Astyanax They lost most of their entertainment value when they decided to go so overtly politically partisan in their humor. They guaranteed that they'd lose half of their audience but it was easier to write the material.
You know, I've seen such criticisms, but as someone who has been a consistent watcher all these years, I have to say that they skewer [both sides] including in recent years.
Without giving specific examples here (as that would plunge us into specific politics), they really DO go after both sides.
Obviously at any particular point in time, the current leader (the incumbent side) will get the emphasis.
But for a lot of things they don't even need writers---changing the name of a big body of water, the whole world is laughing, and SNL is not responsible for THAT one.
It amazes me, that many people proclaim that the show is not funny, yet they also say they don't watch it.
So how do they know?
Some stuff is NOT funny, but plenty IS.
I wish the Anniversary show did not waste time (in my view) on the crap such as the Lawrence Welk skit---especially early on in the show. There was so much better that they did not use.
In the climate today, I can understand why they did not use Church Lady.
Would have liked to see John Belushi with Samurai, Cheeseburger, etc.
Tom Hanks got flak for his red-hat skit, and I have to AGREE, that was a step too far in this context.
