Saturday Night Live itself is dark this week, which means it’s time for another installment of The Rundown, the show’s ongoing digital series in which SNL staffers past and present nominate a classic segment for anall-time “fantasy” episode of the long-running sketch comedy series.
In the premiere, SNL writer/“Weekend Update” co-anchor Colin Jost broke down the Cold Open writing process before picking—from a cork board 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).
In Episode 2, SNL alum Dana Carvey surveyed and discussed dozens of great options before choosing the “Wayne’s World” installment featuring Aerosmith to lead out of the monologue.
And just last week, Bowen Yang was tasked with picking one recurring “Update” segment, from a vast array of options including Roseanne Roseannadanna, “Opera Man,” and the “Trend Forecasters.” He, of course, opted for “Stefon.”
Now it is time to populate the rundown cork board with a few pre-taped sketches, and as cast member Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidell point out, there are many categories to choose from. You have your commercial parodies. Fake movie/TV show trailers. “TV Funhouse” offerings. Direct parodies” à la “The White POTUS” and “The Office: Middle Earth.” And short films such as Eddie Murphy’s iconic “White Like Me.”
Spoiler alert: The Lonely Island’s “D*ck in a Box” starring Justin Timberlake and Andy Samberg makes the cut. But with multiple pre-tape slots in a single episode—after all, cast members need time to change between live sketches—what else will join the all-time SNL Rundown?
Press at the top of this post above to see Day and Seidell make their picks.
Mom Jeans should have gotten a shout out. Otherwise good picks.