In the great tradition of American democracy, there’s nothing quite like poking a little fun at our elected officials. Remember, in this land of the free, we’re all just regular folks with the added twist of some public service—or, more accurately, insider trading—sprinkled on top. Comedy has always been a trusty watchdog, sniffing out the absurd and the hypocritical. But in recent years, something’s gone a tad awry in the comedic kingdom, especially in the halls of legendary shows like Saturday Night Live (SNL).
Once upon a time, SNL had everyone laughing with gags about Gerald Ford’s less-than-graceful moments. But along came President Biden, with real-life slips and trips that would rival anything on a sitcom, and somehow, SNL has tackled these with sketches that focus on Biden’s age and other issues. In fact, SNL’s portrayal of Biden has specifically targeted his age, mental acuity, and bladder control, contradicting the claim that they stayed silent about him. Yet, when Trump takes the stage, it’s open season again—a curious shift that’s left audiences questioning the true motives behind the skits. Are they comedians, or merely activists masquerading as jesters?
Looking back at a recent SNL skit that aimed its comedic cannon at Trump, the results felt more like a misfire than a bullseye. While the skit took jabs at everything from Trump’s love of fast food to his supposed escapades on Air Force One, audiences couldn’t help but notice the lack of punch. Perhaps it’s all in a day’s work for the SNL writers, or maybe, just maybe, they’re a bit envious of Trump’s natural flair for the dramatic. After all, it’s hard to compete with the man who just might deliver an impromptu comedy routine at a press gaggle.
And then there’s the buzz about those controversial photos featuring a certain politician surrounded by seemingly incriminating company. But hold your horses because it turns out that context is king. These photos, reportedly just snapshots of Trump with adults at his club, were blown out of proportion like a Hollywood blockbuster. All this achieved was reinforcing Trump’s image as a host rather than an instigator—hardly the scandal some had hoped to spotlight.
In the end, maybe the decline in SNL’s ratings—compared to other metrics—is more about what they choose to portray than real comedic value. It might just be that the real entertainment happens off-screen, in the unscripted world of political figures obliviously stepping into comedic gold. SNL could take a lesson or two from the natural wit of unplanned moments and give viewers what they truly crave: humor that’s honest, equal in its jabs, and devoid of political favoritism. Until then, the audience might just find their laughs elsewhere.
