Let’s be real for a second. Most people don't actually watch the whole 90 minutes of SNL anymore. We watch the "Weekend Update" clips on YouTube Sunday morning or wait for a digital short to go viral on TikTok. But that itch for live-wire, slightly dangerous, "anything can happen" sketch comedy? It's still there. Finding tv shows like saturday night live isn't just about finding another variety hour with a musical guest. It’s about finding that specific energy where a group of people get together to make fun of how absurd the world has become.
Sometimes you want the political bite. Sometimes you just want to see a grown man dress up like a giant hot dog and scream about people not knowing who did this.
The landscape has changed, honestly. We don’t have the "Big Three" networks dictating what’s funny at 11:30 PM anymore. Streamers like Netflix and Max have basically turned into the new 30 Rock, but without the FCC censors breathing down their necks. If you’re hunting for that sketch fix, you have to look beyond the traditional variety format.
The Sketch Evolution: It’s Not Just Studio 8H Anymore
SNL has been the "Big Brother" of comedy since 1975. That’s a long time to hold the crown. But the DNA of that show—the ensemble cast, the recurring characters, the social commentary—has mutated into dozens of different forms.
Take I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson. It’s a Netflix powerhouse. It doesn't have a musical guest or a cold open about the latest congressional hearing. But in terms of "must-watch" sketch comedy, it’s the closest thing we have to the cultural impact SNL had in the 90s. Everyone is quoting it. It’s awkward. It’s loud. It’s deeply, deeply weird. If you like the "12:50 AM" sketches on SNL—the ones where things get surreal because the writers are sleep-deprived—Tim Robinson is your king.
Then you’ve got A Black Lady Sketch Show. Created by Robin Thede, this show did something SNL struggled with for decades: it centered Black women’s experiences in a way that felt universal and hyperspecific all at once. It’s fast-paced. The transitions are seamless. It feels like a fever dream in the best way possible.
Why We Still Crave the Variety Format
There is something about the "variety" aspect that is hard to kill. You’ve probably noticed that late-night talk shows have basically become tv shows like saturday night live in disguise. The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon is basically just a series of SNL games played with celebrities.
But if you want the actual grit? Look at SCTV (Second City Television).
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Okay, it’s older. I know. But if you haven't seen it, you're missing the literal blueprint. John Candy, Catherine O'Hara, Eugene Levy—they weren't just doing sketches; they were building an entire fictional TV station. It had a "world-building" element that SNL rarely touches. It’s the "thinking person’s" sketch show, and it’s arguably where the most influential comedy of the last 40 years actually started.
The British Connection: A Different Kind of Chaos
British sketch comedy hits different. It’s drier, often darker, and usually much shorter-lived. Monty Python’s Flying Circus is the obvious one, but let's talk about The Mitchell and Webb Look or Little Britain.
These shows don't care about "The News." They care about the absurdity of human interaction. While SNL is busy parodying the President, British sketch shows are busy parodying a guy who can’t understand how a shop works. It’s a different flavor, but if you’re looking for high-concept writing, it’s unbeatable.
- The Kids in the Hall: Canadian legends. Five guys. No rules.
- Key & Peele: The masters of the cinematic sketch. They proved you could make a 3-minute bit look like a $50 million movie.
- Portlandia: If you want to laugh at yourself (and you’re a millennial who likes artisanal lightbulbs), this is the one.
The "Fake News" Pipeline
A huge chunk of the SNL audience stays for "Weekend Update." If that’s you, then your version of tv shows like saturday night live is probably the satirical news genre.
The Daily Show is the obvious successor here. Whether it was the Jon Stewart era or the revolving door of hosts we see now, the mission is the same: take the madness of the 24-hour news cycle and make it digestible through mockery. But don't sleep on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. It’s less "sketchy" and more "educational screaming," but it hits that same intellectual nerve.
Then there’s The Eric Andre Show.
It’s a talk show. Technically. But really, it’s a deconstruction of every variety show ever made. It’s violent, messy, and makes you feel like you’re having a stroke. It’s the antithesis of SNL’s polished, corporate feel. If SNL is a nice steak dinner at a restaurant with a dress code, Eric Andre is a dumpster fire behind a Denny’s. Both are valid.
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Looking for the Next Big Thing
Where is sketch comedy going? It’s moving to social media, but the "prestige" version is still happening on cable and streaming.
Ziwe on Showtime (before it was unfortunately canceled) was a masterclass in the "cringe interview" sketch. It took the DNA of SNL's talk-show parodies and turned the tension up to 11. It was uncomfortable. It was brilliant. It showed that the format still has legs if you’re willing to take risks.
Most people don't realize how much Mad TV actually pushed the envelope compared to SNL back in the day. It was the "scrappy underdog." It was more physical, more diverse, and often way meaner. While SNL was the "varsity team," Mad TV was the kids smoking behind the gym. If you can find old episodes of Mad TV (especially the Bobby Lee or Nicole Sullivan years), you’ll see a version of sketch comedy that was way ahead of its time.
How to Curate Your Own Sketch Marathon
You don't have to wait until Saturday night to get this vibe. If you’re tired of the same old "political cold open" formula, you have to diversify. The best way to find your next favorite show is to follow the writers.
Comedy is a small world. The people who wrote for 30 Rock (like Tina Fey) brought that SNL energy to a sitcom format. The people who wrote for I Think You Should Leave came from the SNL writers' room but were probably "too weird" for the mainstream sketches.
What to Watch Based on Your Favorite SNL "Era"
If you loved the Will Ferrell/Cheri Oteri era, you need to watch Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp. It’s a series, but it’s basically one long, absurd sketch.
If you loved the Bill Hader/Fred Armisen era, Documentary Now! is non-negotiable. It is the most specific, niche comedy ever aired on television. Each episode parodies a famous documentary (like Grey Gardens or The Last Waltz). You don’t even have to know the original movies to find it hilarious, though it definitely helps.
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If you miss the original 1975 cast (the "Not Ready for Prime Time Players"), go back and watch Mr. Show with Bob and David. Bob Odenkirk and David Cross basically reinvented the "linking" sketch, where one bit flows directly into the next without a hard cut. It’s smart, cynical, and incredibly influential.
The Reality of the "SNL Clone"
Network TV has tried to replicate SNL a dozen times. Remember The Dana Carvey Show? It lasted about five minutes because it was too weird for primetime. It had Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert before they were stars. It’s a legendary failure that proves you can’t just put funny people in a room and expect a hit—you need the right environment.
The truth is, tv shows like saturday night live are rare because the "live" element is incredibly expensive and stressful. Most creators would rather film a sketch 20 times to get it perfect (like Key & Peele) than risk a "live" flub. But that polish sometimes kills the soul of the joke.
There's a reason we still talk about Jimmy Fallon breaking character or a set falling down mid-sketch. We like the mess.
Actionable Steps for the Comedy Fan
If you're looking to broaden your horizons beyond the Peacock app, start with these specific moves:
- Check out the "Sketch" category on Dropout. If you haven't heard of it, Dropout (formerly CollegeHumor) is doing some of the best ensemble comedy right now. Game Changer and Make Some Noise are essentially "improv-as-sketch" and they feel fresher than anything on network TV.
- Follow the "Digital Short" path. If you liked the Lonely Island, look into the work of Please Don't Destroy. They are the current SNL "it" boys, but their independent stuff and their movie The Treasure of Foggy Mountain carry that same chaotic energy.
- Go back to the source. Watch In Living Color. If you haven't seen Jim Carrey as Fire Marshall Bill or the Wayans brothers doing "Men on Film," you are missing a massive piece of comedy history. It was the only show that ever truly gave SNL a run for its money in the ratings.
- Look for "Anti-Comedy." If you find SNL too predictable, look for The Eric Andre Show or Nathan For You. These aren't sketch shows in the traditional sense, but they use the tropes of TV to create situations that are funnier (and more awkward) than any written script.
The "Variety Show" isn't dead; it just moved houses. You can find the spirit of Saturday night on a Tuesday afternoon if you know which streaming service to trigger. Whether it’s the high-production value of Key & Peele or the "what did I just watch?" vibes of I Think You Should Leave, the world of sketch is wider than it's ever been. Stop waiting for the weekend.