“Saturday Night Live,” or “SNL,” an immensely popular TV show centered around comedy sketches and celebrity performances, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Since its debut in 1975, “SNL” has garnered much attention for being one of the most influential and memorable pieces of media out there.
Throughout the years, “SNL” has changed significantly, while never losing its heart. Almost every new season introduces new cast members for audiences to fall in love with, all equipped with their own hilarious specialties. This has always encouraged a wide range of comedic performances bound to be enjoyed by a variety of people. Needless to say, individuals across the globe are glued to their TV screens every Saturday night to catch up on the latest “Weekend Updates” or comedy songs that will get stuck in their heads for days.
Whether you’re an avid SNL fan or a casual viewer, I’m sure you’ve found yourself quoting some of their most famous sketches; like “we need more cowbell,” “Debbie Downer” or last year’s viral “Domingo” sketch. It’s undeniable that for every year “SNL” has been on air, they’ve lent a huge hand in shaping popular culture.
While many fans nowadays are quick to jump the gun and accuse “SNL” of declining in quality, I don’t believe that to be true. This show knows from experience that to stay in the limelight for half a century, things need to change to avoid becoming stagnant and uninteresting. Of course its 50th season won’t look the same as the first, senses of humor just aren’t the same as they used to be.
One of the most admirable qualities about “SNL” is its creativity. To have aired over 900 episodes to date, and still produce new ideas that have never been used before, is a feat not many others can say they’ve achieved. This is largely due to the fact that they’re unafraid to delve into hot, and sometimes controversial, current topics and events. They’ve greatly shaped the comedy scene of today by implementing politics in their sketches as well as their commentary on almost anything newsworthy. This has not only inspired a lot of the comedy we see today on platforms like “TikTok” and “Instagram,” but it keeps the show ever-evolving and consistently shocking and entertaining.
As for its apparent drop in quality, it’s unavoidable that a show that features about eight sketches a week for about 22 weeks will have some misses. But what these critics fail to realize is that a few “unfunny” sketches pale in comparison to a singular good one, that will go on to be shared, remembered and quoted indefinitely.
No matter which “era” you think to be the best of this show’s impressively long run, its 50th anniversary is something worth celebrating. To celebrate their 50th anniversary, NBC released a documentary that highlights the best musical guests and sketches over the decades. You can stream this on Peacock to reminisce on the most nostalgic and memorable moments. No matter what “SNL” has planned next, I have no doubt audiences will be tuning in for the next 50 years.
