Why SNL Will Always Be the Comedy World’s OG

“The past is always present at SNL. The couch in my office was John Belushi’s,” Seth Meyers says. As the comedy series prepares to kick off its 50th season, it’s worth noting that not only does it still produce some of the funniest and most talked-about moments in pop culture, it does so without changing a classic formula.

“Here are two words I wouldn’t use to describe it: Like new!” says Meyers, a former head writer and cast member who has been hosting his own show, Late Night with Seth Meyers, for a decade. “The most (and best) old school element of SNL is people still run down hallways with scripts in hand yelling, ‘Look out!’ It’s the way I always dreamed TV would be, and it didn’t let me down.”

The series, which has minted stars from Gilda Radner, Chevy Chase, and Eddie Murphy to Tina Fey and Pete Davidson, also relies on a balance of wisdom and innovation. “Never underestimate the value of new voices,” Meyers says. “Lorne [Michaels] will always have the institutional knowledge of how the show works, but you have to pair that with young, funny people who will surprise and delight you with their approach to comedy.”

Speaking of Michaels, the show’s creator and comedy’s reigning don, Meyers adds, “I am fully supportive of calling Lorne a comedy OG, as long as he agrees to wear an OG gold chain at all times. I will pay for the chain.”

This story appears in the March 2024 issue of Town & Country. SUBSCRIBE NOW

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