As a lifelong fan who’s seen more Saturday Night Live (SNL) episodes than I’d care to admit, I can confidently say that last night’s episode was a nostalgic trip down memory lane. Dana Carvey and David Spade brought back memories of the good old days, and it felt like we were back in Studio 8H again.
This weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Live, as it ventures into its 50th season, had been teased with unexpected appearances and returning cast members, and Lorne Michaels and the team have certainly kept their word. Last night was no exception, delighting viewers with a return of Dana Carvey in his iconic Church Lady character, along with an appearance from Carvey’s podcast partner David Spade. In the latest sketch, Spade, famously known for his role in Joe Dirt, portrayed Hunter Biden, one of the guests on Church Chat, who humorously suggested he shares more similarities with Jesus than many might think appropriate.
Carvey has been a consistent presence on Saturday Night Live this season, portraying both President Joe Biden and Elon Musk. This week’s episode brought fans an unexpected return of one of his most iconic characters, but nothing could prepare them for the shock of seeing David Spade. Although he is one of SNL’s most successful former cast members, Spade has only hosted the show twice since his departure and made occasional guest appearances, with perhaps his most memorable comeback being ten years ago during the SNL 40 special when he reprised his flight attendant character to inform The Californians sketch that it needed to wrap up because it was running late.
You can watch Spade and Carvey do their thing below…
Among all TV shows currently airing, none delves deeper into nostalgia quite like Saturday Night Live. This long-standing sketch comedy series boasts a wealth of fond memories spanning over half a century, and arguably the most illustrious roster of alumni in the history of Hollywood. For instance, even Spade, one of the Not Ready for Primetime Players, struggles to make the top 20 list, and he’s appeared in more than 250 episodes across network television shows – not counting SNL. This demonstrates just how vast the talent pool that SNL can tap into truly is.
While it’s crucial for the show to progress and resonate with young audiences as well, cameos from actors like Carvey and Spade, whom I admired growing up, may not necessarily bring in new followers. Instead, it’s the emerging stars who should be tasked with capturing the interest of a new generation.
It’s fortunate that the present cast is incredibly skilled, as they are effectively carrying out their roles. This season, SNL has indeed delved more into nostalgia than usual, which can be attributed to both being its 50th anniversary and the presidential election. The election has brought back notable figures such as Maya Rudolph and Andy Samberg, a trend similar to previous cycles that saw Tina Fey portray Sarah Palin and most memorably, Alec Baldwin embodying President Trump.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve speculated that Saturday Night Live might take a slight step back from politics, and it appears that prediction is coming true. As for how much it leans towards or away from nostalgia, that seems to be quite variable, with weekly changes likely, particularly considering the upcoming hosts.
On the following two Saturdays, Saturday Night Live is set to air fresh episodes, featuring some thrilling guest hosts who were once part of the SNL family. Next week, it’s Chris Rock taking charge, followed by Martin Short the week after.
The majority of this latest installment focused on the current cast members and host Paul Mescal, and I anticipate a similar pattern continuing, with perhaps one occasional appearance or skit for the veterans each episode, excepting the SNL 50 special that’s scheduled for February.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-12-08 14:37