Is SNL still socially relevant and/or entertaining?

[FourFifty]

Is SNL still socially relevant and/or entertaining?

So I'm sitting in a hotel in Ontario, California. Amber is sleeping, and we're both pretty high up there as it pertains to our BAC. However, she's a touch of a light weight and is sleeping while I'm convinced that the meaning of life is written on the bottom of a bottle somewhere. My potential alcoholism is a thread for another time, and more importantly another forum. On a related note, I wish I brought by blender. A Tovo fact said he prefers his margaritas on the rocks, but I'm inclined to disagree. Once again, wrong place, wrong time.

Anyways, so Jim Carey is the guest host on SNL. She fell asleep with it on and I'm tuning in and out of this. I look up sometimes and say "He did the same shtick on The Mask" or "I could almost find that amusing it if was comical because it's funny, not comical because it's comical."

Is this show still socially relevant? The last time I made it a point to watch this show is the first time The Rock hosted. I've made jokes about my age (In every social circle I'm a part of I'm the "old man" at the "ripe old age" of 27) that talk about how "I remember when SNL was still socially relevant!"
However, I realize my taste in entertainment is very... odd. My favorite movie was made in 1957, so I don't exactly have my finger on the pulse of what's "cool" anymore.

So, is SNL still socially relevant and/or funny?

[Sixx]

I thought it hasn't been for years?

I still enjoy a skit here and there.

[Downunder]

It was sometimes funny when Norm McDonald was there - hasn't been funny since.

The skits are too long and try too hard, seriously don't know how it is still on the air

[Droford]

Jim Carrey is less relevant than SNL is, however irrelevant SNL has become.

Im trying to figure out why he hosted last night. Usually the host has a movie or something. 15 years since his last time hosting too.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

They didn't really need a big/relevant star cause there was already two playoff football games on that day.

[Sixx]

It was sometimes funny when Norm McDonald was there - hasn't been funny since.

The skits are too long and try too hard, seriously don't know how it is still on the air

Norm McDonald as Burt Reynolds is gold.

[Savio]

I saw the first half of said episode, I think I laughed only once.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

The show went to shit when Tina Fey left to create 30Rock.

[FourFifty]

Jim Carrey is less relevant than SNL is, however irrelevant SNL has become.

Im trying to figure out why he hosted last night. Usually the host has a movie or something. 15 years since his last time hosting too.

Pretty sure it's because he's on Inside the Actor's Guild, or something. There were a few ads for it last night.

[FourFifty]

...so he was the guest host of a show to promote the fact that he's a guest star on another show...

Jim was mildly funny when he was talking to the <strike>girl</strike> plant in the audience. But when he went over the top, like in the Black Swan skit.

Weekend update was alright, until they talked about the dead birds... because comedy is a man dressed as a fish.

[What Would Kevin Do?]

The only real relevant part of SNL anymore seem to be the digital shorts. Even then, most of the time it's only because of new Lonely Island videos.

[Nightwing]

SNL hasnt been relevant since the early/mid 2000s. Theres nobody who really sticks out anymore. Yeah, they have a decent sketch every once in a while but right now there only saving grace is the digital short.

[RoXer]

No, it hasn't been "relevant" for sometime now. It doesn't mean it hasn't been funny though. Robert De Niro's episode was aweful yet I found Jim Carey's to be pretty good. I don't remember any schtick about The Mask. If you're talking about the fortune teller skit (the best skit of the night btw), I think it had more to with the idea of what rock bottom would be for these comics who only do impressions. It had nothing to do with The Mask. And another good skit was the commercial during the games when he took a quiet shot at the loony Jenny McCarthy.

Also, I don't think he's on there because he's on Inside The Actor's Studio, I think its just the only thing he can promote at the moment. I thought he was filming something right now. Wasn't he supposed to be Curly?

[RoXer]

Also,

"I could almost find that amusing it if was comical because it's funny, not comical because it's comical."

Might be the most obnoxious thing I've ever heard. And you said while drunk too. Verry impressive. :roll:

[Loose Cannon]

for me personally, the Fallon cast was the last decent cast. I know most of you couldn't stand him and Horacio, but they made me laugh. I loved when they would break character. after that, it went south.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Yeah it's pretty crappy now with a few bright spots here and there. I like Bill Hader and Andy Samberg but the rest of the cast is kinda meh to me. Also Kenan just because it's Kenan.

I also would love to bang Abby Elliott.</font>

[Savio]

They need Kel

[thedamndest]

It hasn't been good since the late 90's, if it still even was then. They seem to have a lack of recurring characters and a dearth of unfunny parodies. I could be wrong because I haven't watched in a long time but I'm probably not.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

They need Kel

they don't have money to buget his love for orange soda

[Vox Populi]

They're socially relevant on a topical level every few years at this point (Fey as Palin being the most recent example), produce a thoroughly entertaining program about that frequently, and likely only maintain the audience that they do because every now and again they'll bust out a digital short that goes viral with a quickness for good reason.

One major problem is the fact that they've been giving Kristen Wiig the Eddie Murphy/Will Ferrell "Next Huge Breakout Star" treatment for far too long now, with typically unfunny and clearly ineffective results.

[parkmania]

The last time SNL was funny was when Dennis Miller was doing Weekend Update. Since then it has been the drizzling shits.

[Blitz]

I thought it hasn't been for years?
That's the prevailing sentiment, and it has been since about 1980, when the original era ended. 90% of people who say this haven't actually watched Saturday Night Live since the era where it "stopped being funny" to them.

"I could almost find that amusing it if was comical because it's funny, not comical because it's comical."
Oh God you're such a huge douchebag. Enormous. Seriously. Tell me what the fuck this means.

...so he was the guest host of a show to promote the fact that he's a guest star on another show...

Jim was mildly funny when he was talking to the <strike>girl</strike> plant in the audience. But when he went over the top, like in the Black Swan skit.

Weekend update was alright, until they talked about the dead birds... because comedy is a man dressed as a fish.
Jesus. Yes, comedy can be a guy in a fish suit. Nearly anything can be made funny if you come at it from the right direction. Just because you don't find something funny, doesn't mean everyone feels the same. I'm absolutely dying to know what FourFifty considers the height of the comic. And I love how you do the strikethrough on girl there. As if anyone thought it was legit.

Now, away from FourFifty's idiocy and on to...more of his idiocy. Is still relevant? If you mean in terms of influencing pop culture, it is somewhat. Not to the point it used to be, but I would argue it is today moreso than it was back in the mid/late 90s. Digital shorts go viral a decent amount, and being booked as a musical guest/host is still indicative a certain "hipness", much as I hate the term.

Funny? Hell yes. I've said it before, but the cast members in the last few years have been some of the finest in the show's history. Will Forte, Bill Hader, Andy Samberg, Kristen Wiig, Fred Armisen, Bobby Moynihan, Nasim Pedrad...all great. In terms of political humour, the last year or 2 has been good, not great, but SNL's political humour only really shines in the run up to an election. But everything else has been on average, very good.

[Boondock Saint]

I love What's Up With That.

Bill Hader's Stephon character on Weekend Update is great too.

Jay Pharaoh has some pretty awesome impressions too. His Denzel is brilliant.


But there is usually more crap per show than good stuff.

[jerichoholicninja]

The show still has its moments.

I feel the current cast is the best they've had since the early 90's. Bill Hader, Jason Sudeikis and Fred Armisen are great. Abby Elliot and Nesam Pedrad are both hot and actually funny. The Digital Shorts are hit and miss but usually offer something much different than the rest of the show. The only things I would really change about the show would be more Jay Pharoah and less Kristin Wig.

[Hanso Amore]

Digital shorts made it worth watching the last few years

[Vox Populi]

...more Jay Pharoah and less Kristin Wig.

This. A million times over, this.