SNL50: The Anniversary Special

They brought an impressive array of celebrities and past cast members for this much anticipated special. Wondering who might pop up next did hold your attention. The novelty of seeing past and current cast members and the odd celebrity thrown together in skits was entertaining to some degree. There were also skits that mixed characters from different seasons, or were modern versions of old skits - all adding a novelty to the show.

BUT BUT BUT!! But novelty is not enough for a comedy show. Strip away the novelty and the skits simply weren't funny or clever or well fleshed out. The only skit that struck as funny at all was the UFO sketch with Kate McKinnon, Meryl Streep, Jon Hamm, Woody Harrelson, Pedro Pascal, and Aidy Bryant. The humor was mostly due to Kate's dialogue and delivery (and Harrelson and Pascal trying not to crack). Overall there's disappointingly little that sticks out at memorable, which is sad for a 50th anniversary show crammed with celebrities.

How can I be the first human to say something about the 50year anniversary episode of SNL. I'm honored! The cast (and audience) for this is incredible. This is the funnest thing I've seen on TV all year, and don't we all need it! But I'm not gonna get all Debbie Downer now because everyone here is clearly having the time of their lives. Seeing all the familiar faces makes anyone watching feel like they are a part of the family. There's a real feeling of intimacy here, I can only imagine no-one wanted to go home at the end. If there is a place in heaven SNL lovers go to, this is what it looks like! Thanks for 50 years everyone. Keep making America fun, we love you.

It is Saturday Night Live at 50. The names don't get much bigger and that's just the audience. This opens with Sabrina Carpenter joining Paul Simon as he reprises his first performance. Paul isn't doing so well. Sabrina's age joke hits hard. Steve Martin's opening monologue also hits when he says that people can be dead by natural causes now. Eddie Murphy playing Tracy Morgan is probably the best. He actually got the others to break. Tom Hanks comes in and brings that skit to a halt. In a way, that is the quintessential SNL experience. Some of it is genius and the next is comedy death. This is better than most episodes by its sheer comedy power.

I have always loved SNL and yes, I started watching 50 years ago when it debuted. I wish they'd give had given more honor and respect to original cast members, done a real In Memory for the brilliance lost, and been a little braver in the face of what's happening politically right now. My biggest disappointment was the inclusion of the faux star Kim K. She was a disappointment as a host and with all the talent to showcase it leaves me dumbfounded as to why they would feature someone with none. There were other cringey moments, things that didn't quite land but still, overall not bad except with one notable exception.

Honestly I know the current cast were backed up by some nostalgia and some superb celebrity cameos but why can't they be this good week, in week out.

They were more ambitious in their ideas and alot more adult orientated in their entertainment. The show has missed the hellraisers of the past and it shows.

You need to have both sides of Americas coin creating content to creating chaos. Left and right divide smashed against itself to create proper comedy.

Standout moments are Adam sandlers 50 years song, the crowd Frequently asked questions and the three time Oscar winner Meryl Streep in the UFO sketch.