SNL is Actually Better than It Used to Be

That's right. All of us with our glory days opinions about when SNL was at its peak are, in the appropriate context, wrong.

Let's look at why this season (and current era) of SNL stands up to all the others quite well ... and maybe cast off our prejudices once and for all.

1975-80

Favorite Cast Members: Chevy Chase, Dan Akroyd, Bill Murray and Gilda Radner.

The first era of SNL has to be respected because it was just that: the first. Without it, we don't have a series. And without the success of most of its cast, we wouldn't have many of the classic comedy films of the 70s and 80s: Animal House, Fletch, Blues Brothers, Caddyshack, etc. Seems pretty duh, right? Many die hard fans swear this is the best era and that all others pale in comparison.

But it isn't the best. It might not even be the in the top 3. Because the problem this period has is that it's similar to the problem older movies like Citizen Kane have. When you watch old episodes, you get a sense that you are supposed to laugh because it meant so much to TV and comedic history; they were so ground-breaking and risky. But you don't really bust a gut ever really continuously laugh, do you? Granted there are sketches that have stood the test of time but a few sketches don't an era make.

1980-85

Favorite Cast Members: Eddie Murphy, Martin Short, Christopher Guest

This era's turmoil is well documented. Lorne leaves. Casting problems. Regularly unfunny. And it's a no brainer that it's probably the "worst" of all. However, Murphy was always brilliant and probably kept the show from being canceled. This was when I first took real notice of the show. I really enjoyed Short (Ed Grimley) and Guest ("Chocolate babies?") as well. They star (with Harry Shearer) in one of my all time favorite sketches: Men's Olympic Synchronized Swimming

1985-1990

Favorite Cast Members: Dana Carvey, Phil Hartman, Jon Lovitz

This is when, for me, the show turned from a funny occasional lark to a religious comedy experience. My friend Garry would record the 1985 season on his VCR and we would watch it together or with our other friends when our parents weren't around. And that wasn't even a very good season in this era. There are too many iconic sketches from this era to list ("Choppin' broccoli," Church Chat, Donahue, "... and gooooood-bye," One More Mission, etc.) but one that holds a special place for me is this one with John Malkovich.

1990-95

Favorite Cast Members: Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, Mike Meyers, Chris Rock

Farley was brilliant. Sandler was good at one thing and rode it to stardom. I envied Meyers commitment to characters even before I knew what that meant. The shows were almost always fun. But ... the supporting cast during this era wasn't very good and it had a lot of turnover. And Weekend Update was usually pretty awful.

1995-2000

Favorite Cast Members: Will Ferrell, Chris Kattan, Molly Shannon, Cheri Oteri, Tracy Morgan

If you don't think Will Ferrell is one of the most brilliant comedic minds ever, then you don't know comedy. Sorry. He and Kattan defined this era. They were this era. Which is one reason it doesn't stand up to some of the more well-rounded ensemble eras of SNL.

2000-05

Favorite Cast Members: Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph, Rachel Dratch

Anyone who thinks this era was just full of sketches where Jimmy Fallon and Horatio Sanz sat around laughing at each other ... would be right. But I kid. Fallon had some great characters even if he couldn't hold a straight face. But this was the era of the SNL woman. Shannon was still there for some of it and Amy Poehler came in at the end and each show was packed with great performances from some of the funniest people in the history of the TV... who just happened to be women. You had the brilliance of Fey's writing, Rudolph's awesome chracters and, of course, Dratch's Debbie Downer. Fey and Fallon also returned Weekend Update to form, making it something worth watching again.

2005-Present

Favorite Cast Members: Amy Poehler, Fred Armisen, Seth Meyers, Kristen Wiig, Jason Sudekis, Andy Samberg

The era that brought back the SNL short film. The era that brought us Kristen Wiig. The era that tries to put endings on its sketches. The era of the Poehler/Meyers Weekend Update. Vincent Price. MacGruber. Target and Likes-Surprises Lady. The current cast is easily one of the top 3 most well-rounded and talented. I think if the show ever does get canceled, this era will be remembered as one of the best. I have more fun watching SNL now than I have in a long, long time. Case in point.

So if you haven't watched SNL since its "hey day," whenever that was for you, try it again. I am willing to bet you'll be surprised.