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I don’t know how to feel about this. A UK SNL could be a disaster (obviously, if I’m wrong and it turns out to be great, forget that I ever said this). Sketch comedy is universal, sure. But taking an American comedy structure into British hands could be a bad idea. There hasn’t been a consistent long running British sketch show in a long time, but the fact that the lull isn’t stopping SNL UK from happening just shows that the sketch show can’t really die – nor should it.
The Art of Clowning
Sketch comedy has been around since entertainment has been, basically. With burlesque and vaudeville shows (comedy variety shows) starting in the 19th century, and court jesters and mimes being there to entertain, people have always loved a ‘bit’. The art of the comedy act went from stage, to radio, to screen, with comedic duos like Abbott and Costello or groups like The Marx Brothers. Many sketches were done by teams doing character work, and this is still the case today. The power of improv and community has been a launching pad for comedians globally. A lot of the comedic actors we see today originated from sketch comedy institutions like:
Second City (Chicago)
- Tina Fey – SNL, 30 Rock, Mean Girls
- Stephen Colbert – The Colbert Report, Late Show
- Amy Poehler – SNL, Parks and Rec, co-founder of UCB
Cambridge Footlights
- John Cleese – Monty Python
- Emma Thompson – Actor, writer, Footlights president
- Stephen Fry – Blackadder, Fry & Laurie
Oxford Revue
- Rowan Atkinson – Mr. Bean, Blackadder
- Richard Curtis – Love Actually, Blackadder
- Armando Iannucci – Veep, The Thick of It
The Groundlings (LA)
- Kristen Wiig – SNL, Bridesmaids
- Will Ferrell – SNL, Anchorman
- Melissa McCarthy – Bridesmaids, Spy
Many of these people came together to form groups, characters and shows that have shaped comedy for the last 40 years. Too many examples, not enough time.
Sketch also stays evergreen because it is present wherever entertainment and culture is. The way the world is, there is always something to comment on, always someone to imitate. It has left room for different voices to be heard – sometimes it’s just good to watch sketch comedy to see the region’s cultural climate.
How Far is Too Far?
While sketch comedy can feel inclusive because they talk about different communities, that doesn’t necessarily mean that those communities have those opportunities to share their thoughts – the white, middle-class, able-bodied people would do it for them. Lest we forget the minstrel shows when white performers would wear blackface and act poor, stupid and uncivilised. I thought this necessary to mention because this feeds into the lines that sketch comedy cross. Sketch comedy has a history of offensive content and sometimes, its nature of being controversial can mean that they don’t adapt with the times. ‘Little Britain’ and their use of blackface and stereotypes went way into the 2000s – and we laughed at it. Matt Lucas and David Walliams received a lot of criticism for but it shows the intricate sketch comedy act of pushing boundaries while the world is constantly moving them.
Sketch comedy can’t be impartial – someone/thing has to be the butt of the joke, something to laugh at. Punching, but not too hard and only in certain places. This controversial, topical, newsworthy and funny tightrope walk is why sketch stands the test of time. For a ‘Key and Peele’ sketch, Keegan Michael Key created an “ Obama anger translator” character where he plays Obama’s inner angry thoughts. He actually ended up doing the character with the real Barack Obama at the White House Correspondents Dinner because of the impact that it made and demonstrates the power of a successful tightrope walk. Despite the silliness, there seems to be this prestige with the sketch comedy industry. The ability to adapt, tackle difficult subject matters, play multiple characters, spot societal holes and have fun along the way is grounds for major recognition. Even the shows with kids in it like ‘All That’, ‘So Random’ and ‘The Amanda Show’, it goes beyond acting chops, it’s a gift. That’s why they’re not letting Kenan Thompson go.
Trending Sounds and POVs
Sketch comedy moves as society does, and with the creation of YouTube in 2005, and then Vine, TikTok and more, sketch comedy wasn’t just for the TV. FRED, asdfmovies and The Lonely Island were some of the first to make sketch comedy a home in the digital space. It doesn’t require a massive set-up, with producers and writers tables, now, sketch comedy setup can be:
POV: that one friend that thinks they know everything
Sketch has changed its form but kept its essence of the fun in the simple or the simply absurd. And that’s why it works. But as I have said before on Screenscope about comedy translating overseas, the structure of SNL is so American I don’t see how the sketches can work now, or what fresh perspective they can give that social media doesn’t. The original is drenched in history but SNL UK will basically start from scratch. I guess they’re doing SNL Korea so why can’t they do it here? I’ll watch it though and see what it’s about. Please let me know who you would want the celebrity host to be – I either want it to be Danny Dyer or Mary Berry. No in-between.
