One of the highlights of Saturday Night Live is seeing performers breaking character because they cannot control their laughter — as long as it does not happen too often. This video montage features cast members from various seasons — going back to the late 1970s — as they crack up. See if you can make it through without laughing. [2025 Update: While the original posted video is no longer available, below is another video of SNL cast members cracking up.]
The term for unscripted giggling is “corpsing,” referring to the fact that the worst time to laugh is when you are playing a corpse. For a discussion of when it is okay for SNL cast members to laugh and when it becomes annoying, check out Slate.
What is your favorite SNL moment where a performer started laughing? Leave your two cents in the comments.
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