“Saturday Night Live” began its 37th season on September 24, 2011. Actor Alec Baldwin, a longtime SNL personality, hosted the show for a record 16th time, with English alternative rock band Radiohead as musical guest. A cultural cornerstone for decades, in these past years, SNL has once again asserted itself as a dominant source of parody and wit, impacting elections and creating memes that have lasted years.
Since it began, the late-night variety show has been a source of numerous cultural phenomena over its run. Spawning blockbusters like The Blues Brothers and Wayne’s World, the show has been a springboard for a number of other comedies. Many accomplished actors and writers have roots in the show: writer and actor Tina Fey got her start in the famous 8H studio, as did actor Will Ferrell and comedian Chris Rock.
The Lonely Island, an SNL-based comedy troupe headed by Andy Samberg, has brought the humor of SNL to a new generation of viewers through their wildly successful music videos. Junior Zach Lowie remarked that, “They’ve extended [SNL] to more than just sketch or stand-up comedy and made fans more interested in musical comedy than before.” References to many of their early works still echo today—the words “I’m on a boat” still hold comedic value over two years later.
Yet SNL has had impact beyond pure comedy, providing a forum for political discussion and bringing the work of pundits to the forefront of popular culture. Starting off this new season with a fake GOP debate, the show jumped right into the political lampooning, highlighting the perceived lack of serious contenders in the party’s nomination lineup. With host Alec Baldwin as Republican candidate Rick Perry, the show parodied all the declared candidates, each portrayed by a different SNL cast member.
Teacher, Ms. Amber Morgan, discussed the show’s ability to “provide a venue for political commentary accessible to the public.” The portrayals of Sarah Palin and other contenders in the 2008 presidential election come to mind, where the outlandish lampooning of their political gaffes and personality quirks gave rise to greater national awareness of the political process.
In spite of all its change over the years, SNL still remains a source of entertainment for Seminoles; senior Puja Patel commented that it’s “funny, witty, [and] great to watch in my free time.”