SNL 40 Was a Celebration of Triumphs and Failures
EntertainmentPublic opinion on Saturday Night Live tends to lean in one of two directions: Either a.) it was better when you were a kid (sure it was) and is entirely unwatchable now or b.) its comedic legacy is so profound that you couldn’t possibly speak ill of it. SNL is aware of both arguments and will spend a full three and a half hours letting you know that yes, it’s goddamn legendary and no, it doesn’t care if you agree.
Last night’s SNL 40, NBC’s marathon tribute to forty years of Saturday Night Live, was a celebration and homecoming for SNL cast members, writers and crew, past and present (audience spotting has never been more rewarding). Through endless-seeming montages and cameos, the show highlighted the series’ greatest triumphs—from memorable sketches (Will Ferrell’s beloved Celebrity Jeopardy got a particularly fun re-birth) to the best hosts to its most successful breakout stars (with Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Kristen Wiig and Kate McKinnon being chief among them).
Even when viewing it through our most cynical lens, Saturday Night Live has a lot to celebrate. Watching last night’s show, I couldn’t help but well up when considering the brilliance of the late Gilda Radner and Chris Farley or cheer at the resurgence of old favorites like the ever-earnest choir teachers, Marty and Bobbi Mohan-Culp. Shown back to back, the series’ accomplishments are indeed remarkable and its place as a cultural touchstone feels entirely deserved. This is the show that gave us The Blues Brothers, Wayne’s World and Tina Fey as Sarah Palin, after all.