In the spirit of giving—or perhaps re-gifting—NBC is unwrapping a two-hour stocking stuffer of classic Saturday Night Live Christmas sketches. Titled “A Saturday Night Live Christmas,” this special, airing Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at 9:00 PM, promises a festive trip down memory lane for longtime fans and a curated introduction for the SNL-curious.
Let’s face it, fifty seasons of anything is a lot, even for a show as culturally embedded as SNL. So, rather than force viewers to sift through decades of holiday-themed hilarity (or endure another clip show masquerading as an anniversary celebration), NBC has done the heavy lifting, selecting the prime cuts of Christmas comedy from the show’s extensive archive.
This special presents a chance to revisit those sketches that have become as much a part of the holiday season as questionable fruitcake and awkward family gatherings. Will we see Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon’s “Dick in a Box”? What about Alec Baldwin’s Schweddy Balls? Or maybe even some vintage Chevy Chase pratfalls? The possibilities are as endless as the variations of “I Wish It Was Christmas Today.”
While the regular broadcast of Saturday Night Live typically airs Saturdays at 11:29 PM, this primetime placement suggests NBC is banking on broader appeal. It’s a smart move. Holiday specials often offer a sense of shared experience, a chance to collectively bask in nostalgia or, in SNL’s case, cringe-worthy humor.
Plus, a two-hour runtime means plenty of room for both iconic moments and those hidden gems that even die-hard fans might have forgotten. This isn’t just a clip show; it’s a carefully curated comedic time capsule.
Tune in to NBC on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at 9:00 PM for “A Saturday Night Live Christmas.”
