The BEST episodes of Saturday Night Live season 11

Every episode of Saturday Night Live season 11, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Saturday Night Live season 11!

Each week, a famous guest host appears in sketches and parodies alongside a roster of up-and-coming comedians. A popular musical guest, short films, and Weekend Update - a recurring satirical newscast - form the backbone of one of the most influential and culturally significant TV shows in history.

Last Updated: 10/31/2024Network: NBCStatus: Continuing
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Catherine Oxenberg & Paul Simon/Ladysmith Black Mambazo
star
10.00
1 votes

#1 - Catherine Oxenberg & Paul Simon/Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Season 11 - Episode 16 - Aired 5/10/1986

Live from New York, it's... Paul Simon! Sketches include "Geraldo Rivera Opens The Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier," "Wall Shackles Prison," "The Late Show with Joan Rivers," "The Limits Of The Imagination," "Dirk Landers, CIA Operative," a guest performance by Penn & Teller, "Producer Tommy Flanagan," "Brim Decaffeinated," "A Mother's Day Message," and "Trojans." Paul Simon performed "You Can Call Me Al," "Homeless" with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and "Graceland."

Directors: Dave Wilson
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Jimmy Breslin & Marvin Hagler/Level 42, E.G. Daily
star
10.00
1 votes

#2 - Jimmy Breslin & Marvin Hagler/Level 42, E.G. Daily

Season 11 - Episode 17 - Aired 5/17/1986

Sketches are ""Mike 'The Menace' Hall,"" ""Kill Kaddafi?"" ""Tornadoville,"" ""Marvin's Knockout Tips,"" ""Lone Wolf McCord,"" ""The Pat Stevens,"" ""Cabrini Green's Assembly,"" ""Jody Hagler,"" ""Midday with Jennifer Hicks: Bond's Supervillains"", ""Weekend Update with Dennis Miller"", ""Sam Kinison's standup act"". Level 42 performs ""Something About You"" and EG Daily performs ""Say It, Say It"" with Jon Lovitz.

Directors: Dave Wilson
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Anjelica Huston & Billy Martin/George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic
star
10.00
1 votes

#3 - Anjelica Huston & Billy Martin/George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic

Season 11 - Episode 18 - Aired 5/24/1986

Live from New York, it's...Randy Quaid Sketches include: Hands Across America, Moments of Doubt, Glamorous Drinking, National Council of Liquor and Spirits, Actors on Film, Hallmark Cards, Lesbian Pick-Ups, Bocce Ball My Way, Tempting Billy, The People's Second Choice Award, Book Minute, LaBelles At The Movies, My Friend, and Backstage SNL: Lorne Kills The Cast (except for Jon Lovitz, Nora Dunn, and Dennis Miller) George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic perform: ""Let's Take It To The Stage"" and ""Do Fries Go With That Shake""

Directors: Dave Wilson
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Tony Danza/Laurie Anderson
star
10.00
1 votes

#4 - Tony Danza/Laurie Anderson

Season 11 - Episode 15 - Aired 4/19/1986

Live from New York, it's... Randy Quaid, Robert Downey Jr., and Anthony Michael Hall! Sketches include "Vietnam Horror Story," "Nancy Reagan's Workout," "Lyndon LaRouche Theatre," "The 30-Second Count," a guest performance by Penn & Teller, "Big Time Professional Golf," "My Unconditional Love," "Master Thespian," and "The Further Adventures Of Biff And Salena." Laurie Anderson performed "Baby Doll" and "Day The Devil."

Directors: Dave Wilson
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Dudley Moore/Al Green
star
9.00
3 votes

#5 - Dudley Moore/Al Green

Season 11 - Episode 8 - Aired 1/25/1986

Sketches include ""Monks and Football,"" ""The Pat Stevens Show,"" ""Master Thespian"", ""The Limits of the Imagination"", ""Name That Tune,"" and ""Die Foriegner Die!"" Al Green performs ""Going Away.""

Directors: Dave Wilson
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Jerry Hall/Stevie Ray & Jimmie Vaughn
star
8.00
3 votes

#6 - Jerry Hall/Stevie Ray & Jimmie Vaughn

Season 11 - Episode 10 - Aired 2/15/1986

Live from New York, it's... Mick Jagger! Sketches include "Tommy Flanagan," "The Limits Of The Imagination," and "Models Against The Wilderness," "Master Thespian," "The Line of Death," "Sam Kinison Stand-Up," "The Pat Stevens Show," and "Dad's Sore Big Toe." Stevie Ray & Jimmie Vaughn perform "Say What" and "Change It."

Directors: Dave Wilson
Watch Now:Apple TV
Teri Garr/Dream Academy, The Cult
star
8.00
2 votes

#7 - Teri Garr/Dream Academy, The Cult

Season 11 - Episode 6 - Aired 12/21/1985

Sketches include ""The Wrapper Rapper,"" ""Critic,"" ""The Price of Eggs,"" ""Hildy,"" ""A Roy Orbison Christmas,"" ""The Big Tree,"" and ""Time Traveling Trivial Pursuit."" The Dream Academy performed their one and only hit, ""Life In A Northern Town.""

Directors: Dave Wilson
Watch Now:Apple TV
Tom Hanks/Sade
star
8.00
2 votes

#8 - Tom Hanks/Sade

Season 11 - Episode 5 - Aired 12/14/1985

Sketches include ""Entertainment Tonight,"" ""Trojans,"" ""Tommy and His Mother,"" ""Comedians,"" and ""Steve's Fantasy.""

Directors: Dave Wilson
Watch Now:Apple TV
Pee Wee Herman/Queen Ida & The Bon Temps Zydeco Band
star
8.00
2 votes

#9 - Pee Wee Herman/Queen Ida & The Bon Temps Zydeco Band

Season 11 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/23/1985

Sketches include ""Twin Towers Tightrope,"" ""Pee Wee Herman's Thanksgiving Special"", ""Marital Problems,"" ""Pee Wee's School Romance,"" ""Find the Mouse in the Coke,"" and ""Hal Fisher's Money Magnet Method.""

Directors: Dave Wilson
Watch Now:Apple TV
Madonna/Simple Minds
star
8.00
6 votes

#10 - Madonna/Simple Minds

Season 11 - Episode 1 - Aired 11/9/1985

Sketches include: ""SNL Drug Tests,"" ""A Message From The Almighty,"" ""National Inquirer Theatre,"" ""Pinklisting,"" ""Cabrini Green,"" and ""Nancy Reagan Meets Charles and Di."" Simple Minds performed ""Alive and Kicking.""

Directors: Dave Wilson
Watch Now:Apple TV
John Lithgow/Mr. Mister
star
7.67
3 votes

#11 - John Lithgow/Mr. Mister

Season 11 - Episode 4 - Aired 12/7/1985

Sketches include--- Halley's Comet, Cliche Father, Master Thespian, Nancy Reagan sings ""That Old Black Magic"", The Ad Council, Rajneesh's Rolls-Royces, The Limits Of The Imagination.

Directors: Dave Wilson
Watch Now:Apple TV
Griffin Dunne/Rosanne Cash
star
7.67
3 votes

#12 - Griffin Dunne/Rosanne Cash

Season 11 - Episode 12 - Aired 3/15/1986

""Tommy Flanagan's Pathological Liars Anonymous"", ""Griffin Dunne's One-Handed Drum Solo from Wipeout"", ""Ferdinand Marcos Malacanang Palace Liquidation Sale"", ""You bet your finger"", ""Weekend Update with Dennis Miller"", ""Two Jones' Cable Installers"", ""Penn & Teller"".

Directors: Dave Wilson
Watch Now:Apple TV
Harry Dean Stanton/The Replacements
star
7.50
4 votes

#13 - Harry Dean Stanton/The Replacements

Season 11 - Episode 7 - Aired 1/18/1986

Live from New York, it's... Dennis Miller! Sketches include "Herb's Press Conference," "Gulf Coast Furniture Warehouse," "Cleveland Vice," "Death Of A Gunfighter," "What You Said During Labor," "That Black Girl," "Big Ball Of Sports" (film), "The Friendly Drunk," "Jack's Discount Emporium," and "Say No To The Army." The Replacements performed "Bastards of the Young" and "Kiss Me on the Bus."

Directors: Dave Wilson
Watch Now:Apple TV
Oprah Winfrey/Joe Jackson
star
7.33
3 votes

#14 - Oprah Winfrey/Joe Jackson

Season 11 - Episode 14 - Aired 4/12/1986

Sketches include ""Beat Her!,"" ""John Mellencamp,"" ""The Pat Stevens Show,"" ""Craig Sundberg, Idiot Savant,"" and ""One-Shoe Emma."" Joe Jackson performed ""Right or Wrong.""

Directors: Dave Wilson
Watch Now:Apple TV
Chevy Chase/Sheila E.
star
7.00
4 votes

#15 - Chevy Chase/Sheila E.

Season 11 - Episode 2 - Aired 11/16/1985

Sketches include ""Smoky Hallway,"" ""Wacky Glue,"" ""Those Unlucky Andersons"", ""Ford and Reagan,"" ""The Pat Stevens Show,"" ""Pathological Liars Anonymous,"" ""Craig Sundburg-Idiot Savant,"" ""Trojans,"" ""The Blue, The Gray and The Yellow,"" ""Vlad the Impaler,"" ""Drums Drums Drums,"" and ""Jose Cuervo's Party School Bowl."" Sheila E. performed ""Hollyrock"" and ""A Love Bizarre.""

Directors: Dave Wilson
Watch Now:Apple TV
George Wendt/Philip Glass
star
6.50
2 votes

#16 - George Wendt/Philip Glass

Season 11 - Episode 13 - Aired 3/22/1986

Sketches include ""The Honeymooners: Lost Episodes,"" ""Camera Control,"" ""Two Directors,"" ""That Black Girl,"" and ""Vietnam Sketch."" Philip Glass performs ""Rubric.""

Directors: Dave Wilson
Watch Now:Apple TV
Jay Leno/The Neville Brothers
star
6.00
3 votes

#17 - Jay Leno/The Neville Brothers

Season 11 - Episode 11 - Aired 2/22/1986

Sketches include ""Backstage,"" ""Star Search,"" ""Dinner with Mike,"" ""Biff & Selena,"" and ""Jay's Evil Twin.""

Directors: Dave Wilson
Watch Now:Apple TV
Ron Reagan/The Nelsons
star
5.50
2 votes

#18 - Ron Reagan/The Nelsons

Season 11 - Episode 9 - Aired 2/8/1986

Live From New York, it's...Ronald Reagon, Jr. Sketches include: White House Risky Business, You're Going To Hell: A Message From The Almighty (repeat from the Madonna/Simple Minds episode), The Pat Stevens Show, Dalkon Shield Trout Lure, Back To The Future, Penn And Teller Guest Performance, Limits of the Imagination, Shakespeare In The Slums With Flotilda Williams, and The Woody Allen Fan The Nelsons performs: Walk Away and Do You Know What I Mean

Directors: Dave Wilson
Watch Now:Apple TV