Laughter is the best medicine, especially in the middle of a stressful political campaign. With plenty of material to pluck from, “Saturday Night Live” has not disappointed audiences throughout the 2016 presidential campaign. Take a look at the top 10 skits from the past few months.
Republican Debate Cold Open
Donald Trump (Darrell Hammond), Ted Cruz (Taran Killam), Chris Christie (Bobby Moynihan), Jeb Bush (Beck Bennett) and other candidates go head-to-head in a mock debate moderated by Maria Bartiromo (Cecily Strong) and Neil Cavuto (Kyle Mooney), where if a candidate drops too low in the polls during the night, he can be ushered off stage to the sound of a gong.
Democratic Debate Cold Open
Hillary Clinton (Kate McKinnon), Bernie Sanders (Larry David), and other Democratic candidates participate in a debate hosted by CNN’s Anderson Cooper (Jon Rudnitsky).
“I think you’re really going to like the Hillary Clinton that my team and I have created for this debate,” McKinnon says, with a dig at Clinton’s attempts to reinvent herself as well as at the double standard applied to female candidates. “She’s warm but strong, flawed but perfect. Relaxed, but racing full speed toward the White House like the T-1000 from Terminator.”
A Hillary Christmas
In a skit that plays on Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” Amy Poehler returns as Hillary Clinton from the 2008 presidential campaign to visit Hillary Clinton of the present day (McKinnon) – with a surprise visit from Tina Fey’s beloved Sarah Palin character.
“It’s not enough to just work hard. We have to be cool but tough, soft but strong, a sweet old lady but a sweet old lady that says ‘Yaaas, queen,'” Hillary Clinton of campaign present says to Clinton of campaign past.
Hillary Clinton Bar Talk
“I have a one-year-old granddaughter. She calls me Madame President,” McKinnon’s Hillary Clinton explains to the bartender – the real-life Hillary Clinton – in one of SNL’s most popular skits of the year.
George W. Bush Cold Open
With an announcement that he’s entering the race for president, Will Ferrell returns as former President George W. Bush to assess his competition among current Republican candidates.
“Jeb, poor Jeb,” he says. “You’ve gotta admit it’s a pretty good plot twist that I turned out to be the smart one.”
Abilify for Candidates
So, who are those 13 other candidates, dropping like flies? This skit has the answer: “Introducing Abilify for people who think they can be president. Once taken, Abilify destroys the part of the brain that says, ‘I’m going to be the president,’ leading to an almost immediate return to reality.”
Palin Endorsement Cold Open
Remember that time that Sarah Palin endorsed Donald Trump? Take a look at Fey’s spinoff on that infamous speech and see if you can tell a difference between the parody and the real speech.
Donald and Melania Trump Christmas Cold Open
If GOP candidate Donald Trump had a naughty and nice list, who would be on it? Well, the polls for one, say Donald and Melania Trump.
Cut for Time: Donald Trump’s Hair
If Donald Trump becomes president, SNL imagines a possible national emergency under his term – his hair under windy conditions. Scalp Team 6 is dispatched to protect his scalp at all costs.
Donald Trump Monologue
Then of course, there was the controversial show in November that The Donald himself hosted: “Part of the reason that I’m here is that I know how to take a joke.”
(Screenshot via YouTube, SNL) 
