The 13 Greatest ‘SNL’ Commercial Skits

“Saturday Night Live” begins the second half of its 50th season this weekend. Here, we launch a series of features exploring and assessing its history and cultural impact.

Since the first episode, which featured a live spot for the multivitamin “Jamitol,” television advertising has been one of the show’s main focuses. These are the commercial parodies that we love the most; share your own favorites in the comments.

1987

Compulsion

“The most forgiving disinfectant in the world.”

Often the parody does not age well because its target fades from memory. But even if you’ve never seen the flamboyant, pretentious Calvin Klein Obsession ads from the 1980s, this meticulously crafted satire—which turns luxury cologne into “the world’s most indulgent disinfectant”—is still hilarious and coherent.

Dense with inspired absurdities, comedic nuances, and surprising twists, it creates its own ridiculous world so fully that it works regardless of what it’s mocking. As a protagonist consumed by an obsessive need to clean, Jan Hooks evokes the madness of Tennessee Williams’ heroine. (Note the hair loss and the meme-worthy “Liar!”!) Phil Hartman’s tuxedo-clad narrator completely engages in dire metaphors and a vaguely European accent.

These superb lead performances from the greatest actors of all time work perfectly in concert, capturing and skewering a specific and serious arthouse style. But it’s the comedic details that set this sketch apart: Nora Dunn’s Stepford Wife expression; the ridiculous way Hartman pronounces “jejune” and the surprisingly rich subplot of his building irritation with Dana Carvey, who finds hilarity in subtle eyebrow raises and a serious turtleneck years before Mike Myers brought them to “Sprockets”.