How Did SNL Make Its Comeback
If you haven't noticed, Saturday Night Live has been gaining a lot of popularity the past few years. It has had a growing audience and a large surge in viewers. SNL has always been a popular late night show, but it has never had as much engagement as it does recently. It was very popular in the late 70s and 80s, around the time of its origin, and has since fallen off. How has SNL rebranded themselves into a show that millions of people watch every saturday night, and how have they gained so much attention? I believe there are a few factors as to why this is happening, and how other shows should take notes.
The first and most obvious reason for Saturday Night Lives recent attention is because of their 50 year anniversary. SNL has been celebrating their 50th anniversary for the past few months in very grand ways. Firstly, a movie featuring a number of big stars premiered recently. It was in honor of the 50th anniversary, and told the story of the founder of SNL, Lorne Micheals. It talks about how they developed, how they decided on having different hosts and musical guests. Overall, the movie was very entertaining and funny, captivating fans of the show. SNL also hosted a very special 50th anniversary episode on the date of the actual anniversary. It featured a large number of celebrities and many of the returning and most famous cast members. The episode was viewed by over 15 million people across the United States, this made it NBCs biggest entertainment event in 5 years.
Another one of the reasons why SNL has had a growing amount of engagement is because they have mastered how to captivate the attention of the Gen Z population. SNL has recognized the growing shift towards social media consumption and has embraced “Tik Tok culture”. They consistently include viral trends as well as more mature adult content, making their viewers span across most age groups. They have also created their own Tik Tok account where they post clips from the episodes, and have surpassed over a billion views on the platform. This has led them to have a 178% increase in social media engagement.
The current cast of SNL plays a large role in its recent popularity. Multiple sources have considered the current cast to be one of the most influential and popular in its whole history. This could be due to their social media engagement, but the attention is majorly credited to their diversity. They all bring a fresh and new perspective to the show with many diverse points of view. The cast features people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, it also features people from the LGBTQ community. In addition to the cast the show has also featured many high profile musical guests and hosts.
Overall, SNL has seen a surge in popularity and engagement due to multiple reasons. They have successfully built up a new audience who is loyal to the show and continues to return every Saturday night. They have also successfully reengaged their older audience with frequent and light political humor. If you haven't watched SNL recently, I highly recommend tuning into a recent episode.
This was a really interesting read, and I think you're spot on with how SNL has made such a successful comeback. The 50th anniversary definitely helped reintroduce the show to a broader audience, and the way they leaned into nostalgia while still modernizing the content was smart. I also really appreciated your point about Gen Z and social media—SNL’s embrace of platforms like TikTok and their understanding of meme culture has made their content way more shareable and accessible. The diversity of the cast is another big part of why the show feels more relevant now; it reflects the world we live in, and I think people connect with that. Great job breaking down the factors that contributed to their resurgence!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more with the points made in this article about SNL's resurgence. As a long-time fan, I've seen the show go through various phases, but the 50th anniversary celebrations have truly brought it back into the spotlight. The movie about Lorne Michaels was a brilliant move, offering a behind-the-scenes look that resonated with both old and new fans. The special anniversary episode was a masterpiece, bringing together a who's who of comedy and music, and it was a joy to see so many beloved cast members return. But what really stands out is how SNL has adapted to the Gen Z audience. Their TikTok account is a goldmine of hilarious clips and viral trends, making the show feel current and relevant. The diversity of the current cast is also a game-changer; they bring a range of perspectives that keep the content fresh and engaging. It's clear that SNL has struck a balance between honoring its legacy and embracing the future, and it's exciting to see how they continue to evolve. If you haven't caught an episode recently, you're missing out on some of the best comedy around.
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