SNL is more fun, funnier and weird this season without the burden of a presidential election

USA Today

All eyes are usually on Saturday Night Live during election cycles. "But Season 47 of the comedy institution, which has had an excellent first six episodes, proves that a presidential election might hurt the show creatively more than it helps," says Kelly Lawler. "Unburdened by the demands of commenting on every political gaffe and presidential debate, and eschewing high-profile celebrity cameos as public figures (sorry, Jim Carrey), SNL this season so far has been unexpectedly hilarious, delightful and thrilling. Its cast, though still large and unwieldy (with 15 regulars and six featured players), has rarely been so well deployed. Sketches are topical, funny and downright weird, harking back to the roots of the nearly half-a-century-old series. Most of all, the new season feels as if everyone involved is finally having fun again. Which makes it so much easier for a viewer to have fun, too. The best sketches  are the oddball bits that are sometimes divorced entirely from current events." Lawler adds: "A focus on the strength of the regular cast, rather than A-list celebrities, is a refreshing reminder of just how talented these comedians are. Like last year, some cast members are being given time off to work on other projects – which is why Kate McKinnon has been absent so far this season – but even without its biggest star, SNL is thriving on the strength of a fine-tuned ensemble."