SNL season finale was a mishmash of everything it needs to fix

The Atlantic

The Paul Rudd-hosted Season 44 finale should've been special. Instead, says David Sims, "there was the same slightly lackluster mix of topical material and unmemorable goofy sketch writing that has defined the show in recent years. SNL has survived for so many decades by knowing when to pull the trigger on a revamp, and (Alec) Baldwin’s dismal karaoke work (Saturday) night was the surest sign yet that something needs to change. It was about as laugh-free as the cold open of the previous year’s finale, which also involved Trump, his sons, and Mueller in a Sopranos spoof, mocking the idea that whatever resolution was promised from the special counsel’s investigation might never arrive. A year later, they’re all singing 'Don’t Stop Me Now' together, rather than 'Don’t Stop Believin’,' but the message remains the same." Sims adds: "Baldwin probably should move along, as his heart really hasn’t been in the role since Trump won the presidency. A reshuffle is also badly needed behind the 'Weekend Update' desk, where Colin Jost and Michael Che have never quite managed to distinguish themselves after five seasons on the job. Some of the other sketches in (Saturday) night’s episode pointed to opportunities that SNL let go stale over the years."

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