I love your Schweaty balls

October 4, 2008 6:29 PM

My sister is going to a SNL themed Halloween party. She needs ideas for "obscure, I mean so obscure that people are like 'Wow that is obscure!' "I told her that not many SNL characters are that obscure and if they are, no one's going to get it anyway. Yet being my sister I feel I should help her. I suggested Rosanne Rossana Danna, but that was not obscure enough. So I turn to the green.
posted by Epsilon-minus semi moron to grab bag (84 answers total)

The shark in the candygram skit.
posted by storybored at 6:35 PM on October 4, 2008

The "Where you're going" commercial -- rich yuppie types living it up and enjoying the finer things, but they're "going to pay" by going to Hell. Dress up like hedonistic rich people and add fake fire or other hell-like accessories.
posted by Jaltcoh at 6:37 PM on October 4, 2008

Neither Rosanne nor the shark are even remotely obscure. I would suggest any of Julia Louis Dreyfus's recurring characters (from Wikipedia):

Recurring characters on Saturday Night Live

* April May June, a female televangelist
* Becky, El Dorko's (Gary Kroeger) date
* Consuela, Chi Chi's friend and co-host of Let's Watch TV
* Darla in SNL's parody of The Little Rascals
* Weather Woman, a female superhero who controls the weather
* Patti Lynn Hunnsucker, a teenage correspondent on Saturday Night News (Weekend Update)
posted by oddman at 6:41 PM on October 4, 2008

How about Jack Handy? Technically a real person, but just dress like yourself and say odd things all night.
posted by true at 6:41 PM on October 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

A box of Colon Blow.
posted by Confess, Fletch at 6:41 PM on October 4, 2008

She could carry around a can of Reddi-Whip with a label on it that says Shimmer...and memorize the lines from the fake commercial. It's a floor polish and a dessert topping!
posted by cabingirl at 6:42 PM on October 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

Her husband suggested land shark but she doesn't want to deal with wearing a plastic shark head all night
posted by Epsilon-minus semi moron at 6:47 PM on October 4, 2008

Lorne Michaels. Producer and co-creator. Makes periodic appearances. Lorne is recognizable, but would be pretty obscure.
posted by kellygreen at 6:50 PM on October 4, 2008 [2 favorites]

Irwin Mainway - the guy that markets incredibly dangerous toys to kids, like Bag O' Glass.

"Look, we put a label on every bag that says, "Kid! Be careful - broken glass!" I mean, we sell a lot of products in the "Bag O'" line..... like Bag O' Glass, Bag O' Nails, Bag O' Bugs, Bag O' Vipers, Bag O' Sulfuric Acid. They're decent toys, you know what I mean?"
posted by iconomy at 6:52 PM on October 4, 2008 [3 favorites]

Massive Headwound Harry or Jackie Rogers Jr.
posted by jrossi4r at 6:57 PM on October 4, 2008

What about Maraka from TV Funhouse? Easy, cute costume.
posted by iconomy at 7:00 PM on October 4, 2008

Oh man...Jackie Rogers Jr..."Papa! Papa Daddy Sir!" Hilarious!
posted by Overzealous at 7:00 PM on October 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

Toonces, the Driving Cat.
posted by dammitjim at 7:02 PM on October 4, 2008 [2 favorites]

How about Hank Petchow? Just wear jeans and a flannel shirt and walk around with a bag of dog food or a toy dog.

Or Phillip, that hyperactive kid leashed to the jungle gym played by Mike Myers? She could wear a bike helmet and some sort of harness thing and walk around going "Hiiiiiiiiii!" and jumping about spastically.
posted by rebel_rebel at 7:04 PM on October 4, 2008

Doug and Wendy Whiner. "We can't eat that -- we've got diverticulitis!"
posted by scody at 7:04 PM on October 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

An Adobe.

Also, the record executive that Dana Carvey plays "Chopping Broccoli" for.

Or, Jan Hooks' cleaning character from the Compulsion commercial. White dress, yellow gloves, and a toilet brush. That's a good costume!
posted by paperzach at 7:04 PM on October 4, 2008

Or one of the guys from the Bad Idea Jeans commercial. Just get a cheezy sweater and some terrible jeans from Salvation Army.
posted by dammitjim at 7:06 PM on October 4, 2008

MOM JEANS!!! (Applique vest and high waisted pants.)
posted by k8t at 7:11 PM on October 4, 2008 [2 favorites]

One Fat Bean.

El Nino (that's Spanish for the Nino).
posted by Wayman Tisdale at 7:12 PM on October 4, 2008

She could go as Tina Fey in the Woomba commerical - "The robot that cleans your lady business". All she would need is a robe.
posted by iconomy at 7:19 PM on October 4, 2008

Here's a list that contains SNL characters that have been on the show less than 4 times.

Though I am still looking for Swabby...
posted by BozoBurgerBonanza at 7:19 PM on October 4, 2008 [2 favorites]

The napkin fish! So obscure, it's not on youtube! (Eddie Murphy era)
posted by jbickers at 7:20 PM on October 4, 2008

Happy Fun Ball!
posted by lemonwheel at 7:20 PM on October 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

My first thought was Astronaut Jones. The character was only in four episodes and is new enough to be recognizable but not immediately so. Absolutely hilarious too!
posted by Diskeater at 7:25 PM on October 4, 2008 [3 favorites]

Simon and Gar Farkle, sons of Fred and Fanny Farkle.
posted by vanoakenfold at 7:28 PM on October 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

Okay, I was an SNL junkie for oh, a decade. Here are my suggestions:

Miss Colleen - Molly Shannon's character in the "Dog Show" sketches.

Wendy Whiner - A Robin Duke character from the 70s. (mentioned above)

Sinead O'Connor might push it a little, but it's an easy costume with all back, bald cap, and torn pope picture.

One of the Sweeney Sisters might work.
posted by frecklefaerie at 7:30 PM on October 4, 2008 [3 favorites]

Misty Peppers!

Sorry for a link with an ad. ugh. popcorn.
posted by tremspeed at 7:32 PM on October 4, 2008

Here's the only reference to Swabby, from the December 2 1995 show:

Summary: Anthony Edwards find that he can't stack up against rejected "ER" character Swabby (David Koechner).

Swabby looked alot like Popeye, carried around a mop and was interupting Edwards' monologue, and his only line was "Swabby" (from what I remember).

...umm...I think I should stop now.
posted by BozoBurgerBonanza at 7:38 PM on October 4, 2008

I'll throw in another vote for the Bad Idea Jeans. You could pretty easily sew some sort of red tag onto the, uh... crack... of the seat. (More specifically, I say go with David Spade's outfit.)
posted by joshrholloway at 7:44 PM on October 4, 2008

Pat
posted by Confess, Fletch at 7:45 PM on October 4, 2008

Topless Martha Stewart! (sorry, couldn't resist)

I think Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer is a great one. Not super-obscure, but Phil Hartman only did it for a couple of sketches.

If she's handy with sewing, I'd suggest building a pair of 3-legged jeans. More of an obvious gag than Mom jeans or bad idea jeans.
posted by O9scar at 7:51 PM on October 4, 2008

Candy Slice
Melanie Hutsell's exaggerated teenager/Valley Girl character
Debbie Downer
Sally O'Malley ("I can kick, stretch...and kick!")
Cheri Oteri's middle aged lady on all kinds of meds and fucked up makeup
posted by rhizome at 7:56 PM on October 4, 2008

Molly Shannon as Sally O'Malley. I'm fifty!!
posted by wv kay in ga at 7:57 PM on October 4, 2008

Big Red, the mighty man from the land of Thor.

Clean up kit sold separately
posted by steveminutillo at 7:59 PM on October 4, 2008

Adam Sandler doing halloween ideas on Weekend update. I remember "newspaper head" and "protractor head man". Nobody here has listed it, and its over 10 years old.

Good luck.
posted by hal_c_on at 8:01 PM on October 4, 2008

Dieter
one of the Killer Bees
posted by iamabot at 8:04 PM on October 4, 2008

The devil as played by Jon Lovitz! Or she could continuously reenact the death of Buckwheat.

I second Massive Headwound Harry. That was one of my favorites.. I particularly loved when the pet started licking the headwound..

I'm assuming Dieter from Sprockets isn't obscure enough. I always liked the Sassy guy, too. But, that's probably not much of a 'character.' I imagine the most obscure characters would come from the 80s when the show was at its worst (over all) (basically when Robert Downey Jr. and Anthony Michael Hall were on).

One final idea: If she's interested in more recent SNL stuff, maybe Chris Kattan's Gay Hitler.
posted by Mael Oui at 8:06 PM on October 4, 2008

Candy Slice +1
Other obscure (or at least old) characters
Judy Miller (costume = brownie outfit)
Leonard Pitts Garnel (Bad Theater; costume = smoking jacket and a moustache)
Pete Tagliani (political candidate played by Al Franken in exactly one episode, it's topical!)
posted by adamrice at 8:07 PM on October 4, 2008

Women with Eyes on Their Breasts (Kirstie Alley ep)
Three-legged jeans - if you're a sewer.
Wendy Whiner (old Jane Curtain character)

or how about Gilda Radner's lobotomized wife in the add for the cereal with psychotropic cereal? You need a 70s look, a rake, and a vacant look.

p.s. I second Massive Headwound Harry (Harriet?) and the Compulsion commercial.
posted by Sprout the Vulgarian at 8:12 PM on October 4, 2008

Creepy John McCain from the Lifetime movie skit.
posted by synecdoche at 8:18 PM on October 4, 2008

The robot from Old Glory Robot Insurance
posted by blue_beetle at 8:19 PM on October 4, 2008 [3 favorites]

What about the Gap Girls?! And they all looked a little different, so that'd be an adaptable costume. She'd just need to go on about cinched jeans the whole night! Or, she could be their archnemesis who worked in the food court. I remember once she had a donut hat on her head (I think).
posted by Mael Oui at 8:22 PM on October 4, 2008

These are great! I knew the hive mind would come through. Keep them coming...and many thanks
posted by Epsilon-minus semi moron at 8:27 PM on October 4, 2008

Elvis Presley with long steel needles plunged into his eyes? That one completely cracked me up...
posted by alex_reno at 8:30 PM on October 4, 2008

I forgot Al Franken as the one man mobile uplink. "The pain is excruciating."
posted by alex_reno at 8:35 PM on October 4, 2008 [3 favorites]

There was a hilarious skit a few years ago with Jennifer Garner and Amy Poehler as teenage Walmart employees who expound on the hugeness of their Walmart -- it has its own zipcodes, babies have been born in it and people lost, there's a giant map to guide people to other parts of Walmart that they've only heard of ("tell them we mean them no harm!"). My roommates and I used to do this skit all the time. The only video of the actual skit I could find is here (scroll to the very bottom), but there are a few imitations on YouTube.
posted by pised at 8:44 PM on October 4, 2008

Totally Massive Headwound Harry -- "He must smell my dog!"

And yeah, Philip the Hyper Hypo would be another good one.

The Gap Girls or a Sweeney sister would be a lot of fun, and the added bonus of gender-appropriate.

But if you really want obscurity, even better options could be David Spade's Don LaPre with his rev. time-sav. tech. or, from that Wikipedia article, Adam Sandler's Pedro because, you know, it would be fun to go around with a hat made out of a monkey!
posted by KatlaDragon at 8:57 PM on October 4, 2008

Operaman, who was also on the short-lived recurring character list. All you need is a cape and sing everything.
posted by GuyZero at 9:06 PM on October 4, 2008

Tiny Elvis
posted by shinynewnick at 9:20 PM on October 4, 2008

And more Tiny Elvis info
posted by shinynewnick at 9:20 PM on October 4, 2008

How about a teller from the First Citywide Change Bank?
posted by dr. fresh at 9:33 PM on October 4, 2008

Lothar of the Hill People. Tim Calhoun. Or that guy who says exactly what he thinks. You know... "Hey guys! Nice to see you!" Boy, it sure is nice to see the guys.
posted by infinitewindow at 9:40 PM on October 4, 2008

I also came into this thread to suggest Massive Headwound Harry.

If she has a compatriot, they could go as the Nude House of Wacky People. The compatriot would be dressed in a bear suit, and your sister would occasionally announce that so-and-so must fight bear, and then she throw fudge at bear, and bear leave.

If she likes gender-bending costumes, The Continental.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 10:15 PM on October 4, 2008

Rhonda Weiss.
R.I.P. Gilda.
posted by chococat at 10:17 PM on October 4, 2008

The Chicken Lady.
Long running character on Kids in the Hall but kind of obscure fact that Mark McKinney played this character once on SNL after he joined the cast.. (I seem to recall a TV critic writing about the opening of that season.. apparently never say Kids in the Hall & thought it was totally disgusting and horrible.. hah)
posted by citron at 10:20 PM on October 4, 2008

oops, that's never saw Kids in the Hall.
posted by citron at 10:20 PM on October 4, 2008

You could go as Dan Ackroyd's Julia Child. Y'know, just go around telling people to save the liver and bleed all over herself (I love that sketch so much). She could also go as the Super Bass-o-matic salesman. I love SNL era Dan Ackroyd's so much!
posted by Kattullus at 10:29 PM on October 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

Or, in fact, as the woman who loves bass. The good thing is that she'd just have to go around with a drink, take a sip and say: "Wow! That's terrific bass!"
posted by Kattullus at 10:31 PM on October 4, 2008 [2 favorites]

How about one of the people from the "Oops, I crapped my pants" commercial? "I'm wearing it, and I just did."
posted by MagicDolphin at 10:51 PM on October 4, 2008

You might consider the schoolgirl who accompanied the hyper boy (Mike Myers: had a helmet, was chained to a swingset). The girl friend, I think Nicole Kidman, would offer a chocolate bar to hyper boy causing his hyperactivity to go stratospheric. Just need to offer a chocolate bar to everyone.
Perfect for a candy-infused Halloween!
posted by artdrectr at 10:55 PM on October 4, 2008

Riding My Donkey Political Talk Show
posted by BaxterG4 at 10:56 PM on October 4, 2008

Sheldon from Wake up Wakefield.
posted by jockc at 11:01 PM on October 4, 2008

Leon Redbone
posted by klarck at 11:03 PM on October 4, 2008

Circe Nightshade from Goth Talk or an old French whore from the game show skit where they were teamed with uncomfortable nerds. ("My whore smells like whiskey and feet!").
posted by MegoSteve at 11:05 PM on October 4, 2008

virgania horsen's hot air balloon rides! (kristen wiig, character only aired once)
posted by mirepoix at 11:09 PM on October 4, 2008

Also Gilda, either her before or after looks in the "Hey, You!" cologne commercial.
posted by rhizome at 11:41 PM on October 4, 2008

The Anal Retentive Chef or the Anal Retentive Fisherman. She just dresses in a flannel shirt and khakis and has a lot of bags. Everytime something gets thrown out, it goes in one bag, then another, then another, etc.

Plus Dan Ackroyd played this scummy guy who hosted a cable show where he showed animals getting it on and Laurane Newman would just giggle. Or the Count/Counterpoint gag from the original cast where Ackroyd would be teamed up with the other woman and would start out his counterpoint with "Jane, you ignorant slut."

Then there was those two kids played by Bill Murray and Gilda Radner, where the guy was named Todd and would say obnoxious things and then Gilda's character would say "oh Todd."

The fat-asses, a family of people with huge asses from the first cast. Joe Piscopo's first character from the second cast, an obnoxios guy in a bathroom who kept saying "I'm from Jersey, you from Jersey?"

The nervous, chain-smoking lawyer played by Martin Short in the 60 minutes parody.

There's so many. I'll come back when I remember more.
posted by Ironmouth at 11:42 PM on October 4, 2008

Fred Garvin, Male Prostitute. The scummy cable-access guy played by Ackroyd was E. Buzz Miller.
posted by Ironmouth at 12:04 AM on October 5, 2008

During the 1st season there were muppets on SNL.
posted by theora55 at 1:07 AM on October 5, 2008

Judy Miller! I saw this sketch a couple times -- it was basically just Gilda Radner doing a dead-on perfect imipression of a six-year-old girl playing in her room by herself. The funny came because it was very physical -- she really got into throwing herself around the room -- but also endearing because I've SEEN six-year-olds like that.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:38 AM on October 5, 2008

She could go as one of the Widettes; all she needs costume-wise is to stuff the back of her pants with a bunch of towels or rags.
posted by Oriole Adams at 3:07 AM on October 5, 2008

Martin Short's lawyer character was Nathan Thurm, whose key line was "it's not me, right, it's him, it's him, right?" That'd be a good one, slick hair and a bead of sweat on your upper lip.

Other suggestions: Lothar of the Hill People, Colonel Angus, Jeanie Darcy, bad standup comedian, if you've got two guys, a guitar and some leisure suits, Barry Gibb and Robin Gibb from the Barry Gibb Talk Show - bonus points if you can sing the song and harmonize randomly when talking to people.
posted by Dreama at 3:56 AM on October 5, 2008

One that I didn't see come up, though it involves gender switching: The Continental, by Christopher Walken. Get a cheesy tux, carry around a couple old style champagne glasses, just fill them with whatever you're drinking, and offer them to people. Of course, you might get it thrown in your face.

Or, really obscure, go as the guitarist who was leader of the band for most of the 80's and 90's (Something something Whitney?)
posted by Ghidorah at 5:58 AM on October 5, 2008

Ace (or Gary) from the Ambiguously Gay Duo! Seriously, don't pass up the chance to rock a comically enormous cod piece.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 6:30 AM on October 5, 2008

Johnny Switchblade Adventure Punk
Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer
Ed Grimley
posted by blaneyphoto at 7:55 AM on October 5, 2008

Nothing says "obscure" and "SNL" like Charles Rocket. Known for his Weekend Update stint and swearing on the air!
posted by kuppajava at 9:43 AM on October 5, 2008

Lisa Lupner. If not obscure enough, Lisa Lupner's father ("he was born without a spine").
posted by zippy at 10:04 AM on October 5, 2008

... or, Chris Kattan's Mister Peepers.
posted by zippy at 10:21 AM on October 5, 2008

Okay. Here's an obscure line, which I thought was hilarious when I saw it. Conan was playing Right Said Fred during the Napster trial. After getting nowhere with his testimony he leaves and later re-enters the courtroom in a beekeeper outfit. When asked who he is, he unconvincingly claims he's the "beekeeper" from the Village People.
posted by O9scar at 10:23 AM on October 5, 2008

I also came into this thread to suggest Massive Headwound Harry.

As did I, but now that it's been suggested so much, I'll have to settle for recommending Mr. Short-term memory, a character played by Tom Hanks in a couple of his appearances. The costume would end up being more of an act than an actual costume; he constantly forgets things he's just done, like putting food in his mouth. Unfortunately, neither of the two sketches I remember are on any sort of video site.

Another Tom Hanks character could be the one he played partnered up with Jon Lovitz, where they're both losers attempting to pick up on women at various places and end up being totally ignored. Again, it would be more of an acting job than a costume, although a Members Only jacket would probably be required. Sample line: "Here she comes.....and there she goes. Oh, yes."
posted by LionIndex at 10:26 AM on October 5, 2008

Kevin Nealon as Mr. No Depth Preception. Bonus: All your drunken stupidity can be blamed on a lack of depth preception and thus you stay in character.
posted by mmascolino at 3:44 PM on October 5, 2008

What about John Malkovich's Lord Edmund. "You mock me! And I will NOT be mocked!"

Or maybe Tom Hank's Bootblack from Tales of Ribaldry? (Or even John Lovitz's as Evelyn Quince the host of Tales of Ribaldry."
posted by sevenless at 7:33 PM on October 5, 2008

G.E. Smith was the Saturday Night Live Band(leader). Great ponytail! I miss him. (I remember pretty much everything Don Pardo has ever said, and I sometimes hear him announcing the cast(s) in my head when I'm not thinking anything in particular) [MySpace]
posted by Mael Oui at 9:43 PM on October 5, 2008

The best choice, of course, is Moleculo - The Molecular Man!!!
posted by ObscureReferenceMan at 11:44 AM on October 6, 2008 [1 favorite]