Kate McKinnon should leave SNL
SNL’s Kate McKinnon’s talents far exceed what the show currently has to offer.
Saturday Night Live is considered to be an American institution. Conceptualized and executed in the fall of 1975 by executive producer Lorne Michaels, SNL became a stalwart for satire on network television.
Forty plus years later, through all the ups and downs, SNL is still the show the comedy world stops to admire or loathe out of envy. Everyone is a critic, and SNL is judged based on its writing and talent alike.
SNL has flourished specifically in regards to politics, whether it was Chevy Chase’s Gerald Ford, Dana Carvey’s George Sr. or Tina Fey’s Sarah Palin to name a few, political satire remains the most popular aspect of the show. Catharsis has a lot to do with it. After all, half the populace probably doesn’t politically agree with the individual being immitated.
Some politicians are easier to make fun of than others. Consider the current President and the former President. How many Obama sketches come to mind? How many of Trumps?
Then there’s Hillary Clinton, who has been apart of SNL’s landscape since the early ’90s. Clinton has been portrayed by the late Jan Hooks, Amy Poehler and most recently Kate McKinnon.
McKinnon quickly rose to the front of her pack as the big eyed over the top version of Hillary. The desperate to lead and lusting for power Hillary. Almost a cartoon, but not quite. There was some truth behind those hungry, slightly crazed eyes.
Whether it be Lorne Michaels’ inability to relate to the millennials now occupying the comedy landscape, or quite simply the millennial generation lacking in funny bone, the show hasn’t really found its footing since the last great cast that included Kristen Wiig, Fred Armisen, Will Forte, Bill Hader, Jason Sudeikis, Andy Samberg and Seth Meyers exited stage left. To say these past few years have been years of transition is an understatement.
In fact, SNL has been pulling big names off the street to perform sketches. Last season saw Larry David portray Bernie Sanders to perfection. This season has seen Alec Baldwin portray Donald Trump, somewhat like that of a New Yorker comic strip. Most recently, Melissa McCarthy took on the role of press secretary Sean Spicer to immediate Emmy consideration. The push to create buzz and go viral has a lot to do with celebrity guest spots.
If you asked the average Joe off the street who was a current member of the cast, they’d be hard pressed to answer. If they did guess a member of the current cast, it would undoubtedly be McKinnon. She’s so talented, she’s practically in every sketch, playing a variety of characters. Though her talents are most notable when imitating a real person. A spectrum that includes Clinton, her personal hero Ellen Degenerous or Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Lorne has full confidence in McKinnon’s abilities, much as he did with Kristen Wiig. However, unlike Wiig, McKinnon’s supporting cast by comparison doesn’t add up.
In the first season of SNL, Chevy Chase was the star in a cast that saw the likes of Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman and Gilda Radner. Chase opened the show, hosted Weekend Update and his physical comedy made him a stand out. Chase accepted SNL’s first Emmy on behalf of the show. He was so big, executives were contemplating Chase as the heir apparent to Johnny Carson at THE TONIGHT SHOW. So, midway through season two, Chase decided to leave because SNL had unofficially become The Chevy Chase Show. Chase was replaced by Bill Murray, the show was better and Chase’s career in film took off.
McKinnon’s career shares similarities and notable differences. For one, McKinnon has already transitioned into film and other TV projects, while remaining at 30 Rock. Most notably as the saving grace of the all female GHOSTBUSTERS reboot last summer. As engineer Jillian Holtzman, McKinnon was able to showcase legitimate acting chops while also stealing the show from comedic heavyweights like Kristin Wiig, Melissa McCarthy and fellow SNL cast mate Leslie Jones.
This week McKinnon was announced to be taking the lead in a reboot of the hit children’s animated series THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS.
Of course, a lot of it has to do with the parts being written for McKinnon. She tends to get the quirky off beat characters that stand out, and then she runs with it. That’s been the problem at SNL these past few years. Either the cast hasn’t had a chance to run or there’s nothing to run with.
In a Google search of “SNL Cast” these photos come up:
As you can see, Kate McKinnon is the first name to pop up. The rest of the faces that follow are not current SNL cast members, save for Kenan Thompson, the longest tenured cast member on the show. Lorne Michaels is of course the show’s creator and show runner. Jimmy Fallon is the current host of THE TONIGHT SHOW. Kristen Wiig and Tina Fey are certified SNL Hall of Famers and very much at the forefront of mainstream comedy.
Then we have Taran Killiam and Jay Pharoah, two former cast members who were fired before the current season. If a reason was given for the firing of the two mainstays who would have been heading into their sixth season with the show, it was never made public. With Obama leaving office, perhaps the impressionist Pharoah’s services would no longer be necessary. Perhaps Killiam’s impression of Trump just couldn’t add up to former SNL cast member and current SNL announcer Darryl Hammond, or perhaps Killiam’s star just wasn’t as bright as Alec Baldwin’s.
McKinnon is so gifted, she casts a rather large and somewhat suffocating shadow over the rest of the cast, much in the same way Chase did back in ’76. Given McKinnon’s popularity, it will ultimately be her decision whether or not her time is up.
McKinnon has done a valiant job carrying SNL, to the tune of winning her first Emmy for her work last year. However, it’s time for others to step up into the lead position in order for the show to better itself.
Besides, with Hollywood calling, how could she ever top this?
