Mega-Mart’s Black Friday Celebrates 15 Years: Bobby Moynihan Reflects on SNL Ad Parody

Fifteen years back, NBC’s Saturday Night Live introduced an ad parody that had audiences rolling in laughter. “Black Friday at Mega-Mart!” became an instant classic for its relentless and hilarious approach in showcasing the perilous nature of Black Friday shopping at Mega-Mart.

One of the factors that made the sketch a standout was the way it repeated its central joke mercilessly, leaving viewers gasping for breath. Bobby Moynihan, a pivotal cast member during that period, portrayed a Mega-Mart employee hyping up the calamitous Black Friday sale. The sketch captured the absurdity of the Black Friday shopping craze brilliantly.

During an interview reminiscing about the sketch, Bobby Moynihan shared that the sketch’s writing was a partnership with Bryan Tucker, with Tucker handling the majority of the writing. On set, Moynihan’s exaggerated look was inspired by Otho from Beetlejuice, a whimsical touch by Jodie Mancuso from the hair department.

The ad parody depicted Mega-Mart’s Black Friday sale as an event involving potentially mortal consequences for those attending, with extreme deals on the line. The sketch capitalized on the fanaticism surrounding Black Friday sales and the increasingly menacing nature of holiday shopping promotions at the time. The over-the-top and dangerous scenarios humorously portrayed the frenzy that defined Black Friday sales.

Anne Hathaway made a cameo appearance in the sketch as a fiercely determined shopper on a quest for a Disney scrapbooking kit. Moynihan praised Hathaway’s comedic timing, emphasizing her ability to deliver humor with just a single line. Moynihan’s own performance in the sketch added to the chaos, with his character screaming through the entire two-and-a-half minutes, leaving him feeling hoarse and physically spent.

One memorable element from the sketch involved a fictional appearance by Kirk Douglas at Mega-Mart, enthralling shoppers by signing copies of his 1988 biography. While the sketch stirred controversy due to the dark humor surrounding the ad parody, it resonated well with audiences for its satire on Black Friday retail madness.

After the passage of years, the “Black Friday” sketch still holds up as a great commentary on modern consumerism and holiday shopping extravagance. Its impeccable execution and ridiculous portrayal of Black Friday madness make it one of the standout sketches in SNL’s history. From its absurdist humor to its reception, “Black Friday at Mega-Mart!” remains a classic that will be remembered for years to come.