Saturday Night Live UK: Room for Improvement, But a Welcome Addition to Late-Night Television

Initially, I approached Saturday Night Live UK's attempt to break into the British comedy scene with significant skepticism. My reservations stemmed from the notable chasm between British and American humor, especially in stand-up and sketch comedy. We Britons don't share the same affection for the eccentric, lively, and at times somewhat childish sketches that shows like SNL cultivate for the American market. Conversely, perhaps due to a perceived cultural superiority, we tend to favour more intellectual, witty, or even dry humour. This fundamental difference likely explains much of the divergence between the early and later seasons of the US version of The Office.

I won't claim one style of humour is inherently superior, merely that there's a clear distinction in what British and American audiences appreciate. With this in mind, I never envisioned SNL UK's success. I've watched the American SNL numerous times, and while some moments shine, much of it simply doesn't align with my comedic taste. Yet, here were Sky and SNL creator Lorne Michaels, assuring everyone it would work and urging us to tune in for 75 minutes of fun and hilarity. Colour me unconvinced.

However, British viewers might be overlooking a crucial point: the current state of late-night television in the UK is, frankly, abysmal. The bar for SNL UK to achieve even modest success is remarkably low. We're not talking about a golden age akin to when classics like Only Fools and Horses and Fawlty Towers were at their peak, nor even a recent era featuring modern hits such as The Thick of It, The IT Crowd, or Peep Show vying for attention. SNL UK is competing against tired, lamentable 'comedy' shows like Mrs. Brown's Boys, or any generic talk, game, or reality show hosted by Romesh Ranganathan or Rob Beckett, alongside endless repeats of established icons. If there was ever a desperate need for appointment-viewing late-night TV comedy in the UK, it is now. And you know what? Despite all my hesitations and preconceptions, I’m glad SNL UK has arrived.

I won't claim the premiere was a resounding triumph, because it wasn't. Yet, it demonstrated undeniable potential that can be further explored. The assembled cast possesses qualities they can build upon, and the British watershed structure (not tied to a three-hour time delay like in the US) means the show can be even more mature and raw. Its focus on a distinct British style, rather than a mere American translation of the SNL format, works strongly in its favour. We saw brutally honest political rants, excellent parodies and performances, and a standout "Weekend Update" where Paddy Young and Ania Magliano truly flourished, delivering genuinely laugh-out-loud jokes. It’s no surprise this more stand-up-centric segment headlined the show, as it’s perhaps the part of SNL US that best transcends a non-American audience.

Similarly, Tina Fey was a remarkable choice as the inaugural guest host. While a prominent British star cutting the metaphorical ribbon would have been charming, as Fey herself quipped in her hilarious and honest monologue, "none of you bastards would do it." Fey brought her invaluable experience and class, executing the task brilliantly and reaffirming her comedic efficacy regardless of region. Oh, and following that monologue with a sketch based on a 'nonce' (a British term for a sex offender) is a surefire way to win over British comedy fans, so credit to whoever made that decision.

Nevertheless, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. For every excellent choice and sketch, there was an equally mediocre one. Almost every other sketch left a sense of dissatisfaction, whether it was the timid Keir Starmer, David Attenborough’s last meal, the Hamnet chain, or the Paddington Bear article. Many contained good elements and amusing jokes, but they often dragged on for too long, feeling prolonged, tired, and somewhat dull. The show would greatly benefit from being 15 minutes shorter and featuring tighter, more impactful sketches.

Let's not forget the musical performance either. If Fey was a top-tier choice for an inaugural show, Wet Leg was far from it for the musical guest, delivering a performance that lacked the punch and memorable quality this premiere truly needed. All their performance made me think was, "geez, she really likes crawling on the floor a lot..."

The array of featured guest stars did, at least, hit the mark with fans, combining fresh talent like Nicola Coughlan and Regé-Jean Page with global superstars such as Michael Cera and British icons like Graham Norton.

So, there’s undoubtedly much to improve upon, but I’m actually looking forward to seeing more. I find SNL UK preferable to most of the other tired and dreary shows currently filling the Saturday night 'late-night' slot. This holds true as long as SNL UK continues to forge its own path and, hopefully, moves closer to the standard of British sketch comedy greats. If SNL UK can achieve even a fraction of what Mitchell and Webb, Armstrong and Miller, Fry and Laurie, and so many others accomplished, it will become a welcome staple of late-night entertainment on British soil.