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Watching any entrenched institution pay slobbery tribute to itself can be insufferable.
(See: Oscars, The.
)Saturday Night Livehitting the half-century mark, however, is an occasion that absolutely warrants some self-celebration.
It handily managed all three, often at once.
It is well and truly remarkable that this archive now spans 50 years.
As for the be funny edict, Lorne Michaels wasnt taking any chances.
Lornereportedlyremembered the 40th-anniversary special in 2015 as a perfect show, and asked Fey to study it.
Given howSNL 50turned out, that tracks.
In contrast, the 40th-anniversary show minimized the early years and instead explored the fun possibilities of intergenerational cross-pollination.
If so,SNL50largely succeeded.
It was a shrewd but wise choice.
It also, sadly, feels unfunny.
Even if Aykroyds still got it.
It was the right tone to strike.
Bill Murray, however, is particularly in the pocket.
It would have been surprising if this specialdidnthave one of them.
This time around, the writers subvert the whole concept of having an In Memorian section at all.
(Riki Lindholme seated prominently.
Good for her!)
Apparently, hepolitely declinedthe invitation due to a long-standing scheduling conflict.
Less clear is why Dan Aykroyd didnt appear.
We may never know.
Fun idea to cast Meryl Streep as Kate McKinnons mom, though.
Dave Chappelle couldnt get through the two seconds it took to introduceLil Wayne and The Rootswithout blasting a cig.
Its bad enough that he cant get through a 17-minute monologue smokeless, but this?
Get a hold of yourself, guy.
How fitting that Paul McCartney endedhis epic Beatles medleywith The End.
