Friday, 25 September 2009
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Is SNL Funny?
Guess who's hosting the season premiere tomorrowOr perhaps the better question is is SNL still relevant? SNL has had its up and downs over the years, but lately (largely thanks to their digital shorts and Tina Fey's Palin impression) they've been getting a lot of press and many people think that it's back. Hillary Clinton even mentioned SNL at the primary debates. But is it really back? Is it relevant again? Is it funny?
Let's start with Tina Fey's Sarah Palin impression. That received all sort of attention and accolades and is perhaps the leading argument for SNL becoming relevant, funny, and edgy again. Sure it was funny and it was momentarily relevant, but it wasn't exactly edgy and it didn't show the sort of talented writing required for long term relevance. Parody is the act of taking a subject and exaggerating to reach a deeper truth. The Sarah Palin impression did not accomplish this because it wasn't all that exaggerated. They essentially took her own words and played up a few extra winks. Repeating her words isn't parody or accomplished satire.
So being gifted a barely functioning, mentally ill, PTA activist as a vice presidential nominee and a talented comedian who looks exactly like her does not make the show suddenly funny again.
The next argument for SNL's comeback are the digital shorts. From the Lonely Island songs to Natalie Portman's rap to Lazy Sunday they're the most quotable, funny, and attention grabbing things SNL has done in years. But is that really enough to declare the show funny again? I mean, I love Laser Cats as much as anyone, but it's not exactly groundbreaking, which it needs to be to be the anchor of the show.
Maybe my standards are too high, but I'm just comparing SNL to its illustrious past. SNL used to be an important show, but it can never get to that point again because it can't take the same risks it used to. It's an institution now and it is too mainstream to truly ever earn the title "edgy" again. When it first started, SNL's cast was called the "not-ready-for-prime-time players." Now, they literally have a version of the show for prime time. SNL is a pipeline for comedians into the movie industry. It's too clean and crisp and way too clean cut.
But I'll leave it up to you, the readers.
Is SNL funny?
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Comments (33)
When has SNL ever REALLY been "edgy"? I just think you're jaded like the rest of us. The internet killed any chance of a TV show being pee-yourself funny anymore. Weekend Update and Digital shorts are the only reason I bother watching SNL... but look back 10 years, 20 years... SNL wasnt really that funny or "groundbreaking" the PEOPLE on SNL were comedic geniuses who were GIANTS in the stand-up/movie world, and those people have since left the show and they were funny without it. I mean I love Chris Farley and Belushi as much as the next guy but nothing is "graoundbreaking" bout a fat man running around psycho crashing down set designs. Its just a re-invention of 3 Stooges slapstick shock comedy.
Its like you're discrediting SNL by PRAISING the old SNL... when really the definition of "celebrity" has changed since then so when we watch it we arent "smiling before they even open their mouths" like we used to.
So I say sure, its still worth a chuckle - but think about the OLD SNL and how many of them were coked/drunk out of their skulls writing/performing. Of course they were hilarious to watch. I bet if the entire cast all snorted a line and then came out like back in the 70s - 90s it'd be the funniest shit you ever saw.
I do think SNL is very funny. Especially lately. Now, remember, the funniest bits were actually on Thursday nights and not on saturday. The impersonations of Palin were on Thursday. SNL's biggest problem is one: being live (therefore some sets take 20 minutes to get ready and they play regular comercials for that 20 minutes) and the second: being funny for 90 minutes. Which can happen, but rarely does on SNL. The entire formula is still good. Musical acts and such, but I think they need to make more preproduced bits to stay funny for 90. Usually, the first bit is good, then Weekend Update, then stuff seems to be half hearted. Any digital short in between is usually pretty hilarious.
It's alright, though I think the show was funnier and more relevant in the older days. Still, I prefer to watch reruns of SCTV, given the choice....
not like it used to be thats for sure
SNL is alright. The only things I really like are the digital shorts. I was also really fond of the Justin Timberlake Ome-ville Omelette Shoppe skit. Aside from that, they're pretty blah.
Aside from that, MadTV has better stuff. Miss Swan, Lorraine, Stuart, and the one hit wonder Bon Qui Qui. They're a show that is easily relatable.
I like SNL, I think thanks to comedians liek Andy Sandberg, Keenan, and the guy whose name I always forget but played the step brother in Forgetting Sarah Marshall have all breathed life back into it. I, personally, am not a big fan of Tina Fey, I find her more annoying than anything.
I wouldn't describe any period of SNL "edgy" either.
I don't really like it. I'm more of a MADtv fan myself.
I stopped watching a long time ago, only seeing clips here and there because I was unimpressed. Once practically all the comedians that I grew up watching were gone, it lost most of its appeal. But if it's actually getting funny again, maybe I'll check it out more often.
P.S. Megan Fox, please stop shopping in the children's clothing department.
Liked the the old of SNL and MADtv (especially the UPS guy), now-a-days...still pick MADtv over SNL, still holds the spontaneousness that I like.
SNL is funny sometimes..not all the time. They have their days I guess..
It's funny 50% of the time. I suppose it depends on who the guest are. I personally think Mad TV is better, especially when they had cast members like Debra Wilson, Nicole Sullivan, Will Sasso, Orlando Jones, and Alex Borstein, and Phil LaMarr. Currently, I don't know what's going on for both shows.
It would be nice to mix the SNL and MadTV cast, making the perfect comedy hour.
Make it happen, Xanga!
I've never once seen a funny SNL. I have never ever been able to sit through an entire show or even close to an entire show. Once in a while they get a hilarious skit that ends up on the internet. But way to few and far between. I think part of the problem is though that once they get decent comedians and they get discovered then they take off and leave. Have to admit that some of the best comedians around in movies come from SNL.
SNL plays it too safe and the content and cast are too bland. The show was always on the decline, and when Will Ferrell left, that buried the hatchet. They should just pay Andy Samberg extra money and let the digital shorts be a splinter program that functions by itself since the rest of SNL is pretty much just dead weight.
not anymore no. I stopped watching a while ago.
SNL, NOT funny but I just may watch to see Megan.
It's gotten soooo much worse. I only watch the re-runs on E! sometimes, just because they're the funniest.
It's always been okay to me. Just something to watch if there's nothing else on.
I stopped watching SNL when Will Ferrell no longer played Alex Trebek.
SNL sucks now.
I think people tend to idealize to older episodes of SNL. They were often hilarious, but just like now, there were occasional lame sketches. Most people also are looking at the best of DVD's as the standard as well.
I also think that SNL has actually gotten more edgy than it used to be. I mean compare Jon Belushi's samurai chef or the night at the rocksbury to Motherlover. It's quite a bit more offensive comparatively (though compared to other things on TV now, it's about average).
SNL used to be funny back around 2000-2005. Those were my favorite years. Now its all just pointless dribble.
I can't really watch snl for more than 5 minutes
It was funny back in the day, but the jokes just seem stupid now, like things that 8 year olds would find funny.
and I bet Megan Fox doesn't even like Star Wars, hmph.
@methodElevated@xanga - If she looks like that in all the children's clothes, I am all for it. Being a big star wars fan, M.F. stock just went up in my book.
i've never found SNL funny.