I've said it before, and it's still true if you grew up in the Midwest, you always take note when your state gets mentioned on TV or in a movie.

I've had to stop myself from messaging my siblings whenever the Weather Channel talks about western Nebraska. It’s a silly, but fun thing to get excited about.

Minnesota Moments on SNL: A Deep Dive

Minnesota on SNL
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SNL’s 50-Year Run and Its Unexpected Nods to the Midwest

The long-running sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live will celebrate its 50th year on the air in 2025.

As a longtime SNL fanatic, I’ve been watching all the retrospectives and documentaries I can find. Peacock has a great new multi-part doc right now that I highly recommend.

I've also been binging old episodes of the show and reliving some of my favorites, like What’s Up With That, Being Quirky With Zooey Deschanel, and J-Pop America Fun Time Now!

Read More: Watch Quest Love's Amazing "SNL - 50 Years of Music" Mashup Here 

 

Minnesota on SNL
Saturday Night Live Open (YouTube/Canva)
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Minnesota Keeps Popping Up on Saturday Night Live

During this SNL deep dive, I’ve noticed two things.

First, current event jokes get stale REALLY fast. Sometimes Weekend Update feels like a cavalcade of names and references I vaguely remember from childhood. But hey, the audience loved them at the time.

The second thing is that, especially in the 21st century, SNL loves to give shout-outs to Minnesota.

Minnesota on SNL
See MN on SNL below (Graphic: Canva)
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MORE: South Dakota Famous: 6 Times We Made It On 'Saturday Night Live'

Babe the Blue Ox’s stomping ground isn’t as obscure as South Dakota. I mean, it’s the home of Prince and one of Guy Fieri's favorite places to grab lunch. But I love it when writers put in the effort to set sketches outside of NYC or Hollywood.

To celebrate SNL’s ongoing love affair with the home of the Vikings, here are five Saturday Night Live sketches that feature Minnesota:

1. MN on SNL: B-108 FM Morning Show  - 2013

Terrian Killian and Bobby Moinahan take to the airwaves on the only Hop-hop morning show in Shopkee, Minnesota. They have special guest rapper Busty Rymes, AKA Jennifer Lawrance. But wait! She can't rhyme!


2. MN on SNL: Monday Night Football: Buccaneers vs. Vikings - 2000

This parody of the opening of a classic Monday Night Football broadcast features Darrell Hammond, Will Ferrell, and Jimmy Fallon as the announcers during a Vikings game.

To me, this is exactly what people talking about sports sound like to someone who doesn't follow sports. Or like how Star Trek sounds to someone who does.


3. MN on SNL: Fly High Duluth - 2006

This deliciously silly SNL sketch takes place during the TV morning show on Duluth, Minnesota's Channel 23. Will Forte and ScarJo play singers in a band that, well, let's just say they are really into singing about Duluth.


4. MN on SNL: Mid-Day News - 2019

There must be something special about a TV news program in Minnesota, I guess, because here we are again.

This very funny sketch showcases lots of great Not Ready For Primetime Players; Kenan Thompson, Ego Nwodim, Alex Moffat, and Chris Redd. With host Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

 


5. Recall the Kid Mayor - 2014

Minnesota sure loves a non-traditional mayor. Especially if it's a dog. This sketch from 2014 is a parody political ad calling for the recall of the kid mayor Aldrich, Minnesota elected.


MN on SNL Extra: Prince Auditions

This sketch isn't Minnesota-centric, but it is about auditions for a movie about one of Minnesota's favorite sons, Prince.

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