25 best cold-opens in SNL history

18. Dana Carvey plays two candidates in 1992 Presidential Debate

This type of sketch is perfect for people who complain that SNL is becoming too partisan. A parody of the 1992 Presidential Debate featuring George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Ross Perot is as good of a sketch as they come, and the writers make sure to get in enough shots on every candidate.

While Donald Trump ran as a Republican, many argued that he was more of a third-party candidate. While most of his most popular policies fall in line with Republican interests, his words skew far right, and his actions have drawn the ire of both party lines multiple times. It’s no coincidence, then, that his candidacy recalled memories of other memorable third-party candidate runs, such as Beppe Grillo, George Wallace, Ross Perot and Waldo from Black Mirror.

Come election time, Perot was able to win 19 percent of the popular vote, which arguably cost Bush in his re-election bid. But if you watch this sketch, his performance in the debate may have had more to do with it.

While Will Ferrell is the first actor that comes to mind when you hear Bush and SNL, Dana Carvey played Dubya’s father, and in this sketch, pulled double duty as both Bush and Perot. It speaks to his immense talent that they let him play two-thirds of the candidates despite the plethora of talent they had in the cast.

There were a number of memorable lines in this sketch, although the first half is almost entirely dedicated to trashing Arkansas. It may be hard to visit that state and not think of “inbred mountain people.” Phil Hartman also had a chance to shine as Clinton, as he made fun of his hippy tendencies even though he claimed to never inhale.

Interestingly enough, this was Carvey’s last season as a regular cast member. This sketch was a hell of a way to send him out.