Classic Saturday Night Live Sketches

Saturday Night Live first aired on October 11, 1975, and its most lasting sketches are the ones performed live in the studio, where a host committing too hard or a cast member losing it becomes part of the joke. This list gathers essential live sketches from every era of the show, from the first season's Land Shark to Domingo in the 50th season, each with its cast and air date so you can find the original. The test for a place was simple: a sketch people still quote, performed live in front of the audience. Digital Shorts and other filmed pieces have their own list, and Weekend Update desk pieces are left out, which is why Stefon and Roseanne Roseannadanna are missing. The eras are uneven, and the list does not pretend otherwise: the late 1970s and the early 1990s produced the most famous recurring characters. Entries run in air-date order, and each one stands on its own.