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NFT: Does anyone still watch SNL?

mattlawson : 9/26/2014 7:20 pm
Honestly, it's been years since I felt I had to keep up with it even on hulu. Last one I watched out of a sense of duty was the Eli one. And a reason for that might be... Cuz it sucks now?!

Heard Keenan is leaving -- and there you have reason 1,2, and 3 why I have felt the show was sub par since he became featured. He has never been funny his entire career - ever. Not on Nick, not in movies, not on SNL.

Does anyone watch that show on a weekly basis and is there any hope in sight?
pffffff  
Model4001 : 9/26/2014 7:53 pm : link
no
No  
lawguy9801 : 9/26/2014 8:02 pm : link
Writing has gone way downhill from an already low standard.
What Up With That?  
ballanda : 9/26/2014 8:10 pm : link
never laughed at anything hes done.  
Eli 2 Nicks : 9/26/2014 8:20 pm : link
The only impressive thing about him is that he hasn't aged in 20 years.
You never watch the show but know their rumored personnel moves?  
schabadoo : 9/26/2014 8:21 pm : link
Seems odd.

Go back and watch full versions of the show from its heyday, not the condensed versions. So much filler.
Yes, and it's as good as it's been  
Overseer : 9/26/2014 9:01 pm : link
since the prime Will Ferrell years. The current cast is filled with hilarious, talented people incl. Taran Killem, Kate McKinnon, Jay Pharoah, Vanessa Bayor. Some of the most recent additions were misses but they've either been axed or are carried enough by the heavy hitters until they get better. McKinnon is easily the best female cast member of the past 20 years outside of Wiig. Hader was a huge loss but he was there a long time.

Those who insist that it "sucks" now and "I miss 90s SNL" either don't actually watch it or are just now crabby old people who probably have a shitty sense of humor to begin with. And pining for the "good old days"...90s SNL was mostly shit outside of Farley anyway and the writing was not nearly as good or satirical as it is today.

Great show.
What's odd about reading a headline and caption  
mattlawson : 9/26/2014 9:01 pm : link
On a website that has news on it? It's not like I'm trolling the SNL waiver wire on NBC.com
at my age  
natefit : 9/26/2014 9:13 pm : link
there's only one good reason to be up at that hr. And it aint tv.
it  
blue42 : 9/26/2014 9:14 pm : link
doesn't compare to the Phil Hartman Dana Carvey days....

No way.

Tina Fey is still watching.
Ever since Chevy Chase left  
tribs : 9/26/2014 9:49 pm : link
It's all been downhill. Now get off my lawn!!!
Yes  
sjnyfan : 9/26/2014 9:57 pm : link
I DVR it and watch it the next morning with breakfast before getting in football mode. That way I can skip what I don't like but I still find some things funny. I'm really looking forward to see how Michael Che does on Weekend Update.
Speaking of 90's SNL  
Motley Blue : 9/26/2014 10:14 pm : link
I came across a new Dennis Miller stand up on Netflix.


Holy shit was it bad.
RE: it  
mattlawson : 9/26/2014 10:16 pm : link
In comment 11886491 blue42 said:
Quote:
doesn't compare to the Phil Hartman Dana Carvey days....

No way.

Tina Fey is still watching.


I agree - ive seen bits here and there but really have been disappointed with everything.

Hartman
Carvey
Myers
Nealon
Sandler
Farley

Cmon now....
Dana Carvey blows  
Overseer : 9/26/2014 11:00 pm : link
which is why he did virtually nothing outside of SNL. Sandler's better suited for feature films than sketch comedy, Nealon was horribly vanilla on SNL (although very funny in Weeds). Hartman a mensch and a nice anchor (like a Darrell Hammond or Jason Sudeikis) but not "hilarious". Farley obviously a legend.

The 90s SNLs were really just a lot of shit. Definitely some classic sketches but so much filler and overall carried by Farley.

It is far, far better these days. Not even close.
That show  
muhajir : 9/26/2014 11:32 pm : link
Has sucked for yrs and yrs. Have no idea how it's still on the air.
It's pretty bad, but they have some talent. It's the writing that's  
Anakim : 9/26/2014 11:38 pm : link
really terrible. Jay Pharoah is absolutely hilarious and does spot-on impressions. Taran Killam is awesome. I think they need to feature Kyle Mooney and Beck Bennett more. Cecily Strong is nice to look at.... That's all I got.
I love SNL  
PaulBlakeTSU : 9/26/2014 11:59 pm : link
And I always have. Episodes can be hit or miss but I DVR it and can ff through misses. No one bats 1.000

re Keenan: I used to hate him and thought he was a sketch loer. But over the last two seasons I've found he hit his stride and he cracks me up. what's Up Wth That and his Steve Harvey skits kill me.

I've seen plenty of old episodes. They had a lot of crap mixed in with their great skits too.
What up with that  
Matt M. : 9/27/2014 12:05 am : link
may very well be the worst recurring skit in the history of the show.
What are some examples of 'good' writing?  
Overseer : 9/27/2014 12:18 am : link
This is sketch comedy for God's sake, not post-modern lit. Funny impressions, timing, satire...I don't know what people are looking for. Kate Mckinnon doing a spot on Ellen impression is funny.

This sketch is funny.

Stefon was funny.

I'd concede that most or even all of the current cast don't "pop out" and are not superstars like a Ferrell or Wiig, but most are really talented and funny.

It's plainly obvious that the longing for the "good ol days" is just that and probably would not last if one sat down and actually watched those dated sketches. "Makin coooopays!"
RE: What up with that  
Anakim : 9/27/2014 1:54 am : link
In comment 11886613 Matt M. said:
Quote:
may very well be the worst recurring skit in the history of the show.


Gilly was excruciating
RE: What are some examples of 'good' writing?  
Anakim : 9/27/2014 1:56 am : link
In comment 11886621 Overseer said:
Quote:
This is sketch comedy for God's sake, not post-modern lit. Funny impressions, timing, satire...I don't know what people are looking for. Kate Mckinnon doing a spot on Ellen impression is funny.

This sketch is funny.

Stefon was funny.

I'd concede that most or even all of the current cast don't "pop out" and are not superstars like a Ferrell or Wiig, but most are really talented and funny.

It's plainly obvious that the longing for the "good ol days" is just that and probably would not last if one sat down and actually watched those dated sketches. "Makin coooopays!"



Writing that amounts to some creativity instead of a bland, cut and dry sketch
I understand that  
Overseer : 9/27/2014 2:35 am : link
give me some examples from the "superior" SNL of yesteryear.
RE: I understand that  
Anakim : 9/27/2014 2:43 am : link
In comment 11886662 Overseer said:
Quote:
give me some examples from the "superior" SNL of yesteryear.


Hmmm. Off the top of my head: Celebrity Jeopardy? Stefon, as you mentioned. Gap Girls, Matt Foley... To a lesser extent, Brian Fellow
As one who can remember it  
AnnapolisMike : 9/27/2014 7:17 am : link
it is like it always has been. Lots of eh...with some occasional great skits. Guests usually make or break the show in my opinion. The pre recorded skirts are usually the best part now IMO.
Nothing has changed - just the casts  
Patrick77 : 9/27/2014 8:41 am : link
SNL has always had more misses than hits IMO. People should rewatch some of the old episodes. It's just like today - you can go twenty minutes without smirking let alone laughing. The only difference is that the "old" episodes contain big name actors. I still PVR it and will watch it when bored.
It's hit to miss, as it's always been.  
vibe4giants : 9/27/2014 12:00 pm : link
Like a lot of things, it's one of those 'Oh, it's nothing like it was in its Golden Age.' But over 40 some years, it's had several Golden Ages as well as periods of consistent terribleness. (People seem to forget that Sandler and Farely were fired. And how brutal it often was watching Sandler crack himself up during sketches. Fallon was much the same.)

It's almost never about the on-air talent and almost always about the writing. Sometimes they have really sharp writing staffs who are terrific at cutting to the heart of things on a weekly basis. Other times, you wind up thinking 'Man, this is the funniest take they had on (whatever)? The Daily Show and/or Colbert did much better with (whatever).' They've been particularly weak on politics in recent years. And the whole 'Let's make everything a game show!' is so played out. Update is normally reliable, but Cecily Strong (thankfully, taken off the desk) and Colin Jost were a disaster last season. Michael Che could be an improvement. And we'll see what it's like with a full season of no Seth Myers at head writer.

So, yeah. We still DVR. Then let it roll for 20 minutes or so and then FF through the dull stuff. Some episodes require a lot of that. Some not so much. And anyone who thinks that hasn't always been the case, probably hasn't been watching all that closely.

Oh, and Keenan will be there this year.
Yes. Current lineup is very good.  
x meadowlander : 9/27/2014 12:03 pm : link
While lacking the star power of prior lineups, the current cast is very good. Very funny, IMO.

For me, the show has been there since I was a teen. They've torn down Giants and Yankee Stadiums, the Seaside Heights boards were drowned and burned, but at least some things remain the same.

Long Live SNL.
RE: It's hit to miss, as it's always been.  
islander1 : 9/29/2014 12:05 pm : link
In comment 11886861 vibe4giants said:
Quote:
Like a lot of things, it's one of those 'Oh, it's nothing like it was in its Golden Age.' But over 40 some years, it's had several Golden Ages as well as periods of consistent terribleness. (People seem to forget that Sandler and Farely were fired. And how brutal it often was watching Sandler crack himself up during sketches. Fallon was much the same.)

It's almost never about the on-air talent and almost always about the writing. Sometimes they have really sharp writing staffs who are terrific at cutting to the heart of things on a weekly basis. Other times, you wind up thinking 'Man, this is the funniest take they had on (whatever)? The Daily Show and/or Colbert did much better with (whatever).' They've been particularly weak on politics in recent years. And the whole 'Let's make everything a game show!' is so played out. Update is normally reliable, but Cecily Strong (thankfully, taken off the desk) and Colin Jost were a disaster last season. Michael Che could be an improvement. And we'll see what it's like with a full season of no Seth Myers at head writer.

So, yeah. We still DVR. Then let it roll for 20 minutes or so and then FF through the dull stuff. Some episodes require a lot of that. Some not so much. And anyone who thinks that hasn't always been the case, probably hasn't been watching all that closely.

Oh, and Keenan will be there this year.


This. My wife and I watch still - although we don't watch the night of. It's one of those things we save for repeat weeks for our other shows (that we more aggressively keep up with).
Some episodes are 80% good others it's 50%. We just fast forward through the lame stuff. Except when Justin Timberlake hosts. Those shows are 100% good. It's amazing really, he's been host 5 times now, and we still haven't gotten tired of him. The last one with Fallon and Timberlake was largely a riot.

Overall, I think the product is decent. The cast is actually pretty good as others noted.

And this was actually pretty solid premier.  
vibe4giants : 9/29/2014 12:55 pm : link
Only the sketch where the toys came to life was really bad. (And, of course, that may have been someone else's favorite. It was relatively early in the show, so someone liked it.)

I liked the Marvel trailers. The pet hospital where all the pets die. The awkward booty rapping. Plenty of NFL satire. And Che, despite a few stumbles, was good on the Update desk. It's always better when the 'anchor' takes it seriously and allows the jokes to go by without elbowing them along. (Cecily Strong is so much better at support on there. Looks like she lost some weight, too.)

Nothing classic. But aside from Ariana Grande and the aforementioned He-Man sketch, nothing that made the fast forward finger too itchy.
DVR every episode  
NYerInMA : 9/29/2014 12:58 pm : link
I find they hit more than they miss these days. The cast and writers are pretty strong. An enjoyable watch every week in my opinion.
RE: And this was actually pretty solid premier.  
NYerInMA : 9/29/2014 1:00 pm : link
In comment 11889883 vibe4giants said:
Quote:
Only the sketch where the toys came to life was really bad. (And, of course, that may have been someone else's favorite. It was relatively early in the show, so someone liked it.)

I liked the Marvel trailers. The pet hospital where all the pets die. The awkward booty rapping. Plenty of NFL satire. And Che, despite a few stumbles, was good on the Update desk. It's always better when the 'anchor' takes it seriously and allows the jokes to go by without elbowing them along. (Cecily Strong is so much better at support on there. Looks like she lost some weight, too.)

Nothing classic. But aside from Ariana Grande and the aforementioned He-Man sketch, nothing that made the fast forward finger too itchy.


I read that Cecily wanted to do more sketches and that's part of the reason they moved her off the desk.
I feel the  
Fish : 9/29/2014 2:18 pm : link
talent on the show is awful. IMO the women are horrible. A few of the men are decent but overall bad news. Have not watched in weeks and I am a big SNL fan.
You're a 'big fan' and haven't 'watched in weeks'?  
vibe4giants : 9/29/2014 2:49 pm : link
The new season just started, so...
LOLFish.  
BrettNYG10 : 9/29/2014 2:58 pm : link
.
I think there is a tendency  
Rob in NYC : 9/29/2014 3:21 pm : link
with the availability of clips and cut-ups across the net to romanticize some of the past - watch some complete old episodes - even "classics" - there is a lot of crap to wade through. Its sketch comedy - some will hit, a lot will miss.
RE: I think there is a tendency  
Randy in CT : 9/29/2014 3:29 pm : link
In comment 11890130 Rob in NYC said:
Quote:
with the availability of clips and cut-ups across the net to romanticize some of the past - watch some complete old episodes - even "classics" - there is a lot of crap to wade through. Its sketch comedy - some will hit, a lot will miss.
This.

The good old days weren't always good...
Fish  
PaulBlakeTSU : 9/29/2014 3:59 pm : link
You don't like Kate McKinnon? I think she's fantastic and she's widely dran rave reviews for her characters and for her impersonations (Ellen, Bieber). I think the run of female SNL characters has been phenomenal. Maya Rudolph to Amy Poehler and Tina Fey (head writing), to Kristin Wiig and now Kate McKinnon. I can't remember SNL ever having such a strong run like that.
RE: Fish  
Mad Mike : 9/29/2014 4:01 pm : link
In comment 11890186 PaulBlakeTSU said:
Quote:
You don't like Kate McKinnon? I think she's fantastic and she's widely dran rave reviews for her characters and for her impersonations (Ellen, Bieber).

Her Justin Bieber is terrific.
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