"SNL's" 10 best cable news parodies

From "60 Minutes" to Fox News,"Saturday Night Live" is scarily good at spoofing cable news

Published July 14, 2014 3:40PM (EDT)

It's going to be hard not to get nostalgic over "SNL," which is just a few months away from debuting its 40th season. So, as we await an upcoming season of spoofs, here's a look at 10 sketches, both old and new, that have become classic parodies of cable news:

"60 Minutes, Point/Counter-Point" parody

In this 1978 sketch, Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin take on double standards in relationships and dating, leading to the memorable quotes like, "Jane, you ignorant slut!" and "rapacious swap soul."

"60 Minutes"

As evidenced by the above sketch, "SNL" has been doing the "60 Minutes" parody for decades. Here's a classic report from Dan Rather about why there are no babes on the show, starring Joe Piscopo:

"A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney"

More "60 Minutes" greatness, and more sexism. Here, Joe Piscopo waxes poetic on breasts as the late curmudgeon Andy Rooney:

"Wayne's World"

What began as a cable access TV parody turned into its own bona-fide television event, "Wayne's World," starring Dana Carvey and Mike Myers. In this 1990 sketch, the party dudes welcome Aerosmith and Tom Hanks:

"Dateline"

Bill Hader stars as the creepy Keith Morrison, who investigates the enthralling mystery of the chopped-up guy in this hilarious "Dateline" parody:

Fox News

Former "SNL" cast members Jason Sudeikis, Kristen Wiig, Fred Armisen and Bill Hader starred as Fox News's assorted blowhard anchors a year after President Obama was elected into office.

"Fox & Friends"

Though they only started a few years ago, SNL's "Fox & Friends" parodies became instant classics; the running gag of fake corrections has become a feature in itself. One of the best "SNL" "Fox & Friends" parodies comes from 2013, in response to Fox's bad handling of Jason Collins's coming out story.

"The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer"

Starring Jason Sudeikis as Wolf Blitzer, "SNL" used the David Patraeus scandal as an opportunity to mock CNN's hacky, faux-dramatic coverage.

"Nancy Grace"

"Hello! I'm Nancy Grace, and you're right -- I have already made up my mind!"

Noël Wells, newcomer to the 39th season, lampooned Nancy Grace, the television commentator who is a caricature of a real person, in a segment about the legalization of marijuana in Colorado. Watch as Grace railroads Drake (Katt Williams), and a bakery owner played by Kate McKinnon. And remember, if you have an opinion, it doesn't matter -- because Nancy Grace has one, too, and she is louder than you.


By Prachi Gupta

Prachi Gupta is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on pop culture. Follow her on Twitter at @prachigu or email her at pgupta@salon.com.

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