Every year, Saturday Night Live (SNL) attempts to bring satire and humour to many serious and unfortunate events in U.S History.
Many explain that they look forward to SNL’s skits as a way to cope with the hate and anger. This was especially important during 9/11. Saturday Night Lives’ Lorne Michaels knew that the show couldn’t just act as if the event hadn’t occurred, but at the same time had to be thoughtful for those who had lost a loved one. When curating the show Michaels asked then-New York Mayor Rudolph Guiliani, “Can we be funny now?” Giulinai responded with “Why start now?” This is a line that SNL will forever live by when it comes to political issues and unfortunate events. During the 2016 election season, many explained that it wasn’t necessary for people to joke about the election because it was a reality that needed to be taken seriously. Why do people have to take it seriously all the time? If I thought about everything that was going on in the world, I wouldn’t get up in the morning. SNL lets people realize that despite the hate, anger, and unfortunate; you have to keep on living.
About three weeks after 9/11 occurred, Will Farrell embodied the personae of President George Bush, to give a message to Osama Bin Laden. Throughout the speech, he explains that Bin Laden had done wrong, and that he will find him and kill him. Saying lines like, “Don’t Mess with Texas.” The skit is short and straight to the point. It doesn’t talk about the people who died during the tragic event, or try to copy President Bush’s speech. Instead SNL gave the people what they needed. Quick and humorous one liners, along with jokes that may have been said a million times, but made the American people want to start coping with what had occurred.
When discussing SNL’s political skits, it’s important to go all the way back to the beginning when Chevy Chase poked fun at President Gerald Ford. Dan Aykroyd took messages from the American people as Jimmy Carter. All the times that Daryl Hammond embodied Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, Donald Trump, Jimmy Carter, Al Gore, Chris Dodd, Dick Cheney, and John McCain just to name a few. And the evolution of Hilary Clinton impressions from Jane Hook as the first lady, to Amy Poehler as Secteray of State, to Kate McKinnon as the Democratic Nominee of the 2016 election. When Donald Trump was elected President, I couldn’t wait to tune in and see if Kate McKinnon was going to revive her role as Hilary Clinton to send a message to Donald Trump. Or was Alec Baldwin going to take on Donald Trump to congratulate the American people.
On Saturday November 13, 2016, the cast took a bold move with beginning to show with Kate McKinnon as Hilary Clinton singing Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. Saturday Night Live has always poked more fun at republicans, but they have also tried to stir clear of explaining their point of view on the election to the American people. Throughout the song, Kate McKinnon begins to tear up as she speaks to the audience saying, “I wont give up and neither should you.” Was this necessary? Some may say it wasn’t, but does it matter? This election season was a roller coaster ride for millions around the world. By beginning the show with a song, the cast was explaining to the American people that tomorrow will be another day, the sun will come up, and life will continue on. A message that the American people need, so they can begin to cope with anger and fear of the 2016 election.
Hey, if you didn’t agree with the cold opening, you will probably enjoy Dave Chappelle’s skit with Chris Rock on Clinton voters.
