You may have watched last night’s Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special. It had a marathon run from 8:00 PM until almost 11:30 PM—on a Sunday night, no less—despite celebrating a show that made its name on Saturdays. That much SNL felt like 50 years in itself, complete with some laughs, awkward non laughs, and old clips..
There were notable moments: Ryan Reynolds attempting an awkward bit of comedy (though his public image may not be redeemed anytime soon after recent controversy), musical performances from Paul McCartney and Miley Cyrus, and clips and cast members from the early seasons returning to pay homage to Lorne Michaels and the show’s legacy. The not ready for prime time players are well past their prime and celebrating in their own echo chamber.
One especially poignant moment came from Adam Sandler, who performed a song he had written for the occasion. It reflected on how quickly time has passed and became particularly emotional when he mentioned Chris Farley, Phil Hartman, and Norm Macdonald—three legends who were pivotal in his life and career. That one is worth a playing..
Your nostalgia may not be my nostalgia
I’m old enough now to remember celebrating Saturday Night Live’s 25th anniversary when I was younger.
Last night’s special felt different than that one.
First, let’s acknowledge the love-hate relationship many people have with SNL. Any long-time fan will tell you the show has had its ups and downs. Some years were outright bad, and even in the good seasons, many sketches were forgettable or downright unwatchable.
There’s a long-standing joke that if you want to fall asleep, just wait until after Weekend Update. The post-Update sketches tend to be so dull they’ll put you out like a light.
Yet despite that, SNL holds a special nostalgic place in my heart. I remember coming home from late-night restaurant shifts in my younger years and catching the show before bed—or before staying up all night on AOL Instant Messenger and ICQ. Those were the good old days. I remember SNL playing in the background of important Saturday night moments in my life..
But last night felt different. And I keep asking myself: why?
A Curtain Call for an Era
Maybe it’s because the stars who have lasted through generations now seem… older. They seem tired. And last night felt like a curtain call for the entertainment industry as we once knew it. Some loved it. Some hated.. but either way it seems collectively we can agree that it’s over.
Yes, SNL showcased old clips and brought back familiar acts, but they all felt forced—like relics of a past era when they were considered funny. With the exception of just a few characters, the humor just does not translate to today’s world. Not sure if the humor even translated well ‘then’ ..
I’m not one of those people who claims that “comedy is dead.” Every generation has its comedic peaks and valleys. Pop culture shifts, and what’s considered funny evolves. I believe comedy will experience a rebirth when people simply get bored of pretending things are funny when they just aren’t.
But as the ending credits rolled last night and the stage filled with past and present cast members, with Martin Short closing the show with a final Good night, it felt like something bigger had ended.
Maybe it was just SNL reaching another milestone. Or maybe it was something else—something pop-culturally and generationally significant.
Because as the credits rolled for Saturday Night Live, it felt like the credits were rolling on something much bigger. And I’m not sure SNL even realized it until now.
