As long as Saturday Night Live (SNL) has existed, so have its detractors. The sketch comedy show has had its ups and downs, with critics either ragging on its content or lauding its satire. However, this inconsistency in opinion is unwarranted; people should rather appreciate that SNL has perfected the dynamic nature required for a show to remain culturally relevant amidst ever-evolving global affairs and societal norms.
Throughout SNL’s long life, creator and producer Lorne Michaels has constantly tweaked the formatting of its segments. Even with the critical success SNL has garnered, Michaels never firmly stuck to a winning formula like other late-night comedy shows. Likewise, as SNL is constantly being reiterated due to changes in Michaels’ vision, the cast, audience, and the world, public opinions have been anything but consistent.
For every fan of SNL, there is a critic. Many will tell you current cast members Chloe Fineman and Bowen Yang are knock-off Kristen Wiig and Fred Armisen, or that the recently viral “Domingo” sketches are floundering attempts at establishing the next big recurring character.
Sure, maybe there’s some truth to these allegations of mediocrity, but critics fail to understand that the program’s dynamism is its biggest asset. To be relevant, comedy cannot be stagnant. The changes seen in the world since 1975 have changed the people in it—including the people creating and viewing SNL. SNL takes root in critique—and as the circumstances to critique upon have evolved, the finished product has evolved as well. We don’t live in the world that spurred the SNL of the past, and thus we don’t live in a world where this exact comedy can be created.
SNL understands this and offers itself as a blank slate for upon which each generation can make their mark. At its best, comedy is a mirror. Much like a reflection, our opinion of it can ebb and flow, even if the image barely changes. SNL lives in the same world as its viewers, and even if it diverges from your sense of humor, its magical gift of evolution might find its way back to you.
This piece was originally published in Zephyrus’ print edition on May 8, 2025
