# When is SNL going to outgrow its "one-joke skit" phase? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 21, 2005, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-snl-going-to-outgrow-its-one-joke-skit-phase/291106 "2005-02-21T03:33:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-snl-going-to-outgrow-its-one-joke-skit-phase/291106/1 "2005-02-21T03:33:23Z")
I’m watching the NBC special on the first five years of _Saturday Night Live,_ and it makes me grieve for what’s happened to the show. In those days, an SNL skit was _situational_ – you put some goofy characters in a situation and they would build jokes around that. “The Coneheads,” “The Nerds,” “The Wild and Crazy Guys” – the situation might repeat from one skit to the next, there might have been some annoyingly overused catchphrases, but the jokes were not predictable or repetitive. It was rooted in the imrpov-comedy tradition. Some of the skits were not even “comedy” skits in the laff-a-minute sense, they were poignant, mildly humorous little mini-plays that might have been written by by Neil Simon. Now – an SNL skit follows a simpler formula: Pick one joke and wring every possible variation out of it until you run out the clock. E.g., “Pat” or “Massive Headwound Harry” or “The Richmeister” or “Debby Downer.” When are they going to get back to some real comedy? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-snl-going-to-outgrow-its-one-joke-skit-phase/291106/2 "2005-02-21T03:35:23Z")
First let’s see if they’ll try to recapture the brilliance of the “Monkey throwing poo at celebrities” sketch. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-snl-going-to-outgrow-its-one-joke-skit-phase/291106/3 "2005-02-21T03:46:39Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > … or “Debby Downer.” … This abomination was just on the most recent show. Rachel Dratch is NOT funny. Am I the only person who thinks this? ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-snl-going-to-outgrow-its-one-joke-skit-phase/291106/4 "2005-02-21T03:48:47Z")
Funny, I was thinking the same thing this Saturday. They had some dumb skit based on the idea that plates can be hot at restaurants. Which could’ve been funny for 20 seconds in some bigger skit. But it dragged on and on with things catching on fire and waiters wearing welding helmets. Of course, that one will die at one episode, but I agree about Debby Downer especially. The only funny situational one I can think of now-a-days is that Show Biz Grande Explosion! That and the news, but that doesn’t really count, and besides that second chick could not be more unfunny. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-snl-going-to-outgrow-its-one-joke-skit-phase/291106/5 "2005-02-21T03:51:21Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Now – an SNL skit follows a simpler formula: Pick one joke and wring every possible variation out of it until you run out the clock. E.g., “Pat” or “Massive Headwound Harry” or “The Richmeister” or “Debby Downer.” Don’t forget the “Somebody Talks Funnee” formula, where all of the humor is supposed to flow from the fact that one of the characters has a strange accent. ---
**Author:** ![CapnPitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@CapnPitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CapnPitt)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-snl-going-to-outgrow-its-one-joke-skit-phase/291106/6 "2005-02-21T03:56:37Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > This abomination was just on the most recent show. > > Rachel Dratch is NOT funny. Am I the only person who thinks this? Rachel Dratch is REALLY NOT funny. I’m glad somebody finally said it. The bad news for SNL is that they’ve re-invented the way-too-long sketch. That hot plate sketch was, simply put, abysmal. Ahhhh, I’m mostly just disappointed that this most recent episode was terrible. To say something positive, Seth Meyers is really funny when they give him a chance. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-snl-going-to-outgrow-its-one-joke-skit-phase/291106/7 "2005-02-21T03:57:01Z")
What stuns me is that shows like _Kids in the Hall_ and _Upright Citizens Brigade_ get axed after a few years, but _SNL_ has been around since Christ was a corporal. What gives, I ask you? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-snl-going-to-outgrow-its-one-joke-skit-phase/291106/8 "2005-02-21T04:16:57Z")
I enjoyed the hot plates skit. Really. The production values was higher than most of the other inexplicable unfunny SNL skits. They did a great job on the props. The actors had fun with it. Horatio Sanz did a nice job with the phrase “hot plate!” instead of just reading it off the cue cards like most of the actors. And I was surprised they bothered to make an actual punchline. It reminded me of the Will Farrell skit where the morning news crew goes nuts and become cannibals after the teleprompter goes blank. That said, most of the other lame skits are phoned in efforts without any real writing and intended for non-sober viewers who are not watching intently. Also, I suppose another big demographic for them are kids who need to learn the next “hip” phrase. How long before all the kiddies in school are saying “hot plate”? As for Rachel Dratch, the only logical explanation is that she must have some _very_ compromising photos of Loren Michaels. ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-snl-going-to-outgrow-its-one-joke-skit-phase/291106/9 "2005-02-21T04:20:40Z")
Two things. Tradition and the roller coaster. SNL has gone from good to bad to good to bad to good to bad over and over again. I’ve been watching since almost the beginning and when it gets to a lean time (like now) I’ll just watch an occasional episode. Usually it gets some new cast or new writers and starts getting better again. ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-snl-going-to-outgrow-its-one-joke-skit-phase/291106/10 "2005-02-21T04:34:03Z")
It seems that some of the comedians are good at only certain roles, unfortunately when they’re required to be something other than that said role (Horatio as stoner or Elton John), they suck big time. My question is whether they change skits too soon to airtime for people to actually learn their lines. For once would I like to see a guest star or cast member look at each other rather than the teleprompter. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-snl-going-to-outgrow-its-one-joke-skit-phase/291106/11 "2005-02-21T04:42:38Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > This abomination was just on the most recent show. > > Rachel Dratch is NOT funny. Am I the only person who thinks this? Ehhh, she can be amusing at times. Maya Rudolph is the one who really stinks. NOT FUNNY AT ALL. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-snl-going-to-outgrow-its-one-joke-skit-phase/291106/12 "2005-02-21T05:14:27Z")
Good post, **BrainGlutton**. I think the show also totally over-relies on recurring sketches now, and comes up with characters that aren’t funny, just annoying. Annoying /= funny. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-snl-going-to-outgrow-its-one-joke-skit-phase/291106/13 "2005-02-21T05:36:28Z")
But there’s talent on SNL, really. Personally, I like Amy, Tina, Maya, Chris, Seth, Fred, Darrell, Will, Kenan, and even Horatio (not big on Rachel Dratch, sorry), and they have all entertained me–WITH THE RIGHT MATERIAL. I hated the cast that came before them (with Chris Kattan, Molly Shannon, etc.), and I even think the early '90s (Wayne’s World-era) cast was way overrated, but I like these kids. When they’re on, I think they’re really on. But on a sketch comedy show, they’re going to seem off more often than not. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-snl-going-to-outgrow-its-one-joke-skit-phase/291106/14 "2005-02-21T05:46:44Z")
> [@Weirddave](#): > > Ehhh, she can be amusing at times. Maya Rudolph is the one who really stinks. NOT FUNNY AT ALL. Maya is versatile as hell, though - a terrific voice, and she can fit into just about any role. She isn’t cast to her potential, though. Rachel Dratch - short girl with a goofy yet cute appearance and … uhh, back problems, most likely. Can be funny, but performs too many of those one-joke characters. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-snl-going-to-outgrow-its-one-joke-skit-phase/291106/15 "2005-02-21T06:02:00Z")
Have to admit, the openig bit where Dratch was psyching herself up for the show by screaming at a poster of Tina Fey cracked me up. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-snl-going-to-outgrow-its-one-joke-skit-phase/291106/16 "2005-02-21T06:13:56Z")
There’s an important distinction here: Debbie Downer - NOT funny at all. Perhaps the worst recurring sketch ever Rachel Dratch - VERY funny. Just think back to her and Will Ferell as the Luuuvers ---
**Author:** ![Large\_Marge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/50afbb/32.png) [@Large\_Marge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Large_Marge)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-snl-going-to-outgrow-its-one-joke-skit-phase/291106/17 "2005-02-21T06:19:58Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I’m watching the NBC special on the first five years of _Saturday Night Live,_ and it makes me grieve for what’s happened to the show… I’ve been watching the special, too, and SNL sucks now, in comparison. I don’t think it’s the cast, though (I think Dratch is funny, too): I think it’s the writing. I agree that they need to get past the “one-joke skit phase.” And I miss the improv. Now, the skits are so stilted, like Horatio’s line delivery in the “hot plate” skit: He had to keep looking at the teleprompter, something only the guest used to do. And imo, the bands were WAY better. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-snl-going-to-outgrow-its-one-joke-skit-phase/291106/18 "2005-02-21T08:13:37Z")
Horatio Sanz not only looks at the TelePrompTer, he makes these inexplicable pauses before his lines that just throw the tempo of the sketch off by a beat. It looks like he missed rehearsal. I like Rachel Dratch! She always has her lines memorized, and her timing is on cue. But a favorite Dratch scene of mine didn’t rely on dialogue at all. It was a sketch in a business meeting, where Will Ferrell is making a presentation wearing only a thong. He’s standing next to Rachel Dratch, whose face goes through a dozen different shades of distress and embarrassment as Ferrell talks on. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-snl-going-to-outgrow-its-one-joke-skit-phase/291106/19 "2005-02-21T08:58:34Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > Have to admit, the openig bit where Dratch was psyching herself up for the show by screaming at a poster of Tina Fey cracked me up. Did you know they used to do a two-woman sketch show together before “SNL”? ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2005, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-snl-going-to-outgrow-its-one-joke-skit-phase/291106/20 "2005-02-21T10:32:21Z")
I agree that the one-joke sketches generally suck. But sue me - I liked the “hot plate” sketch. I hadn’t even thought about it before, but it IS unbelievably annoying to have the waiter harangue you about how hot the plates are every time you eat out. And the way they just kept escalating it, until the last plate is glowing red, and disintegrates anyone who looks at it, and the waiter is wearing a welding mask - well, it just cracked me up. It’s the best sketch I’ve seen on SNL in a long time. (Of course, that’s not saying much.) And actually, my favorite sketch of all time, the cowbell sketch, was also a one-joker. So they’re not _always_ bad. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-snl-going-to-outgrow-its-one-joke-skit-phase/291106.md?page=2)