Category | Arts & Living

SNL impacts the comedy of mainstream culture

Published on September 18, 2007 by The Sentinel

     “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!” Those seven words have
spawned a new generation of comedians and a new style of comedy. Cast
members from Saturday Night Live have dominated the comedy circuit for
a little over three decades, bringing new life to dry humor.

    Saturday Night Live got its start in 1975. Its creator, Lorne Michaels, came up with the idea of ninety minute comedy sketches to provide The Tonight Show host, Johnny Carson, with a few weeknights off.

    Some of the comedians in the first cast of SNL include Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase and Eddie Murphy. Notable films these cast members starred in include “Ghostbusters,” “Caddyshack,” and the “Shrek” trilogy, and that’s only the beginning (as most in American society know).

    The more recognizable films starring current or former SNL cast members are “Tommy Boy,” “Billy Madison,” “Austin Powers” and “Good Night and Good Luck.”

    Many comedians debuted or were catapulted to stardom because of Saturday Night Live. One actress and writer in particular, Tina Fey, wrote the script for the extremely successful movie “Mean Girls.” Another well-known SNL cast member is Will Ferrell, who has gone from SNL to superstardom because of such noteworthy comedies as “Anchorman,” “A Night at the Roxbury” and “Talladega Nights.”

     “Many of the cast members of Saturday Night Live have taken the comedy industry by storm,” said Michael Beasley, a KSU student and long-time SNL fan.  “Will Ferrell, Chris Rock, Chris Farley, Chevy Chase, Eddie Murphy and many other famous comedians got their start on SNL.”

     “Will Ferrell is a prime example of how an SNL cast member went from random TV comedy sketches to starring in major block-buster movies,” said Beasley. “Will Ferrell transformed the face of comedy and has made every one of us bust out laughing.”

    By following along with these actors’ success stories, it is not a stretch to assume that this single show has aided SNL comedians in dominating the comedy industry.

    “If you’re casting a comedy you want funny people,” said Townsend Briggs, another fan and KSU student. “However, there are many comedies that do not include SNL cast members, such as Zucker Bros. films or the Rush Hour Trilogy.

    “All in all, I don’t think SNL has much to do with the success of a film so much as the film itself,” Briggs said, clearly disagreeing with SNL’s influence. “SNL merely collects the funniest people they can find, with the best writers, so of course once the cast leaves they are expected to go on to greater things.”

    The effects of Saturday Night Live have been numerous and widespread. One example is the well known comedian Steve Carell, himself never a part of the SNL cast. However, in his film “The 40-year-old Virgin,” Carell was influenced by his cast members, a number of whom had worked on SNL. This American comedy has become world-renown and definitely had a part in shaping the type of comedy audiences enjoy.

    SNL will continue to create comedian success stories as long as it appeals to its target audiences, and continue to stay fresh and provide new angles and skits.

    Photo by Audra Pagano