SNL Spartan Cheerleader Skits
From LoveToKnow Cheerleading
High school and college talent shows definitely have their fair share of SNL Spartan cheerleader skits. Considering that Will Farrell and Cheri Oteri have been gone for a number of years from Saturday Night Live, the fact that a new generation is enjoying the Spartans shows just how universally funny they are.
A List of SNL Spartan Cheerleader Skits
The Spartan Cheerleaders were recurring characters on SNL and lasted for several years until Will Farrell left the show. While there are many elements that remain the same in SNL Spartan Cheerleader skits (like "the perfect cheer"), the scenarios became increasingly more ridiculous as the skits went on.
Spartans Football Game
The Spartan cheerleaders began their "career" on November 11, 1995. After not making the real Spartan cheerleading squad, they show up at a football game as "unofficial cheerleaders", but of course cause enough havoc to be asked to leave by a "real" Spartan cheerleader played by Quentin Tarantino.
Spartans Basketball Game
On December 16, 1995, the Spartan cheerleaders look as if they are going to be thrown out of school as Craig pleads with the principal claiming that they are just born with Spartan spirit and can't help it. This is the first episode where the viewer sees "the perfect cheer" - a trademark drill routine to some sort of music, in this case Ice, Ice Baby.
Spartans Chess Tournament
Originally aired on Jan. 20, 1996, the Spartans are reduced to cheering at odd school events. Not only is cheerleading at a chess tournament deemed ridiculous (even the chess team makes fun of them now), but the Spartan cheers are also ridiculous. Again, they are told to leave, but instead take the opportunity to perform the perfect cheer. Watch Craig and Ariana perform the skit live.
Spartans Swim Meet
February 24, 1996 marks the return of yet another Spartan skit. Craig and Ariana are still managing to cheer at odd events.
Spartans Math Competition
On April 20, 1996, Craig finally gets the opportunity to cheer for the real Spartan cheerleaders, but he realizes that he'd prefer to cheer with Ariana after all.
Spartans Wrestling Tournament
On May 18, 1996, Jim Carrey joins the Spartan squad as Lochmiel, a super spirited foreign exchange student. Craig and Ariana discover that Lochmiel is using drugs to get "the super spirit", and they chastise him. In the end, an emotional Lochmiel apologizes, and they do all do the perfect cheer to I Like Big Butts.
Spartans Ping-Pong Tournament
On September 28, 1996, Craig and Ariana are vindicated when they see true and heart felt Spartan spirit.
Spartans Bowling Tournament
The November 16, 1996 episode features Robert Downey Jr. Craig and Ariana are giving a lesson to Dawson (Downey Jr.'s character) about appreciating women for their minds and not their bodies.
Hickory Farms Spartans
The December 14, 1996 skit marks the first official time where Craig and Ariana are not at a school event.
Sidney and the Spartans
February 8, 1997; as it turns out, Sidney Prescott is the cousin of the "beloved" Ariana. She brings Ariana to a party where her antics essentially kill the fun.
Baywatch Spartans
On April 19, 1997, the Spartans follow the volleyball team to California. They have the opportunity to put their junior life saving skills to the test by saving C.J. (the character played by Pamela Anderson Lee) and Hobie.
Spartans Practice
In the October 4, 1997 skit, Craig and Ariana have a caffeine buzz after they decide to stay up all night to practice for try outs the next day. In order to have space to practice, they break into the school's gym.
Spartans Dream
December 6, 1997; as sometimes was their custom, Ariana and Craig decide to share their "dreams" for Christmas. The skit shows both falling asleep and having the same dream of being real cheerleaders and dancing with the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders.
Spartans at the Movies
The March 7, 1998 skit finds the Spartans watching Titanic way too many times, and they can't concentrate.
Spartans Summer Camp
May 9, 1998; almost disqualified from cheer camp, Paula Abdul saves the day when she agrees to be a member of the Spartan cheerleading squad.
Candy Striper Spartans
November 21, 1998 marks the first time that the audience sees Alexis who is Ariana's off screen "friend". Craig and Ariana are working as Candy Stripers at a hospital and find out that Alexis is giving birth. They figure it's the perfect opportunity for, you guessed it, the perfect cheer.
Spartans Holiday Parade
December 4, 1999 is the last time that the audience sees the Spartan cheerleaders. Ariana gets dissed by Gabby from the flag corps, but the Spartans' unquenchable spirit still lets them perform "the perfect cheer" just one last time.
To this day, the Spartan cheerleaders remain two of the most popular recurring characters on Saturday Night Live.
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