Despite all the odds, SNL is going nowhere
If you didn’t tune into the latest episode of Saturday Night Live, there’s a high chance you’ve seen the highlights plastered all over your social media feeds.
From host John Mulaney’s opening monologue to appearances from SNL alum Andy Sandberg and Pete Davidson, to Chappell Roan’s manifested musical performance and hopefully the next US President’s cameo in the cold open, the episode was absolutely stacked with memorable moments. The episode got a five-star review from Vulture.
In its fiftieth season, which premiered September 28th, we’ve already seen mega-celebrities like Jean Smart, Michael Keaton, Ariana Grande, Coldplay and Billie Eilish take centre stage with hosting and performance slots. We’ve also seen hilarious cameos from SNL greats Maya Rudolph, Andy Samberg, Jim Gaffigan, and Dana Carvey, which is a real treat for loyal viewers obsessed with the show’s lore.
Saturday Night Live has proven that despite the changing climate of television, it refuses to fade into obscurity. Against all odds, this show continues to be a staple in entertainment, and that’s largely due to its symbiotic relationship with pop culture.
Since premiering in 1975, if something noteworthy happens in the Hollywood news cycle, you can almost guarantee you’re going to see it being parodied on the show. And, if an actor, musician or celebrity has a new project on the horizon, SNL will likely be on the press schedule.
On the flip side, SNL also feeds into the entertainment world, with sketches and performances going viral and making headlines. Some of the biggest stars in the comedy world got their start on the show, and cult-classic films like The Blues Brothers, Wayne’s World, Superstar and A Night at The Roxbury were born from SNL sketches.
The institution of SNL is so big that last week, a new film, Saturday Night, was released.
Chronicling creator Lorne Michaels and the show’s original cast performing the first ever live show, the movie gives fans a peek behind the curtains of the behemoth’s chaotic beginnings. Amongst the stacked cast are cool kids Kaia Gerber, Rachel Sennott, Finn Wolfhard and Nicholas Braun, as well as industry veterans J.K. Simmons and Willem Dafoe.
Put simply, SNL’s unique ability to simultaneously capitalise on and create culturally relevant moments is unparalleled.
Another reason SNL is seemingly continuing to stay relevant is its ability to adapt with the times. The show’s Instagram and TikTok accounts boast a combined total of 17.1m followers, which has allowed it to target a younger generation whilst combatting the decline in episodic viewership.
As per The Hollywood Reporter’s piece on the show’s fiftieth season, “Like most everything on television, SNL has seen its linear ratings slide in recent years, but it remains the No. 1 entertainment series in the still important 18-to-49 demo and, despite its five decades on the air, feels tailor-made for the clippable, shareable social media era.”
As a fan of the show for years, I can honestly say that it’s very rare for a full-length SNL episode to hit every mark. Despite brilliant writers, performers and hosts, putting on a 60-minute comedy show every week for months at a time, year after year, there are going to be certain sketches that bomb. While I stopped watching the show religiously like I used to, social media has allowed me to stay connected to the world of SNL, and I almost feel like a more avid fan now that I’m delivered punchy, relevant clips tailored to my sense of humour. Either that or the algorithm has completely eaten my brain.
I mustn’t be alone though, as The Hollywood Reporter cited that “SNL’s most recent season generated 3.1 billion social video views.” Billion, you guys. That’s heaps.
At the very core of SNL’s success and cultural relevance is Lorne Michaels, whose time as the show’s creator has earned him dozens of Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, The Mark Twain Prize for American Humour and a spot on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Despite rumours of his retirement after the show’s fiftieth season (a rumour he essentially sparked by telling Sunday Times back in 2020 that this would be the case), he told The Hollywood Reporter that he’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
When asked what prompted his change of heart, Lorne responded, “I think the times, and also there are not many network shows left, and this one has taken on [an importance]. It’s more about keeping it on course than anything else, and, obviously, I really love it.”
“And every year there are more and more people that I rely on for other things, but, in the end, you really need someone to say, ‘This is what we’re doing.’ So, I don’t really have an answer; I just know that this is kind of what I do and as long as I can keep doing it, I’ll keep doing it. There’s no immediate plan.”
With the showrunner, the stars and social media on board, I think it’s safe to say that Saturday Night Live is going nowhere, fast.
Written by Lil Friedmann, who wants to look into a mirror and see Kamala Harris staring back. You can follow her at @lilfriedmann on socials.
Image credit: SNL, @nbcsnl on Instagram + Punkee