Dear Saturday Night Live,


You guys are a bunch of f*cktards. That's right, I called you f*cktards because you have taken a legendary and unique show with a history of 40 years and thrown it in the trash. What happened to the comedy? I have been a faithful viewer since the 70's and have tolerated the ups and downs of various casts and writers, but this season has by far been the worst. In fact, I am not sure why or how NBC continues the series because it is no longer releveant or funny; it borderlines on being offensive anymore, and has long expired past its shelf life. Let me explain what I mean.


As a show that has always provided comedy to mock pop-culture, it was a joy to watch the writers' takes on current news, unique characters, and oddball situations. Some classic examples of this are when Chevy Chase and Jane Curtain would argue during their 'Point & Counterpoint' segments, seeing Mary Katherine Galagher pratfall when overly excited, and watching a newlywed couple come home to their New York appartment and find a giant roach hanging out in their living room. The show became enjoyable to watch because of its memorable recurring characters: the Killer Bees, Land Shark, Mr. Bill, Baba Wawa, Lina Wertmuller, Debbie Doody, the Coneheads, the Festrunk Brothers (two "Wild and Crazy Guys"), Judy Miller, Roseanne Roseannadanna, the Loopner family, Doug & Wendy Whiner, Emily Litella, Mister Robinson's Neighborhood, Buckwheat, Gumby, Ed Grimley, Fernando's Hideaway, Hanz & Franz, Senor Cosa, the Pat Stevens Show, the Sweeney Sisters, Master Thespian, "Deep Thoughts" with Jack Handy, the Church Lady, Sprockets, Wayne's World, choppin' broccoli, Toonces, Pat, Simon, Coffee Talk with Linda Richman, Daily Affirmations with Stuart Smalley, Opera Man, Canteen Boy, Matt Foley, Mickey the Dyke, the Joe Pesci Show, Goat Boy, the Roxbury Guys, Mr. Peepers, the Ambiguously Gay Duo, the Quiet Storm, the Delicious Dish, Janet Reno's Dance Party, Leon Phelps - the Ladies Man, Mango, Dog Show, Sally O'Malley, the Barry Gibb Show, the Falconer, the A-Holes, Target Lady, Vincent Price's Holiday Special, Aunt Linda, MacGruber, Penelope, Judy Grimes, Stefon, and the Prince Show. There are many more and some are certainly better than others. Let's face it - some of these characters seemed pretty bad at the time! But, the truth is, any one of them is far better than what is being presented as 'Saturday Night Live" today!


On a positive note, I want to thank you for finally presenting musical talent that made me want to watch the show last night. I waited through what seemed like endless sketches to finally see Prince perform an 8-minute opus of some of his newest material. It may not have been the best Prince performance, but it made up for the crappy sketches I sat through in anticipation. After Prince's performance, I continued watching and saw the 'Weekend Update' that motivated me to write this letter I am sure you'll never read - but it pissed me off enough to finally write and complain. And, really, its been a long time coming.


First off, the 'Weekend Update' we see this season sucks. It sucks so much it is painful to watch. Jost and Che have absolutely no chemistry and not a funny bone in their bodies. Their attempts at sarcasm are lame and their delivery utterly terrible. It would be funnier to see the two sitting there attempting to be funny while delivering the news; but this is simply unlaughable! There are times I am not even sure what the live audience is laughing at, and all I can imagine is that perhaps former cast members are standing out of camera view pantomiming something hysterical to make people laugh at appropriate times. Here is where 'SNL' has forever lost me as a viewer - and I don't care if I have to wait another 8 years again to see Prince on the show.


During Michael Che's delivery of a news story about Apple CEO Tim Cook coming out and being "proud to be gay," he said that gay men were now lining up... and then broke character by saying "Prince - ladies and gentlemen!" as if to insinuate that Prince's femininity would somehow increase laughs. This stupid and errogant decision is offensive not only to gay people - as Tim Cook coming out is NOT funny, nor should it be made into a joke; but is also offensive to Prince fans who sat through this lame-assed show to watch history being made. That's right, an 8-minute takeover of the musical stage upstaged the entire show! It's unfortunate that Che thought he could get some laughs by throwing Prince's name into the coming-out "joke" because it fell flat and only proves that this season's 'SNL' writers and most of the cast are sub-par. The attempts at humor no longer funny. 'SNL' is simply out of touch because, guess what, the attempts to gay-bash are not funny! Recent sketches about men going down on you attest to the fact that 'SNL' can't seem to stop mocking the gay community. Whereas in the past it was done with taste - and we could actually laugh with it, I find that sketches in recent seasons have become utterly tasteless and not funny at all. There is a way to be humorous without being offensive, and 'SNL' has chosen the latter.


Increasing the number of black cast players does not increase the funny factor. Choosing Darrell Hammond to replace the late Don Pardo as the announcer was a wise choice - as he was a talented player whose Bill Clinton impersonations were spot-on. But, Jesus Christ on a cracker, please turn up his mic volume on saying cast members names over the opening credits! Or better yet, please allow him to participate in sketches since we know he can be funny!


During last night's show, I did not laugh one time. Not even once! I am not even sure I could crack a smile at what I saw. Cicily Strong, you are no Tina Fey. Stop trying to be the smart bitchy one. I don't know who you've had to sleep with, but you don't need to be in every sketch since you are not at the Update news desk and as a writer you should know better. Pete Davidson, come back when you've developed a character. Bobby Moynihan and Keenan Thompson - deck chairs on the Titanic. You've been on there long enough and maybe weren't all that funny to begin with to justify why the longevity now. Jost and Che are Boring with a capital B! Taran Killam and Kate McKinnon, you are by far the best cast members this season. Play your cards right and I'm sure we'll enjoy seeing you in your own TV series and movies where you can really show off your comedic talents.


I will fondly remember the good ol' days of "Saturday Night Live" and sincerely want to thank the show for providing memorable characters to American pop culture. There have certainly been some amazing moments that made staying up late worthwhile. Unfortunately, the times are not the same. Neither is the writing or cast and I think it might just be time to put the show to bed once and for all. When you have talented guests like Prince and Chris Rock on the show and can't use them at their best (no Prince Show - with the actual Prince?!?!) or include even a sketch with Prince and Rock together... come on! Use the talent when you have it; and maybe this faux pas reflects that the current writers are devoid of the talent needed to carry on the legacy that 'SNL' deserves.


Sincerely,

Formerly Known As... and 'SNL' Fan

It is hard 2 believe that this show is still on the air. Just bad TV.

i love lucys still aired ... sup w that

Crocks boston marathon joke wasnt cool, funny but idk if id a put that in .. he seemed nervous, fidgety hands. Why do they always say " we gotta great show for you tonight... they dont know that it might be shit I mean they know what skits are gonna be on n know if theyre funny.

[Edited 11/2/14 10:44am]

I didn't take Che's "Ladies and Gentlemen, Prince" as an insult I took it as after botching the joke as a form of recovery.

That being said SNL has always had its ups and down seasons. Its the nature of the show.

lazycrockett said:

I didn't take Che's "Ladies and Gentlemen, Prince" as an insult I took it as after botching the joke as a form of recovery.

That being said SNL has always had its ups and down seasons. Its the nature of the show.

To me Chris was pretty spot on. The Freedom Tower and about being afraid to go inside? It was really funny and something that has crossed many a mind. And who couldn't get behind the Christmas rant? In our store the Christmas stuff mixed with the Halloween stuff two weeks ago. And Thanksgiving turned into Christmas-creep Black Friday nonsense years ago.

I guess your like me who watched SNL for the first time in a very long time because Prince was on it (waited until the end to see Prince standing with the cast, no show). Honestly for me SNL hasn't been funny since Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri did their cheerleader routine. Tina Fey era just sucked so bad I banned watching SNL with the only exception if Prince showed up. Plus it's all about teasing pop culture and I'm not really into the Kardashians, todays music scene or any of todays young actors/actress. Honestly the only ones that does a good job of teasing today's pop culture is South Park and Family Guy.

[Edited 11/2/14 12:37pm]

jon1967 said:

i love lucys still aired ... sup w that

I Love Lucy's 60+ year old jokes are actually STILL funny. Can't say that about SNL.

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

FormerlyKnownAs said:

Dear Saturday Night Live,


You guys are a bunch of f*cktards. That's right, I called you f*cktards because you have taken a legendary and unique show with a history of 40 years and thrown it in the trash. What happened to the comedy? I have been a faithful viewer since the 70's and have tolerated the ups and downs of various casts and writers, but this season has by far been the worst. In fact, I am not sure why or how NBC continues the series because it is no longer releveant or funny; it borderlines on being offensive anymore, and has long expired past its shelf life. Let me explain what I mean.


As a show that has always provided comedy to mock pop-culture, it was a joy to watch the writers' takes on current news, unique characters, and oddball situations. Some classic examples of this are when Chevy Chase and Jane Curtain would argue during their 'Point & Counterpoint' segments, seeing Mary Katherine Galagher pratfall when overly excited, and watching a newlywed couple come home to their New York appartment and find a giant roach hanging out in their living room. The show became enjoyable to watch because of its memorable recurring characters: the Killer Bees, Land Shark, Mr. Bill, Baba Wawa, Lina Wertmuller, Debbie Doody, the Coneheads, the Festrunk Brothers (two "Wild and Crazy Guys"), Judy Miller, Roseanne Roseannadanna, the Loopner family, Doug & Wendy Whiner, Emily Litella, Mister Robinson's Neighborhood, Buckwheat, Gumby, Ed Grimley, Fernando's Hideaway, Hanz & Franz, Senor Cosa, the Pat Stevens Show, the Sweeney Sisters, Master Thespian, "Deep Thoughts" with Jack Handy, the Church Lady, Sprockets, Wayne's World, choppin' broccoli, Toonces, Pat, Simon, Coffee Talk with Linda Richman, Daily Affirmations with Stuart Smalley, Opera Man, Canteen Boy, Matt Foley, Mickey the Dyke, the Joe Pesci Show, Goat Boy, the Roxbury Guys, Mr. Peepers, the Ambiguously Gay Duo, the Quiet Storm, the Delicious Dish, Janet Reno's Dance Party, Leon Phelps - the Ladies Man, Mango, Dog Show, Sally O'Malley, the Barry Gibb Show, the Falconer, the A-Holes, Target Lady, Vincent Price's Holiday Special, Aunt Linda, MacGruber, Penelope, Judy Grimes, Stefon, and the Prince Show. There are many more and some are certainly better than others. Let's face it - some of these characters seemed pretty bad at the time! But, the truth is, any one of them is far better than what is being presented as 'Saturday Night Live" today!


On a positive note, I want to thank you for finally presenting musical talent that made me want to watch the show last night. I waited through what seemed like endless sketches to finally see Prince perform an 8-minute opus of some of his newest material. It may not have been the best Prince performance, but it made up for the crappy sketches I sat through in anticipation. After Prince's performance, I continued watching and saw the 'Weekend Update' that motivated me to write this letter I am sure you'll never read - but it pissed me off enough to finally write and complain. And, really, its been a long time coming.


First off, the 'Weekend Update' we see this season sucks. It sucks so much it is painful to watch. Jost and Che have absolutely no chemistry and not a funny bone in their bodies. Their attempts at sarcasm are lame and their delivery utterly terrible. It would be funnier to see the two sitting there attempting to be funny while delivering the news; but this is simply unlaughable! There are times I am not even sure what the live audience is laughing at, and all I can imagine is that perhaps former cast members are standing out of camera view pantomiming something hysterical to make people laugh at appropriate times. Here is where 'SNL' has forever lost me as a viewer - and I don't care if I have to wait another 8 years again to see Prince on the show.


During Michael Che's delivery of a news story about Apple CEO Tim Cook coming out and being "proud to be gay," he said that gay men were now lining up... and then broke character by saying "Prince - ladies and gentlemen!" as if to insinuate that Prince's femininity would somehow increase laughs. This stupid and errogant decision is offensive not only to gay people - as Tim Cook coming out is NOT funny, nor should it be made into a joke; but is also offensive to Prince fans who sat through this lame-assed show to watch history being made. That's right, an 8-minute takeover of the musical stage upstaged the entire show! It's unfortunate that Che thought he could get some laughs by throwing Prince's name into the coming-out "joke" because it fell flat and only proves that this season's 'SNL' writers and most of the cast are sub-par. The attempts at humor no longer funny. 'SNL' is simply out of touch because, guess what, the attempts to gay-bash are not funny! Recent sketches about men going down on you attest to the fact that 'SNL' can't seem to stop mocking the gay community. Whereas in the past it was done with taste - and we could actually laugh with it, I find that sketches in recent seasons have become utterly tasteless and not funny at all. There is a way to be humorous without being offensive, and 'SNL' has chosen the latter.


Increasing the number of black cast players does not increase the funny factor. Choosing Darrell Hammond to replace the late Don Pardo as the announcer was a wise choice - as he was a talented player whose Bill Clinton impersonations were spot-on. But, Jesus Christ on a cracker, please turn up his mic volume on saying cast members names over the opening credits! Or better yet, please allow him to participate in sketches since we know he can be funny!


During last night's show, I did not laugh one time. Not even once! I am not even sure I could crack a smile at what I saw. Cicily Strong, you are no Tina Fey. Stop trying to be the smart bitchy one. I don't know who you've had to sleep with, but you don't need to be in every sketch since you are not at the Update news desk and as a writer you should know better. Pete Davidson, come back when you've developed a character. Bobby Moynihan and Keenan Thompson - deck chairs on the Titanic. You've been on there long enough and maybe weren't all that funny to begin with to justify why the longevity now. Jost and Che are Boring with a capital B! Taran Killam and Kate McKinnon, you are by far the best cast members this season. Play your cards right and I'm sure we'll enjoy seeing you in your own TV series and movies where you can really show off your comedic talents.


I will fondly remember the good ol' days of "Saturday Night Live" and sincerely want to thank the show for providing memorable characters to American pop culture. There have certainly been some amazing moments that made staying up late worthwhile. Unfortunately, the times are not the same. Neither is the writing or cast and I think it might just be time to put the show to bed once and for all. When you have talented guests like Prince and Chris Rock on the show and can't use them at their best (no Prince Show - with the actual Prince?!?!) or include even a sketch with Prince and Rock together... come on! Use the talent when you have it; and maybe this faux pas reflects that the current writers are devoid of the talent needed to carry on the legacy that 'SNL' deserves.


Sincerely,

Formerly Known As... and 'SNL' Fan

Enough of the SNL bitching already. I've been hearing about how SNL has sucked royally since the original cast left, and that's going back to my high school days....in the mid-1980's. Even at its greatest it's always been up and down, with some skits being classic and others completely bombing; that's the nature of sketch comedy. Even the original SNL cast had its bad moments, but it had a number of iconic skits like the Samurai, Weekend Update with Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, and Jane Curtain, Two Wild and Crazy Guys, Roseanne Rosanna-Danna, and the Mr. Bill skits. Then the original cast (and Lorne Michaels) left after the 1979-1980 season, and the folowing season nearly killed the show. It was only saved after Dick Ebersol took over show-running duties and Eddie Murphy and Joe Piscopo joined the cast. After Eddie Murphy and Joe Piscopo left the show in 1985, Billy Crystal and Martin Short were added on, but even then the show nearly died when Dick Ebersol said he would no longer produce the show if they continued to air it in a live format.

Fortunately for NBC, Dick Ebersol was promoted to head of NBC Sports, and Lorne Michaels returned as executive producer of SNL. He also turned over the cast and brought in Dana Carvey, Phil Hartman (RIP), Nora Dunn, Jan Hooks (RIP), Victoria Jackson, Dennis Miller, Kevin Nealon, and Julia Sweeney. Even though that cast had its own recurring characters and skits (the Church Lady, the Sweeney Sisters, the Sinatra Group, Hanz and Franz), it was arguably the strongest cast in the history of the show since they could bring great humor to even one-off sketches. And even though Victoria Jackson and Dennis Miller are right wing hacks these days, back then they were funny. And Dennis Miller's sardonic take on the events of the day on Weekend Update served as the template for Bill Maher's Politically Incorrect and The Daily Show.

Then came the "bad boy" era. The late 80's cast gradually made way for the likes of Chris Rock, Chris Farley, Norm MacDonald, Tim Meadows, Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, and David Spade. Their edgy, ironic humor was loved by Gen-X viewers, but it left Baby Boomers cold. And this wasn't just among viewers and TV critics; even some of NBC's executive brass wanted Lorne Michaels to dump the cast or else be fired himself. Lorne was ready to fight for his cast members, but most of them saw the writing on the wall and jumped ship before being pushed off. And then Chris Farley died of a drug overdose.

Then the next major turnover happened in 1996. They added Will Ferrell, Darrell Hammond, Cheri Oteri, Tina Fey, Chris Kattan, Ana Gasteyer, and Molly Shannon. Only Tim Meadows, Norm MacDonald, and David Spade remained from the "bad boy" era, and MacDonald and Spade would be gone by the end of the season. Rachel Dratch, Amy Poehler, Tracy Morgan, and Jimmy Fallon would be added to the cast later on. Even then, the tone of the show changed from being edgy and ironic to more upbeat and goofy to reflect the increasingly more positive vibe of the late 1990's and the changing of the generations from Gen-X to the early wave Millennials. In fact, it became almost too breezy, but then 9/11 happened.

It was that tragic event and its aftermath including the country fighting two wars in the Middle East that defined SNL for the next decade. The show, while great at times, was as schizophrenic as the events it was attempting to parody, with the threats of terrorist attacks at any moment yet the obsession with faux celebrities like Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian dominating pop culture.

Which leads to the past couple of seasons. It's obvious SNL is going through another transition phase, as the humor is aimed at the late wave Milliennials who grew up with political correctness and would be completely offended by the skits done by the original cast (Chevy Chase and Richard Pryor doing the job interview, "Jane, you ignorant slut"), or even the Eddie Murphy musical sketeches where he played a reggae singer screaming "Kill the white people" or playing Jesse Jackson singing "Hymietown". It aslo hasn't helped that the cast was overstuffed with people having little screen time during the show with no chance to establish any rhythm. But please don't tell me how SNL has sucked ever since 1980.

[Edited 11/2/14 17:54pm]

728huey said:

jon1967 said:

MattyJam said:

What is Saturday Night Live? Being a Brit I've only really heard of it because of Prince. Is it like a live comedy sketch show?

It MADE the careers of many comedic actors. MANY.

Probably my all-time favorite sketch;

I agree with the OP.

I wonder if because of the low ratings, they have to pay writers less. So then they are forced to get writers that are not that good at comedy. I think the show is horrible now and increasing the number of black themed sketches just because Rock and Prince were on the show was extra retarded and if I were black I would be offended & embarrassed.

There was a time when the show was good, then bad, then good, then bad. It seemed to change year by year but for a good while now it hasn't been good at all. It seems more like just a pathway for cast members to get movie or other tv roles. Except for Keenan Thompson, who just is plain unfunny.

Tim Cook "coming out" isn't funny. But making a joke about it can be. Why didn't they just say Tim Cook had his Igay moment this week. That's right Tim Cook an announced he was gay.

As fo SNL skits have always been hit or miss. But this season is bad. Here's one of my favorite parodies from last year SNL.

Another SNL:

MattyJam said:

lazycrockett said:

jon1967 said:

Digs cecily strong i dream about me n her ... ya i turned it off after the youtube skit i was bored. Snl isnt talking to me anymore either. Ill keep the faith maybe theyll bring back mr bill.

Talk to Mr. Hands...

They have twice as many cast members as they need.

RodeoSchro said:

They have twice as many cast members as they need.

And no one really stands out

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