This is an article I wrote for my journalism class. Enjoy!
Betty White and Jay-Z during the most recent episode of SNL.
This Saturday night, Alec Baldwin will be hosting Saturday Night Live with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers performing as the musical guest. In its 35th season, SNL is still staying fresh and relevant while setting new records for itself.
This season has been one of many milestones on SNL. Celebrating 35 years on the air, the show has changed a lot since the days of Chevy Chase, John Belushi, and Dan Aykroyd, and Al Franken has successfully made the transition from political satirist to U.S. Senator, but the current cast has kept up the tradition of edginess, political satire, absurd characters in zanier situations, and lack of readiness for primetime.
In recent years, the internet has become a medium that he people at SNL have really used to their advantage. Digital shorts like “I’m on a Boat” and “Lazy Sunday” became instant viral hits on the web, and Hulu.com has become a way for fans of the show to still catch up even if they go out on Saturday night or get tired and fall asleep. After a humorous Snicker commercial during the Super Bowl, a campaign on Facebook began to try and get former Golden Girls star Betty White to host the show. Knowing their fan base and understanding how to boost ratings, SNL listened to the internet and booked White to host.
In October, Drew Barrymore set the record for most hosting appearances by a woman with 6 (she still holds the record for youngest host for when she hosted at the age of 7 to promote E.T.). In January, Charles Barkley became the first NBA player to host more than once. The week after that, Sigourney Weaver set the record for the longest gap between hosting appearances when she hosted for the first time since 1986. Just last week, in her first-ever hosting appearance, Betty White became the oldest host in the history of the show at the age of 88. White, paired up with musical guest Jay-Z, hosted a very entertaining, very complete show that featured former SNL cast members Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Rachel Dratch, Ana Gasteyer, and Molly Shannon appearing in nearly every sketch to make it feel like it was 2001 again. They reprised several sketches from earlier in the decade, and the writers wrote so many good ones that several more sketches that were cut after the dress rehearsal were still posted on Hulu the next day, including Rachel Dratch’s famous “Debbie Downer” character.
With Alec Baldwin this week, the show is reaching yet another milestone this season. Baldwin will have hosted 15 times, tying Steve Martin for most hosting appearances by anyone in the history of the show. The 30 Rock star is just as much associated with the show as any famous cast member especially since 30 Rock is loosely based on Tina Fey’s experience as head writer for the show and he plays her NBC executive boss.
In the past, when Baldwin has come close to Martin’s hosting record, they have incorporated sketches involving Martin and Baldwin plotting against each other so one cannot surpass the other. More of the same should be expected. Just because they shared Oscar hosting duties in March, does not mean they will be as willing to share the same page in the SNL history books.
The impact of Saturday Night Live on America is profound. From Chevy Chase’s Gerald Ford impersonations in the 70s to Tina Fey’s Sarah Palin impression, the show has always been at the forefront of political humor. Numerous cast members have gone on to successful gigs in movies or their own TV shows. In the past decade alone, SNL created a bona fide movie star in Will Ferrell, a late night talk show host in Jimmy Fallon, an internet video superstar in Andy Samberg, and Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Amy Poehler, and Molly Shannon all went on to star in primetime sitcoms on NBC after leaving the show. Every couple years, when important cast members leave the show, people wonder how it can possibly go on, but executive producer Lorne Michaels and Co. always manage to keep it going.
Saturday Night Live airs at 11:30 PM ET on NBC.
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