Saturday Night Livehas entertained audiences for fifty seasons with its array ofSNLcast memberswho got their major break on the show by portraying memorable characters and delivering funny lines that have become iconic in American pop culture.SNLalum Dan Aykroydand Steve Martin’s catchphrase, “We are two wild and crazy guys!” from their Festrunk Brothers skit, and Billy Crystal’s “You look mahvelous” during his parody of Fernando Lamas are two examples ofSNLsketches with unforgettable phrases.
The significant phrases onSNLare meant to grab the audience’s attention and cause them to react comically to the jokes and skits presented.The live sketch comedy show has always been about poking fun at the social, economic, and political climate of the times. For example, theSNLguest hosts, actors, and comedians impersonating politicians like Barack Obama and Donald Trump use funny lines that resonate with spectators to make their impersonations stand out. Some of the show’s lines have even become part of pop culture.
10"Schwing" (Wayne’s World)
Myers And Carvey Were A Dynamic Pair
Mike Myers and Dana Carvey starred in one ofSNL’s greatest sketches, “Wayne’s World,” which inspired a pair of motion pictures. The first “Wayne’s World” skit aired during the 1988-1989 season ofSNL, where Myers and Carvey portrayed a couple of heavy metal lovers named Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar, respectively. When the metalheads broadcast their live show in the basement of Wayne’s parents' house, they would discuss their appreciation for hard rock music and bands, and fantasize about meeting famous people.
Wayne and Garth would say “Schwing” whenever they expressed excitement about seeing attractive women. In the firstWayne’s Worldfeature, they used this phrase when displaying a large picture of model and actress Claudia Schiffer. Myers and Carvey’s use of the term “Schwing” shows their appeal toward women and their wild and energetic personalities all for the sake of having a good time. Even though Wayne and Garth are adult men, they act like young boys who can’t stop talking about music and girls.
9"Well la-tee-fricken-da!" (Matt Foley)
Chris Farley Knew How To Yell Out Phrases In A Skit
Chris Farley’s Matt Foley in the classicSNLskit “Van Down By The River"has plenty of memorable moments. These include Foley constantly yelling at David Spade and Christina Applegate’s teenage characters after a bag of marijuana is found inside their house. Foley’s attempts at being a motivational speaker go awry because, rather than being successful, he is aggressive and unlucky since he despises his life in a van. When Spade mentions his writing aspirations, Foley yells, “Well la-tee-fricken-da!” to be dismissive and cynical.
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This phrase symbolizes Farley’s erratic performance as Foley. He acts tough and serious but is consumed by self-pity because he lives a boring and uneventful life. Foley’s hyperactivity when saying “Well la-tee-fricken-da!” and “Whoop-dee-frickin-doo!” exhibit his poor social skills and negative temperament. However, Foley is hilarious thanks to Farley’s over-the-top energy and slapstick comedic timing in the role.
8"I’ve Got A Fever…And The Only Prescription…Is More Cowbell!” (Blue Oyster Cult)
Ferrell And Walken Made This Skit An Instant Classic
The “More Cowbell” skit containsone of Will Ferrell’s bestSNLcharactersalongside his roles in “Celebrity Jeopardy” and “The Roxbury Guys.” This sketch is special because it almost didn’t make it on air, and the line was initially “more woodblock” instead of “more cowbell.” Ferrell nails the part of Gene Frenkle with his loud, out-of-sync, and off-tempo overplaying of the cowbell next to his Blue Oyster Cult bandmates as they perform “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper.”
However,Christopher Walken’s role as music producer Bruce Dickinson sets the tone for the sketchwith his funny mannerisms, cool wardrobe, andthe declaration of “more cowbell"in the band’s performance. Although this sketch was a one-time thing, it effectively utilized Walken and Ferrell’s comedic talents and has been placed on several lists ofthe bestSNLskits. The catchphrase “more cowbell” is also included in the American dictionary.
7"We Are Going To Pump You Up.” (Hans and Franz)
Nealon And Carvey Acting Like Tough Guys
Aside from Mike Myers,Kevin Nealon proved to be a great comedic partner alongside Dana Carvey when they performed the recurring sketch “Pumping Up with Hans & Franz.“Nealon and Carvey are Hans and Franz, respectively, two Austrian bodybuilders inspired byThe Terminatorsuperstar Arnold Schwarzenegger. The pair pay homage and poke fun at Arnold by appearing strong with big muscles, weight belts, and drab gray sweatsuits. Hans and Franz use the phrase “we are going to pump you up” to ridicule others who they think aren’t strong enough.
This sketch is heavily inspired by Arnold’sPumping Ironand exercise and bodybuilding workouts of the 80s and 90s. Arnold also made an appearance with Hans and Franz onSNLin which he ridicules his cousins for being weak and gives them a taste of their own medicine. Their pumping-up phrase highlights the impact of masculinity and the appeal of being in shape during that time. There was also nearly a film made based on this sketch but was shelved due to the poor reception of otherSNLspin-offs. Nonetheless, Hans and Franz are memorable wannabe tough guys.
6"I’m on a boat!” (Lonely Island)
This Wild Music Video Parodied Yachts
The Lonely Island trio consisting of Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, and Akiva Schaffer are responsible for creating some of the funniestSNLDigital Shorts, including “Jack Sparrow,” “Motherlover,” and “Like a Boss.” They recently performed a medley of their greatest shorts during theSNL50concert at Radio City Music Hall.One of their best shorts is “I’m on a Boat!” featuring T-Pain in a music video parody that makes fun of how several hip-hop music videos contain large luxury yachts.
There are references to Leonardo DiCaprio and the box office hitTitanic, along with dolphins and mermaids added to the mix. Although this video is fairly simple and profanity-filled, it is hilarious in depicting how yachts and boats are used in pop culture. The addition of T-Pain and how having a yacht makes one feel powerful and the “king of the world” also makes the video as fun and appealing as a Pitbull music video.
5"I’m Gumby, Damnit!” (Gumby)
This Was One Of Eddie Murphy’s Best SNL Roles
Eddie Murphy is one of the greatestSNLcast members, with many memorable skits like “Mr. Robinson’s Neighborhood” and “James Brown’s Celebrity Hot Tub Party.” However,Murphy’s portrayal of the claymation character Gumby and his catchphrase “I’m Gumby, dammit!” is one of the show’s best. Reminiscent of Murphy’s Mr. Robinson and Buckwheat characters, Gumby is another role that allowed the comedian to put another spin on a popular children’s character.
Murphy’s Gumby is more cranky and rude because he’s portraying a washed-up ex-star who has a knack for being cynical toward others, including talking badly about Wilma Flintstone and making fun of others. Gumby is such a popular character because he isn’t afraid to speak his mind and step out of line, and his catchphrase is proof of his relentless behavior, which Murphy has shown throughout his career in films and comedy specials.
4"Stratergy” (George W. Bush)
Ferrell Made A Great Bush
Aside from “More Cowbell” and “Celebrity Jeopardy,“Will Ferrell is best known for his impersonations of American politicians onSNL, and his role as George W. Bush is one of the actor’s best. During anSNLsketch in 2000, Ferrell played Bush during a mock debate against presidential candidate Al Gore played by Darrell Hammond. Ferrell’s spot-on impersonation of Bush included him saying the word “stratergy” during his closing statements, leading to speculation on whether Bush used that term in real life.
Bush admitted to saying “strategery” instead of “stratergy” during a somewhat divisive conversation withSNLcreator Lorne Michaels. Nonetheless, Ferrell’s classic interpretation of Bush and his use of the word “stratergy” successfully depicted George W. Bush’s demeanor during his era from candidate to U.S. President. This catchphrase continues to inspire political comedy and has been used by other politicians, including Sarah Palin.
3"I can see Russia from my house” (Sarah Palin)
Tina Fey’s Sarah Palin Was Spot-On
Speaking of Sarah Palin, Tina Fey’s portrayal of the 2008 vice presidential candidate was an instant classic onSNLwhen she appeared alongside Amy Poehler’s hilarious impersonation of Hillary Clinton.Tina nails Palin’s accent and makes the audience laugh when she says “I can see Russia from my house.“What made Fey’s portrayal of Palin particularly special is how the actress and comedian physically resembles the political candidate and managed to poke fun at Palin’s mannerisms while also shedding light on sexism in politics.
Palin herself found Fey’s portrayal of her hilarious and spot-on, especially in her visual appearance since Fey wore a similar red wardrobe as the vice presidential candidate. Fey also won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for impersonating Palin. Tina also got the part of Palin for theSNLseason 34 premiere because many people noticed how Fey and Palin looked alike after presidential candidate John McCain announced Palin as his running mate, and the rest is history.
2"Well, Isn’t That Special” (Church Lady)
Dana Carvey Created A Memorable SNL Character
Apart from “Wayne’s World” and “Pumping Up with Hans & Franz,“Dana Carvey’s role as “The Church Lady” may be his greatestSNLcharacter. “The Church Lady” allows the comedian to chew up the scenery with a role he developed during his stand-up comedy days before joiningSNL. This role was inspired by the women Carvey’s mother interacted with while attending church. Carvey’s Enid Strict aka “Church Lady” is a funny talk show host of her program Church Chat, inviting celebrity guests andSNLcast members for interviews.
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During these interviews, Enid would poke fun at celebrities and their luxurious and unorthodox lifestyles, coining the phrase, “Well, isn’t that special” to state that these people finally made it to church. Carvey’s “Church Lady” role became a signatureSNLcharacter due to parodying the scandal involving evangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. The character also not only ridiculed celebrities but also Santa Claus during a special appearance on anSNLChristmas episode, where Enid rearranged the letters in “Santa” to spell “Satan.”
1"Live, from New York, it’s Saturday Night” (Every episode)
The Catchphrase That Set The Tone For SNL
No catchphrase is more pivotal toSNLlore than “Live, from New York, it’s Saturday Night.“When original cast member Chevy Chase yells out this catchphrase for the first time to the audience afterJohn Belushiand Michael O’Donoghue’s first cold open skit, there is an excitement that is felt in witnessing history in the making. This phrase has been used after nearly everySNLcold open, from opening musical numbers or political skits revolving around the biggest news of the week.
While one or moreSNLcast members utter this line as they look straight at the camera, it’s also occasionally given to celebrities who make cameo appearances, including Brad Pitt and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, as well as political figures like Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Sarah Palin. This is the catchphrase that introduces its audience toSaturday Night Liveto hook its viewers into watching 90 minutes of live sketch comedy.
Saturday Night Livewill return with new episodes on March 1st and will air on Saturdays at 11:30 pm on NBC.
