"Saturday Night Live" returns this week, kicking off the legendary show’s 50th season.
The episode, which will be hosted by Jean Smart with musical guest Jelly Roll, marks a seminal moment as the show will become the eighth broadcast series in history to reach 50 seasons.
In honor of this, cllct ranks the 10 best prop items from the show’s illustrious history. (The items are in chronological order from when they debuted.)
We'd love to own any of these:
Bass-O-Matic
Debut: Season 1, Episode 17 (1976)
Call! Right now! And get your Super Bass-O-Matic!
If you’ve ever wanted a way to eat an entire bass, without removing the fish’s scales, tail and bones, boy, does Dan Aykroyd have a product for you.
It also works great on other small aquatic creatures. What’s not to love? And we'd love to have this at home.
"Blues Brothers" Harmonica
Debut: Season 4, Episode 6 (1978)
The Blues Brothers did something few other sketches in the show’s history have achieved: being a favorite for people in their 70s and in their 20s.
John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd delivered an incredible performance with “Soul Man," one so good and so popular it became the first "SNL" skit eventually adapted into a movie.
Young adults really love this skit because it was one of the most popular moments of Nickelodeon’s history when it was re-enacted on “Drake & Josh."
Aykroyd was actually playing the harmonica in the song, it’s the most memorable part.
Easel from "Mr. Robinson’s Neighborhood"
Debut: Season 6, Episode 11, (1981)
Eddie Murphy joined "SNL" in 1980, when he was just 19 years old. And by 20, he had starred in one of the most popular skits in the show’s history.
“Mr. Robinson’s Neighborhood," a spin on “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood," showed Murphy dealing with gentrification in his neighborhood through a variety of different circumstances. And just like Mr. Rogers, Mr. Robinson always has a word of the day to teach his viewers ... like “scumbucket.”
When Murphy returned to host "SNL" in 2019, the show brought back the skit to much applause.
This easel is perfect for all audiences. Kids can teach their parents about modern social media slang. And millennials can teach Gen Z about the popularity of “bitchin’."
"Hanz and Franz" muscle suits
Debut: Season 13, Episode 1 (1987)
We’re going to “PUMP ... YOU UP."
Beefed up in muscle suits, Dana Carvey and Kevin Nealon — Arnold Schwarzenegger’s fake cousins — gave their best tips on giving you the best pump during your weightlifting.
Hanz and Franz became one of the most beloved "SNL" skits of the late '80s and early '90s, especially when Schwarzenegger joined them.
The muscle suits, gray sweats and lifting belts are quite the ensemble.
"Wayne’s World" hat
Debut: Season 14, Episode 13 (1989)
Of the "SNL" skits that became full-feature TV shows and movies, “Wayne’s World” was by far the most successful, with the initial 1992 film earning nearly $200 million at the box office.
Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers) and Garth Algar (Dana Carvey) gave their thoughts on movies, heavy metal and “babes” in more than 20 editions of “SNL” and two movies.
Despite all the immense product placement in both the skits and the movies, the “Wayne’s World” hat remains the top prize for collectors.
The Love Toilet
Debut: Season 17, Episode 7 (1991)
The item itself is simply too funny to pass up.
It gives the opportunity to do No. 2 with your No. 1. I can’t think of anything more disturbing than that.
It doesn’t have an all-time classic joke or moment, but one of the best "SNL" commercials simply introduced one of the funniest concepts ever to grace the show.
Matt Foley’s blazer
Debut: Season 18, Episode 19 (1993)
This very well might be the most iconic sketch in the history of the show. The skit had it all! Van. River. And Chris Farley at his very best.
The late actor’s physical comedy left the audience belly-laughing whenever he was on set, but nothing topped his work as Matt Foley, the motivational speaker, who was quite bad at being an actual motivator ... especially considering he was a 35-year-old divorcee who lived in a van down by the river.
There were other Matt Foley sketches to follow, but none topped the original. And his getup from the skit became so popular, minor-league baseball teams are now actually having their own “motivational speaker” nights when they present giveaway clothing items so that fans can dress as Matt Foley.
Adam Sandler’s "Hanukkah Song" guitar
Debut: Season 20, Episode 7 (1994)
Growing up Jewish, it’s almost impossible to overstate the impact this song had on me growing up.
I’ve known every word to this song since I was probably 8 years old, and it actually brought awareness there are other holidays in the winter besides Christmas. It also made me aware of all the people who were Jewish who I grew up watching and built a stronger connection within me.
Sandler has, of course, become one of the biggest comedians and movie producers in history, and yet this song remains one of the highlights of his career.
Will Ferrell's cowbell
Debut: Season 25, Episode 6 (2000)
If Bruce Dickinson wants more cowbell, we should probably give him more cowbell!
The sketch, written by Will Ferrell, depicts Blue Oyster Cult recording “Don’t Fear the Reaper." Ferrell, who plays fake band member Gene Frenkle, has said publicly the inspiration for the skit was always being infatuated with a faint cowbell sound in the song, which was released in 1976.
Dickinson is played by Christopher Walken, who was hosting the episode, and throughout the skit wants to hear “more cowbell," a phrase which he apparently still gets yelled at by fans regularly.
Not only did Dickinson have a fever for “more cowbell”, but the rest of the comedy world did, too.
Stefon's T-shirt
Debut: Season 34, Episode 7 (2008)
Bill Hader and John Mulaney’s creation is perhaps the most iconic "Weekend Update" segment of the 21st century.
It was so popular, producers allegedly wanted to adapt the skit into a movie.
Stefon, the quicky New York City correspondent, knew all the latest clubs, restaurants, trends and pop culture events taking place in the Big Apple.
And one of the most memorable parts of the skit is Stefon’s T-shirt and wacky tattoo arm sleeves, especially considering the way Hader looks not in character. It would be a must-have for any "SNL" collector.
Matt Liberman is a reporter and video producer for cllct.