It certainly had a momentous effect on the culture, and a lot of talented people were involved with it for at least the first couple of years that it existed, but I was never an ardent fan of this show, not even in the beginning. During those first years, I thought it was always far more concerned with being "hip" than with being funny. Grudgingly, over time, I began to accept the comedic genius of guys like Belushi, Ackroyd, and Murray, and began watching it appreciatively more often. Once those guys left, watching the show became an increasingly dull experience. For the past 25 or so years, of course, it hasn't been funny at all. I can't quite understand why it continues to be broadcast year after increasingly dreary year, but in an American culture that endures Britney Spears, Adam Sandler, and Kid Rock, I guess that isn't so surprising after all. For my money, "Second City Television" was always an infinitely superior, immeasurably funnier show.

I am a big fan of Mad TV...after I watched it the other night I switched to SNL...to watch that show for a little bit and see if it is good...OMG it was like the most unfunny show I have ever watched..If u listen the audience like hardly laughs at all...if they do its not a hyserical laugh..when u listen to the laughs on Mad TV they are always laughing soo hard...so that proves it>> Mad TV is soo much funnier than SNL

This show has had many peaks and valleys over the years.

It relies too heavily on lame, cliché and stupidly overdone skits for comedy. They should get some better hosts: some weeks they'll get someone who's naturally funny, other times they get someone flat and serious. SNL is losing its meat quickly and might want to consider ending graciously while it's still got some fans left.

Great in its heyday, but what have you done for me lately?

In the past, this has been one of the best shows on TV. Currently, it falls short, but it use to be real funny. I love watching the older SNL shows on Comedy Central, with Farley, Myers, Carvey, Spade, Sandler, etc. With the loss of people like Farrel, Shannon and Katton, the show has little left, and it has lost some ground to Mad TV

Compared to the brilliance of Carol Burnett & Friends, SNL falls firmly flat. Sure, some scketches are great and some comic legends (Dana Carvey, for instance) help bring the show up, but SNL often relied on dirty humor--and that's just not my style.