SNL’s new documentary series proves why the legendary show is truly timeless

Finally, the final episode of the docu-series focuses on one season, which is largely considered one of the worst and most infamous seasons. In “Season 11: The Strange Year,” we take a look back at the first season Lorne Michaels returned to “SNL” after leaving the series in 1980. After a five-year absence, Michaels returned in an attempt to bring “SNL” back from the brink of cancellation. If Michaels had not returned to the show he created, the show would have ended right then and there, but the producer took it upon himself to reinvent the series.

Michaels cleaned house by not bringing back any cast members from the previous season, casting an entirely new group of players that included “Vacation” franchise star Randy Quaid, future comedy star Damon Wayans, character actor Joan Cusack, and comedian Jon Lovitz. , Brat Pack cast member Anthony Michael Hall, high school movie favorite Robert Downey Jr., satirist Dennis Miller, newcomer Nora Dunne, and off-Broadway star Danitra Vance and the Brat Pack. The show’s first openly gay cast member, Terry Sweeney.

Despite having an impressive array of talent, Michaels had difficulty gaining any momentum upon his return. The graphics weren’t working, and the cast had trouble getting into the groove. But this episode of the documentary series shows that even in a season that many consider one of the worst, there are still great peaks and bold creative decisions. Jon Lovitz’s recurring pathological liar character would elicit one of the most famous catchphrases of the decade, “Yes, this is the ticket!” Terry Sweeney inspired a generation of gay comedians. Damon Wayans went rogue and got fired. Even Francis Ford Coppola directed an entire episode of the series, and nothing like that will ever happen again.

And therein lies the real secret to “SNL”‘s ability: The show is always evolving, not because it wants to, but because it has to, and they never let failure stop them from trying again the next week. If the show had stopped after Season 11 or even before, think of all the funny moments we would have been deprived of. How many of its stars might have remained undiscovered? The series adapts to the times and the potential of the cast members it highlights. There’s nothing like it on television, and there probably never will be.

If you enjoyed all this talk about “SNL,” you should listen to our episode of The /Film Daily Podcast featuring “SNL 50: Beyond Saturday Night” executive producer Morgan Neville talking about the making of the docuseries:

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