SNL101

Jon Hamm understood the assignment in his 4th time as host on April 12, 2025. We discuss satirizing socioeconomic inequality in Check to Check Business News, civil disobedience with Emil Wakim on American Patriotism, and the complexity of roasting and comedy writing via Guess! The Correct! Answer!, Gay Parents, and The White Potus. Readings address psychological impacts of socioeconomic class, Henry David Thoreau's essay on the relationships between individual citizens and government, and readings from our cohosts on the ethics of satire and humor. Stay tuned for a bonus conversation with Charisse L'Pree and Chuck Hayward on Lizzo, the paucity of popular protest music, and comedy post scandal.

We talk with Immy Farukhi, an entertainment lawyer and professor at Syracuse University, about the legal frameworks around obscenity, indecency, and satire in media—particularly in the context of Ego Nwodim's appearance on Weekend Update. We discuss the legal distinctions between "obscene" (not protected by the First Amendment) and "indecent" (protected but regulatable). We also the role of satire and how SNL's political commentary, even when crude or biting, is protected under the First Amendment despite the inherent political nature of the FCC. Prof. Farukhi emphasizes the importance of nuanced legal education, teaching students to analyze legal tests and apply them to real-world situations, fostering critical thinking rather than black-and-white answers.

Jack Black's 4th time hosting on April 5, 2025 was a refreshingly silly reprieve, from current events and a string of underwhelming episodes. We discuss the implications of the call-and-response-gone-wrong in Weekend Update: Ego Nwodim on the White House Correspondents' Dinner, ethical non-monogamy in Making Love, and the potential of framing to disrupt collective memory in Times Square Kiss. We also discuss The First Play through the lens of learning to engage with media, the psychology of heckling, and imaginative resistance. Entertainment attorney and Newhouse TRF Professor Immy Farukhi also shares his strategy for teaching obscenity and indecency. Readings include developmental and relationship psychology, the context of offense, and the rise of heckling.

Mikey Madison's hosting premiere on March 29, 2025 was largely unimpressive and was overshadowed by Morgan Wallen's abrupt departure during the closing credits. We discuss punching down and missed opportunities as well as the art of waiting in Big Dumb Line, reboot culture in Please Don't Destroy - Mikey Madison is Squidward, and the dynamics of inside jokes with Devon Walker Shares his Morning Routine. Readings include the cultural and industry significance of reboots and the importance of waiting and patience in an increasingly on demand world.

Lady Gaga's second time hosting (and as musical guest) on March 8, 2025 generated a lot of feelings, some good, some bad, some funny, some sad. We discuss the power of satire in the Trump, Musk and Rubio Meeting Cold Open, satirizing masculinity and power in Weekend Update: Lord Gaga on His Unwavering Support for His Wife Lady Gaga, the manic pixie dream girl and commodity feminism in Mascara Commercial, and language and power in No More Slay. Readings include the social history of single women in the United States, the effects of income imbalance within marriages, and a 1979 essay by James Baldwin entitled," If Black English Isn't a Language, Then Tell me What Is."

Shane Gillis' second time hosting on March 1, 2025 showcased the potential of a host to "make the show his own;" Gillis was clearly active in the writers room and appeared in every sketch. We discuss how to satirize stereotypes in the Stand Up Monologue and Mid-Day News 2, the difficulty in satirizing Trump in the Cold Open, the trolley problem in Jane Wickline Gives Dating Advice, and the absurdity of direct to consumer drug ads in CouplaBeers. Readings include critical analyses of pornography, the complexity of drug ads, and a takedown of a beloved philosophical problem.

We talk with Dr. Dan Amernick, Senior Professional Lecturer and department chair of Media Arts at Marist University. We discuss the show's transformation from an experimental comedy space to a corporate-driven institution, its role in shaping political discourse, and how it has both reflected and influenced American culture over 50 years. The conversation explores the rise of celebrity cameos, the diminishing space for emerging cast members, and the commercialization of SNL's once-subversive edge. Is the show still a groundbreaking force in comedy, or has it become a self-congratulatory institution? Tune in for a deep dive into the history, humor, and legacy of SNL.

We talk with Dr. Noël Carroll, distinguished professor of philosophy, film and media cultures at the Graduate School at the City University of New York (CUNY) and a leading figure in contemporary philosophy of art. We discuss SNL's reinvention of classic comedy formats, its role in shaping political satire, and its connections to countercultural movements. Carroll reflects on whether SNL is truly subversive or simply a product of capitalist entertainment, and the group debates the show's longevity in a changing media landscape. Is SNL an enduring institution or an aging relic? Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on comedy, art, and cultural transformation.

We talk with Dr. Robert Thompson, the founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture and a Trustee Professor of Television and Popular Culture at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. We discuss its evolution, cultural impact, and role in political satire. From its nostalgic anniversary special to its function as a talent incubator, they explore SNL's strengths, shortcomings, and digital-age relevance. The conversation critiques the show's tendency toward superficial political humor, its struggles with inclusivity, and the limitations of network television in fostering truly subversive comedy. Finally, they speculate on the show's future—does SNL have only five years left? Tune in for a sharp and insightful discussion on one of TV's most iconic institutions.

In this special episode of SNL101, we are joined by comedy scholars Brittney Michelle Edmonds, Danielle Fuentes Morgan, and Raul Perez, as well as friend of the pod Chuck Hayward, to discuss 50 years of Saturday Night Live through the lens of the 50th Anniversary Special, aired on February 16, 2025. We talk about the show's role in establishing comedy across the 20th and 21st centuries from Word Association to Black Jeopardy, its complicated relationship with representing Blackness and Black humor exemplified in the In Memoriam montage, and how this epic oeuvre can be used to foster conversations in the classroom. We also introduce three featured players who bring a unique skill set: Noël Carroll discusses SNL as a comedy innovator, Bob Thompson spotlights the tailored nostalgia of the anniversary special, and Dan Amernick takes us back to when Lorne Michaels was dropped from the network. Readings include articles and books from the hosts and our panel.