Television

How a Comedy Franchise is Stepping Up to Make a Difference

Saturday Night Live’s second “At Home” edition is worth your time.

If you haven’t seen Saturday Night Live’s second go at its “At Home” format, you should give it a watch. With the cast and crew sheltering in place at home, the weekly late-night comedy production can’t put out their normal, more polished and packaged version to television audiences, but that hasn’t kept the show from going on.

Two weeks ago, SNL aired their first episode of an At Home version of the show. It was a bit of a rough start. Not something that you would trot out in front of a first-time viewer as a hook to make them a continued fan. But, for the steadfast like me, it was a welcome distraction, and it served to remind viewers that everyone is just trying to figure out how to go on like normal. Even the big hitters in television broadcasting.

Two weeks after their first venture, SNL’s second At Home offering indicates that they are now ready for Coronavirus “Prime Time”. This episode was much more polished and brought back some recently favorite bits and highlights the versatility of the cast and production crew.

Of note were Keenan Thompson bringing his “Big Papi” routine to the home kitchen, Kate McKinnon’s home version of “Whiskers R We”, and McKinnon and Aidy Bryant teaming up for a social distancing version of “Bartenson’s Grocery Store” that intentionally spoofs scene splicing with grossly missed high fives and handshakes.

One of the things SNL does really well, but seems to fly under the radar at times, is their musical numbers. Most of their opening monologues and skits featuring cast members singing remain in our minds long after the basic comedy premises of the skits has skittered away.

In the past, Cecily Strong’s rendition of “To Sir with Love”, accompanied by Sasheer Zamata struck a chord capturing a somber goodbye to President Obama. Strong was also highlighted in her duet with Jimmy Fallon singing “Baby it’s Cold Outside” that examined some of the controversy around the tune several years before the “Me too” movement.

This second version of SNL At Home also delivered the musical goods for us. First was a Pete Davidson electro-pop original bemoaning being “Stuck in the House” that also features Adam Sandler. The video is catchy and nearly of the quality you might find with commercially produced music. With direction credits going to Pete’s mom and Adam’s daughters, the video features each’s respective family and seems to capture the spirit all of us are feeling while sheltering at home.

The second music home run was an unannounced appearance by Miley Cyrus singing a cover of Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here.” Cyrus’ expansive voice, coupled with lyrics that all of us Gen X’s might have been startled to realize we know perfectly by heart, served up a moving experience.

SNL is no stranger to responding to crisis and delivering their particular brand of comedy in the wake of disaster. One of the historic and transcendent moments on the show was Paul Simon’s touching acoustic rendition of “The Boxer” followed by SNL producer Lorne Michaels asking then New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, “Can we be funny?” in the aftermath of 9/11.

For many, that was the moment that we all knew things were going to be okay, and that America would recover from such a tragic event.

While SNL’s At Home approach during this time of quarantine and social isolation doesn’t bring the feel of a sentinel event that helps us turn the corner on disaster, the comedy franchise’s response to global crisis does offer us a form of antidote to this time of virus.

Certainly, it serves to remind that as humans we have the capacity to adapt. We can change, improvise and ultimately overcome any hurdle that is set before us. I think SNL knows that it doesn’t have to hit a home run, be polished, or even funny to mean something to its viewers.

They know that just stepping up and adapting to the current crisis is the way they can make a difference. It is the way all of us can make a difference.

Thank you, Saturday Night Live for setting the tone.

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Timothy Key spent over 26 years in the fire service as a firefighter/paramedic and various fire chief management roles. He firmly believes that bad managers destroy more than companies, and good managers create a passion that is contagious. Compassion, grace and gratitude drive the world; or at least they should. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and join the mail list.