Alec Baldwin serving Schweddy balls. Wayne and Garth rocking with Aerosmith. The pep-filled Spartan cheerleaders. The Church Lady vs. a possessed Sigourney Weaver. Matt Foley obliterating a coffee table.
Or something else?
In the second episode of The Rundown, Saturday Night Live‘s new digital short series, former cast member Dana Carvey is tasked with choosing one of more than three dozen iconic live sketches to add to the titular all-time, all-star “fantasy” episode lineup.
In The Rundown‘s premiere last week, SNL writer/“Weekend Update” co-anchor Colin Jost broke down the Cold Open writing process before picking—from a corkboard full of memorable options—the sketch he’d use to kick off this “fantasy” episode: Season 34’s CBS News interview between Katie Couric (played by Amy Poehler) and Sarah Palin (Tina Fey).
Coming out of that Cold Open and a “free space” monologue, what did Carvey choose as the fantasy episode’s next sketch? In the video above, the veteran funny man goes deeeep on what makes for the best monologue lead-out—how it should have a certain energy, and the potential to kill. But also, he argues, you don’t want to fritter away something too strong that could liven up any space on a rundown.
Carvey also shares insight into how there’s a value in a sketch being visually funny (á la Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri’s Spartan cheerleaders), in a way that can be enjoyed from a TV in a noisy bar.
Be warned, Carvey takes his time, and he ruminates over many options—paving the way for a wonderful sequence of clips (though frankly not enough Caveman Lawyer).
But ultimately, he locks in on one.
Press play above to see which iconic sketch Carvey chooses to join this all-time fantasy episode.
