11 Classic SNL Sketches That Wouldn't Be Suitable Today

      Here are 12 SNL sketches that likely wouldn't be produced today due to evolving comedic standards. As the show celebrates its 50th anniversary, we reflect on material that was humorous in the past but may not be acceptable now.

      Some characters and sketches from SNL, like Dana Carvey's Church Lady, continue to resonate well. In fact, SNL revived her in the latest season.

      However, not every sketch from Saturday Night Live endures, as societal perceptions of what is deemed acceptable are constantly shifting. Additionally, advancing technology has changed how audiences voice their concerns—people can express grievances directly on platforms like X rather than relying on letters or phone calls to NBC. This rapid and public response creates a cautious environment where producers are wary of offending anyone.

      Let’s revisit some SNL sketches that many would prefer to forget.

      Pat

      NBC

      One of the most notorious characters from SNL is Pat. The “It’s Pat” sketches revolved around the joke that no one could determine Pat’s gender. Characters would attempt to figure it out, but it remained ambiguous.

      It’s easy to see why Julia Sweeney’s Pat character wouldn’t appear in contemporary SNL sketches.

      Surprisingly, there was even a movie based on Pat, which is likely the worst film to come from an SNL character, and that's quite an achievement in its own right.

      Uncle Roy

      NBC

      Buck Henry was known as a talented comedy writer, with credits like The Graduate and Get Smart, and he hosted Saturday Night Live ten times from 1976 to 1980.

      He also created recurring characters, including Uncle Roy, a predatory babysitter. The sketches are, understandably, quite unsettling.

      Anne Beatts, a writer on the Uncle Roy sketches, was a veteran of National Lampoon and was recognized for her boldness, which was essential for female comedy writers in the 1970s.

      Ching Chang

      NBC

      Dana Carvey created numerous memorable characters on SNL, including Garth and the Church Lady.

      Then there’s Ching Chang, a name we hesitate to type out.

      While there’s no ill intent behind Carvey’s Ching Chang character, it’s difficult to watch today. This is likely why there isn't a Best of Dana Carvey compilation. Let's focus instead on the more beloved characters he portrayed, like the Church Lady.

      Lyle, the Effeminate Heterosexual

      NBC

      Dana Carvey is back! Although this character is less controversial, it could still be viewed as problematic nowadays due to the potential for backlash. Like many SNL characters, it’s based on a one-dimensional premise, clearly indicated in the character's name.

      Carvey plays Lyle, who everyone assumes is gay because of his demeanor. While the scene's humor hinges on the fact that everyone is accepting of this assumption—including his wife—much of the comedy stems from Lyle's bewilderment at the notion that anyone thinks he’s gay.

      John Belushi’s Samurai

      NBC

      A white man could be portrayed as a samurai; Tom Cruise did it in a movie! However, John Belushi’s samurai sketches involved him portraying a Japanese samurai.

      This meant that, alongside his traditional samurai aesthetics, Belushi would also speak gibberish Japanese. He featured in multiple sketches, often with Buck Henry, who enjoyed performing a samurai sketch every time he hosted, even after Belushi once accidentally injured him with a sword.

      Robert Goulet

      NBC

      Will Ferrell depicted the famous crooner Goulet several times. His interpretation was well-suited to his style. However, there was one particular sketch that wouldn’t be acceptable today.

      In that instance, the joke involved Goulet singing popular rap songs like “Thong Song,” but unfortunately, some of the lyrics included the N-word, which Ferrell said live.

      Though Chevy Chase and Richard Pryor performed a sketch that included the term in 1975, it was a different context, as Pryor was central to the sketch and it addressed racial prejudice.

      Canteen Boy

      NBC

      We argue that the notorious Canteen Boy sketches are not inherently problematic, though they can come off as a bit lazy and only marginally funny. Adam Sandler played Canteen Boy several times, but one particular instance garnered significant criticism—so much so it was referenced in Alec Baldwin’s monologue during his next hosting gig.

      Canteen Boy is a classic Sandler character, almost an anti-character, who serves as an unusual assistant scoutmaster. Baldwin played the scoutmaster who made sexual advances toward Canteen Boy, who flees and calls animals to attack Baldwin’s character.

      That said, the portrayal of an aggressive scoutmaster was offensive to some. Modern SNL generally avoids jokes of that nature.

      Jazz Man

      NBC

      Billy Crystal only spent one season on Saturday Night Live, during the widely discussed 1984-85 season when the show was trying to regain its footing, which