Saturday Night Live, also known as SNL, is a well-known late-night comedy show that performs satirical skits on current topics, mainly related to American culture and politics. First broadcasted in 1975, it has since produced 50 seasons and over 900 episodes, and has won over 80 Emmy Awards. Many view the show as a timeless comedic institution and staple in American TV culture. However, in recent times SNL has been widely viewed as unfunny and cringe: is this true, and has SNL’s time come to an end, or is excessive nostalgia simply at play here?
The Emmy-winning late-night show has been the kick-off point for several actors that have gone on to become successful comedic legends, such as Eddie Murphy. It has cemented its role in political satire by shaping people’s perception of American political figures, most notably Sara Palin and Donald Trump. Iconic sketches like “Wayne’s World” have shaped pop culture today, and are known by many despite never watching SNL. Nonetheless, despite this impressive record, SNL is often criticised for its hit-and-miss quality: people complain about its lack of consistently funny episodes and its over-politicisation. However, does this mean SNL actually isn’t funny anymore? Different generations often remember the best episodes of SNL of their time and forget the unfunny ones. Additionally, with over 900 episodes, is it not also unfair to make generalisations about a show that incorporates such a variety of topics in sketches and claim they are collectively unfunny? With such a broad demographic, it’s virtually impossible to make all sketches objectively funny.
Still, it has recently become relevant again due to its sketches about the American presidential election. SNL has also turned its focus towards making TikTok videos in which they parody popular influencers. Cast member Marcello Hernandez has quickly become a fan-favourite and has brought more attention to the show, especially from younger generations. This proves how adaptable SNL is to societal changes and new technologies, and how it still remains a platform for up-and-coming comedians. Saturday Night Live is one of the longest-running television shows in the United States, and regardless of whether you find it funny or not, its adaptability to current times must be acknowledged together with its impressive longevity. Perhaps nostalgia is to blame: it causes us to romanticise the past and we tend to remember SNL as being more consistently hilarious than it might have actually been.
“Jonah Hill SNL” by The Guise Archives is licensed under CC BY 2.0.