He’s Scott Towler and you’re not.
My parents still tell me tales of when “I’m Chevy Chase, and you’re not,” was was practically the national anthem during SNL’s first few years on the air. How there was nothing like it that had ever been broadcast before, and how NBC took a major gamble that turned into a feather in the peacock’s crown (or mane, I guess) for over 30 years . Bred from the world of live and improvised comedy (hence the L in SNL), people like Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Jane Curtain and Dan Akroyd made it look easy. And more often than not, they made it funny too.
It got to the point where kids were growing up watching the show, declaring that SNL was their dream: acting, writing, and goofing off in front of a national audience, which then catapulted you into an even more successful film career. Of all the people I know in comedy today, at least half of them cite SNL as their reason for working in entertainment. The other half of ‘em? Not hard to guess: 2 And A Half Men. I kid.
Maybe They Need Better Weed?
So then what the funk happened? Well, Seth Meyers for one. As head writer, he’s successfully turned this would-be anthem of our youth into two things: an opening political sketch that’s both long and boring, and a Weekend Update sketch that repeatedly runs about 5 minutes too long. I can’t totally knock Weekend Update, After all, it’s the longest running sketch since the shows inception and it’s easy to see why. News ain’t goin’ anywhere, and it’s never competed for ratings. Brian Williams replaced Tom Brokaw, and someone will invariably replace him someday. If we’re lucky, it’ll be Seth Meyers! Then we can get weekend update 5 nights a week!
Bugs Bunny Dressed As a Girl Did Not Make the Top 10 Despite Garth’s Urgings
I’ve also grown tired of the talk-show format sketch which has not only run it’s course, but was perfected in the mid 90s by what I consider to be the best and most well-rounded cast in the show’s history. I won’t run down the entire group cause you know who I’m referring to. The other Meyers. The first Meyers. The only Meyers. From Linda Richmond to Wayne Campbell to Sprockets, like DJ Khaled he was the best.
As if that wasn’t enough, Dana Carvey played yin to his yang as Garth Algar and the Church lady, a role that was also prime for a feature length film. Apparently it wasn’t meant to be, but even the lesser talk shows of yesteryear had a life outside of SNL. The Ladies Man, for example, was never really that good, (ed. note: yes it was) but it was still better than anything they’re doing today. Hell, it least it was notable enough to get a feature made. What sketch today can say the same? There hasn’t been an SNL franchised film since became the big gun in Hollywood.
Adam Sandler: He Used To Be Funny, Right?
Additionally, I’ve really had it up to here with all the digital shorts (who many people say are the only good thing SNL has left anymore). I get why they do them. They are, or can be occasionally, quite funny. But they aren’t LIVE. And to me, that’s what the show is about. Granted, the show has been running pre-recorded content for years, but in a much shorter, static-like structure. Commercials and quick PSA’s have a place, but to take 5-6 minutes from 62 minutes of content, and waste it on something filmed betrays the show and it’s roots. After all, did you see Farley and Sandler doing digital shorts? Hell no. But once the season wrapped, they cranked out some of the definitive frat-boy comedies of yesteryear.
Ultimately, I wish these rookies would take a cue from the days and follow their lead. If not, I have a feeling we’ve got many many more lackluster episodes on the way. When will they end? To me, it all depends on when Seth Meyers gets the boot. In the meantime, I don’t think musical guests like Vampire Weekend can save the show all by themselves, no matter how Columbia-educated they may be.
MP3: Ghostface Killah-”Saturday Nite”
MP3: Masta Ace-”Saturday Night Live”
12 comments
Will says:
March 18, 2008 at 8:56 am (UTC -7)
I couldn’t believe it when Seth Meyers was made head writer. He’s terrible in every way…
As a long time fan of SNL it’s hard for me to say it’s gone to shit, but I guess it has. And mainly because of the writing. I think the cast changes they’ve made over the past few years have been great. Especially Fred Armisen (sp?). But it seems like the creativity is gone. Every sketch is a couple eating dinner at a weird restaurant or a stupid fucking game show.
Justin says:
March 18, 2008 at 10:51 am (UTC -7)
I agree that it’s been lackluster, but to say it’s gone to shit is going overboard. Anything that’s this long-running experiences peaks and valleys artistically. Critics panned the show in the early ’90s when Meyers and Carvey left; farley, Sandler, Hartman and Co. were left to pick up the slack. Look how that turned out. It’ll get better, relax.
Adam says:
March 18, 2008 at 1:03 pm (UTC -7)
Back in the beginning, and even in the 90s, there were longer pre-recorded pieces by Tom Schiller (including one of my favorite Belushi moments — “Don’t Look Back in Anger”), so the Digital Shorts are not entirely without precedent. But I’d agree with Justin and Will, most of the cast is really talented. Give it a couple seasons and see how it turns out.
scott says:
March 18, 2008 at 1:55 pm (UTC -7)
I completely agree that the cast is strong. Will Forte, Jason Sudekis, Fred Armisen, and even ole’ Kenan Thompson are fantastic. I just wish the writing were more tailored to them, as they used to do it in the 90s.
See, the beauty of Farley was that the wrote sketches for Farley, not just for the cast. And no one could do those sketches the way he did.
That’s the kind of branded entertainment I want from the show today. Until it happens, I stand by my words.
Dart_Adams says:
March 19, 2008 at 6:34 am (UTC -7)
Saturday Night Live doesn’t have any “shake shit up” folks any more. It’s also where many of my favorites go to see their work ignored and/or not fit in or have people write anything for them (Damon Wayans, Chris Rock, Sara Silverman, Jay Mohr Dean Edwards, Finesse Mitchell). It also sucks that there hasn’t been much of a pronounced brown presence since Eddie Murphy bounced…unless you write your own stuff and click with other people you’ll NEVER make the show. This means as that as a Black comedian you’ll need to dress up as a girl or old lady to make the show every night. Fuck that.
Anyways, Mad TV still kicks SNL’s ass (when it airs new episodes) although it isn’t live. The digital shorts are the only thing breaking new ground, thank God for The Lonely Island guys..Seth Meyers sucks Donkey Kong’s balls (and Diddy’s too)
One.
wade word says:
March 19, 2008 at 7:05 am (UTC -7)
If I had a nickel for every time someone pronounced SNL dead, I’d have like 5 dollars. This show goes in cycles: as soon as the talent starts to get whack, they bring in new people.
This cast is good.
SNL is the only thing of its kind. Not the best show on TV, maybe not as groundbreaking as it used to be, but still entertaining.
Mad TV is a sad, hacky copy. The only thing good about that show was Debra Wilson’s looks.
wade word says:
March 19, 2008 at 7:11 am (UTC -7)
ps Dart,
You HAVE to write for yourself. That is the only way you get put into sketches where you are the focus. Very rarely do other people write vehicles for other stars (ie Bob Odenkirk writing Farley’s Matt Foley “Van by the River!!) to be the lead in.
The “only one black guy” is a legit criticism, but the roles people get once they’re in usually depends on their strength as a writer, which may be why some of the talented performers on your list did not get as much shine as you thought they should.
duke says:
March 19, 2008 at 10:37 am (UTC -7)
there have been some funny skits the last couple of weeks. (if you watch it with tivo you can skip the lame stuff.) my favorite was the jonah hill skit where he was dating that dude’s dad (i don’t know any of the cast members names except amy poehler). having mariah carey as the musical guest the week after vampire weekend was a little weird. i feel like mariah doesn’t fit with their target demo, but maybe i’m wrong.
Paul says:
October 19, 2008 at 6:05 pm (UTC -7)
I just sat down at my computer after watching my recording of SNL from October 18th, 2008. I had not seen SNL in many many years. I Googled “What has happened to SNL” and low and behold I am here. I just knew that I could not be the only person that is completely amazed at the downfall of the comedy. I never write comments to blogs and I usually don’t care enough to comment on media of any kind, but I am at a loss. Who on earth thinks it’s funny? I am not going to get into the good old days stories from SNL’s beginnings, but this is shocking. I feel a little better knowing I’m not alone.
-Pat
Eldon says:
April 5, 2009 at 12:05 am (UTC -7)
What Happened to SNL, for the the last few years it has been bad, I don’t mean to complain but it has become sad to watch, I want Farrell back and the cast from his hay day, they were the best, it has never been this bad, it’s not a comedy show anymore it is
just not funny, I keep watching and hoping it will get better but so far no luck. has anyone else noticed? How long can a comedy show last that has no comedy in it.
chris says:
May 27, 2009 at 10:35 am (UTC -7)
We’ve given it several more seasons. The funniest moment it’s had in almost ten years was the 2000 elections…almost ten years ago.
I’m young. I was born right around the time of Mortal Kombat and the fall of the Berlin Wall, so SNL has been a staple of my media diet, literally since birth. I either wasn’t born yet or wasn’t yet conscious enough to understand Chevy Chase, Chris Farley, or name any actually funny person. But I’ve seen the older episodes. I’ve looked back, just as I feel my entire generation feels it has to look back at previous generations for answers about their own, and I became sad. I know it’s just a TV show, but we don’t even have that. News isn’t news anymore, it’s “infotainment,” celebrity gossip and fear mongering. TV shows are constructed on an assembly line. I feel like it shouldn’t matter. But I feel like my generation will go undefined and without personality. I don’t know if there’s anyone stopping people from getting on TV and speaking their minds or even just goofing off to make people laugh, but people just don’t seem to be doing it anymore.
This comment is about as aimless as my generation. boo-freakin’-hoo
Jaason Thompson says:
January 17, 2012 at 3:37 pm (UTC -7)
The one thing that happened to this show to destroy it…TINA FEY!!! Ever since she took over as head writer, the show sucked from day one; don’t get me wrong, Seth sucks too, perhaps worse, but the final curtain was brought down at least a decade ago, and with the introduction of Ms. Fey