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12 Old SNL Sketches That Wouldn’t Fly Today

Here are 12 SNL sketches they wouldn’t do today, thanks to changing standards of what’s funny. As the show marks its 50th anniversary, we look back on things that were funny then but might not fly now.

Some SNL sketches and characters — like the Dana’s Church Lady, above — hold up incredibly well. In fact, SNL brought her back this past season.

But not every Saturday Night Live sketch stands the test of time because what the general public considers OK is always changing. And evolving technology — people no longer have to send letters or call NBC, they can just gripe on X — can create a very fast, very public sense that objections to a given joke or setup are snowballing, which makes everyone involved in the show more hesitant to run the risk of doing something potentially offensive to someone, somewhere.

Let’s take a dip into the past and remember some SNL sketches that some would prefer to be forgotten.

Pat

NBC

Perhaps the most infamous of SNL characters is Pat. The “It’s Pat” SNL sketches were all built around a single joke: Nobody could tell if Pat was a man or a woman. They’d poke and prod around, trying to find the answer, but they never would.

You can probably deduce why Julia Sweeney’s Pat character would be missing from modern SNL sketches.

Remarkably, there was a Pat movie, probably the worst movie ever produced based on an SNL character, which is really saying something.

Uncle Roy

NBC

Buck Henry was primarily known as a great comedy writer whose work included The Graduate and Get Smart. He was also a staple of the early seasons of Saturday Night Live, hosting a total of 10 times between 1976 and 1980.

He also had his own recurring characters, including three appearances as Uncle Roy — a predatory babysitter. The sketches are, obviously, very uncomfortable.

Anne Beatts was one of the writers on the Uncle Roy sketches. A veteran of National Lampoon, she was famed for her brazenness, a necessity to be a female comedy writer back in the 1970s.

Ching Chang

NBC

Dana Carvey had some incredible SNL sketches and countless great recurring characters: Garth. Church Lady.

Then, there’s Ching Chang. We don’t even like writing the character’s name out.

There is no malice in Dana Carvey’s Ching Chang character, but he’s hard to watch now. There’s a reason they didn’t make the Best of Dana Carvey collection. Let’s just focus on all the good Carvey characters, like Church Lady (above).

Lyle, the Effeminate Heterosexual

NBC

Hey, Dana Carvey returns! This one is less dicey, but does feel like something that would probably be avoided now, given the potential for it to stir controversy. Like many Saturday Night Live characters, this is a one-note premise, and it is right there in the character’s name.

Carvey plays Lyle, and basically everybody assumes he’s gay because of his mannerisms. These could have been really iffy, but the “game” of the scenes is that everybody who assumes he’s gay is totally fine with it, including his wife.

Much of the comedy comes from Lyle’s surprise and shock that anyone could think he’s gay.

John Belushi’s Samurai

NBC

A white guy could be a samurai. Tom Cruise did it in a movie! However, John Belushi was not simply playing a samurai who was white in all his various sketches about a samurai who runs whatever business. No, in the samurai SNL sketches, Belushi is playing a Japanese samurai.

That means, in addition to his traditional garb and hairstyle associated with samurai, Belushi is doing gibberish Japanese. He appeared in many sketches, mostly involving Buck Henry. Henry was a fan of the original sketch and asked to do a samurai sketch every time he hosted.

That’s even though one time Belushi hit Henry with his sword and cut his head open.

Robert Goulet

NBC

Will Ferrell played Goulet, the famed crooner, a few times. He’s a very Ferrell style person to play. There was no inherent issue with Ferrell’s Goulet impression. No, it is one particular time that Ferrell played Goulet that would not fly today.

The joke in one of the Goulet SNL sketches was that he was crooning famed rap songs such as “Thong Song.” A couple of the songs in the sketch, though, contained the N-word. And Ferrell said it. Live from New York.

Famously, Chevy Chase and Richard Pryor did a sketch that involved the use of that word, but it was 1975, Pryor was central to the sketch, and it was actively about racial prejudice.

Canteen Boy

NBC

We will stump for the infamous iteration of the Canteen Boy sketches not being problematic, if only being fitfully funny and a smidge lazy. Adam Sandler played Canteen Boy several times, but only once was did it spark offense — so much so that it was referenced in Alec Baldwin’s monologue the next time he hosted.

Canteen Boy is a classic Sandler character in that he is almost an anti-character. He’s just an odd assistant scoutmaster who has a canteen. Baldwin, in one sketch, played the scoutmaster who, well, makes sexual advances on Canteen Boy. Canteen Boy knows what is going on, and he flees and summons animals to attack Baldwin’s scoutmaster.

Still, the idea of a sexually aggressive scoutmaster upset people. Modern SNL sketches tend not to make jokes about this kind of thing.

Jazz Man

NBC

Billy Crystal was only on Saturday Night Live for one season, the infamous 1984-85 season when a show that was on the ropes was trying to right the ship. That included bringing in people like Crystal who were already famous.

In fact, Crystal had previously appeared on Saturday Night Live, and the first time he did he brought his Jazz Man character into the mix.

The Jazz Man is one of the wilder recurring characters in comedy. Crystal has brought it out time and time again, including into the new millennium. It’s one of multiple characters Crystal plays in blackface. At least when he plays Sammy Davis Jr. he’s doing an impression of a real person (not that it inoculates him, of course). With the Jazz Man, he’s just doing a stereotypical jazz guy. In, you know, blackface.

David Paterson

NBC

Paterson was the governor of New York for a couple years, and SNL is a New York-based show. Fred Armisen played Paterson several times on SNL. Given their respective racial makeup, that was already not ideal. However, Paterson is also legally blind, and Armisen’s impression of Paterson leaned heavily into that.

Armisen’s Paterson was a squinting, bumbling klutz. That would be questionable if Armisen was just playing a generic blind guy, but he was playing a real person who was legally blind. He turned Paterson into Mr. Magoo.

The real Paterson was bighearted enough to appear next to Armisen doing his impression one night — part of Armisen apologizing for the broad caricature.

Vinny Vedecci

NBC

Bill Hader is a fantastic impressionist, and he loves old-school archetypes. There’s a reason why he did a recurring Vincent Price sketch. One of his other recurring Saturday Night Live characters was Vinny Vedecci. Vedecci was the host of an Italian talk show, and he was boorish and brash. He also spoke largely in gibberish Italian. You know, that classic patter of Italian that isn’t actually words.

We include this one because Hader himself has said he would not do Vedecci again. An Italian woman told him that she did not like the sketch, because it sounded so much to her like a gibberish version of her father.

Hader had seen it in his head as a riff on classic comedy tropes, but this changed his perception.

Nude Beach

NBC

We end with a sketch that only occurred once, and personally we have no problem with it, but it raised huge objections at the time.

We’re talking about a beach sketch written by the indelible Conan O’Brien alongside the also great Robert Smigel. Matthew Broderick was the host when it finally aired, and Dana Carvey features prominently again. The sketch takes place at a clothes-free beach, and even the amount of skin in the sketch feels like it might not be tried today.

However, when writing the sketch, O’Brien and Smigel had a goal: “Penis” is a clinical, medical word that refers to an organ of the male body. O’Brien and Smigel set out to use it as many times as they could — more than 40 times in all.

Reportedly, well over 40,000 complaints were registered with NBC. We doubt the show would ever poke the bear this way again.

The Sharon Stone Airport Security Sketch

NBC – Credit: C/O

Last year on his Fly on the Wall podcast, Dana Carvey playfully apologized to Sharon Stone for a 1992 SNL sketch in which he played one of several airport security employees who try to get her to undress — supposedly “for security reasons.”

Besides the sexual harassment joke, Carvey played the character as Indian. Carvey joked on the podcast that “we would be literally arrested now,” for attempting to do the sketch today.

But he later clarified that he was just joking when he apologized to Stone, noting that when the sketch aired, “the whole audience went crazy, you do the sketch like six times with the read-through and the rehearsals, and she was such a sport with it. So there was no reason to apologize.”

He also noted that he’s done imitations of all nationalities and doesn’t apologize. But the modern SNL would never go for the sketch today.

Liked These Old SNL Sketches That Wouldn’t Fly Today?

NBC

You might also like this list of the 12 Best Saturday Night Live Sketches or this list of 15 Best SNL Characters.

Main image: SNL. NBC

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02/07/2025
Jurassic World Rebirth — Every Movie Has a Lesson

MOVIE REVIEW: Jurassic World Rebirth — Every Movie Has a Lesson

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02/07/2025
Jurassic Lark: The satirical genius of Jim Henson’s Dinosaurs

Animatronic puppets, searing social commentary, this short-lived early ’90s sitcom had it all.

Reptilian newsreader Howard Handupme looks to camera: “A meteor, three times the size of Earth, is heading towards us in a collision course that will result in the extinction of all life on this planet.”

Left of frame, a rubbery green hand slides a sheet of paper across the desk. “This just in,” Handupme reports. “No, it’s not.”

“Oh, good,” says Earl Sinclair – a simple, workaday Megalosaurus – who promptly changes the channel.

So opens the first episode of the irreverent sitcom Dinosaurs, in which the dysfunctional Sinclair family contends with the strictures of modern life (dinos, in this timeline, having only evolved from being wild, swamp-dwelling brutes about a million years earlier).

A Jim Henson Television production, the series starred a cast of expressive – and expensive – animatronic puppets, the most memorable being Baby Sinclair (performed by Kevin Clash, who also popularised Elmo). Back in the show’s original run from 1991-94, Baby’s wily slapstick and weekly catchcry ‘Not the Mama!’ eclipsed the show’s more subversive quirks. But in the 30 years since Dinosaurs’ debut, its biting satire and sly commentary on gender, labour, politics, racism, the economy and climate change – not to mention television itself – has only grown more savage.

With its four idiosyncratic seasons hitting Disney+ on 29 January, now is the perfect time to reconsider this curious analogue artefact. From its prehistoric Pangaea setting (roughly 60 million years BC through to its reflection in the Anthropocene, withering under late capitalism, the prophecy of Dinosaurs is anything but obsolete.

Dinosaurs charged onto the US network ABC (plus ITV and Disney Channel in the UK, among other territories) care of co-creators Bob Young and Michael Jacobs. Their previous writing and producing credits included such all-American candy floss as The Facts of Life and Charles in Charge, but this new beast sacrificed the sweet accessibility of cookie-cutter sitcoms, favouring the playful parody and contained chaos vital to much of Jim Henson’s work, particularly with the Muppets.

That said, Dinosaurs was the first major Jim Henson Company work produced without supervision from the Creature Shop’s founding leader, who passed away in May 1990. Henson is said to have conceived the series, which shares thematic DNA with his unproduced screenplay for The Natural History Project – a fantasy feature à la The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. Sadly it was scrapped due to its apparent similarities to The Land Before Time, at a time when Jurassic antics were just starting to peak on the pop cultural landscape.

Another way in which Dinosaurs tapped the early ’90s zeitgeist was by gutting the ‘wholesome ’50s father’ archetype. Upstanding dads had dominated sitcoms (subgenus: comedie domesticus, or ‘dom coms’) from Father Knows Best to The Cosby Show. Full of beer nuts and hot air, Earl (voiced by Stuart Pankin) inherited the ‘bad dad’ mantle from Alf Garnett (Till Death Us Do Part) and Archie Bunker (All in the Family), whose parenting deficits were honoured such ‘dumb dad’ renaissance texts as Married… with Children, The Simpsons and Home Improvement. Dinosaurs even skewered the trend with this facetious weeknight line-up:

“This is why TV stinks,” groans Earl. “One show’s a hit, they make 50 more like it,” to which Baby replies, “Don’t have a cow, man!”

But Earl is more cynical than his bumbling brethren like Homer Simpson and Fred Flintstone. What’s more, his wilfully shit behaviour isn’t typically framed as endearing, so we don’t laugh with him – the chuckles come when he gets his comeuppance. (Notably, Dinosaurs’ producers chose to can the initial laugh track, which means no one implicitly condones Earl’s buffoonery.)

Unlike many TV patriarchs, Earl is rarely handed a free pass to fail upwards, which makes it all the more meaningful when, in the third season episode ‘Honey, I Miss the Kids’, the flaccid antihero sincerely bonds with his progeny. Meanwhile, his wife Fran (Arrested Development’s Jessica Walter) returns to work full time, itching to escape the cyclical tedium of domestic drudge work.

A prototypical nuclear family, the Sinclairs live in a version of suburbia that marries prehistoric aesthetics and postwar social values. Every relevant stereotype gets eviscerated, along with the idealised virtues of heteronormative parenthood (both adults express resentment toward each other and their kids), organised religion (teenage son Robbie rejects many cultural customs, like eating other animals and hurling old folk into tarpits), and soulless consumerism (when Baby demands the ‘leg smoother’ he saw on TV, he’s told he can’t have it because he’s a boy. “Oh, then I want a machine gun!”).

Traditional gender roles receive constant ribbing, with clichéd traits inverted. Man of the house Earl is beholden to the whims of his – to borrow a Sesame Street term – big feelings, whereas Fran is mostly moderate. Though she begins an obliging housewife, one part Stepford to two parts Bedrock, she becomes disillusioned with her lot and develops the voice to say so.

This is largely due the influence of her friend Monica Devertebrae (Suzie Plakson), a feminist Brontosaurus who takes her employer – the ubiquitous corporate giant WESAYSO – to court in ‘What “Sexual Harris” Meant’. The episode aired in late 1991, just two months after Anita Hill’s widely televised sexual harassment case, and it features one of Dinosaurs’ most searing jokes.

The ignobility of work regularly comes under fire, particularly in regard to Earl’s blue-collar job as a ‘tree pusher’ at WESAYSO Development Corporation. Managed by a tyrannical Styracosaurus called BP Richfield (sitcom stalwart Sherman Hemsley, All in the Family and The Jeffersons) who’s slick by name, if not by nature.

The company motto is “We’ll do what’s right if you leave us alone”, which, in practice, means razing a redwood forest to make way for 10,000 tract houses, and building a wax fruit factory that precipitates an ice age. (Howard Handupme’s news report was right: it’s not a meteor that ends all life on Earth in the series’ breathtakingly bleak finale.)

Dinosaurs leaves few sociopolitical stones unturned, illustrating how gender performance, class, work and the environment are all inextricably linked. In some ways, it’s a spiritual successor to another Henson series about ecology, Fraggle Rock, which also depicts nature’s precariousness and the dangers of xenophobia. (Earl’s opinions of the early hominid folk who cohabit this revisionist history echo the Fraggles’ view of ‘Silly Creatures’ aka the human race.) This begs the question, was Dinosaurs intended for adults or children? Like most Jim Henson Company work, it’s both, and the writers clarify this with a knowing wink.

The Sinclairs’ television set is their home’s focal point, and some of the show’s best roasts concern TV’s hypnotic allure. (‘Network Genius’ is a work of genius.) But Dinosaurs’ drollest running gag involves a puppet show that delights Earl and Baby equally. When Fran dismisses the show as kid’s stuff, Earl retorts, “You’d think that, because they’re puppets – so the show seems to have a children’s aesthetic.” He turns to eyeball the camera. “Yet the dialogue is unquestionably sharp-edged, witty, and thematically skewed to adults.” The mighty Megalosaurus flexes his dexterous brow.

Puppets mimic the human condition with an uncanny likeness. They’re not people, clearly, but an eerie approximation. When camouflaged in the soft power of a sitcom, they have a unique capacity to point fingers at society’s trickiest home truths. Slapstick and catchphrases are just a handy distraction. All these years later, Dinosaurs still goes for the throat.

The post Jurassic Lark: The satirical genius of Jim Henson’s Dinosaurs first appeared on Little White Lies.

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02/07/2025
Cabo Villas Right by the Sea — Every Movie Has a Lesson

Morning coffee with ocean views, afternoons spent soaking up the sun, and drifting comfortably while listening to waves. That dream can become a reality with Cabo villa rentals by the ocean. Cabo San Lucas brings a great mix of relaxation and luxury, perfect for romantic trips, family vacations, or group retreats when paired with seaside villas.

Let’s look closer as to why rentals in Cabo make for the perfect beach escape.

Oceanfront Luxury at Its Best

Unmatched access to the sea is one of the top reasons travelers opt for villa rentals in Cabo. Many villas provide breathtaking sea views and sit right on the beach, giving you direct beach access.

With open air living areas and outdoor terraces that are perfect for watching the sunset, private infinity pools that blend into the ocean, and refreshing sea breezes, these villas offer breathtaking views. This kind of luxury feels exclusive but in Cabo, it’s surprisingly accessible. Instead of a busy hotel with shared amenities, you get your own private retreat with everything you need right at your fingertips.

Ideal for Groups, Families, and Special Events

Traveling with friends? Renting a villa in Cabo is often more convenient than reserving several hotel rooms. With a villa, everyone can share the common areas for cooking, dining, and relaxing. In addition, many Cabo villa rentals by the ocean are equipped with media rooms, large kitchens, and offer private chefs or concierges, turning the villa into a sea-side entertainment haven.

Whether it’s a family reunion, birthday, or much overdue friends getaway, Cabo villa rentals provide comfort and privacy while enabling friends and family to spend quality time together.

Secluded Tranquility and Space

A lovely benefit of villas by the ocean are the peaceful and private surroundings. Unlike resorts, you will not have to share the pool, dining areas, or relaxation zones which are exclusively yours. This is particularly attractive for coupes and families who wish to escape the crowds.

Cabo villa rentals by the sea are placed in quiet coastal areas or within gated communities, ensuring privacy and safety. You set your own schedule, enjoy the home like it’s yours, and get more personal connection with Cabo San Lucas.

An Authentic Cabo Experience

A villa stay allows you to savor Cabo like a local, but with five-star luxuries at your fingertips. You can immerse yourself in the stunning Baja California culture with fresh seafood markets, private boat tours, and even local chefs that prepare meals in your villa all at your own pace.

Guests often remark that villa rentals in Cabo make them feel so much more connected to the region, because they can savor local cuisine, enjoy the beaches and immerse themselves in local culture away from tourist crowds. It is a smarter, better, and more meaningful way to travel.

Your Ideal Cabo Escape Begins Here at Suncabo.com

Selecting Cabo villa rentals offers the luxury, comfort, and unforgettable memories of staying beside the ocean. No matter whether you want to relax, celebrate, or explore, these villas are equipped with all the necessary amenities and so much more. Travelers increasingly favor renting villas in Cabo for their getaway because of the stunning oceanfront views, absolute privacy, and spacious accommodations for the entire group.

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01/07/2025
Energy-Efficient Upgrades for Homes and Outdoor Spaces in 2025 — Every Movie Has a Lesson

As environmental concerns and rising energy costs shape our daily decisions, homeowners across the UK are turning to smarter, more sustainable technologies to futureproof their properties. From harnessing solar energy in creative ways to keeping essential equipment in peak condition, 2025 is all about practical solutions that blend performance with efficiency. Below are three impactful upgrades worth considering this year.

Solar Power, Reinvented for Outdoor Living

Photovoltaic energy has seen a transformation in both design and application. One standout innovation is the structure ombrière photovoltaïque — a shaded solar canopy that not only protects outdoor spaces but also generates clean electricity. Popular across continental Europe and gaining ground in the UK, this solution combines aesthetics with functionality.

Ideal for car parks, gardens, and patios, these structures provide natural shade while hosting efficient solar panels on their roofs. Whether you’re a business owner seeking to offset energy usage or a homeowner looking for a greener garden solution, a structure ombrière offers a smart way to produce power without compromising on space or design.

Greener Heating for UK Homes

As the government continues to incentivise the switch away from gas boilers, many property owners are investing in renewable heating solutions. A growing number of households are turning to heat pump installation Hampshire services for systems that are both eco-friendly and cost-effective.

Air source heat pumps, in particular, are gaining popularity in Hampshire due to their ability to extract heat from the outdoor air—even in colder temperatures—and convert it into usable warmth for homes. Installations are typically low-maintenance, compatible with existing radiators, and can dramatically cut energy bills while reducing carbon emissions. For residents looking to upgrade their heating system in line with modern energy standards, it’s an option that ticks all the right boxes.

Maintaining Clean Tools for Efficient Results

Alongside major upgrades, keeping existing equipment in top shape also supports a more sustainable lifestyle. For homeowners using pressure washers for everything from car cleaning to patio maintenance, having the right replacement parts is essential. That’s where karcher K2 parts come in handy.

The Karcher K2 is a trusted household tool, known for its powerful performance and ease of use. But over time, hoses, nozzles, or triggers can wear down. Rather than replacing the whole unit, sourcing official or compatible parts ensures the machine continues to operate efficiently. Not only does this extend its lifespan, but it also saves money and reduces waste—a small yet meaningful step towards sustainable home maintenance.

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01/07/2025
Discover this gross-out ’90s high school movie by…

“All you need is mobility and life beyond this boring room and the limitations of this stupid computer. I, my love, will give you that freedom. I will give you a brain. I will give you immortality!”

The speaker is the priapic, chain-smoking Dr Gunther Wachenstein (Terry Kiser), addressing the robotic dinosaur that he keeps in a warehouse and hopes to animate with a human brain transplant. A Frankenstein-like mad scientist par excellence, if somewhat out of place and time in mid-’90s California, Gunther hopes to create a lucrative franchise of cybernetic body frames that will house the brains of the otherwise dead, whether humans or pets, and this T‑Rex is his improbable prototype.

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Yet Gunther’s words here come with a metacinematic resonance. For Stewart Raffill (The Ice Pirates, The Philadelphia Experiment, Mac and Me) was offered, out of the blue, the use of an animatronic tyrannosaur for a specific two-week period, and while the writer/director could sniff opportunity, he had very little time in which to throw together a screenplay that would flesh out this giant moving prop with a plot, with brains, and maybe with the kind of immortality that box office success can bring. Maybe – although Raffill also had enough self-awareness to make Wachenstein’s computer-savvy technician Bobby (John Franklin) quietly dismiss his boss’ grand ambitions with the comment: “What a crock of shit.”

This is the paradox of Tammy and the T‑Rex: it is utterly dumb, but smart enough to know just that; and while no gag is too low for its brand of anything-goes screwball, it really does bring a lumbering kind of life to its hybrid collection of ill-fitting ideas. Stitching together elements from ’60s B‑movie sci-fi, the high-school movie, the revenge flick, gross-out comedy and the previous year’s Jurassic Park, it comes with a confused identity – confused even more by the surgical excision of some six minutes of blood, guts, gore and profanity for its original US theatrical and home release in a bid to make it appeal more to the family market. In 2019, Vinegar Syndrome restored the unexpurgated version – the so-called ‘Gore Cut’ – whose heroine is credited as ‘Tanny’ and whose title is Tanny & The Teenage T‑Rex.

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01/07/2025
Laser Treatment for Skin Resurfacing: A Detailed Insight

Women in San Diego experience wrinkles, fine lines, hyperpigmentation, and other age-related skin concerns. It can be damaging to their confidence and overall aesthetic appearance. However, advanced laser techniques, such as erbium laser resurfacing, can effectively address these problems. This skin resurfacing technique should only be performed under the guidance of trained technicians. They can treat scars, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, and other skin irregularities by directing the right amount of laser light pulses onto the affected areas. It carefully removes each skin layer, starting with the epidermis, the exterior layer of the skin. The laser light removes the surface layer while simultaneously heating the underlying layer or dermis, which contains blood vessels, sweat glands, and connective tissues.

How does this process benefit the skin? The erbium laser boosts new collagen production through heat, resulting in firmer and smoother skin. If you want to refresh your look, opt for skin resurfacing San Diego services offered by reputable medical spas. You can consult a technician to understand how this technology helps. However, you can gather basic information about this technique before visiting professionals. It will help you make informed decisions, hesitation-free. Here’s a quick look at this skin treatment therapy.

Skin resurfacing procedure

Like any other treatment, this process will begin only after your needs and medical history are assessed. Your technician will explain the benefits and risks after evaluating your skin condition and other factors. Depending on your skin type and health, you may need to undergo one or more additional skin treatments before the actual procedure. The laser resurfacing session can take about 30 to 120 minutes to finish, depending on the area being treated. A safe numbing cream will be applied to the target area before the laser light is directed. It’s a high-energy laser that penetrates the damaged skin, stimulating collagen production (a protein that helps the skin become bouncy and firm). The new collagen aids in the removal of imperfections from the skin’s surface, including fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, and sun damage.

After the session is over, your skin may develop swelling and sensitivity. You may need to limit your sun exposure to avoid damage. Also, you can be instructed to apply cool compresses to reduce swelling and other discomforts. If there is tenderness, you can also consider using aloe vera gel.

Best candidates for laser skin resurfacing

While many people can benefit from this skin treatment, there are some exceptions. Someone with keloid scars may have to avoid it. Someone with too deep skin color might not be considered due to discoloration risks. Then, it is also not advisable for patients with psoriasis or scleroderma. On the contrary, those who may be eligible include individuals with uneven skin texture, scars, redness, and other similar conditions. If you have developed moderate to severe signs of aging, consider this treatment as a viable option.

The erbium laser technique used in skin resurfacing causes little to no downtime. Your technician will tailor the therapy to your specific skin conditions and aesthetic goals. However, choosing the right service provider is essential. Only trained experts can be trusted with the expertise required for using laser lights. They can help you prepare for the treatment and alleviate the risk of side effects, too.

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01/07/2025
From Cult Classics to Modern Hits — Every Movie Has a Lesson

by Nancy Fernandez

Stoner movies occupy a unique corner of cinematic culture—a place where surreal comedy, laid-back philosophy, and absurd escapades come together in a hazy, hilarious high. Whether you’re into trippy visuals, buddy adventures, or deep conversations about the meaning of nachos, stoner films offer a peculiar blend of escapism and insight. These movies don’t just entertain, they create a vibe.

From the early days of Cheech and Chong to modern cult hits streaming on your favorite platforms, stoner cinema has evolved while retaining its core values: chill vibes, irreverent humor, and an unapologetic celebration of cannabis culture. They’re films to watch when you’re high, sure—but also when you just want to unwind and laugh your face off.

If you’re planning a chill movie marathon, maybe after scoring one of those Florida Dispensary Deals, here’s your definitive guide to the ultimate stoner movie lineup—from cult classics to the latest reefer-fueled gems.

1. Cheech & Chong’s Up in Smoke (1978)

No stoner movie list is complete without this cornerstone of cannabis comedy. The legendary duo Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong play aimless musicians who inadvertently smuggle a van made entirely of marijuana across the U.S.-Mexico border. The film’s chaotic energy, one-liners, and low-budget charm make it a rite of passage for any fan of the genre.

2. Dazed and Confused (1993)

Set in 1976 Texas, Dazed and Confused perfectly captures the freedom and confusion of youth. Directed by Richard Linklater, it’s less about plot and more about vibes, with memorable performances by Matthew McConaughey (“Alright, alright, alright”) and a killer soundtrack. It’s the ultimate hangout movie—and the weed is just one part of its timeless cool.

3. Pineapple Express (2008)

Seth Rogen and James Franco’s hilarious chemistry made Pineapple Express an instant classic. Mixing stoner humor with an action-packed plot, the film follows a process server and his dealer as they flee from a drug lord after witnessing a murder. It’s silly, violent, and surprisingly heartfelt—a high-octane twist on the stoner formula.

4. The Big Lebowski (1998)

Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski is the spiritual patron of stoners everywhere. In this Coen Brothers masterpiece, The Dude gets swept up in a kidnapping plot he barely understands, while trying to live a simple life of bowling, White Russians, and chill. The film’s cult status and surreal dialogue have made it a favorite among cannabis aficionados and film buffs alike.

5. Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004)

This movie took the stoner road trip to a whole new level. Harold and Kumar’s epic journey for White Castle burgers becomes an unpredictable adventure filled with raccoons, racist cops, and a horny Neil Patrick Harris. Beneath its ridiculousness lies a surprisingly smart commentary on racial stereotypes and American absurdity.

6. Half Baked (1998)

Dave Chappelle leads this late-’90s classic about a group of friends who start selling weed to bail a buddy out of jail. It’s a goofy, quotable romp with cameos from Snoop Dogg, Jon Stewart, and Bob Saget. The film might not be critically acclaimed, but it’s pure stoner gold.

7. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)

Not your typical stoner movie, this adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson’s psychedelic novel takes you on a mind-bending journey through Las Vegas via hallucinogens and anarchic journalism. Johnny Depp’s performance as Raoul Duke is unhinged brilliance, and the film’s surreal visuals make it perfect for high viewing—though it veers into darker territory.

8. How High (2001)

Method Man and Redman star as two underachievers who ace their college entrance exams with the help of a supernatural strain of weed. How High is outrageous, stupid in the best way, and undeniably funny. It’s one of the rare stoner comedies that doubles as a hip-hop cult classic.

9. Smiley Face (2007)

Anna Faris delivers a hilarious and underrated performance as a struggling actress who eats an entire tray of pot cupcakes. What follows is a chaotic odyssey through L.A. as she tries to complete her to-do list while epically baked. The film’s offbeat humor and Faris’ comedic timing make it a hidden gem in the genre.

10. This Is the End (2013)

Though not technically a “stoner movie” in the traditional sense, this apocalyptic comedy is packed with weed, cameos, and absurdist humor. Seth Rogen, James Franco, Jonah Hill, and others play exaggerated versions of themselves trying to survive the literal end of the world—all while getting high and freaking out. It’s as meta and messy as it is hilarious.

11. Super Troopers (2001)

What happens when stoners wear badges? You get Super Troopers, a ridiculous and endlessly quotable cult comedy about prankster highway cops with a love for weed and shenanigans. It’s absurd, lowbrow, and beloved by fans of mindless humor.

12. Ted (2012)

While not strictly a stoner movie, Seth MacFarlane’s foul-mouthed teddy bear smokes more pot than most human characters in this raunchy comedy. With a bizarre mix of sentimentality and stoner antics, Ted delivers laughs and surprises—and the bong hits never stop.

13. Dude (2018)

This Netflix original follows four high school girls during their last weeks before graduation, bonding over weed, friendship, and the anxiety of growing up. While it skews younger and more dramatic, it’s refreshing to see female-led stoner representation in a genre often dominated by male characters.

14. The Beach Bum (2019)

Matthew McConaughey plays Moondog, a blissed-out poet living a hedonistic life in Florida. Directed by Harmony Korine (Spring Breakers), this visually lush film is a love letter to carefree living, substances, and eccentric freedom. Moondog is essentially The Dude on a tropical bender.

Final Puff: Why We Love Stoner Movies

Stoner movies endure not just because they’re funny, but because they celebrate counterculture, creativity, and companionship. They remind us to slow down, appreciate the moment, and laugh at the absurdity of life. Whether you’re lighting up or just looking for a good laugh, these films offer a temporary escape—and often, a surprisingly thoughtful message.

So the next time you’re lounging at home, maybe after browsing Florida Dispensary Deals or cracking open some edibles, queue up one of these flicks. You’re in for a good trip—cinematically, of course.

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30/06/2025
Jurassic World: Dominion | Little White Lies

But that’s not all! Very bad people have trained the raptors to attack people when a laser pointer in aimed at them, a plot point so stupid it wouldn’t have made it past brainstorming for Austin Powers 3. Finally, Biosyn – which is sort of like a more evil Monsanto – has used dinosaur DNA to create a species of locust that only eat their competitor’s crops and will cause global famine.

So, it’s up to our ragtag team of two former zoo keepers, a paleobotanist, a mathematician, a clone of a little girl and an (admittedly pretty cool) retired pilot to save the day. Sam Neill’s Dr. Alan Grant has progressed so little in the past 30 years, he is summoned from a paleontology dig – apparently in this world having living dinosaurs at your disposal has in no way altered the methods of paleontological research. Said research has altered these dinosaurs, however, and now some come in an array of plasticky feathers that render them hopelessly cartoonish.

The film is not so much a narrative as a sequence of loosely tied-together chase sequences where every running person, car, plane, raptor, and larger-than-average locust travels at the exact same speed. With so little dialogue and so much green screen that it’s hard to imagine the cast had any clue what the film they were shooting actually was, most of the exposition is given to a flashback of a woman pregnant with her own clone, and franchise favourite BD Wong who seems utterly exhausted.

Beyond its nonsensical plot, the film imagines the audience will be delighted by a myriad of references to the first film – but in Dominion it feels less like watching a beloved band play their greatest hits and more like watching them hawk merch to pay for an expensive divorce. Embarrassing.

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30/06/2025
Episode 200 of “The Cinephile Hissy Fit” Podcast — Every Movie Has a Lesson

For their historic 200th episode, two detective-minded film critics, two dream theory dads, and two noir-loving teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, welcome Chicago-based film critic and artist Jeff York of The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists to compare two examples of poisonous Hollywood settings separated by decades and mere blocks of postal addresses. Our trio compares the dangerous and pervasive themes to be found in David Lynch’s revered 2001 fever dream Mulholland Drive versus Billy Wilder’s salaciously seminal 1950 dark comedy Sunset Boulevard. The interpretations and lasting effects run quite the gamut in this extended discussion. Come learn more and stay for the mutual love and respect that fun movies encapsulate. Enjoy our podcast!

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Jeff York has been writing film criticism online since 2011. His movie blog The Establishing Shot is read in 27 countries. He’s a contributing critic, editorialist and illustrator to Pipeline Artists magazine. And he’s a frequent guest on various film podcasts too. In the past, he was the film critic for Creative Screenwriting magazine online from 2017-2020, an Examiner film critic from 2011-2016, and the host of the movie review podcast “Page 2 Screen” from 2015-2018. Jeff has also been a featured critic at RottenTomatoes.com since 2019. He hails from the world of Chicago advertising and journalism and his caricatures and cartoons have graced hundreds of periodicals including the Chicago Tribune, Automobile, Playboy, and W magazine. Jeff’s illustrations have filled eight books so far and original caricatures of his hang in the homes of Spike Lee, Bryan Cranston, Antonio Banderas, Jamie Lee Curtis, and many other celebrities. Jeff is also an optioned screenwriter and currently has projects under consideration by various studios, including Netflix. He was an original charter member of the Chicago Indie Critics and has been a member of SAG-AFTRA since 1990.

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30/06/2025