I'll bet that if you polled viewers every year from about 1979 to the present and asked which season was the worst in the show's recent history, "current season" would win every year.
SNL seems to me a lot like Starbucks. Starbucks is popular enough to have something like 17,000 stores, and whenever I go into one, it's pretty full, but all I hear is how much people hate Starbucks. SNL has remained popular enough to stay on the air for 35 years, but when people talk about it, it's usually to remark on how much it sucks. I guess in both cases, those who are satisfied keep their mouths shut, and it's the vocal minority that's unhappy. (I happen not to like either very much, but now and then do drink Starbucks and watch SNL.)
I'd disagree, Adam (although I agree with you that they are good seasons, if that makes sense). I remember reading along the lines of "They're doing great with the politics stuff, but that's only a skit or two, and not enough to hold up the rest of the show, which is terrible and beyond repair."
The problem with the show is that they're overly reliant on Wiig. This would be less of a problem if Wiig were funnier or if they didn't keep going back to the well of unfunny characters she rolls out--if I ever see another "Secret Word" sketch again? Too soon (moderately funny once).
I didn't know they fired Jenny Slate. This apparently means it is bad for 1st season SNL performers to make internet videos that Robin likes. First Casey Wilson Reads Internet Comments, then Marcel the Shell with Shoes On. BEWARE!
ReplyDeleteThat was an interesting article, but it lost me when it dissed what up with dat because i love that sketch and could probably watch it for hours.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet that if you polled viewers every year from about 1979 to the present and asked which season was the worst in the show's recent history, "current season" would win every year.
ReplyDeleteI don't think 2007-08 or especially 2008-09 would win. They owned the election cycle, even without a good Obama.
ReplyDeleteHey, I just thought of a headline for an article about that poll. "Saturday Night Dead." Amirite, guys?
ReplyDeleteThose of us from the Philly area know that Saturday Night Dead was the post-SNL horror movie show hosted by Stella, the Maneater from Manyunk.
ReplyDeleteSNL seems to me a lot like Starbucks. Starbucks is popular enough to have something like 17,000 stores, and whenever I go into one, it's pretty full, but all I hear is how much people hate Starbucks. SNL has remained popular enough to stay on the air for 35 years, but when people talk about it, it's usually to remark on how much it sucks. I guess in both cases, those who are satisfied keep their mouths shut, and it's the vocal minority that's unhappy. (I happen not to like either very much, but now and then do drink Starbucks and watch SNL.)
ReplyDeleteI'd disagree, Adam (although I agree with you that they are good seasons, if that makes sense). I remember reading along the lines of "They're doing great with the politics stuff, but that's only a skit or two, and not enough to hold up the rest of the show, which is terrible and beyond repair."
ReplyDeleteThe problem with the show is that they're overly reliant on Wiig. This would be less of a problem if Wiig were funnier or if they didn't keep going back to the well of unfunny characters she rolls out--if I ever see another "Secret Word" sketch again? Too soon (moderately funny once).
ReplyDelete