When Comedians Broke Character on SNL

Here are some of the Saturday Night Live sketches where comedians couldn't keep a straight face
(Comedians Breaking Character)
Thanks, Alex for the voiceover

[@sstaners1234]

Nothing better than a person explaining how comedy works.

[@marcodecato7330]

Where would we be without this narration? Lost, lost in a sea of uncertainty.

[@pgreens]

You see, it's when they laugh when they're not supposed to that makes it funny!

[@naijaplayer]

I'm surprised ppl feel so strongly about this. I've never watched SNL and don't follow a lot of the actors, so I'm glad for the narration actually. Never seen these clips before, and didn't know all of the actors names or the context (like Jimmy Fallon misreading the cue cards, I'm not sure how ppl would have known that without the narration)

[@bsherder]

@@naijaplayer You still didn't get to see the clips if you watched this video.

[@aypawnmedia]

Is this the club against "Alex" the voiceover guy?...I'd like to join please

[@robertcolontonio7775]

Do you really need to describe the scene that we can see with our eyes. Can the commentary & just play the clips. We don't need the endless droning.

[@hikgerguy1234]

Agree 100%. I hate when people do this. Just shut your yapper and roll the clips.

[@Rambam1776]

I agree. I can't stand to watch this

[@DippyHippie]

Geez,take it easy!😂

[@robertcolontonio7775]

@@DippyHippie What, I can't hear you over the endlessly pointless dialog.

[@joe1071]

Drives me crazy as well. Same with music overlaid clips. I just learned it’s due to copyright, and if they don’t overlay commentary or music the clips get pulled. Means it’s not going away anytime soon, which is disappointing

[@ibendover4817]

When you write 400 words out of a 1000 word essay and need to add in bullshit to stretch it out.

[@joshuawarren551]

We really don't need the descriptions of every single scene

[@stefaniemontesanti9022]

He missed the best one... The Disneyland one with Lindsay Lohan with Downer Debbie. Every single person broke character and started laughing.

[@HadrianQueen]

That’s the best one!

[@edison1]

link

[@stefaniemontesanti9022]

@@edison1 just search on here Downer Debbie Disney and it will pop up....SOOOO GOOOOD.

[@nthomas87]

That's my single favorite SNL clip of all time. It was a perfect storm and great characters.

[@diontaedaughtry974]

Bill Hader must've had the time of his life playing that wheelchair scene.

[@dodo1234646]

If you didn't point it out, I would have missed it.

[@buddylee19082]

These are LEGENDARY!!!... I'm from the Sandler + Farley era but my favorites were always the Ferrell + Fallon days. With that said, Wigg and Hader were def GOD TIER. "Breaking" character on SNL is what MAKES the skit a lot of the time!? Thank for this upload, it made my night.

[@commacash]

Debbie Downer was legendary!

[@justinjoseph7985]

Debbie downer at Disney is my favorite

[@KaoticReach1999]

Oh man this reminded me of the days Pete Davidson was relevant...dark days indeed...

[@dylangardner5502]

The Jason Sedakis as the judge with Jamie foxx as the bailiff is hilarious!

[@podhardcorefan3865]

Hader needs to come back

[@johnnymac6242]

Its all downhill since Hader and Wiig left. And people like Mulaney used to write for SNL.

[@MrRedberd]

@@johnnymac6242 We always say that about every new cast. They're alright. It will be sad to lose Kenan. He has been great.

[@seananderson5334]

Funny that breaking character is funnier than the actual SNL skits.

[@abellewis3062]

Yes!

[@MrRedberd]

It was a big deal to not break character. Sandler did it more than the past members, but Fallon used it to make up for bad comedy and ruined by making it a cheap go to way to get laughs.

[@design1of470]

4:57 Chris Parnell is the only SNL cast member to never break, and they've fired him twice.

[@DonaId_J_Trump]

Loved Chris on SNL and Archer.

[@tomhill9066]

mmm, I think Will Forte is likely to have that distinction also.

[@captsuperking2862]

someone who was just as good as parnell (or better?) at not breaking was will forte. the spelling bee sketch... calling out random letters for over 1 minute straight while the audience laughed, died down, laughed again, died down again and laughed again. not only did he not break character but he didn't even change the tone in his voice. complete rock

[@josuejean912]

That's not fair! dude is half machine half awesome

[@colinbaker1282]

does it NEED commentary?

[@BLOXKAFELLARECORDS]

Chris Farley and Adam Sandler. 💪🏽 love it.

[@fatsuperfly]

Hader and John are hilarious, because I know John would switch things up. And watching hader crack was so funny

[@1212LeoSnake]

What got me was the cowbell skit and Will Farrell makes Fallon and Katan break character. 🤣🤣

[@coreyyyyyyyy]

Can’t believe the Larry David Quantico dress rehearsal was overlooked. 😂

[@InfoumusMOBB]

Parnell and Farley were unbreakable Neither would break character.

[@relldeezy9557]

Pete broke character every episode. Thats what made him.even funnier to watch 😂

[@DP-tt3mg]

Holdin tudix 😂😂😂😂😂

[@konstantinospii5500]

I am so happy that your narrator explains what is funny and what not...

[@konstantinospii5500]

@@JemimaWasMyAunt sounds logic...but its unessesary and people should not support this

[@boogeyratt]

Fucking love Bill Hader. It's perfect how he breaks character in character.

[@rayabc123]

Chris Parnell is a G 😎

[@BEdwardStover]

Great timing saying it is something about Will Ferrell's eyes that make people break, while Ferrell is turning hie mostly naked ass to the rest of the cast, making them break.

[@MrRedberd]

his eyes are up here

[@yaniracabrera9358]

I LOVE it when they break character 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@RighteousFiyah]

The Debby Downer skit with Lindsay Lohan is one of the best character breaks

[@Hellwyck]

The last sketch is called "The Boston Teens".

[@Ic3h0rnEt14]

The Tenement Museum gets me every time

[@aligned_chakras_12]

Stefon was definitely my favorite character

[@sorared4001]

Always a fan of Bill Hader. But damn did this video remind me of how hit or miss SNL is. Will Farrell chuckling through the line, "We miss placed your baby" Is absolute gold.

[@FPKRamon1010]

I hate it when people just start telling us what is happening and then shows us... just shut up and show us

[@davidlambert6171]

Thank you for leaving out faker Fallon! He fakes breaking and laughing!

[@XianS2019]

SNL is all about breaking character. Almost a must for them.

[@Chubby_Lemon]

just like explaining horror makes it less scary, explaining comedy makes it less funny.

[@forestwitch108]

In this sketch about polish the cabbage was the most accurate accent. We eat so much cabbage it should be our national symbol, along side maybe of onion and potatoes. They are in everything.

[@elvisjimpa100]

why must all the comentators always talk over the clips like we dont understand comedy?Just roll the clips and be quiet.

[@Splandrocity]

Narration of the setups absolutely kills the comedy. Congrats.

[@AGtheOG33]

5:21 Watch Kate McKinnon "brust" into laughter

[@xandershellner857]

Pete Davidson playing a fire fighter is wild lmao. If you know you know

[@country1116]

Heart needs to be expunged from every movie or comedy series, he is a sell out clown who yet hasn't been proven but is definitely known to take it in the star fish just for his Career, just like Dwayne i love the stiff hard rock Johnson.

[@Jason-S]

It kills the videos with some guy who has to constantly describe eack sketch then barely shows it after his long ‘I love to hear myself talk’ descriptions. I just usually find these sketches on KZbin and watch those.

[@Gudwin2334]

Debbie Downer is probably the single best character break skit.

[@MichaelLasotaTW]

Pete broke for the Fireman skit because he DID write it.

[@dwnsouthtx210]

It's so weird that firefighting is a recurring theme in his jokes.

[@bobthebuilder8110]

​@@dwnsouthtx210 It's because of his dad. His father was a firefighter but died during his efforts to save those from the towers on 9/11.

[@dwnsouthtx210]

@@bobthebuilder8110 I know that's what makes it weird, him making jokes about it, but I guess everyone handles grief/death in their own way.

[@bobthebuilder8110]

@@dwnsouthtx210 Yeah, I guess. They do say laughter is the best medicine.

[@theforce2726]

I miss Chris F. He was funny

[@chrisendsley5724]

Looks like Dave been hanging out with P Diddy.😂😂😂😂😂

[@chrismontgomery7034]

is there one like this with not commentary

[@joeramirez-zt9et]

You forgot the Christina Applegate and Chris Farley living down by the river in a van episode 😅😂

[@MrRedberd]

Farley was good at making people break, back when breaking was still a no no

[@ViralTuber]

"When Comedians Broke Character on SNL" ...or put another way... "Clips Limited to The Modern Era of SNL" (since all of the original cast, and most early cast members were too professional to break character) I started watching SNL since the first show in 1975 and I literally can't remember one time they broke-up laughing back then

[@saturiankhazard]

I don't need you to narrate every single fart in the universe, right? I want to SEE every single fart in the universe! Stop talking!

[@mattconw]

That wasn't a break from Pete, he was playing a firefighter that found it funny

[@AC3handle]

Fallon with REAL laughter!

[@mboettcher349]

People always talk about Pete Davidson laughing during the name change sketches. He's SUPPOSED to laugh. That's the joke. He's guilty of breaking as much as Fallon used to, but that is one sketch where they intentionally used it to their advantage.

[@Guitarisforgrins]

Pretty sure Pete Davidson's was part of the skit. He's a fireman hearing funny stuff, he's laughing.

[@yousjiveturkey]

Pete Davidson laughing was clearly part of the bit... cmon...

[@HelpdeskHonky]

One of the best ones that was not mentioned was Rachel Dratch playing Debbie Downer. It was when Lindsay Lohan was hosting. Look it up lol

[@PhotoLabMP]

Holden Tudiks 😂

[@michealwillingham9014]

I’m glad I’m not a comedian on SNL because I’d be breaking character a lot on set

[@TheWaInut]

I KNOW HOW JOKES WORK

[@alertgasper]

dang, you missed Debbie Downer at Disney.

[@Platerpus7]

The Debbie downer Lindsay Logan is probably one of the best ones

[@JosephAmbrose_]

Pete😂 1:25

[@sonyaunderwood933]

Jammie FOX🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂🤣

[@Me-qp8vz]

Pete was meant to laugh. It was part of the script

[@EqualOpportunityDestoroya]

MSP International Airport is Maine Justice come to life.

[@alexas5260]

If not for commentary this video might actually be watchable

[@JMickens]

Jaimie Fox breaks character intentionally he thinks it gets more laughs..

[@skinnybuddha8988]

I usually hate when people "describe" the comedy but you didnt do that at all. These people hating dont know what theyre saying. I legitimately enjoyed you describing who broke character for who

[@pointman3672]

The least talented person mentioned was the most prone to breaking out, yeah that tracks

[@jaydee8094]

I have a theory, if the jokes aren't landing, break character so the audience laugh at them and make the sketch seem funnier than what it actually is

[@Apostolic401]

where's PART 2? There was way more than this

[@mattd6200]

Larry looks totally different with hair, lol

[@kparsa1]

Chris Parnell is a goat..lol

[@andrewwhite1305]

You...Vondreuk!

[@mattprice8553]

Bill harder loved doing this gay guy role it was like no more hiding u can tell he really enjoys being stefian super zesty

[@balonkysnacker8797]

Farley was the most hilarious ever

[@Stuart267]

Back when SNL was legit funny. Not the cancerous propaganda machine its been in the years since.

[@Sergeant26]

I wish the clips would have played a little longer after Ben Stein would stop talking about the scene.

[@JoeRyMi]

If you watch outtakes from Curb, Larry David is quite bad at maintaining a straight face. 😂

[@mattbrendlen]

I think the whole Dr. Beaman sketch was actually on accident. I recall reading something online saying that either the musical guest wasn't ready, or there was some sort of problem with another sketch, so they just kind of threw a couple cast members on stage to improve, so there wouldn't be any dead air. Go back and watch that sketch, it's pretty obvious that nobody has any idea where it's going, which also accounts for the awkward ending. I mean, don't get me wrong, it was funny...

[@isaihmgarrison]

When they break character is when it gets even more funny

[@capacityphnmnl3118]

At 6:14, Adam Sandler looks like Mayim Bialik.

[@rcmanization]

how did Bil Hader lose character in his Californians sketch while Will Ferrel was on weekend update? i dont get it

[@jamsolid]

An audience member could fart and Fallon would break.

[@2DGorillaz22]

here is a picture of chris parnell laughing o_o

[@jovaniebacus1208]

should include Debbie Downer

[@georgedanilov8898]

Fallon fucking it up is no accident

[@daniellikahong]

1:19 Sam Bankman?!!😜

[@user-of4iq4vn9mAngel2Jeanie]

I dont mind dave it was a sweet puppydog story/ joke

[@selenaj175]

Soooo… why was Dave Chapelle on the thumbnail but not mentioned in the video?? Click bait!

[@lindenstromberg6859]

Cyril Figgis never broke character either.

[@p0ssesst]

Did Hader EVER stay in character?

[@josuejean912]

How can we talk about people breaking out of character in SNL and not talk about Kenan Thompson? Dude always look like he's about to break. Love him to death though he funny

[@elibishop2588]

5:00 Another "coincidence". Jim Norton did a very similar bit on Opie and Anthony, and they've blatantly stolen one of his characters before. What a soulless, rotten, truly evil enterprise.

[@jessicaryan9820]

LET THEM COOK

[@thebobloblawshow8832]

You spoke too much, showed so little of the skit that it had no context leaving it unfunny. Just terribly done. 👎👎

[@jsweizston5410]

I'm sorry you watched so much SNL...from 2016-on.

[@matthewbelanger535]

the maine skit is ridiculous because we dont look like colonel sanders, dont have swamps and dont talk with a southern accent lol.