Comments on: Great Scott: What Happened To SNL?

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 01:05:35 +0000

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

By: duke

duke — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:37:29 +0000

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.

By: wade word

wade word — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:11:14 +0000

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.

By: wade word

wade word — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:05:24 +0000

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.

By: Dart_Adams

Dart_Adams — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 13:34:30 +0000

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.

By: scott

scott — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:55:04 +0000

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.

By: Adam

Adam — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:03:57 +0000

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.

By: Justin

Justin — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:51:22 +0000

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.

By: Will

Will — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:56:54 +0000

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.