BY MIKEY MIGO
When it comes to Saturday Night Live, I’m a bit of a nerd. I know the most random of details and trivia. I know there are folks out there who are experts on the topic of the show and it’s history, but let’s just say I’m a bit more than a casual fan. I’ve watched since I can remember and I took in all the old school stuff from before my time. I really got into the show in the early 90’s. The Farley, Spade, Rock, and Sandler era was great to come up in. It’s like being a teenager during the “Attitude era” in wrestling. It was a peak in the lineage of the show and one of the “golden ages”. Of course, the original “Not Ready For Primetime Players” had the best era. They set the standard and will be anyone with proper knowledge’s favorite. That original cast was amazing and every era to follow had to live up to its impossible standards. Hell, I can even accept if someone prefers the Will Ferrell era either. It’s all subjective. Some folks say that Farley era was the “other golden era”. I can’t really argue that if someone really believes it. Like I said, I came up during that time and it holds a big place in my heart. My opinion, however, is a big different…
I think that the current 2011 cast of Saturday Night Live is the best cast the show has had SINCE the first group. The vets have been around for awhile and are on their way out and onto sitcom and movie careers. Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, and Jason Sudekis seem to keep popping up in movies in bigger and bigger roles. Fred Armisen has his own thing going now on IFC and pops up too. Andy Samberg pops up in movies, has the album with “Lonely Island”, and is really due another starring role. Kenan hit his strides and will surely get a sitcom in the very least. So the vets are all doing well on their own and are STILL fresh on the show. I bitched about Wiig the past few years, but she’s undeniably awesome. The rest of the cast is still fun to see. The new additions like Abby Elliot, Bobby Moynihan, and Nasim Pedrad have all contributed in their own ways. Some could argue that Abby Elliot is a bit of a waste, but she’s there and makes the best of it when she’s actually on. Recently they’ve added Vanessa Bayer, Paul Brittain, Taran Killam, and Jay Pharoah. Pretty much all of them have had their moments and could easily move up with the chance. The recurring sketches are great. This era even has it’s own Steve Martin in Justin Timberlake. Casual fans sometimes think Steve was actually on the cast at one point because he was around so often. Timberlake is tied in deep to the show now. Seth Meyers is solid on the Weekend Update, the music guests are always interesting, and really it’s an awesome product all around.
There is always going to be the “(place anything here) was better back in (time)” or “It hasn’t been good since (place time here)”! Fine. That’s your call and right. The current cast and crew aren’t immune to sucking. There are episodes that are very forgettable and performances that suck. But on an overall scale, they’re pretty consistent.
I know it’s a crazy statement, but I happen to think that today’s cast is the best cast since the first. Discuss below?
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