Saturday Night Live, a weekly sketch comedy show known for its pop-culture and political parodies and comedy, is one of the defining and most influential pieces of modern American culture. The show is now on its 51st season, and it continues to shine as a reflection of current society and brings new and significant commentary on what influences people today.
In light of the recent decline in live television, the continuity and persistence of Saturday Night Live serves as a testament to what still stands in pop culture today; it demonstrates how there is still a need and desire for comedy and entertainment while also providing insight into the world people live in. The show brings about a showcase of what is modern, and the primary focuses of media today. Whether that be political, relating to the arts or even giving a spotlight to small stories in the news, the insight given by the show into modern culture makes the show significant.
The show is still a comedy show, though. While many people claim the show “is not funny” or “has not been good in 30 years,” they fail to understand that the show is meant for everyone, and the different types of comedy the sketches involve will not be loved by everyone. “If you find every SNL sketch funny, you don’t have a very good sense of humor,” creator and producer of SNL Lorne Michaels said. In the past year, the show has had several different sketches and moments gain significant internet traction, such as the “Domingo” and the yearly Weekend Update “Joke Swap.” The different aspects of the live show, from the live sketches to pre-recorded sketches to Weekend Update to the musical performances, all work together to create a space of comedy and entertainment that is seldom seen today.
What makes SNL amazing though, is its pursuit to keep going despite being imperfect, which is an amazing representation of American society today. The people working on the show realize that not everything will hit with the audience, or not every musical artist will make it big after performing on the show, or that their hosts and cast crew members are not perfect people; however, the show still continues despite these factors. This perfectly encapsulates what defines American culture today, which is the idea that nothing can be perfect in society, and that people must work together to make something great of both themselves and the world around them. Saturday Night Live serves as a depiction of what can be great about America and the people within it; that people can create great work and communities if they work together and keep consistency despite opposition.
