5 Times ‘SNL’ Made American History More Awesome
For most students, American History is a boring required class, hours of memorizing dates and battles that appear to have little relevance to modern life. Maybe enterprising teachers could spice up a lecture or two with some Saturday Night Live sketches that detail important events from our nation’s past.
Sure, students may come out of the class less informed but at least they’ll be entertained.
Washington’s Dream
In one of the best sketches in recent SNL memory, first-time host Nate Bargatze shined as George Washington sharing his questionable priorities for a new nation. “People have been complaining about America’s weird system of weights and measurements and doing jokes about it forever,” SNL head writer Streeter Seidell told IndieWire. “It’s not like it hasn’t been remarked upon by every single European you’ve ever met — and every scientist.”
Revolutionary War
You think fans of the New England Patriots were insufferable during the Tom Brady years? Think about how obnoxious those real patriots of New England must have been. After yet another victory on the battlefield, colonist Beck Bennett groans, “I recognize that New England wins battles, but must they be so obnoxious about it? Dreadfully annoying.”
Fellow colonist Kyle Mooney agrees. “Frankly, I’m willing to lose this whole year of war if it means not seeing them win again.”
America’s First Colonists: Stonetown
Here’s a piece of American history you might not know — the good citizens of Stonetown worried that their community might perish, thanks to leader Seth Rogen’s plan to cultivate a tasty new strain of weed rather than prepare for the winter. A growing town was indeed lost, but at least its citizens invented hacky sack and the air lute.
Boston Teens at the Colonial Museum
Sully and Denise took a field trip to the Colonial Museum to learn about history, but it turns out Sully already had the motion down for working the butter churn. History is baked into their DNA since Massachusetts is the home state of Paul Revere, John Hancock and Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra. Britney Spears advises the couple not to apply for jobs — the guy who plays Thomas Jefferson is a total perv.
World War II 101
Why do we need SNL to teach us about American history? Maybe because our high schools are doing such a lousy job of it. Don’t blame Jerry Seinfeld, though — he’s doing everything he can to convince his students that Nazis existed outside of the plot for Raiders of the Lost Ark.