As Saturday Night Live approaches its 1,000th episode in its 51st season, TVLine has published a retrospective on 12 of the show's most forgettable installments from its 50-year history. The article points to factors like controversial hosts, tone-deaf sketches, and production struggles that led to these low points.
Overview
Saturday Night Live, a staple of NBC since 1975, has delivered countless iconic moments but also endured episodes that fell short of expectations. TVLine's list, published on November 14, 2025, focuses on outings from various seasons that were criticized for mediocre comedy, behind-the-scenes issues, and hosts who couldn't elevate the material. The piece acknowledges the challenges of producing live sketch comedy weekly, noting that even strong casts couldn't always salvage weak episodes.
Key Episodes Highlighted
The list begins with the 1985 season 11 premiere hosted by Madonna with musical guest Simple Minds, criticized for a tone-deaf drug-testing cold open shortly after John Belushi's death. It includes the controversial 1990 episode with Andrew Dice Clay, boycotted by cast member Nora Dunn and Sinead O'Connor over his comedic style.
Steven Seagal's 1991 hosting gig is called out for offensive sketch ideas and self-seriousness, featuring awkward action parodies. Other entries cover Nancy Kerrigan's 1994 post-assault episode, Sarah Jessica Parker's 1994 debut, Quentin Tarantino's 1995 awkward performance, Adrien Brody's 2003 cringeworthy accents, Kate Winslet's 2004 underutilized talents, Paris Hilton's 2005 celebrity-driven mediocrity, January Jones's 2009 line stumbles, Donald Trump's 2015 political saturation, and Elon Musk's 2021 unfunny sketches.
Context and Legacy
Many episodes reflect broader season struggles, like the misguided 1985 cast overhaul or mid-1990s creative dips. TVLine references the Peacock docuseries SNL50 for deeper insights, such as season 11's pitfalls. Despite flaws, the article celebrates SNL's resilience and invites readers to share their own least favorites.