It was 1975. People were terrified of the water. Steven Spielberg’s Jaws had just rewritten the rules of the summer blockbuster, making every beachgoer in America look twice at a stray piece of driftwood. Then came Saturday Night Live. On November 8, 1975, the show didn't just parody the movie; it created a piece of pop culture history that would outlast almost every other bit from that first season. I’m talking about the land shark snl skit. It was stupid. It was low-budget. It was absolutely brilliant.
Honestly, the premise shouldn't have worked. A man in a foam shark suit knocking on doors and whispering "Candygram" is the kind of joke that feels like it belongs in a middle school talent show. But in the hands of Chevy Chase and the original "Not Ready for Prime Time Players," it became a masterclass in absurdist timing. It tapped into a very specific, very real collective anxiety and turned it into a punchline that literally everyone could understand.
The Ridiculous Genius of the Land Shark
Chevy Chase was the star of the show back then, and his physical comedy was at its peak. The "Land Shark" wasn't just a shark. It was "the cleverest shark in the world." In the first iteration, we see a woman (played by Gilda Radner) in her apartment. She hears a knock. She asks who it is. A muffled, gravelly voice responds with a series of increasingly transparent lies.
"Flowers."
"Plumber."
"Telegram."
"Candygram."
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The moment she opens the door, this grey foam snout lurches into the frame and drags her out. It’s peak slapstick. The land shark snl skit worked because it played on the "monster at the door" trope, but replaced the monster with something so poorly disguised that the victim’s gullibility became the real joke. You’ve probably seen the meme-ified versions of this, but nothing beats the graininess of that 70s film stock and Chase's commitment to the bit.
What’s fascinating is how much the prop itself mattered. It wasn't a high-tech animatronic. It was a bulky, awkward costume that barely looked like a shark. If it had looked real, it wouldn't have been funny. The fact that it was so obviously a guy in a suit is what made the "disguises" so hilarious. How could anyone think that was a delivery man? That's the secret sauce of early SNL—the distance between the reality of the prop and the sincerity of the performance.
Why Jaws Made This Skit Iconic
You can't talk about the land shark snl skit without talking about the Jaws phenomenon. In 1975, Jaws wasn't just a movie; it was a cultural shift. It was the first "event" movie. People were genuinely afraid of the ocean. John Williams’ iconic two-note theme was playing in everyone’s head.
The SNL writers, including guys like Al Franken and Tom Davis, knew they had to hit it hard. They didn't just do one sketch; the Land Shark became a recurring character because the audience's fear was so palpable. It was a cathartic release. By bringing the shark out of the water and into a New York City apartment building, they stripped away the terror and replaced it with pure silliness.
The Evolution of the Gag
The Land Shark didn't just appear once. It returned multiple times, even making an appearance in the "Weekend Update" segments. It became a symbol of the show's willingness to run a joke into the ground until it became funny again. In one episode, the shark even tries to get into a woman’s apartment by claiming to be "Jehovah's Witness."
- First Appearance: Season 1, Episode 4 (Host: Candice Bergen)
- The Voice: Muffled, low, and menacingly polite.
- The Catchphrase: "Candygram" became the universal shorthand for "someone is trying to trick me."
People often forget that the sketch was a direct response to the "Jawsmania" that was gripping the country. When Chevy Chase left the show, the Land Shark mostly went with him, though it has made cameo appearances over the decades, usually during anniversary specials. It’s a testament to the character’s staying power that even Gen Z viewers recognize the "Candygram" bit, even if they’ve never seen the original 1975 broadcast.
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The Art of the Low-Budget Parody
Kinda makes you wonder why modern comedy feels so over-produced. Back then, they had no money. They had no CGI. They had a costume department that probably felt like a high school theater basement.
The land shark snl skit is a prime example of "limitations breeding creativity." Because they couldn't do a realistic shark, they did the most unrealistic shark possible. They leaned into the artifice. They made the shark "smart" enough to use a doorbell but "dumb" enough to think a foam fin wouldn't give it away.
Think about the timing. This was live television. If Chevy Chase tripped or the door stuck, the joke was over. There was a raw energy to those early seasons that made the Land Shark feel dangerous in a weird, comedic way. You never knew if the prop was going to fall apart on air. Honestly, that's what made it feel like "must-see" TV.
Cultural Impact and Legacy
The Land Shark is often cited by comedy historians as one of the defining moments of the "Golden Age" of SNL. It showed that the show could take a national obsession and flip it on its head. It wasn't political—it was just funny. In a year defined by the end of the Vietnam War and the aftermath of Watergate, people just wanted to laugh at a shark trying to deliver a telegram.
Interestingly, the Land Shark also paved the way for other creature-based recurring characters on the show. You don't get the "Killer Bees" or even something like "Toonces the Driving Cat" without the success of the Land Shark first proving that the audience would buy into high-concept, low-budget absurdity.
Misconceptions About the Land Shark
A lot of people think the Land Shark was in every episode of the first season. It wasn't. It actually only appeared a handful of times. Its impact was so huge that it feels like it was a weekly occurrence. Another common mistake is thinking it was Bill Murray's character. While Murray was a legend on the show, the Land Shark was firmly Chevy Chase's territory.
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Some folks also confuse it with the "Left Shark" from Katy Perry’s Super Bowl show. While the visual is similar, the Land Shark had a much more sinister (and hilarious) motivation. The Land Shark wasn't just dancing; it was hunting for dinner, one "Candygram" at a time.
Why it Still Works in 2026
We live in an era of hyper-realistic deepfakes and $200 million Marvel movies. There’s something deeply refreshing about a man in a bad shark suit. It reminds us that comedy is about the idea, not the execution. The land shark snl skit is a reminder that you don't need a massive budget to create something that lasts for fifty years. You just need a funny voice, a weird prop, and the balls to do it on live television.
How to Watch the Original Skits Today
If you want to go back and see the roots of this legend, you can find the clips on Peacock or the official SNL YouTube channel. Look for the Season 1 episodes hosted by Candice Bergen or Elliot Gould. Don't expect 4K resolution. It’s grainy, the sound is a little muffled, and the pacing is slower than modern comedy. But when that muffled voice says "Candygram," I promise you’ll laugh.
- Look for the "Jaws II" parody: This is where the Land Shark really shines as a recurring threat.
- Pay attention to the victim's reactions: The straight-man acting by Gilda Radner and Jane Curtin is what sells the absurdity.
- Notice the set design: It’s a classic 70s apartment, which adds to the "it could happen to you" vibe of the parody.
Actionable Takeaways for Comedy Fans
If you're a student of comedy or just a fan of SNL, there's a lot to learn from the Land Shark. It’s a perfect case study in how to parody a trend without being derivative.
- Study the "Rule of Three": Notice how the Land Shark usually tries two or three different lies before the victim finally opens the door. It builds tension and releases it with the punchline.
- Lean into the absurdity: If a prop looks fake, make it part of the joke. Don't try to hide the "seams" of your production; highlight them for comedic effect.
- Timing is everything: The beat between the knock and the response is where the humor lives. Watch Chevy Chase’s pauses; they are perfectly calculated.
- Subvert expectations: Everyone expected a Jaws parody to take place on a boat. Putting it in a hallway was the stroke of genius that made the land shark snl skit legendary.
The Land Shark remains a pillar of American sketch comedy. It’s a reminder of a time when TV felt a little more dangerous, a little more experimental, and a lot more willing to be completely and utterly ridiculous for the sake of a laugh. Next time someone knocks on your door and says they have a "Candygram," maybe just leave the chain on. Just in case.