Key takeaways
- What it contains: 19 fully remastered TV Funhouse cartoons including Triumph the Insult Comic Dog segments, The Ambiguously Gay Duo, The X-Presidents, The Michael Jackson Show, and The Anatominals.
- Bonus features: An introduction by Robert Smigel, commentary on select sketches, a puppeteering featurette on Triumph, storyboards, and a still gallery. No new sketches were added after 2006.
- Format: NTSC DVD, 1.33:1 full-frame (original broadcast aspect ratio), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo. No Blu-ray version was ever released.
The best Saturday Night Live the of Saturday TV Funhouse set to buy in 2026 is still the Saturday Night Live: The Best of TV Funhouse DVD (2006) if you want the most complete single purchase, while Peacock’s SNL streaming library is the better option if you want more sketches in HD without physical storage.
If you just want to rewatch classics like The Ambiguously Gay Duo, The X-Presidents, and Fun with Real Audio without hunting down individual SNL episodes, your choice comes down to completeness vs. convenience. The DVD is finite but curated, streaming is larger but fragmented.
Which TV Funhouse Collections You Can Actually Buy in 2026
There is no single “Complete TV Funhouse” box set. Robert Smigel’s TV Funhouse ran as a recurring cartoon segment on Saturday Night Live from 1996 to 2008, and the releases are split across two formats:
1. Saturday Night Live: The Best of TV Funhouse – DVD (2006)
This is the only standalone TV Funhouse compilation released on physical media. It is a single-disc DVD produced by Broadway Video and Lionsgate/NBC Universal. It remains in print via secondary market circulation and re-pressings, usually found in the $15-$35 range for new or like-new copies.
- What it contains: 19 fully remastered TV Funhouse cartoons including Triumph the Insult Comic Dog segments, The Ambiguously Gay Duo, The X-Presidents, The Michael Jackson Show, and The Anatominals.
- Bonus features: An introduction by Robert Smigel, commentary on select sketches, a puppeteering featurette on Triumph, storyboards, and a still gallery. No new sketches were added after 2006.
- Format: NTSC DVD, 1.33:1 full-frame (original broadcast aspect ratio), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo. No Blu-ray version was ever released.
2. Streaming Collections (Peacock and Digital Episode Purchases)
No dedicated “TV Funhouse” streaming collection exists as a separate purchase. Instead, TV Funhouse sketches are dispersed across the SNL archive:
- Peacock: As the exclusive U.S. streaming home for SNL, Peacock carries most SNL seasons 1-50. TV Funhouse sketches are watchable inside their original episodes. There is also a curated “Best of TV Funhouse” playlist on the platform that rotates 12-15 sketches, but it is not comprehensive.
- Digital purchase (Apple TV / Vudu / Google Play): You can buy individual SNL episodes or “Best Of” specials that happen to include a TV Funhouse cartoon, but you cannot buy a TV Funhouse-only season pass. Cost is typically $2-$4 per episode in SD/HD.
Other SNL compilation DVDs like “Saturday Night Live: The Best of Saturday TV Funhouse” should not be confused with general “Best of SNL” DVDs (such as The Best of Will Ferrell or Cheri Oteri collections) which may include one or two Funhouse sketches as extras but are not focused sets.
Head-to-Head: Sketch Count, Video Quality, and Bonus Features
Use this table to decide based on what matters most for rewatching.
| Feature | DVD: The Best of TV Funhouse (2006) | Streaming on Peacock (2026) | Digital Episode Purchase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of TV Funhouse Sketches Accessible | 19 sketches, fixed | 30+ sketches if you search episode-by-episode, 12-15 in curated playlist | 1 per purchased episode, 20+ available overall |
| Video Quality | 480p SD, upscaled to 1080p on modern TVs, interlaced source | Up to 1080p HD, but most pre-2006 sketches remain SD masters upscaled | Up to 1080p HD (same SD masters for older seasons) |
| Audio | Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo | AAC Stereo, normalized | AAC Stereo |
| Bonus Features | Commentary tracks, Smigel intro, Triumph featurette, storyboards | None specific to TV Funhouse | None |
| Ads / Internet Required | No ads, no internet needed | Requires subscription and broadband, ad-supported tier has commercials | Requires internet to download/stream, ad-free playback |
| Ownership | Physical disc, permanent | Access ends if you cancel or if NBC rotates content | Licensed access, tied to account |
| Typical Market Range | usually $15–$35 used/new | usually $8–$14 per month subscription | usually $2–$4 per episode |
Bottom line on quality: Do not expect a Blu-ray level upgrade anywhere. TV Funhouse was animated in SD for late-90s/early-2000s broadcast. Both DVD and streaming use the same SD masters. Streaming looks slightly cleaner on a 65-inch 4K TV because the upscaling and de-interlacing is handled server-side, while the DVD can show combing artifacts if your player is set to Auto. Neither is true HD.
Where You’ll Watch It: Furniture and Room Fit for Physical vs. Streaming
Because homestylzz.com readers are building a living room around the rewatch, not just buying a disc, the format you choose affects furniture choice. A physical collection needs storage and a player-friendly console; streaming needs only seating and screen placement.
Measurements That Matter for a Media Setup
- Media console height: Standard media consoles are 18 to 24 inches high. That puts a center speaker and game console at an ideal 36 to 42 inch viewing eye line when you are seated on a sofa with a 17 to 19 inch seat height.
- Clearance for doors and drawers: Leave at least 18 inches of clearance in front of any DVD cabinet or console with drop-down or swing doors. In a 10×12 ft room, a 60-inch wide console + a 84-inch sofa leaves about 36 inches of walkway if centered — enough to open storage without blocking traffic.
- Shelf depth for DVDs: A standard DVD case is 7.5 inches tall x 5.3 inches wide x 0.5 inch thick. Shelves 6 to 8 inches deep are ideal. Deeper 15-inch bookcases waste space and let cases fall backward.
- Viewing distance: For SD content like TV Funhouse, sit a bit farther than you would for 4K. For a 55-inch TV, 7 to 9 feet softens SD artifacts; for a 65-inch TV, 8 to 10 feet is more forgiving.
| Furniture Option for Your Collection | Best For | Key Dimensions | Weight Limit / Capacity | Trade-Off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low Media Console (60-70 inches wide) | DVD collectors with a player, soundbar, and 50-65 inch TV | 60W x 15D x 20H inches; interior shelf 7.5 inches tall | Top holds 150-200 lbs; shelves hold 40-50 lbs each (about 150 DVDs per shelf) | Takes floor space; requires cable cutouts and ventilation for player |
| Tall Narrow DVD Tower | Small apartments, 10×12 ft rooms, renters | 10W x 8D x 60H inches | Holds 150-300 discs total, 20-25 lbs per shelf | Can tip if not wall-anchored; harder to style |
| Closed Storage Ottoman or Cabinet | Kids and pets, minimalist look | 36W x 18D x 18H inches | Interior holds 60-80 DVDs in bins; lid supports 250 lbs sitting weight | Not display-friendly; you have to dig for titles |
| No Physical Storage (Streaming Only) | Streaming-only viewers | No extra furniture needed | No weight concern | No ownership, no bonus features |
Material and Construction Trade-Offs for Media Furniture
If you are buying furniture to house a small physical library like the TV Funhouse DVD plus other SNL sets, consider durability:
- Solid wood (pine, oak, acacia): Most durable and repairable, handles repeated disc pulling. Heaviest to move — a solid wood 65-inch console can ship in two boxes totaling 90-120 lbs and may not fit through a 28-inch apartment doorway without removing legs.
- Engineered wood (MDF/particleboard with veneer): Usually $150-$400, lighter at 60-80 lbs boxed, but sags under 40+ lbs of DVDs per shelf over 2-3 years. Edges chip and veneer peels near heat vents.
- Metal + wood combo: Best weight-to-strength ratio, open frame prevents heat buildup for players. Shows dust and fingerprints, and thin metal shelves can bow without center support.
Decision Matrix: Which TV Funhouse Option Fits Your Situation
| Your Situation | Best Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You want the most complete, one-time purchase with extras and no monthly fee | DVD: The Best of TV Funhouse | Only curated set with commentaries and featurettes; permanent ownership |
| You want the highest sketch count and don’t care about commentary | Peacock + episode search | Access to 30+ Funhouse cartoons embedded in original episodes, including post-2006 ones not on DVD |
| You live in a small apartment or rent and move often | Streaming | No storage furniture or player needed; no heavy console to move through narrow 28-30 inch doorways |
| You have kids and want instant, ad-free, no-scratch access | DVD + ripped backup to a home server OR Peacock Premium Plus (ad-free tier) | DVDs scratch and get lost; streaming is more durable for daily rewatching by kids |
| You are building a retro physical media wall or home theater | DVD for display + streaming for gap filling | DVD spine looks great on a shallow 8-inch shelf; streaming fills the 10+ sketches missing from the disc |
| You care most about video quality on a large 4K TV | Either (no real difference) | Both use SD masters; sit 8-10 feet back to minimize upscaling artifacts |
Assembly, Moving, and Durability Realities
Physical media has hidden costs beyond the disc price:
- Box weight and assembly: A 60-inch engineered wood console typically ships flat-pack in one box at 70-85 lbs. Assembly takes 45-90 minutes with two people and requires a Phillips screwdriver and included Allen wrench. Solid wood often comes in two boxes and may need wall anchoring.
- Doorway fit: Measure your narrowest doorway and hallway. Many pre-assembled cabinets are 16-18 inches deep and will fit through a 29-inch door, but 70-inch wide consoles will not turn a tight 90-degree apartment hallway. Check diagonal depth.
- What wears first: On budget consoles, the laminate around the DVD shelf edges and the back panel nail-ons loosen within 12-24 months of daily use. On DVDs themselves, the disc face scratches and the outer paper sleeve fades in direct sunlight. Store discs vertically, away from windows, at 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Player longevity: Budget DVD/Blu-ray players usually last 3-5 years. If you are buying physical just for TV Funhouse, a $40-$80 player is sufficient — no need for 4K upscaling players, as the source is SD.
Final Pick by Rewatch Style
Get the DVD if you want a definitive, giftable, shelf-ready collection with Robert Smigel’s commentaries and you like owning what you watch. It is the only product that treats TV Funhouse as its own show rather than an extra inside an SNL episode.
Stick with streaming if you want quantity over curation, already pay for Peacock for SNL seasons 1-50, and prefer not to add furniture, a player, or physical storage to your living room. Pair it with a comfortable 17-19 inch seat height sofa at 8-9 feet from the screen for the best SD viewing experience.
Own both if you are a completest. The DVD covers the golden era (1996-2004) beautifully, and streaming adds late-era sketches like “Sexual Harassment and You” and post-2006 Triumph appearances that never made the disc. Total investment stays under $50 plus a subscription you may already have.
FAQ
Is there a Blu-ray or 4K version of The Best of TV Funhouse?
No. As of 2026, no Blu-ray, 4K, or remastered HD release has been announced. All versions are SD masters, whether on disc or streaming.
How many TV Funhouse sketches were made in total?
Over 30 TV Funhouse cartoons aired on SNL between 1996 and 2008, plus Triumph the Insult Comic Dog live puppet segments. The DVD includes 19 of the most popular animated shorts.
Do I need the DVD if I have Peacock?
Not for sketch count alone. Peacock gives you more sketches. You need the DVD only if you want the exclusive commentaries, storyboards, and permanent offline ownership without ads or internet.
