SNL hasn't recovered from losing The Lonely Island: Recent music video parodies are unfunny bad songs

UPROXX

"The influence of the Lonely Island on SNL remains indelible" since the departure of Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer, says Steven Hyden. "The show is still doing pre-taped rap and pop parodies that aim to go viral well past Saturday night, in a manner that is similar to the style pioneered by the Lonely Island. The difference is that the execution now is much more obvious and far less clever or canny. If the Lonely Island is the Nirvana or Pearl Jam of contemporary SNL musical comedy, what the show is doing now can be likened to Creed or Nickelback." Hyden adds: "Instead of goofing on a particular artist or genre, numbers like the #metoo-themed 'Permission,' the mental health-oriented Migos nod 'Friendos,' or the Robert Mueller-oriented spin on Mariah Carey’s 'All I Want For Christmas' are polemics inextricably tied to this exact moment in time. They feel less like fully realized comedy sketches than dashed-off tweets. Oh, and they are also pretty bad just as songs. In terms of catchiness and quotability, 'RBG Rap' makes Adam Sandler sound like Paul McCartney."