Here are the Top 5 greatest Saturday Night Live skits according to yours truly.
Number 5: “What’s Up With That”. Given that Keenan Thompson has been on the show for roughly 400 years it only seemed fitting to start the list with his best skit - a take on cable talk shows where the host is constantly compelled to break into an ever-growing performance of the program’s theme song rather than let his guests actually talk. Bonus points for Jason Sudekis leaping in and doing an impeccable running man while sporting a red Adidas track suit.
Number 4: “Stefan”. Once I learned that writer John Mulaney would switch out jokes on the cue cards in order to trip up Bill Hader and make him laugh, it made me appreciate this recurring skit even more. Plus it includes possibly my favorite joke of all time:
Stefan: Do you know what you call Jewish Dracula?
Seth: No, what?
Stefan: Sidney Applebaum.
Number 3: “Celebrity Jeopardy”. Somehow the writers managed to make this one-note sketch - celebrities are really dumb - funny every time. Will Ferrel was perfect as a constantly annoyed Alex Trebek. Darrell Hammond crushed as Sean Connery (particularly in his ability to rephrase the categories in order to make them X-rated). But my favorite had to be the perpetually underrated Norm McDonald as a gum-chewing Burt Reynolds.
Number 2: “Debbie Downer”. What can bring down an enthusiastic breakfast-with-the-characters breakfast during a Disney World family trip? Rachel Dratch as Debbie Downer. Her depressing facts, her drab delivery and her deadpan into the camera during the trombone slide are all hilarious. And the fact that Jimmy Fallon, Horatio Sanz and Lindsay Lohan can’t keep it together adds to the giggles.
Number 1: “Cowbell”. It’s just about the most Christopher Walken thing Christopher Walken has ever done. Will Ferrell kills it with the physical comedy. And I’m not sure if a phrase from the show has ever entered the lexicon in a bigger way than “I’ve got a fever. And the only prescription is more cowbell.”
Saturday Night Live turns 50 this year which seems like as good a time as any for a recap like this but that isn’t the point of this post.
Nope. For this one I want to focus on number 2 on the list - Debbie Downer.
Because training and health and fitness can often feel like a Debbie Downer (fun fact: the term “Debbie Downer,” which feels like it’s been around forever, didn’t exist before this skit).
Here’s what I mean.
Gaining muscle mass takes more time than feels fair.
Most trendy nutrition plans don’t work.
92% of what you find on the shelves at GNC have zero proof of efficacy.
That crazy new workout class, brand new exercise tweak or training split probably don’t work any better - and often don’t work at all - than the workouts that have been around for years.
The vast majority of research leads to inconclusive outcomes or disproves a hopeful and promising hypothesis.
Cue the sad trombone music.
But do not fret, oh loyal reader! Because while it is true that many new things don’t pan out and there are plenty of scams and missteps out there waiting to destroy your trust and your pocketbook, there are several very tactical and applicable things that work extremely well and will help you reach those elusive goals.
So, given that we have just started a new year I thought this might be a good time to give you all a reminder of what actually works when it comes to your health, strength and fitness. Focus on these things and - just like a Swiftie who scored front row tickets on the Eras tour - all your hopes and dreams will come true.
Here’s your fitness priorities list for 2025 in no particular order.
Strength training works very well for both body composition (fat loss, muscle gain, bone density, etc.) and performance (getting stronger, improving athletic ability, reducing injury risk). The trick here is that the training needs to be structured and has to get more challenging over time. So if you are just randomly going to classes or just jumping on whatever machine is available at the gym or not progressing your weights, technique, volume, rest time or about a half-dozen other factors, you are going to hit a wall quickly.
Fitness programming isn’t the most complicated thing in the world but it does take some thought and knowledge. So take the time to figure it out or seek out a resource that can help you.
Paying attention to your nutrition is actually a very effective way to address your body composition and health goals. Most things that people swear by - intermittent fasting, keto, plant-based - are not silver bullets. They can be effective strategies that allow you to hit the targets that do matter. Namely, getting adequate protein, controlling calorie intake and assuring that the majority of your snacks and meals consist of nutrient dense foods.
Similarly, you need to stay hydrated but this doesn’t need to be taken to extremes. Also - good news - all drinks are hydrating. Even drinks that are caffeinated or full of sugar or chemicals have a net hydrating effect even if they are mildly diuretic. In other words, the amount of liquid you are getting from those beverages is way greater than the slightly dehydrating effects of things like caffeine. But be aware, just cause Diet Coke and a Starbucks Frappabullshit might be hydrating it doesn’t make them a good choice.
Sleep is absolutely magical. It helps with mood, hormone regulation, body composition goals, ability to stay healthy, cognitive function, exercise recovery and just about every other metabolic process critical to you being a functional person. And it’s free! Shoot for eight hours per night in a cool, dark room and do your best to go to bed and wake up at consistent times.
Creatine and caffeine are proven to help with training performance and (in the case of creatine) increasing muscle mass in both men and women. Vitamins and micronutrients such as D3 or B12 can be worth supplementing if you have a specific deficiency. Protein powder can be really helpful in getting adequate protein. Outside of these, you can probably save your money when it comes to supplements.
Maintaining close and supportive relationships and stress-reducing activities such as meditation really do hold up when it comes to improving happiness and quality of life. Same can be said for both strength training and cardiovascular training through different mechanisms.
See, it’s not all so bad. There are plenty of things that work. But I’m going to give you the absolute secret when it comes to getting the most out of all these strategies and interventions.
Are you ready?
Come a little closer….
You have to persist. You have to do them consistently. You have to be willing to push the boulder up the mountain for longer than you want to and with greater attention than you want to give.
You just read the list. Nothing in there should have been shocking. The only way they don’t work is if you don’t do them intently for long enough. This is what separates the people who get amazing results from the Debbie Downers who, come next January, will tell you they tried everything and nothing works.