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In a stroke of comedic genius, Saturday Night Live has managed to turn American exceptionalism into laugh-out-loud television with a sketch that viewers are calling an “instant classic.” The bit, featuring comedian Nate Bargatze as George Washington, brilliantly skewers the United States’ peculiar relationship with measurement systems, language rules, and cultural quirks that distinguish it from much of the world.

The now-viral sketch unfolds during the American Revolution, with Washington rallying his troops while outlining his vision for the nation’s future. What makes the scene so entertaining is Bargatze’s deadpan delivery as he presents increasingly absurd plans for the new country’s systems and standards.

“Why should we measure things the same way as Britain?” Bargatze’s Washington asks, before outlining a baffling hodgepodge of measurement systems where soft drinks would use liters and milliliters, but milk and paint would be sold in gallons, pints, and quarts. The sketch cleverly highlights the inconsistencies Americans have learned to live with but rarely question.

Language rules get similar treatment, with Washington declaring the new nation will drop the “u” from words like “color” and “armor” but inexplicably keep it in “glamour” – a decision as arbitrary as it is historically accurate.

The comedy resonated widely with audiences because it taps into something so fundamentally true about American life. These idiosyncrasies have become invisible to most citizens through familiarity, but when spotlighted in such a straightforward manner, their absurdity becomes impossible to ignore.

Bargatze, whose understated delivery perfectly complements the material, has been enjoying a meteoric rise in the comedy world. In 2024, he became the highest-grossing touring comedian globally, known for his clean, family-friendly humor that appeals across demographic lines.

The sketch proved so popular that when Bargatze returned to host SNL again in October 2024, a sequel was produced. This follow-up maintained the winning formula, this time tackling American currency design, food naming conventions, and the education system.

“A real American would never want to know what’s in a hot dog, just as they will never know why our money is called the ‘dollar’,” Bargatze’s Washington declares in the sequel, before describing the back of U.S. currency as needing “Everything, all of it. Crazy stuff, squiggles, Latin words, a pyramid with a floating eye on top.”

Audience reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, with viewers taking to social media to praise both sketches. Comments like “This skit is an instant classic” and “Instantly one of my favorite SNL sketches of all time” have been common, with many noting they’ve watched the segments repeatedly without the humor diminishing.

The writing process behind the sketches offers fascinating insight into SNL’s creative machinery. In an interview with Jesse David Fox’s podcast “Good One: A Podcast About Jokes,” Bargatze and SNL writers Mikey Day and Streeter Seidell revealed that the concept had actually been sitting unfinished on Seidell’s computer from a previous season.

Originally envisioned for a dramatic actor, the sketch initially fell flat during table reads and was placed last in the dress rehearsal lineup – often a sign that a sketch might be cut from the final broadcast. However, Bargatze’s belief in the material and his performance in costume before the live audience during rehearsal transformed it into comedy gold.

What makes these sketches particularly effective is how they employ a classic comedic technique – using historical context to highlight contemporary absurdities. By framing America’s quirks as deliberate founding decisions, the writers create a perfect vehicle for cultural commentary that’s pointed without being divisive.

The success of the Washington sketches represents SNL at its best, combining smart writing with perfect casting to create memorable comedy that connects with audiences while saying something meaningful about American culture.

For those wanting to enjoy more of Bargatze’s SNL performances, both episodes featuring his hosting duties are available on the show’s YouTube channel, where the Washington sketches continue to accumulate views and acclaim as modern classics in the show’s long-running history.