PSA: Rewatching Old Episodes of ‘SNL’ Is Very Soothing Right Now
Simply put, the world is going through it right now. In the middle of an unprecedented pandemic, it’s hard to be anything but scared/nervous/anxious. That’s totally understandable. That’s also why it’s important to distract yourself every once in a while and think about something other than potential doom. Enter: reruns of SNL, the ultimate diversion for what’s happening in 2020.
I know, it sounds crazy. Why would you watch old episodes of SNL in a time like this? I’ll tell you: because they will make you laugh, they will make you feel nostalgic, and they will help you realize that the world keeps moving pretty much no matter what. You know, there’s something about watching Jon Hamm do a sketch called Jon Hamm’s John Ham from 2008 that will make you laugh your ass off right now.
Here’s how you can replicate this method for yourselves:
Go to Hulu and search for SNL, duh.
Scroll through the seasons and pick one at random. For the sake of this example, let’s pick season 38, which aired in 2013.
Look through the list of hosts in that season. Realize there’s a Justin Bieber episode. Click on that Justin Bieber episode.
Settle in for 45 minutes of 19-year-old Biebs wearing a bad wig and trying to act alongside Fred Armisen and Bill Hader.
Experience joy.
Repeat.
The whole point of SNL is to make light of whatever news was happening at the time. In that episode, Seth Meyers opened his Weekend Update segment talking about a snowstorm so bad that people got stuck in their cars on the Long Island Expressway. Drivers had to sleep in their vehicles overnight! That’s crazy, and at the time, I’m sure it was a huge deal. Sitting here seven years later, though, it seems like another lifetime. I mean, he closed that same Weekend Update segment talking about a NEW photo app popular amongst the youths called Snapchat. What a time to be alive!
If any of the above sounds appealing to you, might I humbly suggest the follow episodes as a starter pack:
Season 34, episode 8: Paul Rudd hosts with Beyoncé performing, and the infamous Justin Timberlake “Single Ladies” sketch is born.
Season 42, episode 9: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler serve as hosts! What more could you ask for?
Season 30, episode 20: The LINDSAY FREAKIN’ LOHAN episode.
Season 30, episode 11: Along those ^ same lines, PARIS HILTON was an SNL host and you...have to watch it.
Obviously, nothing can erase what’s happening in the world right now, but it’s helpful to remember that we’ve been through shit in the past and we’re still sitting here. I would bet money we’ll get through this too. And while we’re working on getting to the other side, we might as well laugh, right?
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