Is SNL Still Funny? Marist Students Weigh In

The newest season of "SNL" began just a few weekends ago. Photo by Rex Sorgatz on Flickr

Sept. 28 marked the beginning of “Saturday Night Live’s” 50th season. Although it has been on the air since 1975, many viewers in recent years have complained about the show’s declining quality.  

NBC’s “SNL” was originally designed to be a bold and comedic show appealing to younger demographics. It follows the standard routine of presenting a new host and musical guest each week. The short opening sketch always ends with the famous line, “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!”  

“SNL” became known for its edgy humor, poking fun at both politics and current events. With its regular group of comedians and use of improvisational comedy, the show quickly gained a cult following. 

Today, “SNL” still follows the same formula. So, why have people lost interest in the show?  

Some speculate it's because “SN”L has lost its “wow factor.” 

The show seems to prioritize appealing to popular culture over producing the shocking comedy that made it successful. Instead of producing original material for sketches like in the past, “SNL” now seems to rip off jokes and memes that are already circulating around the Internet, making it difficult for audiences to look forward to “SNL” every week with predictable sketches.

This is what happened with the opening sketch of the new season. Fans had been speculating who "SNL" would pick to play Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, Tim Walz. Many anticipated the show to pick Jim Gaffigan, since he closely resembles Walz. So when Gaffigan walked out as Walz on Sept. 28, people were not surprised. To make matters worse, he didn’t do much more than reiterate the same dad-joke memes surrounding Walz that have been all over the Internet for months.  

The only bit of saving grace fans received during the sketch was when Andy Samberg unexpectedly came out as Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff. His witty humor and perfect delivery were refreshing to fans who were bored with the sketch's predictability. However, this has become the exception, rather than the rule, for “SNL.” 

“I’m really excited about the 50th-year season. I definitely still watch SNL whenever it comes on, but I do agree that the previous seasons were a bit better than the recent ones as some of my favorite cast members have left the show,” Emma Stuber ‘26, said. “The writing was, in my opinion, funnier and more clever in the older seasons.”

Her nostalgia is echoed by other “SNL” fans, but some see it a little differently.

“I love ‘SNL,’ but I see a lot of comments online about how people don’t think it’s funny anymore and talk about ‘SNL’ in past decades or old cast members. I think a lot of those people are older and just don’t have the same modern sense of humor or aren’t up on pop culture,” said Bea Karron ‘25. “Yes, sometimes skits fall flat, but in general, I think ‘SNL’ is funnier if you’re up to date on politics and pop culture, and that includes a lot of generational slang and humor.” 

Regardless of how people perceive it today, “SNL” has had a tremendous impact on American culture. However, it must adjust to the changing times to stay relevant and keep audiences tuned in for another 50 years.