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“Saturday Night Live” Reflects on Its Controversial Past During 50th Anniversary Special
As discussions around the cancellation of comedic figures and content spotlight the evolving landscape of humor, “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) boldly addressed this topic during its commemorative 50th anniversary special. The three-hour event featured a poignant “in memoriam” segment dedicated to characters and sketches that have aged poorly over its five-decade run.
The segment was introduced by Tom Hanks, who framed it as an opportunity to pay tribute to “those we’ve lost.” He quickly added, “I’m speaking, of course, about ‘SNL’ characters and sketches that have aged horribly,” prompting laughter and applause from the audience. Hanks provocatively suggested that if anyone should face cancellation, it might be the audience who laughed along with these controversial performances, thereby inviting viewers to reflect on their own complicity.
As the segment unfolded, it began with John Belushi’s memorable samurai character, setting the tone for a review of some notable transgressions. Each sketch featured was accompanied by on-screen text highlighting its offensive elements in stark yellow font. For example, Tracy Morgan’s portrayal of Astronaut Jones was labeled as representing sexual harassment, while Lindsay Lohan’s depiction of Hermione Granger in a revealing costume was tagged as underage sexual harassment. Additionally, Fred Armisen’s sketch, where he played a mentally disabled character opposite Ben Affleck, was criticized for its ableist nature.
The tribute also brought attention to controversial portrayals involving cast members in questionable skin tones and a plethora of homophobic jokes that peppered the show’s legacy.
Among the most striking segments showcased was from SNL’s inaugural season, where Chevy Chase interviewed Richard Pryor. The comedic exchange devolved into a moment where Chase’s character uttered the racial slur against Pryor, who retorted with the line “Dead honkey.” This sketch remains viewable on NBC’s official YouTube channel.
The retrospective also highlighted some of the show’s more controversial guest appearances, including clips of R. Kelly, Jared Fogle, and O.J. Simpson, whose legacies have since attracted significant public scrutiny.
Despite the weighted nature of the segment, not all moments were sheer embarrassment. Will Ferrell’s popular sketch “Dissing Your Dog” was showcased with a tongue-in-cheek label of “Animal cruelty,” featuring Ferrell delivering sarcastic remarks to a variety of adorable dogs.
This candid approach in the tribute exemplified the essence of “Saturday Night Live.” From its inception, the show has prided itself on being bold and unfiltered. Ignoring the existence of its own problematic sketches would not only be a disservice to its history, but also to the comedic narrative it portrays.
Through this “mourning” of past missteps, SNL effectively addressed its controversial legacy while sending a significant message about growth in a changing cultural landscape. The show, being an ongoing commentary on society, acknowledges that it has evolved alongside the times—and will continue to do so as it shapes its future offerings.
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