An analysis of SNL cast member screen time for Season 45 reveals the show's "cameo problem"

Vulture

Celebrity cameos took up 9.8% of screen time in the 2019-20 season, more than any individual cast member, according to Bethy Squires. Kate McKinnon was No. 1 with 8.1%, followed by Kenan Thompson and Beck Bennett, who each had 7.2% of screen time. Cast members with the least screen time include Michael Che, Pete Davidson, Melissa Villaseñor, Colin Jost and newbies Chloe Fineman and Bowen Yang. "This was the season during which SNL’s cameo problem really metastasized," says Squires. "Former cast members returned to play Biden and Bloomberg, Kamala and (Klobuchar). They showed up in the monologues of alums like Will Ferrell and (Eddie) Murphy. And in the last live episode of the season, Debbie Downer came back to bum us all out about the coronavirus. How is this cast supposed to compete not only with each other, but with the ghosts of 8H? It’s not fair to the new faces, and the constant applause breaks ruin any rhythm a sketch might have. SNL is on the verge of being really weird and fun. In what world is 'jealous sisters in the 1940s try to keep their hot sibling from marrying a military officer' a recurring sketch? In this world! But all the locals know is Alec Baldwin thinking about maybe not playing Trump someday." Squires also notes that Bennett, Kyle Mooney and Cecily Strong had the most "Cut for Time" sketches.