In this special episode of SNL101, we are joined by comedy scholars Brittney Michelle Edmonds, Danielle Fuentes Morgan, and Raul Perez, as well as friend of the pod Chuck Hayward, to discuss 50 years of Saturday Night Live through the lens of the 50th Anniversary Special, aired on February 16, 2025. We talk about the show's role in establishing comedy across the 20th and 21st centuries from Word Association to Black Jeopardy, its complicated relationship with representing Blackness and Black humor exemplified in the In Memoriam montage, and how this epic oeuvre can be used to foster conversations in the classroom. We also introduce three featured players who bring a unique skill set: Noël Carroll discusses SNL as a comedy innovator, Bob Thompson spotlights the tailored nostalgia of the anniversary special, and Dan Amernick takes us back to when Lorne Michaels was dropped from the network. Readings include articles and books from the hosts and our panel.
