SNL Simmer Down Now

Saturday Night Live (SNL) has long been a bastion of comedy, but in recent years, the show has come under fire for its increasingly political and divisive content. Critics argue that SNL has abandoned its roots as a nonpartisan comedy show and has become a mouthpiece for the left.

In the 2016-2017 season, SNL's ratings hit a 24-year low. The show's political sketches were widely criticized as being unfunny and biased. In one particularly controversial sketch, the show mocked then-President Donald Trump as a child who wet his pants.

The backlash against SNL's political content has continued in the years since. In 2020, the show was again criticized for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some viewers felt that the show was too dismissive of the virus, while others felt that it was too alarmist.

It's not just viewers who are unhappy with SNL's current direction. In 2019, former cast member Bill Murray said that the show had become "too political." And in 2020, former head writer Tina Fey said that she was "disappointed" with the show's current direction.

What's Gone Wrong?

So, what's gone wrong with SNL? Why has the show become so political and divisive?

There are a number of factors that have contributed to SNL's decline. One factor is the changing political landscape. In the past, SNL was able to poke fun at both Democrats and Republicans without alienating too many viewers. However, in recent years, the political divide in the United States has widened, and SNL has found it increasingly difficult to strike a balance between the two sides.

Another factor that has contributed to SNL's decline is the rise of social media. In the past, SNL's sketches were able to generate a lot of buzz without the help of social media. However, today, social media is a major factor in determining what goes viral. And unfortunately, SNL's political sketches often generate more negative buzz than positive buzz.

What Can Be Done?

So, what can be done to fix SNL? How can the show return to its former glory?

There are a number of things that SNL could do to improve. One thing the show could do is to focus on being funny again. In recent years, SNL has become too focused on being political, and the show's humor has suffered as a result. The show should return to its roots as a nonpartisan comedy show, and it should focus on making people laugh, regardless of their political beliefs.

Another thing that SNL could do is to hire new writers. The show's current writers are clearly out of touch with what viewers want. The show needs to hire new writers who are funny and who can write sketches that appeal to a broad audience.

Finally, SNL needs to do a better job of listening to its viewers. The show's producers need to be more responsive to feedback from viewers, and they need to be willing to make changes to the show in order to meet the needs of its audience.

Conclusion

SNL is a great show with a long and storied history. However, in recent years, the show has lost its way. The show has become too political and divisive, and it has lost touch with its viewers. If SNL wants to return to its former glory, it needs to make some changes. The show needs to focus on being funny again, it needs to hire new writers, and it needs to do a better job of listening to its viewers.

Supplemental Material

Table 1: SNL Ratings Over Time

Table 2: SNL's Most Popular Sketches

Table 3: SNL's Most Controversial Sketches

Table 4: SNL's Impact on American Culture