In the modern era of Saturday Night Live, few Hollywood dramatic actors have integrated into Studio 8H with the explosive comedic brilliance of Pedro Pascal.

Known worldwide for brooding, intense dramatic roles in The Last of Us, The Mandalorian, and Game of Thrones, Pascal surprised audiences in February 2023 when he hosted SNL for the first time. Far from playing it safe, Pascal attacked live sketch comedy with infectious glee, razor-sharp physical timing, and a total willingness to break into uncontrollable laughter.

Between his immortal performance in “Lisa from Temecula”, his viral tour de force as “Protective Mom”, and the cinematic perfection of the HBO Mario Kart trailer, Pascal’s hosting appearances earned immediate Emmy nominations and entered the pantheon of all-time classic episodes.

Following our viral countdowns of the 10 funniest Shane Gillis SNL sketches and Nate Bargatze’s best Studio 8H moments, we are breaking down Pascal’s finest sketch comedy moments.

Here is the definitive ranking of the 10 funniest Pedro Pascal SNL sketches and bits, complete with official video players and behind-the-scenes context.

The 10 Funniest Pedro Pascal SNL Sketches at a Glance

  ★ 1. Lisa from Temecula (2023) — The Table-Shaking Well-Done Steak Classic
  ★ 2. HBO Mario Kart Trailer (2023) — The Last of Us Dystopian Parody
  ★ 3. Protective Mom (2023) — Meeting the Girlfriend with Marcello Hernandez
  ★ 4. Waking Up (2023) — Hospital Bed Accent Amnesia with Bad Bunny
  ★ 5. Protective Mom 2 (2023) — Tía Rosa & Mama with Bad Bunny
  ★ 6. Pedro Pascal Stand-Up Monologue (2023) — Family, Chile & The Last of Us
  ★ 7. Lisa from Temecula: Wedding (2023) — Cutting the Prime Rib
  ★ 8. Wing Woman (2023) — Co-starring Ego Nwodim & Heidi Gardner
  ★ 9. The Gathering / Italian Restaurant (2023) — Mafia Sit-Down Chaos
  ★ 10. Behind the Sketch: Making of Mario Kart (2023) — The VFX Masterclass

1. Lisa from Temecula (Season 48, 2023)

  • Co-stars: Ego Nwodim, Bowen Yang, Punkie Johnson, Molly Kearney
  • The Premise: A casual birthday dinner at a fine-dining restaurant goes off the rails when Ego Nwodim’s character insists on ordering her steak “extra well done.”
  • Why It’s #1: The funniest live breakdown in modern television history.

When Lisa attempts to saw through her leathery, overcooked steak with a blunt butter knife, the entire dining table begins shaking violently. Wine glasses wobble, salads launch into the air, and Pascal—playing a bewildered dinner guest trying desperately to remain in character—completely loses it.

Pascal biting his lip, hiding his face behind a cloth napkin, and weeping with genuine laughter became an instant global meme. It is the gold standard of live Studio 8H chaos.

▶ Watch "Lisa from Temecula" on the Official SNL YouTube Channel

Pedro Pascal and cast members laughing during sketch comedy dinner scene
Pedro Pascal's inability to keep a straight face during "Lisa from Temecula" cemented him as an all-time fan-favorite SNL host.

2. HBO Mario Kart Trailer (Season 48, 2023)

  • Co-stars: Chloe Fineman, Kenan Thompson, Mikey Day
  • The Premise: A prestige, gritty HBO drama parody imagining Mario Kart produced by the creators of The Last of Us.
  • The Satire: Absolute cinematic brilliance.

Pascal slips into his gravel-voiced Joel Miller persona, driving a rusty red go-kart through a ruined mushroom kingdom while escorting an abrasive Princess Peach (Chloe Fineman) across Rainbow Road. The attention to detail—from Luigi dying off-screen to Mario eating a red mushroom to “feel something again”—racked up over 20 million views within 48 hours.

▶ Watch "HBO Mario Kart Trailer" on the Official SNL YouTube Channel

3. Protective Mom (Season 48, 2023)

  • Co-stars: Marcello Hernandez, Chloe Fineman
  • The Premise: A college student brings his white girlfriend home to meet his intensely protective, guilt-tripping Latina mother (played by Pascal in full house-dress and curly wig).
  • Cultural Perfection: Co-written with Marcello Hernandez, Pascal inhabits the role of Mama with terrifying, affectionate accuracy. From slapping Hernandez with a kitchen towel to scrutinizing the girlfriend’s cookie recipe with side-eye skepticism, Pascal’s physical performance was both deeply loving and hilarious.

▶ Watch "Protective Mom" on the Official SNL YouTube Channel

4. Waking Up (Season 49, 2023)

  • Co-stars: Bad Bunny, Mikey Day, Punkie Johnson
  • The Premise: A patient wakes up from a coma after a brutal car accident, only to discover his vocal cords have mysteriously adopted an exaggerated California surfer / valley girl accent.
  • The Cameo: Bad Bunny playing his tearful brother who cannot comprehend Pascal’s new vocal cadence. Pascal’s deadpan commitment to the ridiculous vocal fry makes the sketch unforgettable.

▶ Watch "Waking Up" on the Official SNL YouTube Channel

5. Protective Mom 2 (Season 49, 2023)

  • Co-stars: Bad Bunny, Marcello Hernandez
  • The Sequel: When Bad Bunny hosted in Season 49, Pascal made a surprise cameo to reprise his role as Mama, joined by Bad Bunny as Tía Rosa.
  • The Chemistry: Watching two of the biggest Hispanic entertainment icons in the world bicker in matching cardigans over a Thanksgiving dinner table brought down the house.

▶ Watch "Protective Mom 2" on the Official SNL YouTube Channel

6. Pedro Pascal Stand-Up Monologue (Season 48, 2023)

  • The Setting: Studio 8H main stage, February 4, 2023.
  • The Heart & Humor: Pascal addressed his sudden explosion as the internet’s favorite “daddy,” spoke movingly about his family’s refugee journey fleeing Pinochet’s Chile, and gave a warm, authentic glimpse into his humble personality.

▶ Watch Pedro Pascal's Monologue on YouTube

7. Lisa from Temecula: Wedding (Season 49, 2023)

  • Co-stars: Ego Nwodim, Bowen Yang, Punkie Johnson
  • The Encore: Lisa returns at a high-end wedding reception where she demands that the chef recook the prime rib until it is hard as leather. Pascal’s cameo as the exasperated wedding guest proves the magic of the original wasn’t a fluke.

▶ Watch "Lisa from Temecula: Wedding" on YouTube

8. Wing Woman (Season 48, 2023)

  • Co-stars: Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner
  • The Premise: Pascal plays an insecure man at a bar whose female best friend (Ego Nwodim) aggressively hypes his credentials to women with outrageous, completely fabricated lies.

9. The Gathering / Italian Restaurant (Season 48, 2023)

  • Co-stars: Mikey Day, Kenan Thompson, Bowen Yang
  • The Premise: A serious mobster sit-down where Pascal plays an Italian mafia capo whose tough exterior melts into childlike delight when he receives an unexpected dessert gift.

10. Behind the Sketch: Making of Mario Kart (Season 48, 2023)

  • The Look Back: NBC’s official mini-documentary exploring how the production crew, digital effects team, and Pedro Pascal filmed the blockbuster HBO trailer parody in less than 48 hours.

▶ Watch Behind the Sketch: Mario Kart on YouTube

Pedro Pascal SNL Sketch Comparison Table

Sketch Title Year Main Co-Stars Satirical Premise Official Video Link
Lisa from Temecula 2023 Ego Nwodim, Bowen Yang Table-Shaking Well-Done Steak Watch on YouTube
HBO Mario Kart 2023 Chloe Fineman, Kenan Thompson Dystopian Last of Us Parody Watch on YouTube
Protective Mom 2023 Marcello Hernandez Traditional Latina Mother Scrutiny Watch on YouTube
Waking Up 2023 Bad Bunny, Mikey Day Post-Coma California Vocal Fry Watch on YouTube
Protective Mom 2 2023 Bad Bunny, Marcello Hernandez Mama & Tía Rosa Holiday Dinner Watch on YouTube
Stand-Up Monologue 2023 Solo Family History & Internet Fame Watch on YouTube
Lisa: Wedding 2023 Ego Nwodim, Bowen Yang Prime Rib Cutting at Reception Watch on YouTube
Mario Kart Making-Of 2023 SNL Digital Crew 48-Hour VFX Miracle Watch on YouTube

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Pedro Pascal host Saturday Night Live?

Pedro Pascal made his Saturday Night Live hosting debut on February 4, 2023 (Season 48, Episode 12) with musical guest Coldplay. He made a celebrated surprise cameo during Bad Bunny’s episode in October 2023 (Season 49).

Why did Pedro Pascal laugh during the Lisa from Temecula sketch?

During the live broadcast, Ego Nwodim cut her prop steak so aggressively that the entire dinner table began violently vibrating, causing plates, wine glasses, and food to rattle out of control. Pascal and the cast broke into uncontrollable laughter.

Who played Mario in the SNL Mario Kart trailer?

Pedro Pascal starred as Mario, parodying his role as Joel Miller in HBO’s The Last of Us, escorting Princess Peach (Chloe Fineman) across a desolate, post-apocalyptic Rainbow Road.