Assessing the 50-Year Legacy of Saturday Night Live

Groundbreaking show brought SHU alum Kevin Nealon ’75 fame and transformed TV comedy

Details are scarce as to who will appear on Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary show airing this weekend, but past milestone celebrations suggest audiences are in for celebrity cameos, tributes and performances by stars past and present—maybe even Sacred Heart alum Kevin Nealon ’75. 

Nealon, who also received an honorary degree from Sacred Heart University in 2022, appeared on the show from 1986-1995. He brought several memorable characters to life, including “Franz” to Dana Carvey’s “Hans,” “The Subliminal Man” and “Tarzan.” He also had a recurring role as an anchor on “Weekend Update.”  

For some observers, this late-night sketch comedy show transformed television comedy with its memorable characters, popular catchphrases, nonsensical sketches and political satire. It also launched the careers of some of today’s biggest comic actors—many of whom came to the show with improv backgrounds, such as Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Kristin Wiig, Will Ferrell, Jon Lovitz, Chris Kattan and others. This grounding helped to create casts who were comfortable experimenting with different forms of comedy.  

At Sacred Heart, improv tradition is alive and well. The improv troupe, known as SHU’s Line Is It Anyway?, performs on and off campus. It falls under Sacred Heart University’s Theatre Arts Program. Through rehearsals and public performances, members gain their comedic chops and have fun.  

We asked Joe Dunn ’25, who chairs the troupe, about the legacy of Saturday Night Live, its impact on comedy and improv’s impact on the show’s success.  

How has Saturday Night Live influenced comedy?  

It dramatically popularized sketch comedy, and its impact on comedy can be seen just about anywhere you look. Any comedy writing class will at some point cover the “Van Down by the River” (Season 18) and “More Cowbell” (Season 25) sketches. With its top-tier comedy writing and the easily accessible performances, it naturally has had an influence on modern comedy. You can see the influence in shows such as Key and Peele or I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson, but there are more subtle influences in basically any post-70s comedy show.  

Fifty years is a long time. Does the show continue to have relevancy? 

I think as long as SNL runs, it will have a significant level of relevancy. It is one of those things that has become an institution of the entertainment industry. 

Some have suggested the early 1990s were a particular bright spot in the show. Was that it’s “golden age”?  

I think the 90s and early 2000s were the most influential SNL eras. In terms of Nealon’s contribution, I think his role as a “Weekend Update” anchor was probably the most important. I don't know about a “golden era.” With shows like this, there will always be a sense of nostalgia. Personally, I have a bias toward the early-mid 2010s SNL, because that’s when I started watching. Usually that’s how favorites like that tend to happen. 

Many members of the cast came from improv. How do you think that background influenced the sketches on SNL?  

Improv is a quintessential element for a comedy performer (or, really, any kind of performer). Some of the funniest bits ever recorded are improv and you’d never know. Any comedy writer, actor or enthusiast would tell you that improvisation is one of the most important skills you could have. You must think on your feet and feel comfortable going with the flow or shifting a scene from what you initially planned. A significant number of SNL performers came from an improv background, and that's to be expected. 

How are today’s aspiring improv players learning the craft through Sacred Heart University’s Theatre Arts Program?   

SHU’s Theatre Arts Program is robust and diverse. The Improv at SHU meets three days a week, with a dedicated group of performers who are always working to improve. At the core of our troupe, we emphasize our own growth and encourage each other to try new things. Improv is one of the best ways to quickly grow as a performer, and I have personally seen its effect on our students in improv rehearsals and shows.  

Interested in learning more about SHU’s improv troupe?  

Improv players who perform with SHU’s Line Is It Anyway? not only gain performance skills but also have an opportunity to transfer those skills to their everyday and professional lives. Improvisation can help to build strong communication skills, approach problems with a flexible and adaptive mind and think more creatively about challenges and opportunities.  

The troupe performs on select Thursdays all year at the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts in the Little Theatre. The group hones their skills through regular rehearsals. New members are welcome. You can learn more about the program by calling 203-371-7908 or visiting Sacred Heart’s Theatre Arts Program. 

Pictured: Comedian Kevin Nealon, a SHU alum, performing at the SHU Community Theatre in 2022.