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SNL concluded its landmark 50th season with a nostalgic gift: a look back at its “Top 10 Most-Watched Cold Open Sketches”. From political satire to pop culture send-ups, these sketches reflect what viewers couldn’t get enough of, and yes, Elon Musk made it to the top spot!
The series presented a neat package of what exactly made SNL’s cold opens click this season, whether it was a goofy historical gag, a presidential parody, or celebrity cameos that landed just right. NBC also dropped two “Cut for Time” sketches and a blooper reel from the season finale, proving that even what didn’t make it to air is worth a second look.
Founding fathers and Trump impressions, SNL kicks off the countdown
Coming in at No. 10 on the list was the “Founding Fathers Cold Open,” which took viewers on a ridiculous journey back to America’s earliest days. It wasn’t your average history lesson; rather, it was peak SNL absurdity, tapping into the show’s knack for pairing wigs and powdered faces with modern political jabs.
Just ahead of that was the “Trump Tariff Cold Open” at No. 9, which leaned into the chaos of tariffs and trade talk with a characteristically exaggerated Donald Trump impression. And at No. 8, “Trump, Musk, and Rubio Meeting Cold Open” brought an unexpected trio to the sketch table. If you ever wondered what it would be like for Elon Musk and Marco Rubio to be in the same room with Trump, well, SNL had a theory.
It’s clear that SNL viewers never get tired of political drama, especially when it’s filtered through sketch comedy chaos.
The middle of the pack brings sharp satire and familiar faces
The middle of the list includes cold opens that stirred conversation across social media, and continued SNL’s tradition of balancing real-world topics with punchlines.
“SNL for Trump Cold Open” landed at No. 7. As the title suggests, this sketch dove into the idea of the show itself being repackaged with a pro-Trump spin, a layer of satire that audiences clearly found hilarious, confusing, or both.
At No. 6 was the “Fox News Kamala Harris Interview Cold Open,” which took a jab at media portrayals and political spin with SNL’s usual blend of biting impressions and scripted awkwardness.
By this point, it’s obvious that SNL’s viewers show up for more than just celebrity hosts. They’re tuning in for sketches that pull no punches, especially when elections are in the air.
The top five cold opens that ruled SNL’s milestone season
Now, let’s talk about the heavy hitters. No. 5 on the list was the “Martin Short Five-Timers Club Cold Open,” where the comedy veteran returned in a sketch nodding to his five-time hosting milestone. It's a familiar SNL tradition, the Five-Timers Club has long been a tongue-in-cheek way to celebrate repeat hosts, and this one struck the right mix of nostalgia and humor.
The 4th place was taken by “Family Feud Election 2024 Cold Open,” which took the format of the beloved game show and swapped in candidates for contestants. If you’ve ever wanted to see political opponents face off with buzzers and survey questions, SNL delivered.
Rounding out the top three was the “2024 Pre-Election Cold Open,” setting the stage for what’s likely to be a busy year in SNL political parodies. At No. 2, the “Harris and Trump Rallies Cold Open” packed energy from both sides of the political aisle into one chaotic, crowd-packed sketch.
And finally, the most-watched cold open of Season 50? “Elon Musk Cold Open”. Love him or loathe him, viewers couldn’t look away.
Two sketches didn’t make the cut, but still made the cut
Alongside its best-of countdown, SNL also shared two sketches that never made it to air. These “Cut for Time” pieces, both from the season finale, gave fans even more to chew on.
In “Graduation Day," Scarlett Johansson joined Bowen Yang, Sarah Sherman, and Michael Longfellow as dental students taking a truly bizarre oath during their ceremony. The sketch was a classic example of SNL’s weird side, strange setup, and weirder payoff. It might not have made the live show, but it found a second life online.
The second unaired sketch was a “Weekend Update” segment featuring Heidi Gardner and Chloe Fineman as twins Bridgette and Paula Powers. The pair pitched the idea that Americans should pack their bags and move to Australia. Yes, really. The sketch was a mix of influencer speak, forced optimism, and the kind of over-the-top delivery SNL fans know well.
These two cut segments reminded viewers that even SNL’s leftovers can be solid gold.
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Since 1975, SNL has broadcast live from Studio 8H in New York City’s Rockefeller Center. The tradition tread on this season, with musical guests, viral performances, and sketches that often sparked next-day debates.
With 50 seasons under its belt, SNL isn’t just a comedy show, it’s a time capsule of pop culture and politics, stitched together one sketch at a time. And judging by this season’s cold open hits, the show isn’t running out of material anytime soon.
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