This article on SNL is harsh but I agree with some points.

[shortylickens]

https://www.vox.com/2017-in-review/2017/12/26/16807776/saturday-night-live-trump-empty-alec-baldwin

SNL hasnt had any bite to its politics for a long time. They are too simple and basic to be funny anymore.

No, what SNL was was the emptiest show of 2017, and the fact that it was so over-praised makes me worry we’ll learn nothing at all from this particular moment in pop cultural history. And there’s no better way to talk about that emptiness than to consider just how poorly SNL handles the current occupant of the White House, even as it clearly wants to say something daring.

You'll have to read the whole article, its pretty good though.

I also agree the other late night shows are doing a much better job of digging into Donald and his administration. Though many times they're just obnoxious and not really insightful.

 

[sportage]

What's SNL? Can't find it on Netflix.

 

[Meghan54]

What's SNL? Can't find it on Netflix.

Get football/basketball on Netflix?

 

[shortylickens]

As an example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c91XUyg9iWM

SNL used to say shocking things and make people really laugh. Even if it was offensive.
ESPECIALLY if it was offensive.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

meh, their lampooning of presidents has fallen more on the light mocking than actual visceral substance.
Chevy Chase as Gerald Ford
Phil Hartman as Ronnie
Dana Carvey as Bush I
etc, etc etc.

 

[pauldun170]

I think they had some great weekend update segments this year.

 

[Bitek]

https://www.vox.com/2017-in-review/2017/12/26/16807776/saturday-night-live-trump-empty-alec-baldwin

SNL hasnt had any bite to its politics for a long time. They are too simple and basic to be funny anymore.




You'll have to read the whole article, its pretty good though.

I also agree the other late night shows are doing a much better job of digging into Donald and his administration. Though many times they're just obnoxious and not really insightful.

SNLs commentary on HW was an impression of him saying "NAH GA DAH" and "thousand points of light" over and over.

Chevy Chase just tripped over shit, Phil Hartman ate McDonald's, and Dan Aykroyd talked ppl down from bad trips. They had Ross Perot riding Stockdale like a horse and throwing money at people.

So yeah. It's live sketch comedy from the same people who brought you "dick in a box," "toonces the driving cat," and a man living in a van down by the river.

Not exactly high brow works of art. Let's not get too prissy about it.
This author calls watching SNL ".. a cultural rite of passage among relatively affluent, mostly white Americans that I completely missed." Um, k.


Some stuff is funny, some is not. The Kellyanne stuff is usually really good bc Kate McK is awesome. The first Spicey sketch was mind-blowing. The second.. mostly a retread of the first. Not so good.
That's the show, and that's how it always was.

 

[Starbuck1975]

I still consider the original cast the gold standard of SNL, with the Tina Fey and Amy Poehler led years a close second.

McKinnon, Strong and Thompson are the only cast members worth watching. I like Leslie Jones too.

As for commentary in the Trump era, the article is spot on. The Sean Spicer skits were awesome, as are the Trump brothers. McKinnon as Sessions is funny as well.

Baldwin is a good Trump, probably because its not that far of a stretch for him to get into the mind of the character he is playing. However, as the article points out, SNL wants to be daring and edgy in the age of Trump, but are instead increasingly predictable and snarky instead of funny.

Weekend Update sucks. Jost and Che even at their best don't hold a candle to Chase or Akroyd or MacDonald or Curtin or Miller or Fey or Poehler or Quinn. If I want to hear condescending soap box political commentary, I can turn on MSNBC. They should give the desk back to Strong and pair her with Davidson.

 

[Genx87]

SNL hasnt been funny in over 2 decades. I did watch one of Baldwins Trump skits last weekend. Was expecting great things because Baldwin is a pretty good actor. Was so bad had to change the channel. It just went on and on without any point nor being funny.

This article is spot on. SNL doesnt push the edge with any of their political comedy. It is very shallow.