Saturday Night Live, more commonly known as SNL, is one of America’s longest-running live comedy sketch shows. With 50 seasons, a star-studded alum list, and hosts ranging from Micheal Keaton to Ariana Grande, SNL is famous for its comedic and cringe moments.
SNL is filled with a variety of political sketches, faux-gameshows, a satirical news program (Weekend Update), and music videos. The show features a host, a musical guest, and often other celebrities as cameos on the show.
“I probably started watching [SNL] in the 70s, I saw the movie, which goes back to day one, and me and [my] wife watch pretty much every episode now,” said James Melton, OH mathematics teacher and avid SNL fan.
But this 50th season has had some of its most viral moments ever. From the infamous “Bridesmaid Speech” better known as The Domingo sketch, and the “Castrati” sketch, SNL is more popular than it has been in a long time.
Like any show that has been on the air for so long, it has seen fluctuations in viewership and quality since the original 1974 air. Yet one thing remains constant: the talent.
“That sort of comedy where you’re just creating things on a weekly basis, and you have to be creative and funny, I am totally impressed that people are able to do it to that quality,” said Melton.
Compared to other seasons, SNL has returned bigger and better. Bringing back veterans like Andy Samberg, Dana Carvey, and Maya Rudolph, the writing room has blended the talent and iconography of the past with the comedic talents and styles of today.
This blend of old and new has left many to speculate on the current quality of SNL. Is it in a new prime?
“I think [SNL] is as good as ever,” said Melton.
This sentiment is agreed upon by young TikTok users. From fan edits of cast members Marcello Hernández and featured player Jane Wickline to clips of SNL gaining millions of likes on TikTok and Instagram Reels, it is safe to say that SNL is on top of its game.
At Hernández’s stand-up live at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, fans were cheering for him to sing the “Domingo song”, a parody of Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso.
This in itself shows the newfound popularity of SNL. The people have sung, SNL is back, and Domingo is here.
When analyzing the current position of SNL, it has been a household name for decades, with many former alums becoming popular on the comedy scene after their stint on SNL. Notable alumni include John Belushi, Eddie Murphy, Adam Sandler, Bill Hader, Will Ferell, Maya Rudolph, Tina Fey, and Andy Samberg.
SNL is in a great place right now. The show has many of its favorite alums coming back and acting in sketches. Just recently, the Nov. 2 episode, with host John Mulaney, featured Maya Rudolph, Dana Carvey, Andy Samberg, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, and Vice President Kamala Harris.
The next episode of SNL is on Sat., Dec. 7, with host Paul Mescal and musical guest Shaboozey.
Hi, I'm Skye, this is my first year as a student journalist here at the 42Fifty. I am in my senior year and involved in various extracurriculars including, Speech, LASO, and YAG. Follow me on all socials! @eskyeeeeee
