I just got done watching the season finale episode of Saturday Night Live. People's opinions are mixed on the show. It seems it's one of those things that's always "never as good as it used to be". But I like it. I like the current cast, their hit-and-miss sketches, their attempts at different kinds of humor than we used to see back in the Adam Sandler-Chris Farley days.
In any case, the final sketch of this show bid farewell to cast stalwart Kristen Wiig. I haven't been a fan of every Wiig character but she became the go-to player for her generation in a tenure spanning seven years. Here's the video:
As I watched the cast dance the season, and Wiig's SNL career, away, it occurred to me that life changes whether you want it to or not. The departures of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler marked the last generational shift, Jimmy Fallon and Will Ferrell before them. Even when things were getting stale--even when you knew change should come--it was still sad to watch the turnover...and still is.
Oddly enough, life has a way of making up for the sadness. Something new and exciting blossoms out of the ashes of the old. Who isn't looking forward to Taran Killam and Nasim Pedrad getting more screen time? I know I am.
In 2011-12 Blazer fans experienced a generational change. It was practically seismic. The old generation hobbled out the back door on crutches--not a single bar of Ruby Tuesday to accompany the departure--and the hasty replacements fell flat on their faces. One look on the court verified the message: "This is done. It's over."
But, you know, the other half of the lesson holds true as well. We don't know how long it will take or what form, but there will be something else. Somebody new will come along to light imagination's fire. Fey will follow Ferrell, Killam will follow Wiig and Sudeikis. That's not a tragedy. That's life.
I'm not sure how this will work out for the Blazers or SNL. It'll sure be interesting to see, though.
--Dave (blazersub@gmail.com)
P.S. As an added bonus you should see what Jay Pharoah did to Stephen A. Smith in a Weekend Update sketch that didn't make air. It's after the jump.