Celebrating 50 Years of "Saturday Night Live": A Personal and Generational Touchstone

A Personal "Saturday Night Live"

"Saturday Night Live" is celebrating its 50th anniversary, but for many of us, the show is less about a universal experience and more about a singular, personal connection. Our individual experiences with "SNL" are often tied to a specific season, cast, or era that resonated with us during a formative time in our lives. Lorne Michaels, the show’s creator, has even noted that people’s perceptions of the "best" cast often align with when they were in high school. The author of this reflection shares their own "SNL" experience, rooted in the 1984 season, a time when the show intersected with their adolescence and helped shape their comedic sensibilities. For them, "SNL" wasn’t just a show—it was a cultural touchstone that.LogErrorHere

A Defining Episode: Season 10, Episode 9

The author narrows their "SNL" experience down to a single episode: Season 10, Episode 9, which aired on December 15, 1984. This episode, hosted by Eddie Murphy, is a time capsule of the era, blending biting satire, physical comedy, and Murphy’s irrepressible charisma. For many fans, Season 10 is often dismissed as an outlier, as it marked a transitional period for the show. Lorne Michaels was not at the helm during this time; Dick Ebersol had taken over, bringing in a mix of established comedy talents like Billy Crystal, Christopher Guest, and Martin Short. The cast lacked the breakout star power of Eddie Murphy, who had recently left the show to pursue a film career. Yet, Murphy’s return to host this episode was nothing short of triumphant. He came back as a conquering hero, fresh from the success of "Beverly Hills Cop," and the episode was Built around his formidable presence.

Eddie Murphy’s Triumphant Return

The episode is a masterclass in Murphy’s versatility as a comedian. He reprised some of his most iconic characters, including Mr. Robinson, the irreverent inner-city children’s show host, and Buckwheat, the adult iteration of the "Our Gang" character. These sketches were familiar and comforting, like revisiting an old friend. But the episode also showcased Murphy’s ability to push boundaries. The standout piece is "White Like Me," a mockumentary in which Murphy dons whiteface to explore the "secret ways" of white America. The sketch is a bold, if imperfect, commentary on racism, imagining a world where white people enjoy unspoken privileges—like free newspapers and spontaneous dance parties on buses. The premise is a clever riff on "Black Like Me," the 1961 book where John Howard Griffin darkened his skin to experience life as a Black man. Murphy’s performance is both explosive and subtle, highlighting his willingness to take risks and challenge his audience.

The Legacy of ’80s Comedy and Its Complications

While the episode is filled with moments of comedic brilliance, it also reflects the limitations and problematic attitudes of the era. Murphy’s early comedy often relied on homophobic stereotypes, and this episode is no exception. A sketch about children’s toys features Murphy warning parents about the dangers of a pink-shirted Ken doll, implying that it could turn their sons gay. These jokes, which were once considered edgy and subversive, now feel dated and uncomfortable. They serve as a reminder of how comedy has evolved—and how much work remains to be done. Yet, even as we reckon with the flaws of this era, it’s impossible to deny the way Murphy’s comedy, at its best, could be both incisive and irreverent.

The Beauty of the Obscure

Amid the episode’s memorable moments, there are also smaller, quirkier sketches that have stuck with the author over the years. One such gem is "Climbing the Stairs," a bizarre and meandering sketch starring Martin Short as Lawrence Orbach, a World War II soldier who, inexplicably, doesn’t know how to climb stairs. The premise is absurd—Orbach, a Midwesterner, claims he never had to learn how to navigate stairs—and Short commits fully to the character’s terrified awkwardness. The sketch is silly, overlong, and ultimately inconsequential, but it’s precisely this kind of offbeat humor that makes it memorable. It’s a testament to the unpredictable nature of "SNL," where even the most absurd ideas can leave a lasting impression.

The Enduring Appeal of "Saturday Night Live"

In the end, "Saturday Night Live" doesn’t promise perfection. It doesn’t always hit the mark, and it’s not always groundbreaking. But what it offers is a mix of the silly, the subversive, and the unforgettable—moments that stay with you long after the credits roll. For the author, this 1984 episode is a time capsule, a reminder of the way "SNL" could capture the absurdity and complexity of a particular moment in time. It’s not the greatest episode of "SNL" ever made, but it’s theirs. And for millions of fans, that’s exactly what "SNL" has always been—a reflection of our personal experiences, our cultural touchstones, and the memories that leave us laughing, cringing, and thinking years after the fact.