Is SNL Overrated? (Originally published on Feb. 21, 2012)

Is Snl Overrated? 

Intro

So this article will be hotly debated, and by that I mean if anyone read this blog they would definitely form their own opinion about the topic and defend it with much gusto. Okay with that out of the way let’s start the article.

What SNL is

So as a wannabe comedian I find that my peers almost always want to end up on the television show, “Saturday Night Live” I mean it’s widely accepted that this show that’s been on since 1975 (holy shit… I didn't know that) is the holy grail at the end of comedian’s quest. To end up on this show means that you’ve been recognized by the comedy community as a successful and talented joker. I mean everyone wants to be on this show!… but I ask why?

Why?

Yes, why? Why is this the unit by which so many budding comedians base their worth? I mean let’s be honest SNL isn’t the best show as far as comedy goes; I’d say it isn’t even in the top ten.

 

Watch this show (It’s in the top ten) 

My reasoning

The content is eh, at best these days. I’m not saying that the writers are bad, that isn’t the case at all. The problem is… they’re on NBC. They want to get the best music to appear on their show, so they can’t really insult musicians. Or even actors and actresses as they want them to host. Most importantly though is the fact that they are on at 11, doesn’t make it so they aren’t restricted by their network to make the best content for their fans. I was shocked that “Jizz In My Pants”, or “I Just Had Sex” were even able to air. This brings me to my next point.

The Internet

Think about this for a second, what where the best SNL sketches you’ve seen in the last few years? I’m guessing most of you thought of  “Dick In a Box”, “Golden Rule”, “On a Boat”, “Like a Boss”, “Jizz In My Pants”, or “I Just Had Sex”. I agree that these sketches are awesome… however the three people behind these sketches are, “The Lonely Island” a youtube sketch comedy group which SNL picked to become writers or cast members. Yes even SNL knew that they where possibly loosing some comedic ground to up and coming Internet troupes like “The Lonely Island”. They even hired College Humor alum Sarah Snider to write for them. They accept that the Internet is better than they are, but are still stuck with the restrictions I listed above.

 

Story of my life 

Other Shows

Perhaps I am being too hard on SNL. If it weren’t for other shows like say “The Whitest Kids U’ Know” (How did this show get canceled?) pushing the boundaries of what you can and can’t do on television, and internet comedians pushing all the boundaries, maybe SNL wouldn’t seem so blah.

Watch this show also

Conclusion

Okay so this has been a long one and I thank you for still reading, if you are. If you aren’t I don’t blame you. In conclusion do I think SNL is over rated? SNL was once a great show, however I don’t think it is anymore, it saddens me to say it, but I believe that the best is behind. They may cling on for a while but eventually people are probably going to start watching something else.

-Brian