by Logan Pillard
“Saturday Night Live” has gone down as one of the most revolutionary television shows in the history of late night. From its first season in 1975, it has satirized the current events and issues in our society though the use of parody and humor, often at the expense of political figures and celebrities. For many, the show has offered some comfort through the hostile 2016 election season and now into the fourth week of a presidency that already feels like his four years are up.
Despite President Trump’s claim that “Saturday Night Live” is “failing” and that Alec Baldwin’s portrayal of him is “a disaster,” the show received its highest ratings in six years with Baldwin hosting Feb. 11 for a record 17th time. Baldwin assumed his role as Trump during the show’s season première and continues to reprise each episode, providing humor and hyperbole to an already mess of a presidency.
While Baldwin draws in the masses, the women of the cast capture the spotlight. Kate McKinnon, who played Hillary Clinton through the election, has proven herself as a true asset to the show. Regardless of the role she takes (and there are many), she brings each character alive and makes them instantly recognizable. In the latest episode, she took on newly confirmed Attorney General Jeff Sessions, capturing his Southern drawl and overt racism.
Melissa McCarthy debuted her role as Press Secretary Sean Spicer, receiving immense praise for her performance. Her costume and makeup were spot on, as well as her characterization of the man she calls “Spicey,” resulting in what critics called “the best performance on SNL in years.” This week’s performance was just as memorable, as Spicey sported Ivanka Trump brand heels and bangle, with a QVC logo added to create just the right jab at recent events (I’m talking to you, Kellyanne).
Despite each minute detail he could have attacked the performance on, our president once again proved his misogyny with his single criticism that Sean Spicer was played by a woman. “Saturday Night Live” responded to Trump’s comment by casting Leslie Jones as Trump himself.
What better clap back to a president whose campaign was built on racism and misogyny than a black woman playing said president? Bravo, Leslie, Bravo.
Advertisers have also taken notice to the rising popularity of “Saturday Night Live” for a concerned public, as well as the beady eyes of the president. VoteVets, an organization dedicated to campaigning for issues specific to veterans, released a commercial that aired during the show’s commercial break. The ad showed a veteran with an amputated leg calling Trump out on his morning TV habits rather than taking his morning intelligence briefings, ending with a challenge for the president: “You want to be treated like a legitimate president, sir? Then act like one.”
I’m not going to sugarcoat it, and neither will “Saturday Night Live.” The very ideology of democracy and our system of checks and balances is under attack by an administration that is already the least-approved in modern polling history. Not only have the members attacked the judiciary, they’ve worked tirelessly to delegitimize the free press, spreading lie after lie to promote a false reality our president seems to live in. People are scared. Shows such as “Saturday Night Live” are needed now more than ever, to bring laughter in a frightening situation, and promote discussion of change needed in our country.