fly on the Wall podcast, it’s clear that Farley was fully supportive of the sketch's premise — and no one has ever committed more to a performance.

      The sketch is effective not due to jokes about Farley’s size, but because of the sweet sincerity displayed by everyone involved.

      Key line: “I wish I could just flip a coin and be done with it, but we can’t. We’re Chippendales.”

      Matt Foley: Van Down by the River (1993)

      NBC

      The rest of the cast — from Julia Sweeney and Phil Hartman to David Spade and Christina Applegate — tries to hold it together as Matt Foley, portrayed by Chris Farley at his finest, completely dominates the scene.

      The original Matt Foley sketch originated from Farley’s collaboration with writer-performer Bob Odenkirk at Chicago’s Second City. By the time it reached SNL, it was at its peak frenetic brilliance. The sketch also contains heart, as we ultimately empathize with all participants.

      Key line: “He’s been down in the basement drinking coffee for about the last four hours so he should be ready to go.”

      Dillon-Edwards Investments (1999)

      NBC

      This sketch may not appear on many lists of the best SNL sketches, but it perfectly blends the