Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and there’s no better way to prepare for the joys—and inevitable chaos—of the holiday than by laughing along with Saturday Night Live. These SNL Thanksgiving sketches, from classic parodies to outrageous skits, capture the humor of family gatherings and holiday stress. Check out our favorite sketches to get into the festive spirit and catch SNL on NBC Saturday nights or stream on Peacock!
Thanksgiving Dinner (1979): comedy gold at the kids’ table
Starring Bill Murray, Laraine Newman, Jane Curtin and Paul Shaffer, these SNL veterans portrayed four adult family members upset at being banished to the kids’ table in the basement, away from the rest of the party despite no longer being children. However, age is hardly an indicator of maturity when the foursome’s antics start to resemble that of little kids.
Thanksgiving Guest (2013): the feathered significant other
There’s nothing like meeting one of your family member’s new significant other around the holidays—especially when they’re a turkey. This sketch stars Josh Hutcherson with Vanessa Bayer as his new, feathered girlfriend, and as expected, things are a little awkward.
Target Thanksgiving Ad (2021): Holiday essentials, ‘SNL’-style
SNL is always hilariously capturing the details of the advertisements we see during the holiday season, and this one is no different, featuring all of the essentials you might need to accommodate your family members’ quirks on this beloved holiday.
Weekend Update: Adam Sandler’s Thanksgiving song (2013)
Adam Sandler’s Thanksgiving song is pretty much synonymous with the holiday. From singing about his love for the Thanksgiving feast’s focal point to dropping in a series of random tidbits about everything under the sun, this one is an SNL classic.
Thanksgiving Parade (2017): Creepy balloons in NYC
A family watching the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade is greeted by an up-close-and-personal view of a few creepy floats making their way through New York City. Kristen Wiig, Bobby Moynihan and Mikey Day portray these balloons taunting viewers in this hilarious Thanksgiving SNL sketch.
Penelope Thanksgiving (2010): Kristen Wiig’s hilarious one-upper
We all know a Penelope in our lives. That one person who has to try and one-up everything you do and say, Kristen Wiig brings to life this hilariously frustrating character as she volunteers at a soup kitchen on Thanksgiving. Her impeccable delivery makes this a fan favorite.
MUST-READ: From ‘Saturday Night Live’ to ‘Bridesmaids’, 18 of Kristen Wiig’s Best Movies!
Back Home Ballers (2014): The ultimate holiday luxury
Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, Cameron Diaz, Cecily Strong, Sasheer Zamata, Vanessa Bayer and Leslie Jones join forces to bring this hilarious song to life, in which they sing about returning home to their parents’ house for the holidays when they get to live a life of luxury for a few days.
