When did SNL get funny again?

[UtahDan]

This is hilarious:

http://www.hulu.com/embed/cERl5D-flvffA27zxg1s9g

[Green Lantern]

The answer to your question is that it hasn't. I watched part of that episode and it was pretty dire. That new guy Jay Pharaoh is pretty damn talented, but they're going to run his Will Smith/Denzel/Jay-Z impressions into the ground by the end of the season.

SNL is like a black hole of comedy.

[TripletDaddy]

It is time for our annual SNL is/isnt funny thread? My how time has flown.

[Flystripper]

It is time for our annual SNL is/isnt funny thread? My how time has flown.

Obligatory Answer:

is - if you think SNL was funny historically then the show is funny today. I would say that the funny/unfunny ratio of its skits has not changed much over the years. People just forget the massive amount of unfunny stuff SNL put out in the 80s and 90s because all they remember are the greatest hits.

SNL has funny moments. Some of the best stuff in recent years have been the digital shorts and the political satire. Overall the show isn't overwhelmingly funny, but it really never has been. The highlights today are just as good as the highlights of yesteryear once you take nostalgia out of the equation.

[TripletDaddy]

Obligatory Answer:

is - if you think SNL was funny historically then the show is funny today. I would say that the funny/unfunny ratio of its skits has not changed much over the years. People just forget the massive amount of unfunny stuff SNL put out in the 80s and 90s because all they remember are the greatest hits.

SNL has funny moments. Some of the best stuff in recent years have been the digital shorts and the political satire. Overall the show isn't overwhelmingly funny, but it really never has been. The highlights today are just as good as the highlights of yesteryear once you take nostalgia out of the equation.

Yes. The show's format or approach hasn't changed since Day 1, even down to sketch sequencing. It has always had some funny sketches sandwiched between several awful sketches.

The politcal stuff is light years ahead of what it was when SNL first launched. I also agree about the digital shorts. wtf was up with that cafeteria one where the girl keeps breaking her arms and legs? So weird but I still laughed.

I have started to watch SNL with a new slant now that I have watched shows like 30 Rock and the now-defunct Studio whatever on the Sunset Strip. How interesting and wild would be it to work behind the scenes at SNL? It would probably be an amazing experience.

[Commando]

Bill Hader is awesome. I was doubled over laughing at a skit that wasn't that funny just on the steam of his facial expressions.

Having said that, Loren Michaels owes a LOT to Andy Samberg and co. for the shot in the arm the Digital Shorts have given SNL. They're always on point and makes the show that much better when they do have a good run of skits. Jay Pharaoh is super funny, too.

[TripletDaddy]

Bill Hader is awesome. I was doubled over laughing at a skit that wasn't that funny just on the steam of his facial expressions.

Having said that, Loren Michaels owes a LOT to Andy Samberg and co. for the shot in the arm the Digital Shorts have given SNL. They're always on point and makes the show that much better when they do have a good run of skits. Jay Pharaoh is super funny, too.

Bill Hader is another hit and miss, but mostly Hit for me.

His Stefan character on Weekend Update cracks me up because I knew a guy in LA that was just like him. Always talking about his crazy clubbing stories and going to hosted warehouse parties in bizarre neighborhoods.

I think Kristin Wiig is getting seriously over exposed. She is funny but it could be too much of a good thing.

That being said, a few of the currently recurring sketches that I enjoy:

Laser Cats: the value is in how they incorporate guests into the plot (Sigourney Weaver/Aliens, James Cameron/Avatar, etc) Also, Im a fan of anything when Lorne actually makes an appearance.

Digital Shorts: even the worst ones are usually good, but when they are on they are fantastic. Some of the best of the past include D*** in a Box Parts 1 and 2), Mother's Day, that silly office games competition between Andy and Kristin Wiig, random face punches with Foo Fighters, conference room meeting with Arcade Fire (this is no time for joking, gigantic turkey sub!), and the best one of all time, imo: Utah Jazz in my Pants.

The one with the 4 guys waxing nostalgic about highly offensive past behaviors while listening to a popular old song, only to end up doing something ridiculous (started out as a reference to Pulp Fiction but they never returned to that theme)

Penelope, the compulsive liar who actually might be telling the truth

Kristin Wiig playing some boneheaded hot woman that winds up turning all the guys off by doing something disgusting or off-putting. The build up towards what gross thing she will do is the best part. Also, the faces all 3 guys make are usually funny.

Weekend Update: I love this because it is most like a monologue. Ironically, I almost never enjoy the actual monologue unless the cast can bail out the guest. Possibly the most difficult thing for the guest to do each week.

What other current recurring sketches are good? There are more, for sure.

[wuapinmon]

What other current recurring sketches are good? There are more, for sure.

I like Bill Hader's Italian talk show host.

[Green Lantern]

The politcal stuff is light years ahead of what it was when SNL first launched. I also agree about the digital shorts. wtf was up with that cafeteria one where the girl keeps breaking her arms and legs? So weird but I still laughed.
.

I don't agree with that statement at all. With a few exceptions (like Tina Fey as Palin) the political stuff is suffering big time in comparison with Daily Show and Colbert. The Obama stuff is just depressingly bad.

[Commando]

I can't think of anything recurring besides the ones mentioned, but I do also love anything with Kenan Thompson in it. I'm pretty high on the whole cast right now.

[TripletDaddy]

I don't agree with that statement at all. With a few exceptions (like Tina Fey as Palin) the political stuff is suffering big time in comparison with Daily Show and Colbert. The Obama stuff is just depressingly bad.

I agree with you, but we arent talking about the Daily Show and Colbert, though. We are talking solely about SNL now compared to SNL past.

Compare the modern SNL political satire to Chevy Chase stumbling around as a drunken Gerald Ford. It doesn't even compare. I think I said this in one of our other annual SNL threads, but back in the day, they didnt even try to make the characters look like the people being portrayed. Chevy Chase Gerald Ford was simply Chavy Chase telling us he was Gerald Ford. Not even a wig or something to make him look like the Prez.

Pres. Obama has expressed his displeasure at Fred Armisen's Obama. I think he is ok, not great. The problem is that Obama is on the heels of 2 of the most lampooned Presidents of our generation....W and Clinton, both of which have distinct vocal patterns, mannerisms, and loads of off-the-record foibles. Armisen's Obama doesnt get close to Hammond's Clinton, or even Farrell's W.

[TripletDaddy]

I can't think of anything recurring besides the ones mentioned, but I do also love anything with Kenan Thompson in it. I'm pretty high on the whole cast right now.

I enjoy his Prison motivational speech thing when he makes all the prison jokes to the teen offenders.

I also enjoy his French Poetry jam character on weekend update. Zut alors!

[Commando]

Armisen's Obama doesnt get close to Hammond's Clinton, or even Farrell's W.

And even those suck compared to Carvey's G. Herbert Walker Bush and Phil Hartman's Clinton.

[Moliere]

I'm sure everyone here is familiar with this one, but it continues to be one of my favorites:

http://www.hulu.com/site-player/play...//www.hulu.com

[TripletDaddy]

And even those suck compared to Carvey's G. Herbert Walker Bush and Phil Hartman's Clinton.

Hartman's Clinton was so great.

The skit where he is out jogging around, stops at a McDonald's and takes bites out of everyone's food. Hilarious.

I miss Phil Hartman. Dude was funny.