The 50 Greatest Comedy Sketches of All Time

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 4/8/08 at 11:17am

From Your Show of Shows to The State, they're all here...
Courtesy of Nerve.com and IFC

[DG]

Posted: 4/8/08 at 11:23am

WAY more Saturday Night Live stuff than I would have guessed.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 4/8/08 at 12:08pm

Wow, most of those aren't funny, particularly the SNL ones. Besides, that list doesn't include this, so it's null and void.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPDl2g8Upvk

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/8/08 at 6:51pm

Unfortunately these "Best Of" lists on the internet are nothing more than busy work for interns who are writing to other college age readers. There really is comedy beyond "SNL" and "Monty Python".

It is a shame that Carol Burnett, the queen of sketch comedy, only shows up on the list once at #22 with "Went With the Wind". What about the Eunice sketches (the fancy restaurant, "Sorry", the Gong Show). What about the work of Tim Conway?

Have any of these pablum eaters ever heard of Tracey Ulman?

And the French & Saunders skit that spawned "Ab Fab" is not an example of their funniest work by a long shot.

It wouldn't have hurt to have thrown in a Red Skelton skit.

And of course it can't be expected that they would have any appreciation for the corny country humor of "Hee Haw".

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/8/08 at 8:12pm

I can't believe they skipped Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood! Glad Buh-Weet Sings made it, though.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 4/9/08 at 9:44am

The Top 50 Comedy Sketches That Are Readily Available on DVD or The Internet.

A missing one that is not easily available is often referred to as "Uta..Ava. Ava...Uta" and was adapted by multiple Tony winner Thomas Meehan from his own short story for a 1972-ish special called "Annie: The Women in the Life of a Man" which starred Anne Bancroft.

The special (which was truly special) won Emmys for Variety Special and for writing and has never been on video or dvd, but you can see it if you go to the Museum of Broadcasting on W 51st Street and ask for it. The tape is in lousy shape. Some of the sketches don't hold up, but this one does. It is timelessly funny. The musical numbers also hold up.

Everyone who saw this sketch remembers it and will go into it if they hear certain names like Uta Hagen, Ava Gardner, Mia Farrow and Gia Scala, Ulu Grosbard and other three letter two-syllable names. It is a one-joke sketch, but what a joke.

The short story is in some anthology of comic writing.

It would actually be a funny and memorable audition sketch since it is only one person talking.

Updated On: 4/9/08 at 09:44 AM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/9/08 at 10:20am

I disagree with about 75% of that list. And Who's on First should be in the #1 slot. And I agree that the skit that inspired Absolutely Fabulous was not one of their best. Their Gone With the Wind and Dangerous Liaisons sketches (which inspired the short-lived hilarious French and Saunders series known as Let Them Eat Cake) were much funnier.

[Chloe8585]

Posted: 4/9/08 at 10:26am

Maybe i missed it but i didnt see the "lay off im starving" skit from SNL with chris farley and adam sandler..classic SNL, anyone seen it?

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/9/08 at 10:32am

"hard and sandpaper-y"...heh.

[Parks]

Posted: 4/9/08 at 10:43am

THE GAP GIRLS SKIT! MY favorite on SNL. :-P

"Mmm, these fries are good!"
"Um... Cindy... I thought you were trying to lose weight."
"LAY OFF ME, I'M STARVING!...heh, diet starts Monday!"

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 4/9/08 at 11:24am

Was there anything from MadTV? They've had more funny bits in about a third of the time that SNL has been on the air.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvcZPRJ1Dc0
Updated On: 4/9/08 at 11:24 AM

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 4/9/08 at 11:28am

Or

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8skI2QXdidY

[~FloweryFriend~]

Posted: 4/9/08 at 1:16pm

I'd never seen that Beethoven's Fifth sketch before. Brilliant! Loved it!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/9/08 at 1:17pm

One of my favorites...
Darlene McBride's Greatest Hits

[Chloe8585]

Posted: 4/9/08 at 1:26pm

haha, Parks: so glad you know what im talking about.. hilarious.. great summary too by the way. i just looked for it on youtube and couldnt find it and now im really disappointed..