The 15 Best ‘SNL’ Holiday Sketches of All Time

“But Anja, I don’t want to read about Christmas. It’s March!” Suck. It. Up. I wrote this in December and have had a very busy three months. Welcome back to The OP, my minions.

Merry Christmas! Happy Chanukah! Happy Diwali! No matter what you celebrate this time of year, there is one holiday all Americans anticipate – no, I am not talking about the fourth of July. No one likes the fourth of July except drunk uncles and, I assume, the cast of Outer Banks. I am, however, talking about the final SNL of the year, which airs just a week before Christmas. One of my all-time favorite cast members, Kate McKinnon, hosted this year. To commemorate this exciting event, I thought it was only right that I rank the 15 best holiday skits SNL has ever produced with a complete disregard of popular opinion. I’m right and that’s what matters.

DISCLAIMER: Unfortunately, SNL has failed to broadcast a diverse range of holiday content outside of skits with Christmas-based themes. There is the scattered mention of Chanukah (we all know Adam Sandler’s infamous “Chanukah Song”), but other than that, outlying holidays get squat. I am sorry to any Pastafarians who feel personally attacked by this. Now, on with the ranking!

ADDITIONAL DISCLAIMER (I’m a sad, spineless freshman who loves rules): Sketches from series in the show (The Californians, Stefon, Kat and Garth, Gilly, TV Funhouse, etc.) will be excluded from the ranking. If they weren’t, this entire page would be me reciting interstate directions (only real fans will get that punchline). Now, really, on with the ranking, Anja. Stop making these poor people wait.

15. Christmas Morning – I refuse to rank this sketch any higher than number 15 because I am still bitter that my mom used it to point fingers at me for not filling her stocking last year. Oops.

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14. Hillary Actually – I was hesitant to include political sketches in this ranking, but I would be remised to discuss epic Christmas sketches without mentioning “Hillary Actually”. It pokes a little fun at every political audience, and it features McKinnon’s iconic Hillary Clinton impression. It’s a solid digital short.

Hillary Actually – SNL (youtube.com)

13. Office Christmas Party – This sketch was one of the first that really put Pete Davidson in the spotlight as a new SNL cast member. Good thing, because he absolutely owns the skit.

Office Christmas Party (Amy Adams) – SNL (youtube.com)

12. The Chanukah Song – I am not the biggest Adam Sandler fan. I think his comedy is simple-minded and not worth the 400 million dollars he sits on. Still, this song is a classic. Harrison Ford is a quarter Jewish, not too shabby.

Weekend Update: Adam Sandler on Hanukkah – SNL (youtube.com)

11. I Wish it Was Christmas Today – I love how, for the entirety of the song, Tracy Morgan stands on stage like he’s an eight-year-old in a Christmas nativity play who wasn’t given any lines. That is the sole reason why this sketch ranks higher than my last four picks.

A Song From SNL: I Wish It Was Christmas Today – SNL (youtube.com)

10. Dick in a Box – I fear that if I placed this skit any higher on my ranking, Prism would ban me from further publication.

D*** in a Box – SNL Digital Short (youtube.com)

9. Children’s Clothing Ad – “Children’s Clothing Ad” does not get enough traction. It is so true and so funny. If you look closely at the scene where Heidi Gardner and Mikey Day go at each other in an argument over their daughter’s shoes, she is absolutely losing it. I only noticed that detail when I rewatched the sketch for this ranking. It makes it that much better.

Children’s Clothing Ad – SNL (youtube.com)

8. White Christmas – HALLEHLUR.

Let’s Go Moment :15 l Hertz Let’s Go! Show (youtube.com)

7. Bring It on Down to Wrappin’ville – I don’t need to listen to more than a single excerpt of Britney Spears’ memoir to know that Justin Timberlake wrapped in packaging is painfully ironic. But I love this skit. It’s a modern classic.

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6. Sump’n Claus – “PAULA DEEN GETTIN’ SUMP’N!!” is the most bonkers lyric ever written.

Sump’n Claus – SNL (youtube.com)

5. This You Call a Wonderful Life? – Everything about this skit is perfect. My dream men – Jason Sudeikis, Bill Hader, and Andy Samberg – all play memorable roles as Jimmy Stewart, Narrator, and Cranky Old Man, respectively. My favorite line is easily “every time a bell rings, you should get your prostate checked.”

This You Call a Wonderful Life?! – SNL (youtube.com)

4. Michael Bublé Christmas Duets – All the impressions in this are spot on – including Michael Bublé’s. Ha. Ha ha. Jimmy Fallon gets the Justin Bieber impression just right with his ludicrous antics, although my favorite duet in the digital sketch has to be between Bublé and Lady Gaga. You’ll see why.

Michael Bublé Christmas Duets – SNL (youtube.com)

3. Singing Elves – This is a personal favorite and one I have seen on a grand total of zero lists online. The extreme double entendre and the fact that ScarJo leads the scene alongside Kenan Thompson just makes it that much better.

Singing Elves – SNL (youtube.com)

2. The Christmas Candle – Aidy Bryant belting from a fainting couch. Emma Stone winking at the camera in a way that feels uncomfortably personal. Kate McKinnon just being Kate McKinnon. Every aspect of this skit is artistry, and I firmly believe it should be analyzed like Shakespeare’s works. It is genius.

The Christmas Candle (Emma Stone) – SNL (youtube.com)

And finally,

1. You’re a Rat Bastard, Charlie Brown – If you think I need to explain this one, you need to watch it again. Every single line is iconic. The sketch speaks for itself without my smart mouth adding some dumb supplement.

You’re a Rat Bastard, Charlie Brown – SNL (youtube.com)