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25 Dueling Facts About MADtv and SNL

By:: Cracked Writers; Brian C. Miller

April 02, 2022

25 Dueling Facts About MADtv and SNL

Sketch comedy on television is actually pretty weird, if you think about it for a second. Little comedic scenarios, frequently topical to the goings on in the world at large, written and produced in a little less than a week, and performed on television-- live or otherwise? It's no wonder shows like Saturday Night Live are considered messy at best… That's an insane feat to expect anyone to pull off, and what's amazing as that any of these silly little “skits” (don't tell anyone we called them that) ever manage to become bona-fide classics. But here we are!

Here are some of our favorite facts about two juggernauts of the television sketch comedy world-- even if one if still kicking and the other isn't here in 2022. Were you an SNL kid, or did you find it's zanier, less live cousin more appealing? …Or were you more of a Kids in the Hall person? That's probably the right answer.

25 Target Lady (SNL)

TARGET LADY WAS BASED ON AN ACTUAL... TARGET LADY KRISTEN WIIG Fan oz OX Fan CRACKED.COM WIIG CREATED THE CHARACTER FOR THE GROUNDLINGS. SHE DIDN'T LEAVE WHILE SHE WAS CHECKING ME OUT BUT IT WAS JUST HER VOICE, SAYS WIIG. THERE WAS JUST SOMETHING EGGY ABOUT IT. LIKE SHE HAD EGGS IN HER THROAT. NO WORD ON WHETHER SHE ATE HALF AN ALMOND FOR ENERGY. — Source: 13 More Behind-the-Scenes Beginnings of Iconic SNL Characters

24 Goat Boy (SNL)

JIM BREUER HATED GOATS BUT BECAME GOAT BOY JIM BREUER CRACKED.COM THE WHOLE GOAT BOY CHARACTER STARTED OUT BECAUSE I PRETENDED I HAD TOURETTES, BREUER CONFESSES. WE'D GO INTO A BAR AND I'D ASK FOR A <BLEET>WEISER. CUE MORE GOAT NOISES. THE BARTENDER WOULD PAY FOR BEERS IF BREUER AND HIS BRAYING FRIENDS WOULD DRINK OUT OF SIGHT IN THE CORNER. — Source: 13 More Behind-the-Scenes Beginnings of Iconic SNL Characters

23 William Gaines (MADtv)

MAD founder William Gaines hated TV GRACKED.COM MAD creator and amateur Alan Moore impersonator Bill Gaines despised television, and he staunchly refused to develop his brainchild into a TV show. But, like print media itself, Bill Gaines eventually passed away, allowing publisher ЕС Comics to sell the TV rights before poor Bill was even cold. — Source: 12 Angry Facts About MADtv, SNL's Wilder, Louder, Messier Little Brother

22 What's Up With That? (SNL)

A THEME SONG OBSSESSION LED TO WHAT'S UP WITH THAT? KENAN THOMPSON CRACKED.COM НЕ JUST CAN'T STOP SINGING IT, THOMPSON SAYS ABOUT HIS IDEA FOR DIONDRE COLE. I FEEL LIKE IF WE MADE THE MOVIE VERSION, IT WOULD HAUNT HIM WHILE НЕ WAS SLEEPING AND SH*T. '''THAT CHARACTER HOOK, PAIRED WITH A PREACHER'S SUIT AND A JHERI CURL, LED TO ONE OF SNL'S LONGEST RUNNING CHARACTERS. — Source: 13 More Behind-the-Scenes Beginnings of Iconic SNL Characters

21 The iPad (MADtv)

MADtv invented the iPad... sort of CRACKED.COM Five years before Apple would launch their tablet, MADtv aimed its sights at the tech giant with their indentically titled sketch iPad, a sketch about a sanitary pad that lets users hook up your Apple to your peach! — Source: 12 Angry Facts About MADtv, SNL's Wilder, Louder, Messier Little Brother

20 Nathan Thurm (SNL)

DENY, DENY, DENY WAS THE KEYTO NATHAN THURM MARTIN SHORT CRACKED.COM THERE WAS A HEAD OF MAKEUP THAT YEAR, SAYS SHORT. YOU'D SAY, 'MARION, I LOOK A LITTLE PALE DON'T I?' AND SHE'D SAY, 'I KNOW THAT. YOU DON'T THINK I KNOW THAT? I'M A MAKEUP ARTIST, I WOULD KNOW THAT.' SHE ALSO CHAIN-SMOKED. SHORT PUT A WIRE IN HIS CIGARETTE so THE ASH WOULD NEVER FALL OFF. — Source: 13 More Behind-the-Scenes Beginnings of Iconic SNL Characters

19 Jordan Peele (MADtv)

SNL tried to poach Jordan Peele, but MADtv refused CRACKED COM Jordan Peele was an undeniable talent-- which is why MADtv denied his request to be released from his contract when Lorne Michaels came calling. Peele remained resentful over the incident, later saying that he was upset with MAD producers for using my fate as chess pieces. While his comedy partner Keegan-Michael Key returned for the 20th anniversary reunion special, Peele was a notable no-show. — Source: 12 Angry Facts About MADtv, SNL's Wilder, Louder, Messier Little Brother

18 Emily Litella (SNL)

THE EVOLUTION OF EMILY LITELLA GILDA RADNER CRACKED.COM THE OH, THAT'S VERY DIFFERENT. NEVER MIND ENDING WAS CUTE FOR ABOUT A YEAR, SAYS WRITER ALAN ZWEIBEL. BUT НЕ AND GILDA WANTED TO TRY SOMETHING NEW. ON LITELLA'S NEXT APPEARANCE, JANE CURTIN ATTACKED, CALLING HER AN INSULT TO THE INTEGRITY OF JOURNALISM. EMILY LITELLA'S ONE-WORD REPLY: BITCH. — Source: 13 More Behind-the-Scenes Beginnings of Iconic SNL Characters

17 Key & Peele (MADtv)

Key and Peele were pitted against each other in their audition Awards by Av CRACKED.COM As ludicrous as it sounds, MADtv producers were originally only interested in Key or Peele. The Chicago-based comedians were brought in to audition for a single spot, and it was only once producers saw the duo's synchronicity that they decided to make room for both of the show's decorated alumni. Said Keegan-Michael Key, I think that what happened is that they saw that we worked really hard and that we wouldn't stop working until something is perfect. — Source: 12 Angry Facts About MADtv, SNL's Wilder, Louder, Messier Little Brother

16 Mango (SNL)

AN EX + A DOG + AN ORLANDO STRIPPER = MANGO CHRIS KATTAN CRACKED COM ONE INSPIRATION WAS AN ANGRY RUSSIAN GIRLFRIEND WHO WOULD SHOUT KATTAN, I KILL YOU! A SECOND WAS KATTAN'S DALMATION, WHO PERFECTED A COY, OVER-THE- SHOULDER GLANCE. THE MONIKER 'MANGO' CAME FROM A STRIPPER KATTAN OGLED IN ORLANDO--HE JUST LIKED THE DANG NAME. — Source: 13 More Behind-the-Scenes Beginnings of Iconic SNL Characters

15 Kato Kaelin (MADtv)

Kato Kaelin guest starred in the first B season-- twice CRACKED.COM Just 11 days after the verdict of the O.J. Simpson murder trial, star witness Kato Kaelin starred as himself in MADtv's series premiere. It was a joke so nice they told it twice, as Kaelin would return for the second episode before departing to do a cameo on Mr. Show. This would not be the last time MADtv invited a guest star of O.J. fame. — Source: 12 Angry Facts About MADtv, SNL's Wilder, Louder, Messier Little Brother

14 Two Wild and Crazy Guys (SNL)

BEWARE THE BULGES OF TWO WILD AND CRAZY GUYS MARTIN/ACKROYD CRACKED.COM STEVE HAD THIS CHARACTER, THE CONTINENTAL GUY, SAYS ACKROYD, AND I HAD THE 'SWINGING' CZECH WHO WAS TRYING TO TALK LIKE AN AMERICAN, TRYING TO HAVE THE ACCENT, THE CLOTHES. so WE TOOK HIS CONTINENTAL GUY AND MY CZECH GUY AND WE FUSED THEM INTO THE CZECH BROTHERS. — Source: 13 More Behind-the-Scenes Beginnings of Iconic SNL Characters

13 Patton Oswalt (MADtv)

Patton Oswalt was the first member of the BE writing staff CRACKED.COM Emmy-winning comic Patton Oswalt had this to say about his time at MADtv: I was at the height of my self-righteousness, as far as comedy and pushing the edge goes. A perfect fit for the show branding itself as the boundary pushing, iconoclastic wild child of sketch comedy, Patton brought his sharpness to the writer's room int eh first season with his sketch Gump Fiction, a violently heartwarming mash-up of Forrest Gump and Pulp Fiction with cast member Phil Lamarr reprising his role as Marvin. — Source: 12 Angry Facts About MADtv, SNL's Wilder, Louder, Messier Little Brother

12 Delicious Dish (SNL)

GASTEYER'S SNLAUDITION INCLUDED DELICIOUS DISH GASTEYER/SHANNON CRACKED COM GASTEYER BASED THE SKETCH ON PUBLIC RADIO SHOWS 'THE SPLENDID TABLE' AND 'GOOD FOOD.' HER SECRET TO TALKING LIKE AN NPR HOST? JUST TAKE YOUR TIME BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO REALLY NOT WORRY ABOUT ANYONE INTERRUPTING YOU, EVER. HER PARENTS LOADED UP ON THE BEN & JERRY'S 'SCHWEDDY BALLS' EDITION. — Source: 13 More Behind-the-Scenes Beginnings of Iconic SNL Characters

11 The Kardashians (MADtv)

The Kardashians hosted one of the final episodes of MADtv CRACKED.COM All of them. At once. With only six episodes to go before the show's initial cancellation, season 14 featured Kim, Khloe, Kourtney, Kris, and Caitlin competing against Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers in Family Feud. MADtv really did bookend their 14 year run with guest appearances from people made famous by O.J. Simpson. — Source: 12 Angry Facts About MADtv, SNL's Wilder, Louder, Messier Little Brother

10 Jeff Richards / Taran Killam

Only two actors appeared in both MADtv and SNL Feedpo RK MIC CRACKED.COM ACULA The only two comedians to become cast members on both MADtv and SNL were Jeff Richards and Taran Killam. Despite the success of MADtv's illustrious alumni, Richards and Killam were the only ones who managed to jump ship and join MAD's arch nemesis, not counting Keegan-Michael Key, who hosted an episode of SNL in May 2021. — Source: 12 Angry Facts About MADtv, SNL's Wilder, Louder, Messier Little Brother

9 D*ck in a Box (SNL)

HEY GIRL, IT'S FROM THE HEART- IT'S A D*CKIN A BOX SAMBERG/TIMBERLAKE CRACKED.COM WE GREW UP WITH THAT '90S R&B SOUND so WE HAD THIS IDEA ABOUT GUYS WHO WERE STILL STUCK IN THAT ERA, SAYS TIMBERLAKE. THEN IT WAS 'HOW DO YOU GET AWAY WITH THEM BEING IDIOTS?' THE BEST WAY WAS FOR THEM TO BE AS GENUINE AS POSSIBLE ABOUT THE GIFT THEY WERE GIVING BUT NOT TOTALLY AT FULL WIT. — Source: 13 More Behind-the-Scenes Beginnings of Iconic SNL Characters

8 Quincy Jones (MADtv)

Record mogul Quincy Jones created and produced MADtv CRACKED.COM Following Gaines' death in 1992, the music monolith and father to Rashida purchased the television rights through his production company QDE which, at the time, was enjoying the success of Jones' first venture into comedy programming, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. — Source: 12 Angry Facts About MADtv, SNL's Wilder, Louder, Messier Little Brother

7 David S. Pumpkins (SNL)

DAVID S. PUMPKINS ANY QUESTIONS? TOM HANKS GRAGKED.COM THE SKETCH WAS WRITTEN IN LATE- NIGHT DESPERATION. I THINK NAMES AND SUITS ARE FUNNY, SAYS MIKEY DAY. I JUST REMEMBER THINKING, DAVID PUMPKINS. HE'S GOT PUMPKINS ON HIS SUIT. IT WAS ALWAYS ABOUT THE COUPLE'S QUESTION: WHY ARE THEY HERE? THE WRITERS' ANSWER: THIS GUY'S WEIRD AND WE'RE ONBOARD. — Source: 13 More Behind-the-Scenes Beginnings of Iconic SNL Characters

6 Ms. Swan (MADtv)

Ms. Swan was a Skywalker CRACKED.COM Not really, but Mark Hamill did guest star as the tough-talking father of Ms. Swan, Alex Borstein's popular character who has since aged like fine milk. Though overally racial charicatures have deservedly fallen out of style, Ms. Swan appeared in a whopping 41 sketches during Borstein's twelve year run on the show. Hamill's appearance included this exchange between Ms. Swan and Luke Skywalker: Remember, I am your father! Oh come on, get over it. — Source: 12 Angry Facts About MADtv, SNL's Wilder, Louder, Messier Little Brother

5 The Cheerleaders (SNL)

OTERI KNEW THEY HAD A HIT WHEN SHE SAW A FRIDGE MAGNET FEATURING THE CHEERLEADERS FERRELL/OTERI SPART ART CRACKED.COM I WAS A CHEERLEADER IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND I WOULD STOMP MY FEET AND CLAP WHILE WAITING FOR MY TURN, SAYS OTERI. AND THEN WILL STARTED DOING IT REALLY SERIOUSLY. THEY TURNED IT INTO A SKETCH, DECIDING THAT THE DUO'S SPARTAN SPIRIT WOULD GREATLY SURPASS THEIR CHEERING TALENT. — Source: 13 More Behind-the-Scenes Beginnings of Iconic SNL Characters

4 Can I Have Your Number? (MADtv)

Darrell from Can / Have Your Number? B- was a woman CRACKED.COM One of the most incessantly quoted sketches of MADtv's 15 season run, Can I have your number? starred Nicole Randall Johnson as the equally incessant and believably male Darrell, a moviegoing ladies' man and back-of-your-head enthusiast. Johnson would last just two seasons on MADtv, but she later reunited with co-stars Key and Peele on their eponymous TV show, appearing as Michelle Obama's anger translator. — Source: 12 Angry Facts About MADtv, SNL's Wilder, Louder, Messier Little Brother

3 Cheeseburger Cheeseburger (SNL)

NO BREAKFAST, ONLY CHEESEBURGER CHEESEBURGER BELUSHI/ACKROYD CRACKED COM WRITER DON NOVELLO WAS INSPIRED AFTER GOING TO THIS BILLYGOAT TAVERN JUST TO HEAR THE GUYS GOING 'CHEESEBURGER CHEESEBURGER CHEESEBURGER.' WE HAD A LIVE GRILL , THEY WERE REALLY MAKING CHEESEBURGERS. NOVELLO GOT ONE OF THE GOOD OFFICES AFTER THE SKETCH TOOK OFF. — Source: 13 More Behind-the-Scenes Beginnings of Iconic SNL Characters

2 Family Guy (MADtv)

Family Guy was supposed to be a series of shorts on MADtv CRACKED.COM Similar to how The Simpsons began on The Tracy Ullman Show, Family Guy was originally pitched to Fox as a series of animated shorts for MADtv. Ultimately, MAD didn't have the budget for the animation, so the network decided to give Seth MacFarlane his own time slot. Fitting that the wild little brother of SNL almost launched the wild little brother of The Simpsons. — Source: 12 Angry Facts About MADtv, SNL's Wilder, Louder, Messier Little Brother

1 Every Boxer's Girlfriend (SNL)

SHE'S TAKING THE KIDS TO HER SISTER'S ANGEL - EVERY BOXER'S GIRLFRIEND HEIDI GARDNER CRACKED COM IT WAS WHEN THAT JAKE GYLLENHAAL RACHEL MCADAMS MOVIE CAME OUT, SOUTHPAW. IN THE PROMO, SHE SAY 'YOU'RE NOT THE FIGHTER, I'M THE FIGHTER.' I'M LIKE 'I THINK AMY ADAMS SAID THAT TWO YEARS AGO IN THE FIGHTER.' AND THEN YOU GO THROUGH ALL OF THEM AND IT'S THE SAME SCENES, EVERY TIME. I JUST GOT EXCITED. — Source: 13 More Behind-the-Scenes Beginnings of Iconic SNL Characters

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