SNL at 50

I began watching Saturday Night Live in its very first 1975 season when I was 13 (I discovered Monty Python’s Flying Circus around the same time). It was a perfect time to discover it—though I was at an age to still be exposed to the golden age of comedy, SNL and Monty Python also greatly expanded my concept of humor. 

Over the decades, the show has had its ups and downs, of course, but I’m glad to say I never became so calcified or smug to believe that it stopped being funny. Though I’ve admittedly reached the age where I don't necessarily know all the references or the musical guests (fortunately, my wife and daughter can usually fill me in)—and it’s not always “must see” tv for me every week—it can still make me laugh.

The SNL celebrations this past week have been memorable and pitch perfect, reflecting not only the show’s continued cultural influence but also how much of an important revenue source it has become for NBC.

The celebrations culminated with the 50th anniversary concert on Valentine's Day, and the live star-studded broadcast this past Sunday, Feb. 16.

The concert was a blast, a mixture of old and new, and incredibly eclectic, from the B-52s, to Bad Bunny, to Devo, Sabrina Carpenter, and more—mixed in with some occasional comedy bits. It was particularly cool to see Fred Armisen sitting in on the drums for the B-52s and Devo.

The show itself was simply an extended episode of a typical show, featuring sketches and musical guests. Episode to episode and season to season, SNL has always been hit and miss. And for anything as subjective as comedy, especially when you're occasionally trying to push the boundaries, it would be impossible to be funny 100 percent. But for the most part, the anniversary show really hit it out of the park—while often falling back on familiar characters and sketches from the past, there often was an added twist or update to make it fresh.

It was a treat to see different era cast members performing with each other, and a surprise to see them lean on people like Sabrina Carpenter and Bad Bunny. And after skipping the 40th due to hurt feelings, Eddie Murphy showed he still has it and looked like he was having fun. In addition to Murphy, there were many other great highlights: Pedro Pascal; DeNiro and Nicholson; Laraine Newman; Tina Fey and Amy Poehler’s Q&A; John Mulaney’s musical parody; the “in memorian” sequence of old characters and skits; and more. Though I haven’t always been a fan of Adam Sandler’s comedy songs, his performance at the celebration near the end of the night proved to be a highlight and moving. And, of course, the show was anchored by rock royalty, a Beatle, Sir Paul McCartney, who closed the night with a performance of “Golden Slumbers” and “The End” that proved to be a perfect capstone to the evening.

While I wouldn’t go so far as to say that SNL has been an important part of my life, the show’s 50th anniversary reminds me that it’s always been a dependable source for laughs and a good reflection of the zeitgeist.