SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night

Saturday Night Live is obviously an institution. It didn't air - at least at a reasonable time - in my country, so I don't really have a nostalgic connection to the show.

So, I'm likely not the target audience.

The show is well made, with immense talent being interviewed.

But, it is just them telling us how great they are. I'm not denying that they are great, but it just isn't balanced (in fairness, they didn't say they were going to be).

My general comment is that more and more major award nominated documentaries (in this case an Emmy or 3), are basically puff pieces. And I think awards should go to documentaries that attempt to tell a warts-and-all story, or come up with something new and exciting in documentary storytelling.

It is that where the documentary falls a bit. Ultimately, it is just a collection of interviews saying how much they liked being on SNL.

After watching the second episode of SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, it became shockingly clear why Saturday Night Live has lost its comedic edge. The once-iconic show, known for its biting satire and fearless humor, now feels overly sanitized and reliant on tired tropes. Instead of pushing boundaries, it clings to formulaic sketches and predictable gags, failing to capture the zeitgeist as it once did. The behind-the-scenes look only highlights how disconnected the shows writing staff has become from the show's legacy that made it a cultural touchstone. SNL no longer feels bold, it doesn't even feel safe - it's boring. Sadly, SNL needs to be retired.

This was an extremely well executed documentary with a lot of the major players (something that is often times omitted from documentaries). Aside from episode 2 (full disclosure I skipped halfway through - I understand the writers are important I just didn't find it entertaining) it was both informative and laugh out loud funny. It brought back many fond memories from my childhood. "I've got a fever...and the only prescription is more cowbell!"

Now I've got a new fever; and the only prescription is more episodes of this show! If you're an SNL fanatic I don't think you'll find yourself disappointed. Well worth the watch!

First episode about the auditions was great. Second episode was interesting seeing the writing process. But an entire episode about one sketch (even though it is the most famous) and an entire episode about one bad season seems out of place since there are no other episodes. Those two episodes are interesting as well but the whole series leaves you wanting to know more. Also, this is a documentary. I am not sure if the people writing reviews realize this is a documentary about Saturday Night Live it is not just a complication of sketches or an episode of SNL. It is the behind the scenes of various things related to the show. It just needs more episodes.

This was a great look into what it takes to make SNL, as well as some of the high and low's of the last 50 years.

Seeing how the 11th season imploded was insightful. And let's not forget more cowbell, that shirt was much tighter than I remembered it was.

Seeing some of the cast see their audition for the first time ever was cool as well. Especially their recollections of how they made it too the audition. Or in case of some of them, how many times that had to audition anyway.

Learning the crazy hours to pull it all together was a surprise. Especially some of the forgotten about effort, like costumes and sets..

Hope that they make more of them.