Welcome to a new column called Channel Surfing, in which I sporadically look at current TV shows and talk about them. These are not ones that I care to write weekly recaps for and are instead reflections either on the episode, the series, or particular moments. This will hopefully help to share personal opinions as well as discover entertainment on the outer pantheon that I feel is well worth checking out, or in some cases, shows that are weird enough to talk about, but should never be seen.
For better or worse, Saturday Night Live is an institution that has managed to withstand 40 years. From its basic beginnings with The Not Ready for Primetime Players to now, it has evolved from this small, edgy show to something that embodies its own lexicon. Countless characters and icons have graced the stage and produced moments that lead to catchphrases and in the rare chances even movies and impressive careers that have followed many performers since. It is likely that you would even know various cast members without once seeing the show. Its impact is unprecedented and that is a miracle unto itself.
Which makes SNL 40 a rather momentous achievement. Of course, every anniversary after 15 is a sheer miracle. However, it's more impressive how things have evolved since the 30th anniversary. The time gave us Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader and Andy Samberg's viral videos including "Lazy Sunday." To say that the show has lost muster is to not acknowledge that the show adapts with the times and each generation brings a new vibe to the show. To cram all of this into a 3.5 hour special is astounding and the results were rather impressive to a large extent.
It would be hard to recognize all 141 cast members in this time. For starters, many have too high of profile to overlook. While some unceremoniously returned to no fanfare (Eddie Murphy), others proved to be game and did quite a fair share of shtick. Segments like Celebrity Jeopardy and The Californians were revived to remind audiences of why we loved them. Maybe the older sketches had an unfortunate dated quality to them, but they are integral to understanding the show's evolution. They embodied a dangerous and biting commentary for the time, which is what predominantly matters.
Even the clip shows had a chaotic reverence to them. To favor one generation over the other would be haphazard. That is why the choice to throw clips together in a rapid fashion meant that it was predominantly inside jokes meant to spark nostalgia for longtime fans. It wasn't the moment for new audiences to "get" the show at all. There were too many characters and memorable moments for this to matter. As a compilation, it was a dizzying 3.5 hours that included odd musical numbers from Paul Simon, Kanye West and Miley Cyrus that were fitting with the often idiosyncratic vibe of the show.
To summarize, SNL 40 was a show for the fans. While the audience was predominantly made up of the 60+ famous cast and crew that was in attendance, it was a moment for audiences to see what happens when you cram 40 years of history into one room. The results were impressive, sparking stories and theories on various cast members. As much as it was about the show, it was about the history and the notoriety hidden in the subtext. It was interesting to watch specific performers react to audiences from a different era. To say the least, the more that you know, the more value that one gets out of it.
In terms of enjoyment, it is very hard to recommend for a newcomer. It is predominantly meant to be a retrospective in the most exhaustive manner possible. It was, and while it may leave audiences wondering if so and so could have had more time, it was a testament that even if this show was six hours, people would feel left out. For what it's worth, the night didn't leave much new to chew on, but it did remind us that at 40, SNL is still a dominating force that shouldn't be taken for granted. It will continue to churn out memorable moments, sketches and stars whether you like it or not.
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