From hot dog suits to ghost tours gone wrong, Tim Robinson’s “I Think You Should Leave” has produced sketches that are as baffling as they are brilliant-here’s how every single one stacks up.
If you’re new to the show and want to burn through the show’s three seasons, you’re in luck: Every episode clocks in just shy of 20 minutes and can be leisurely dusted off in a weekend. “But Toussaint, Zosha, and co.,” you rhetorically ask, “what are the best sketches from I Think You Should Leave that I should watch first?” Good question, hypothetical AELGAMES reader. To answer, we’ve put on our thinking caps, crunched the numbers, plotted out a complicated and scientifically definitive ranking of each sketch from the series, and organized them into tiers.
We picked tiers for a specific reason: The truth is, there’s no such thing as a bad time with ITYSL. Robinson’s comedic stylings are always sharp, and his distinct energy that can completely explode or be fully contained in a single instant guides the show well enough that every sketch, zany or mundane, gets laughs. The list here is more interested in the deeper question of what makes an I Think You Should Leave sketch great or truly transcendent. Don’t agree with our rankings? Well, shit, dude, just write your own!
Here are the best I Think You Should Leave sketches, ranked from “best” to “most not-best.”
[Ed. note: We’ve updated our list to include every sketch from season three of I Think You Should Leave.]
S-tier
These sketches are the show at its absolute peak-perfectly balanced chaos where absurdity and precision meet. Each moment lands with flawless timing, capturing the strange intensity that makes Tim Robinson’s comedy unforgettable. Whether it’s an idea stretched to its wildest limit or a single meltdown that spirals beyond logic, these bits define why I Think You Should Leave has become a cult masterpiece.
Sketches: Car focus group (S1, E3, sketch 2); hot dog car hit-and-run (S1, E5, sketch 1); the bones are their money (S1, E5, sketch 4); chunky eats your points (S1, E6, sketch 2); Coffin Flop (S1, E1, sketch 2); Karl Havoc (S2, E1, sketch 3); driver’s ed tables with Patti Harrison (S2, E6, sketch 2); Driving Crooner (S3, E1, sketch 5); Darmine Doggy Door (S3, E2, sketch 2); Egg feeding game (S3, E2, sketch 4); Jellybean silent comedy (S3, E3, sketch 1); Pay-it-forward drive-thru (S3, E3, sketch 4)
These sketches are the best; the crème de la crème, the jokes that are so absurdly delivered by characters so memorable with personalities so utterly batshit that they’ve lodged themselves in the minds of everyone who has watched them. The perfect I Think You Should Leave Sketch has a clearly identifiable arc: starts out weird from the jump, inexplicably escalates into ever-higher levels of insanity, and uses Tim Robinson’s distinct brand of oddball weirdness to full effect. Throw in a memorable catchphrase or two, a couple hints of horror, and one solid breakout guest performance and you’ve got an instant classic (and probably a good meme).
A-tier
These sketches sit just below the very best, capturing Tim Robinson’s wild energy and absurd humor without leaning too heavily on chaos. They balance silliness and discomfort so well that you can’t help but quote them afterward. Each A-tier moment shows how far a simple premise can go when the timing, tone, and awkwardness all click.
Sketches: Sloppy steaks (S1, E2, sketch 5); hot dog lunch meeting (S1, E3, sketch 1); funeral organist with Fred Willard (S1, E3, sketch 4); The Ghost of Christmas Way Future (S1, E4, sketch 2); calico-cut pants (S2, E4, sketch 3); I don’t know how to drive (S2, E5, sketch 1); Team building workshop (S3, E1, sketch 2); Summer Loving zip line (S3, E1, sketch 3); Live sitcom recording (S3, E2, sketch 5); house party with Jason Schwartzman (S3, E5, sketch 3)
These sketches come just close to reaching the heights of I Think You Should Leave‘s very best: instantly ridiculous and easily memorable, but not quite cooked all the way through. In any other context, these sketches would be the weirdest (and funniest) SNL pitch that would never make it to air.
B-tier
These sketches hit the sweet spot between absurd and quotable, offering plenty of laughs without quite reaching classic status. They’re the ones fans still reference, but maybe skip on a rewatch marathon. Each piece shows Tim Robinson’s strange genius at work, just not firing at full strength-memorable setups, a few brilliant lines, and that unmistakable awkward energy that keeps the show’s world humming.
Sketches: Whoopee Cushion office prank (S1, E2, sketch 4); honeymoon baby revenge (S1, E2, sketch 6); “adult” ghost tour (S2, E1, sketch 5); The Capital Room with Patti Harrison (S2, E2, sketch 1); hot dog vacuum (S2, E3, sketch 3); Little Buff Boys (S2, E1, sketch 4); gimme that burger (S1, E3, sketch 1); Brian’s hat (S2, E3, sketch 5); Rodney impersonator office prank (S2, E6, sketch 1); table-surfing office prank (S2, E6, sketch 4); Barley Tonight (S3, E1, sketch 1); special date haircut (S3, E3, sketch 2); Pacific Proposal Park (S3, E4, sketch 2); wedding photos (S3, E5, sketch 2); Metaloid Maniac (S3, E6, sketch 2)
These sketches are specific and weird, far from the crème de la crème but still so unique, strange, vulgar, and funny that these hit more specifically for one particular line than they do on the whole. These are the ones that make you go, “Huh, that was weird,” and lightly chuckle to yourself before being washed away by sheer hilarity of the series’ best.
C-tier
These sketches land in the middle range-funny enough to keep you watching, but not the ones you quote months later. They have clever moments and weird energy, yet something feels slightly off in pacing or payoff. You can sense what the writers aimed for, but the execution doesn’t always match the idea’s potential. Still, they carry that strange charm that makes even a “miss” from I Think You Should Leave worth watching.
Sketches: Mitch Bryant/Turbo Time infomercial (S1, E1, sketch 2); brunch Instagram posts (S1, E1, sketch 4); Herbie Hancock loves to lie (S1, E4, sketch 1), nachos date (S1, E4, sketch 3), honk if you’re horny (S1, E4, sketch 4), choking in front of Caleb Went (S1, E5, sketch 2); Santa brought it early (S1, E5, sketch 3), baby shower bags (S1, E6, sketch 4); Dan Flashes office meeting (S2, E2, sketch 2); I love my wife/Jamie Taco (S2, E4, sketch 1), Claire’s ear piercings (S2, E6, sketch 5); VR shopping spree (S3, E2, sketch 1); ponytail got stuck (S3, E2, sketch 3); ABX heart monitor/Club Aqua ad (S3, E3, sketch 3); office 50th birthday party (S3, E3, sketch 5); 200 friends (S3, E4, sketch 1); Gelutol commercial (S3, E4, sketch 3); shirt brothers (S3, E4, sketch 5)
These sketches have lots of laughs, though often meanader a beat too long to arrive at the real genius of the joke. What often saves these are the guest appearances, as in the case of the “honk if you’re horny” sketch featuring comedian Conner O’Malley of How To With John Wilson and Joe Pera Talks with You fame.
D-tier
These sketches fall flat compared to the show’s best moments, either repeating jokes from stronger bits or stretching thin ideas too far. They still carry Tim Robinson’s signature awkwardness and commitment, but the punchlines rarely land as sharply. You can see the effort and chaos that make the series unique, yet these entries feel more like filler than hidden gems.
Sketches: Job interview/door (S1, E1, sketch 1); Baby of the Year (S1, E1, sketch 3); happy birthday wreath receipt (S1, E1, sketch 5); beautiful motorcycles (S1, E2, sketch 1); River Mountain High (S1, E2, sketch 2); Wilson’s Hair Removal (S1, E2, sketch 3); T.C. Tuggers ad (S1, E2, sketch 5); shit-talking magician (S1, E3, sketch 1); pretentious charades with Tim Heidecker (S1, E3, sketch 5); babysitter lie (S1, E5, sketch 5); small-penis horse ranch (S1, E6, sketch 1); Bozo did the dub (S1, E6, sketch 6); Jim Davis’ Garfield house (S1, E6, sketch 7); triples is best with Bob Odenkirk (S2, E2, sketch 3); Dan Flashes mall ad (S2, E2, sketch 4); Detective Crashmore (S2, E3, sketch 2); Crashmore press interview (S2, E3, sketch 4); I’m not the Blues Brothers (S2, E4, sketch 2); I’m not gonna pay for it (S2, E5, sketch 2); Johnny Carson can hit (S2, E5, sketch 3); Space Alien restaurant with Tim Heidecker (S2, E5, sketch 5); Tammy Craps (S2, E6, sketch 3); Fred Armisen beats up kids (S3, E1, sketch 4); Don Barndarley, King of Dirty Jokes (S3, E6, sketch 3); Tasty Time Videos (S3, E6, sketch 4)
Which sketches from the list are fan favorites to rewatch
Fan favorites from I Think You Should Leave sketches often cited for rewatching include “Calico Cut Pants,” “Darmine Doggy Door,” and “Gift Receipt” due to their escalating absurdity and quotable lines.
Rewatch Appeal
These sketches reward multiple viewings through layered humor and physical comedy. “Calico Cut Pants” (Season 2) builds to a legendary rant that’s endlessly memeable. “Darmine Doggy Door” (Season 3) thrives on chaotic energy, with Tim Robinson’s unhinged delivery shining brighter each time.
Other Popular Picks
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“Gift Receipt” (Season 1): Social awkwardness spirals hilariously, perfect for quick laughs.
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“Club Haunted House” (Season 3): High-energy absurdity keeps fans coming back.
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“Pull the Door Open” variants: Simple premises explode into relatable cringe.
Which SNL sketches are most rewatched by fans
SNL sketches most rewatched by fans are those with high YouTube view counts and enduring meme status, like “Porn Teacher” and “Black Jeopardy with Tom Hanks.” These modern sketches dominate due to viral sharing and layered humor that reveals more on repeat views.
Top View Count Sketches
YouTube metrics from SNL’s official channel highlight these leaders:
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“Porn Teacher” (Season 41): Over 106 million views, driven by Aidy Bryant’s clueless student stealing the show amid double entendres.
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“Black Jeopardy with Tom Hanks” (Season 42): 83 million views, as MAGA-hat Doug surprisingly excels, blending politics and relatability.
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“Harry Potter: Hermione Growth” (Season 29): 77 million views for absurd character growth parody.
Other Rewatch Staples
Classics persist despite lower digital numbers:
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“More Cowbell” (2000): Over 20 million views, iconic for Will Ferrell’s feverish energy.
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“Close Encounters” (Season 41): 63 million views, boosted by cast breaking character.
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“Matt Foley: Van Down by the River” (1993): Chris Farley’s manic motivational speaker remains a fan endurance-test favorite.
