Saturday Night Live's Cultural Significance and the Power of Satire
Why it's more important than ever to tune in on Saturday nights
Saturday Night Live has held a uniquely important role in our society for the past five decades. It premiered in 1975 as a bit of an experiment, but the revolving zany cast of characters found a permanent stakehold in American culture. Who remembers the Coneheads? Wayne’s World? Two wild and crazy guys? Mom jeans? Debbie Downer? Target lady? Domingo?!?!
I digress. We all understand how ingrained Saturday Night Live has become in our society. I’m not here to prove that; what I am here to point out, however, is that SNL is now more culturally relevant than ever. And it’s becoming increasingly important to tune in and keep SNL on the air. What they’re doing this season isn’t new, by any means; but it is quite bold to keep doing it while it becomes progressively dangerous to voice dissent or make fun of the current dictator president. They could play it safe, like much of mainstream media. But instead, they keep dishing out new greatest hits.
Why This Season Stands Out
A couple weekends ago, I, along with millions of others, searched “snl zelensky” on YouTube to watch the Saturday Night Live sketch, “Elon Musk Cold Open.” Not since Matt Damon’s glorious, perfect impression of Brett Kavanaugh auditioning for the Supreme Court while crying about how much he loves beer have I been so impressed with SNL’s attention to detail and accuracy. They probably laughed about how little flourishing and theatrics they had to add in the writers’ room; the material they have to work with, my god. It almost writes itself (no shade to the writers though; they hit the nail on the head every single time).
After watching SNL50 and hearing about the sleepless nights and the high-stress environment of the SNL writers’ process, I have such immense respect for their ability to scramble something so culturally relevant together each week. Especially in the midst of news overwhelm (which is intentional by this administration, of course)—it’s a testament to their talent and their dedication. The world keeps on spinning, and so does SNL.
Every single detail of this sketch—from Zelensky and Marco Rubio’s clear discomfort, to the long ties that dust the floors, to JD Vance’s audition for the Real Housewives—was dead-on. It’s striking to me how often SNL includes direct quotes—”You don’t have the cards;” ”YOU HAVEN’T EVEN SAID THANK YOU!” The point is then driven home by the extra theatrics on top; “You don’t tell us how hot we look” further highlights the egotism and insecurity of the bloated figures being lampooned.
SNL also found ways during this sketch to capitalize on the popularity of other culturally relevant topics, like Pokemon and the recent Oscar-winning film, Anora. While this might roll right over the heads of the general public, it’s such a sweet little treat for those of us who are chronically online—and it crosses generational divides, so there’s a little something for every viewer.
The Value of Laughing Through Pain
We have to find ways to find joy amidst struggle. It helps me process pain to laugh through it, and I think that’s why Saturday Night Live is more culturally relevant than it ever has been before. SNL’s role has always been to highlight the absurdities of things society has normalized, like the circus that is US politics. The show has offered biting political satire since its inception. Playing President Ford put Chevy Chase on the map, and Tina Fey’s eerily accurate impression of Sarah Palin will live on in infamy. But while James Austin Johnson does a mean impression of Trump and Bowen Yang brings the drama as JD Vance, no one outshines the other. Rather than just one standout performer carrying a political impression, the entire ensemble this season encapsulates the chaos of our current political landscape.
The writers bringing back Mike Meyers to play our shadow king, Elon Musk, was a genius idea. A role hasn’t fit him quite so perfectly since Dr. Evil (whom he even managed to reference in a follow-up sketch). When he jumped up and down and chanted, “Comedy’s dead!” only to later declare, “Comedy’s back!” I realized that they weren’t just skewering political figures for our entertainment; they were sending a bold message each week. To this administration, to the American people: We aren’t going anywhere. Keep up the shenanigans, and we will keep laughing at you.
The most effective method for combatting an abuser is to defy their perceived power. Turn their crude efforts into the jokes that they already are. Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz led the charge in 2024 by calling Trump and his cabinet of misfits “weirdos,” and it caught on like wildfire. (Then, of course, the Harris team distanced themselves from this strategy, abandoning an effective messaging approach—which, alongside other missteps, likely contributed to their electoral loss). Saturday Night Live, like Tim Waltz, is brave for combatting fascism and oligarchy with sarcasm and humor in a time where it’s becoming increasingly dangerous to voice dissent. While traditional political messaging faltered, SNL and other satire outlets like The Daily Show have continued using humor as a weapon against authoritarianism. But they’re also correct in their methods.
Laughing & Learning Together
People don’t like to talk about politics. But they do like to laugh at it. By getting audiences to laugh together, SNL is getting them to pay attention—to sharpen their awareness of the absurdity happening around them. Play and sarcasm sharpen our minds, and our minds need to be sharp these next four years to combat what’s coming.
Of course, SNL is not without its fair criticisms. From its historically white-washed casting to complaints that its humor has become predictable, the show has had its fair share of growing pains. But whatever SNL decides to do next—whether introducing a new comedic talent, poking fun at a political moment, or simply making us laugh after a long, hellish week—it remains a beacon of humor, connection, and creativity that we need to protect. So let’s clear our schedules on Saturdays, share those sketches with loved ones, and take our medicine: laughing together. Laughing together is how we survive. And, more importantly, it’s how we heal.