Top 10 SNL Sketches That Had Unexpected Twists
#10: “Bowling Pins”
When a couple has a bowling date, they watch the animations that play after each of their turns. After a while, these scenes turn into brutal vignettes about drug use and death. It’s completely unexpected and totally hilarious next to the player’s reactions. The final twist comes when Jacob Elordi’s character expects them to say “spare.” Little does he realize it’s actually a penalty, prompting a long-winded final segment from the talking pins. The acting from Devon Walker and Bowen Yang makes the moment even funnier with several fakeouts. Both creative and unexpected, this skit really goes for broke with its bowling comedy.
#9: “Splitting the Check”
It’s not uncommon to argue over the dinner check, but this sketch turns the problem into a complete disaster. Owen Wilson’s character ends up ordering most of the menu. After the list is rattled off, the dinner patrons reveal their true ploy to find a map. This complete one-eighty sets off an “Indiana Jones” parody with Nazis, hats, and music. There’s no indication of where the scene is going up to that point, turning this into one wild ride. Wilson’s hilarious performance really leans into the final act as he switches into a hero. Before it’s all over, there’s even a funny and unbelievable cliffhanger to finish things off.
#8: “On the Couch”
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For this love song, the traditional romance is traded for a more complicated relationship. It turns out that no matter what the singers do they always have to sleep on the couch. Even when they really turn up the romantic gestures, they keep getting sent away. It becomes a funny cycle of defeat until their significant others speak their mind. Once you hear their partner’s perspectives, you realize that the men are cheating and lying. The abrupt changes bring home the other side of the story in a truly hilarious way. Not only does the surprise work, it makes you wonder about all of the other one-sided tracks in music history.
#7: “World’s Most Evil Invention”
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During a contest between supervillains, the participants try to one-up each other with their ideas. This all goes horribly wrong when Dwayne Johnson’s character introduces his robot. It turns out that he took a different path with the assignment, creating something so shocking that it pushes dark comedy to the limit. There’s also the lead actor delivering the news like it’s completely normal. You might not find this sketch funny, but you have to admit that it has one of the boldest twists in the show’s history. If the predatory invention isn’t enough, the entire scene exists in a bizarre commercial for White Castle. We don’t know if there will ever be a skit quite like this ever again.
#6: “Papyrus”
Ryan Gosling is distraught in this funny sketch about obsession. The subject of his fascination might throw people for a loop, focusing on the font used for the “Avatar” logo. Gosling’s dedicated acting sets up the viewers for this surprise and pulls the rug out from under them. After that, he seems to dig a deeper hole of insanity that’s both tragic and comedic. The actor’s focus in the face of font design rivals some dramatic performances in serious films. We’re not sure how this skit came to be, but we’re super thankful to the writing staff for letting it happen. If only real other sketches had these kinds of random and crazy surprises.
#5: “What Even Matters Anymore”
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For this game show, Jessica Chastain plays a host who’s slowly losing it over Donald Trump’s actions. She keeps asking contestants whether or not the politician can get away with something. In a mix of satire and honesty, the sketch finally comes down to an incredible surprise that it’s all fake. It turns out that the whole thing is an elaborate setup to help the real Chastain deal with her anxiety. As the contestants start an intervention, the actress’ comic acting shines through in light of a serious topic. “SNL” ends up providing a twist on the usual skit format while also creating a humorous look at Trump’s behavior.
#4: “Toonces the Driving Cat: Driver’s Test”
When “SNL” goes for an offbeat idea and it lands, you get something like this skit. Steve Martin and Victoria Jackson discover that their cat can operate a car. If that isn’t enough of a surprise, just wait until the hilarious moment they let the pet drive. The violent result makes for not one, but two great gags in this fun sketch. Martin and Jackson help to sell this crazy idea along with some amazing work from the title character. The twist of Toonces crashing the car remains a fun gag, with everyone’s survival only making this unrealistic premise even better.
#3: “Totino’s”
At the start of this seemingly normal ad, a devoted woman prepares to feed a group of hungry men. Little does she know the shocking and hilarious secret they all hold. This Totino’s commercial features an amazing performance by Vanessa Bayer, while also satirizing the ridiculous tropes of advertising. Bayer’s character then realizes that the football fans aren’t watching anything and might be aliens. It’s a startling turn of events that will have you laughing and possibly scared at the same time. Once the entire thing escalates, the lead’s performance effortlessly shifts from comedy to a terrifying sci-fi plot.
#2: “The French Chef”
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Channeling Julia Child, Dan Aykroyd makes this cooking segment extra special. The television chef tries to prepare a chicken before making a big mistake. Aykroyd’s accent and wardrobe take a great concept and elevate it into a classic one. With blood flying everywhere, Child tries to regain her composure despite the entire dish being ruined. The sketch pushes further into absurd humor as the bleeding continues. For anyone wondering about a worst-case scenario for cooks, this might just be it. The second half of the skit is even funnier than the first as the injury takes center stage.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Farewell Mr. Bunting”
This Funny Tribute to “Dead Poets Society” Involves a Violent Twist Courtesy of a Ceiling Fan
“80’s Music Video”
Donald Glover’s Singer Puts All of His Energy into Getting Revenge on the Wrong Person
“Girlfriends Game Night”
Bill Hader & Cecily Strong’s Characters Freak out a Party When They Get Frisky
“First Date”
A Dinner Date Takes a Turn as Kenan Thompson’s Character Turns Out to Be O.J. Simpson
#1: “Father Daughter Ad”
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When this video starts, you probably think that it’s just a wholesome moment between father and daughter. It’s clear that this relationship is built on love, but nobody could’ve expected the crazy twist. Dad drops off his child before watching her leave in an ISIS truck. Dakota Johnson and Taran Killam do a fantastic job playing up this scene before the hilarious surprise. There’s such a dark and absurd turn that you can’t help but respect its audacity. The final exchange makes it even more funny as the performers treat this like a serious drama.
Did we forget any unexpected twists in “SNL” sketches? Let us know in the comments below.
