The jubilant celebration one might expect from a golden jubilee season seems to have been lost on Saturday Night Live’s 50th season. Despite having an ensemble cast with ample star presence, the season was a stark reminder of how far SNL has strayed from its heyday of pointed satire and creative innovation. Rather than leveraging the comedic power of originality, the show decided to bank on celebrity impressions and recycled ideas, unfortunately leaving humor on the sidelines.
A standout example is their sketch titled “The White Potus”, intended to mock affairs of the Trump family in the style of the popular series The White Lotus. The sketch, featuring Scarlett Johansson and Jon Hamm, fell flat, appearing more as a grand spectacle rather than a nuanced comedic critique. Aimee Lou Wood of The White Lotus fame even called it ‘mean and unfunny’, pointing out its over-the-top representation including falsified teeth.
The charm of Saturday Night Live used to lie in its punches, often directed upwards at those requiring humble criticism. But this season, this charm was scarcely found. Their punches were more akin to lackluster nudges, leaving one to question if the current writing team still knows how to deliver an impactful punchline.
‘The White Potus’ might have stood out due to its particularly unimpressive execution, but it was not the only disappointment. On the surface, this sketch had the ingredients of a successful SNL classic: celebrity cameos, significant cultural references, and political commentary. However, it turned out to be a hodgepodge of grand appearances and visual appeal, leaving the essence of clever scriptwriting amiss.
This poorly executed sketch displayed Scarlett Johansson, Jon Hamm, and others as caricatures of the Trump family, embarking on an opulent holiday. But instead of delivering witty satire, we were served a lukewarm, unoriginal spectacle. Further annoyance was added by the absence of a coherent comedic intent behind it. It felt more like an uncalled for mockery, lacking any concrete political punch.
SNL’s political sketches have been known to provide crisp and impactful satire. But this season, it felt like they were serving stale bread from the comedic pantry. ‘Harris and Trump Rallies’, the season’s premiere, was awaited by many fans for its political relevancy and acclaimed cast. However, it turned out to be a rather lackluster presentation of overused caricatures and nostalgia.
Maya Rudolph reappeared as Vice President Kamala Harris, along with Dana Carvey as President Joe Biden, and James Austin Johnson as the former President Donald Trump. A promising premise of contrasting these pivotal political figures failed miserably due to snide repetition of old character gags and tropes. Harris striving hard to be relatable, yet failing, Biden emanating bemusement, and Trump producing overstated agendas – the effect was more of a discarded recycled idea than a thought-provoking satire.
Another episode in the same season disappointingly followed suit. ‘VP Debate 2024 Cold Open’ tried to spin humor around a fictional vice-presidential debate between J.D Vance (brought to life by Bowen Yang) and Tim Walz (Jim Gaffigan taking the helm), while Maya Rudolph’s Kamala Harris and Andy Samberg’s Doug Emhoff passively participated from the sidelines. Dana Carvey’s President Joe Biden also made an insignificant cameo. The entire sketch felt more like a validity checklist than an actual critique.
If SNL has any hopes of reclaiming its past glory, it needs to reevaluate its comedic strategy. In its current state, the show is a mere shadow of its former self, replaying predictable lines and overused impersonations. While a certain dose of nostalgia doesn’t hurt, it cannot compensate for the lack of substantial content, a fact this season painfully illustrated.
As such, SNL must realize that the primary essence of comedy lies not in familiarity, but in originality. The show’s previous charm was built on topical satire and an edgy approach to humor. Merely producing caricatures of political figures and relying on star power won’t lead them towards their former glory.
In essence, SNL seems to have lost its bite. The tantalizing, sharp-witted humor that once laced every sketch seems to have dissipated this season. The sketches resembling more a spectacle than a critique, and the comedic elements reduced to a mere impersonation of personalities, it’s apparent that the show’s stylistic evolution left substantial comedy by the wayside.
It’s not just about the lack of fresh material or comments on contemporary politics. It’s about walking that tightrope of pointed satire without crossing into mean-spirited territory, of evoking laughter without resorting to crude caricatures, and remembering that comedy, in its purest sense, is not reliant on mockery but on insightful observation.
This goes beyond simple gags and relies on the astute understanding of current socio-political dynamics. It’s about presenting familiar faces and narratives in unfamiliar, surprising contexts, drawing unexpected connections, and at its core, illuminating the absurd streaks of our world in hilarious, yet thoughtful ways. That is what SNL once achieved and lost sight of.
SNL must realize that political satire isn’t about disparaging or ridiculing personalities for their quirks. It’s about illuminating the workings of the political landscape, the policies, and the politics that influence our daily lives. It’s about striking that fine balance between humor and critique, entertainment and commentary, laughter and reflection.
Without these ingredients, SNL stands the risk of devolving into a mere stage show of impersonations and spectacles, devoid of substance, wisdom, and the witty humor it was once known for. The success of the coming seasons depends on how well SNL can evolve its strategy while preserving the essence of what made it captivating in the first place.
In conclusion, Saturday Night Live, once a trailblazer of political satire and a cultural critique, seems to have lost its way, drifting far away from its prime. Despite the golden opportunity presented by its 50th season, it fumbled, leaning too heavily on star power and rehashed ideas, and failing to land a comedic punch with impact. SNL must revisit its roots and refine its approach if it hopes to have the same cultural relevance it once commanded.
The post SNL’s 50th Season: A Reminder of How Far the Show has Fallen from its Peak appeared first on Real News Now.
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