SNL101

Saturday Night Live in the Classroom

Episode 39: Jon Hamm (S50E18) 04/20/2025

Episode 39: Jon Hamm (S50E18) Jon Hamm understood the assignment in his 4th time as host on . We discuss satirizing socioeconomic inequality in , civil disobedience with , and the complexity of roasting and comedy writing via , , and . Readings address psychological impacts of socioeconomic class, Henry David Thoreau’s essay on the relationships between individual citizens and government, and readings from our cohosts on the ethics of satire and humor. Stay tuned for a bonus conversation with Charisse L’Pree and Chuck Hayward on Lizzo, the paucity of popular protest music, and comedy post scandal. /episode/index/show/2c89370a-7471-4cc7-bf08-7c242ae80adf/id/36235585

S50E17 BONUS: A Conversation with Prof. Immy Farukhi 04/17/2025

S50E17 BONUS: A Conversation with Prof. Immy Farukhi We talk with , an entertainment lawyer and professor at Syracuse University, about the legal frameworks around obscenity, indecency, and satire in media—particularly in the context of . We discuss the legal distinctions between "obscene" (not protected by the First Amendment) and "indecent" (protected but regulatable). We also the role of satire and how SNL's political commentary, even when crude or biting, is protected under the First Amendment despite the inherent political nature of the FCC. Prof. Farukhi emphasizes the importance of nuanced legal education, teaching students to analyze legal tests and apply them to real-world situations, fostering critical thinking rather than black-and-white answers. /episode/index/show/2c89370a-7471-4cc7-bf08-7c242ae80adf/id/36204565

Episode 38: Jack Black (S50E17) 04/12/2025

Episode 38: Jack Black (S50E17) Jack Black’s 4th time hosting on was a refreshingly silly reprieve, from current events and a string of underwhelming episodes. We discuss the implications of the call-and-response-gone-wrong in , ethical non-monogamy in , and the potential of framing to disrupt collective memory in . We also discuss through the lens of learning to engage with media, the psychology of heckling, and imaginative resistance. Entertainment attorney and Newhouse TRF Professor also shares his strategy for teaching obscenity and indecency. Readings include developmental and relationship psychology, the context of offense, and the rise of heckling. /episode/index/show/2c89370a-7471-4cc7-bf08-7c242ae80adf/id/36109225

Episode 37: Mikey Madison (S50E16) 04/05/2025

Episode 37: Mikey Madison (S50E16) Mikey Madison’s hosting premiere on was largely unimpressive and was overshadowed by Morgan Wallen’s abrupt departure during the closing credits. We discuss punching down and missed opportunities as well as the art of waiting in , reboot culture in , and the dynamics of inside jokes with . Readings include the cultural and industry significance of reboots and the importance of waiting and patience in an increasingly on demand world. /episode/index/show/2c89370a-7471-4cc7-bf08-7c242ae80adf/id/36015455

Episode 36: Lady Gaga (S50E15) 03/12/2025

Episode 36: Lady Gaga (S50E15) Lady Gaga’s second time hosting (and as musical guest) on generated a lot of feelings, some good, some bad, some funny, some sad. We discuss the power of satire in the , satirizing masculinity and power in , the manic pixie dream girl and commodity feminism in , and language and power in . Readings include the social history of single women in the United States, the effects of income imbalance within marriages, and a 1979 essay by James Baldwin entitled,” If Black English Isn't a Language, Then Tell me What Is.” /episode/index/show/2c89370a-7471-4cc7-bf08-7c242ae80adf/id/35660460

Episode 35: Shane Gillis (S50E14) 03/08/2025

Episode 35: Shane Gillis (S50E14) Shane Gillis’ second time hosting on March 1, 2025 showcased the potential of a host to “make the show his own;” Gillis was clearly active in the writers room and appeared in every sketch. We discuss how to satirize stereotypes in the and , the difficulty in satirizing Trump in the , the trolley problem in , and the absurdity of direct to consumer drug ads in . Readings include critical analyses of pornography, the complexity of drug ads, and a takedown of a beloved philosophical problem. /episode/index/show/2c89370a-7471-4cc7-bf08-7c242ae80adf/id/35586465

SNL50 BONUS: A Conversation with Dan Amernick 02/27/2025

SNL50 BONUS: A Conversation with Dan Amernick We talk with Dr. Dan Amernick, Senior Professional Lecturer and department chair of Media Arts at Marist University. We discuss the show's transformation from an experimental comedy space to a corporate-driven institution, its role in shaping political discourse, and how it has both reflected and influenced American culture over 50 years. The conversation explores the rise of celebrity cameos, the diminishing space for emerging cast members, and the commercialization of SNL’s once-subversive edge. Is the show still a groundbreaking force in comedy, or has it become a self-congratulatory institution? Tune in for a deep dive into the history, humor, and legacy of SNL. /episode/index/show/2c89370a-7471-4cc7-bf08-7c242ae80adf/id/35473475

SNL50 BONUS: A Conversation with Noël Carroll 02/27/2025

SNL50 BONUS: A Conversation with Noël Carroll We talk with Dr. Noël Carroll, distinguished professor of philosophy, film and media cultures at the Graduate School at the City University of New York (CUNY) and a leading figure in contemporary philosophy of art. We discuss SNL’s reinvention of classic comedy formats, its role in shaping political satire, and its connections to countercultural movements. Carroll reflects on whether SNL is truly subversive or simply a product of capitalist entertainment, and the group debates the show's longevity in a changing media landscape. Is SNL an enduring institution or an aging relic? Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on comedy, art, and cultural transformation. /episode/index/show/2c89370a-7471-4cc7-bf08-7c242ae80adf/id/35473370

SNL50 BONUS: A Conversation with Bob Thompson 02/27/2025

SNL50 BONUS: A Conversation with Bob Thompson We talk with Dr. Robert Thompson, the founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture and a Trustee Professor of Television and Popular Culture at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. We discuss its evolution, cultural impact, and role in political satire. From its nostalgic anniversary special to its function as a talent incubator, they explore SNL’s strengths, shortcomings, and digital-age relevance. The conversation critiques the show’s tendency toward superficial political humor, its struggles with inclusivity, and the limitations of network television in fostering truly subversive comedy. Finally, they speculate on the show's future—does SNL have only five years left? Tune in for a sharp and insightful discussion on one of TV’s most iconic institutions. /episode/index/show/2c89370a-7471-4cc7-bf08-7c242ae80adf/id/35473275

Episode 34: SNL101 on SNL50 (S50E13) 02/25/2025

Episode 34: SNL101 on SNL50 (S50E13) In this special episode of SNL101, we are joined by comedy scholars , , and , as well as friend of the pod Chuck Hayward, to discuss 50 years of Saturday Night Live through the lens of the . We talk about the show’s role in establishing comedy across the 20th and 21st centuries from to , its complicated relationship with representing Blackness and Black humor exemplified in the 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: discusses SNL as a comedy innovator, spotlights the tailored nostalgia of the anniversary special, and takes us back to when Lorne Michaels was dropped from the network. Readings include articles and books from the hosts and our panel. /episode/index/show/2c89370a-7471-4cc7-bf08-7c242ae80adf/id/35430300

Episode 33: Timothée Chalamet (S50E12) 01/31/2025

Episode 33: Timothée Chalamet (S50E12) Timothée Chalamet’s third time hosting on did not necessarily disappoint, but some fan favorites like SmokeChedda TheAssGetta and Tiny Horse were noticeably absent. We discuss James Austin Johnson’s ability to impersonate Trump’s haughty cruelty in , the role of AI in interpersonal relationships in , and the power intra Black conversations in . We are again honored to have Chuck Hayward join us as we also unpack , , and . Readings include current articles on the rise of conservatism in the United States, the psychology of education, AI, and collaborative creativity, and the history and effects of anti-Black hair discrimination. /episode/index/show/2c89370a-7471-4cc7-bf08-7c242ae80adf/id/35097670

Episode 32: Dave Chappelle (S50E11) 01/24/2025

Episode 32: Dave Chappelle (S50E11) Dave Chappelle’s fourth time hosting on featured a markedly mature appearance that balanced the political and the personal. We discuss his progressively classic and political aesthetics, journalism’s struggle in the current communication environment with , and the power of ambiguity and backstory in . We are joined in the virtual studio by friend of the pod, Chuck Hayward for an exciting conversation about Chappelle’s trajectory. Readings include a 15-year-old article from , a lesser known MLK speech from 1965, and Gramsci’s essays while imprisoned by the Italian Fascist regime in the 1920s. /episode/index/show/2c89370a-7471-4cc7-bf08-7c242ae80adf/id/34994715

Episode 31: Martin Short (S50E10) 01/05/2025

Episode 31: Martin Short (S50E10) Martin Short played the elder statesman during his fifth time hosting on . This Christmas episode was filled with cameos, callbacks, and current events. We discuss the complexity of homelessness and the rhetoric of anti-woke publics in , the intractable intersection of gender and comedy in , and the winner of this year’s . Emmy nominated also joins to share his thoughts on demographic trends in the . Readings include analyses of race, gender, and entertainment including Hanif Abdurraqib's 2022 collection of essays, . /episode/index/show/2c89370a-7471-4cc7-bf08-7c242ae80adf/id/34726275

Episode 30: Chris Rock (S50E09) 12/21/2024

Episode 30: Chris Rock (S50E09) We talk about Chris Rock’s fourth time hosting on . The alum anchors a largely forgettable episode, interlaced with a few showstopping bangers. We talk about impactful lines from Rock’s , fan fictionalizing the 2022 Oscars Slap in , as well as racial memory and application with and . Readings include histories of standup and fan fiction as well as recent articles on honestly representing mythic and iconic figures. /episode/index/show/2c89370a-7471-4cc7-bf08-7c242ae80adf/id/34559840

Episode 29: Paul Mescal (S50E08) 12/14/2024

Episode 29: Paul Mescal (S50E08) Paul Mescal puts on an adequate performance in his SNL debut on December 7, 2024. We discuss spontaneity, creativity, and social comparison in , representations of masculinity in , and the inconsistent appeal of multi and cross genre content in and . Readings including a meta analysis of social comparison, philosophy and psychology of creativity, and a review of genre performances at the box office. /episode/index/show/2c89370a-7471-4cc7-bf08-7c242ae80adf/id/34444295

Episode 28: Charli XCX (S50E07) 12/08/2024

Episode 28: Charli XCX (S50E07) In Charlie XCX’s debut as host on November 14, 2024, we talk about prison abolitionism in Here I Go and the intersection of entertainment, journalism, and social media in Banger Boys, as well as a selection of #chejokes in Weekend Update that hit on national identity, gender, race, and class. Readings include reflections on prison abolition, a new chapter from Charisse on the intersection of entertainment and journalism, and the connection between patriotism and xenophobic jingoism. /episode/index/show/2c89370a-7471-4cc7-bf08-7c242ae80adf/id/34338440

Episode 27: Bill Burr (S50E06) 11/26/2024

Episode 27: Bill Burr (S50E06) Bill Burr hosts the post election episode on November 9, 2024, which feels disorganized and arbitrary at best. We talk about the complicated nature of satire and power in , and the complicated nature of meaning and commercial representation in , , and . We also take time to appreciate Michael Che’s frustration with the election on . Readings include articles on the philosophy and psychology of music, as well as the role of semiotics in conversation and advertising. /episode/index/show/2c89370a-7471-4cc7-bf08-7c242ae80adf/id/34164460

Episode 26: John Mulaney (S50E05) 11/09/2024

Episode 26: John Mulaney (S50E05) John Mulaney returns to host for the sixth time in this pre-election episode. In our post-election analysis, we consider Kamala Harris’ appearance in the , the role of memory in democratic participation with , and what it means to know New York with . Readings include Alexis de Tocqueville’s “Democracy in America” as well as philosophical and psychological explorations of memory and knowledge. /episode/index/show/2c89370a-7471-4cc7-bf08-7c242ae80adf/id/33857502

Episode 25: Michael Keaton (S50E04) 11/02/2024

Episode 25: Michael Keaton (S50E04) Michael Keaton’s fourth time hosting on was unfortunately short on Batman, Beetlejuice, and Birdman jokes. We discuss the Weekend Update appearances of and , as well as the absurdity of internalized oppression and how the film by can remind us to be more empathetic in our everyday lives. We also take a brief detour to ruminate on in New York. Readings include psychological, philosophical, and sociological investigations into whiteness and Susan Sontag’s essay, “Regarding the Suffering of Others.” /episode/index/show/2c89370a-7471-4cc7-bf08-7c242ae80adf/id/33755247

Episode 24: Saturday Night (S01E01) 10/25/2024

Episode 24: Saturday Night (S01E01) In this special episode, we are joined by , Trustee Professor of Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University, to talk about , the 2024 film directed by Jason Reitman about the night of 1975 premiere of SNL. We discuss the viability of historical fiction in a post-modern media ecosystem that has been oral-history’d and behind-the-scene’d to death and how the film continues some of the longstanding critiques of SNL regarding issues of race and gender. /episode/index/show/2c89370a-7471-4cc7-bf08-7c242ae80adf/id/33612287

Episode 23: Ariana Grande (S50E03) 10/19/2024

Episode 23: Ariana Grande (S50E03) already looks like a 5-timer in her second time hosting on October 12, 2024. We discuss the struggle for unionization with and magnifying the absurdities of history in , as well learning and to lose and the relationship between competition and cooperation in . Readings include novels and documentaries on labor rights, as well as the psychology of gaming and the philosophy of sport. /episode/index/show/2c89370a-7471-4cc7-bf08-7c242ae80adf/id/33521292

Episode 22: Nate Bargatze (S50E02) 10/11/2024

Episode 22: Nate Bargatze (S50E02) Nate Bargatze returns to host the with his trademark generous use of social space. We talk about masculinity in the , the desires of the dead in , grotesque bodies and food in and , and asymmetrical bilingualism in . Readings address the constructions of masculinity and femininity, philosophical investigations of death, and Linguistic Justice by Phillippe Van Parijs. /episode/index/show/2c89370a-7471-4cc7-bf08-7c242ae80adf/id/33422162

Episode 21: Jean Smart (S50E01) 10/11/2024

Episode 21: Jean Smart (S50E01) The is finally here! In as host after nearly 40 years on television, we talk about repurposing and sustainability in the parody commercial, , Black on Black humor in , and the privacy of public figures in . We also fan over Maya Rudolph’s Kamala Harris, Jim Gaffigan’s Tim Walz, Andy Samberg’s Doug Emoff, and Dana Carvey’s Joe Biden in the . Readings cover the art of architectural grafting by Jeanne Gang, the phenomenon of parasocial interactions and fandom, and disrupting token characters in comedy. /episode/index/show/2c89370a-7471-4cc7-bf08-7c242ae80adf/id/33421137

Episode 20: Jake Gyllenhaal (S49E20) 05/23/2024

Episode 20: Jake Gyllenhaal (S49E20) In the season finale hosted by Jake Gyllenhaal on , we discuss Mulvey’s Male Gaze and Kracauer’s Mass Ornament in , unfair labor practices and genocide in , and humans as props in . Readings include the philosophy of consumer responsibility and the role of American influencers in Chinese propaganda. /episode/index/show/2c89370a-7471-4cc7-bf08-7c242ae80adf/id/31428177

Episode 19: Maya Rudolph (S49E19) 05/17/2024

Episode 19: Maya Rudolph (S49E19) Maya Rudolph returns to host the Mother’s Day episode on . We talk about anti-queer discrimination and communities of practice with the , the intersection of occupation, gender, and ethnicity in , and the unruly woman in . Readings include sociological investigations of a Queer community in Mexico City, structural racism in the healthcare industry, and the social power of unruly women across cultures. /episode/index/show/2c89370a-7471-4cc7-bf08-7c242ae80adf/id/31356497

Episode 18: Dua Lipa (S49E18) 05/10/2024

Episode 18: Dua Lipa (S49E18) Dua Lipa’s first gig as SNL host on was generally enjoyable, but a few moments really stood out. We talk about algorithms and the loss of water cooler conversations in Jerry Seinfeld’s appearance on Weekend Update as , virtue signaling and slacktivism in , and the cognitive correlates of blackface and culture vultures in . Readings include opinion pieces from The New York Times, The New Statesman, Newsweek, and The Spectator, as well as historical and current investigations into blackface by Eric Lott and Lauren Michele Jackson. /episode/index/show/2c89370a-7471-4cc7-bf08-7c242ae80adf/id/31229847

Episode 17: Ryan Gosling (S49E17) 04/18/2024

Episode 17: Ryan Gosling (S49E17) Ryan Gosling’s was one of the best episodes of the season. We talk about emotional contagion and breaking with , and the complexity of sexist jokes with the Weekend Update Guest Appearances from SNL’s , and . Readings include the philosophy and psychology of collective laughter, sexism and parenting, and a throwback to the tumblr account: . /episode/index/show/2c89370a-7471-4cc7-bf08-7c242ae80adf/id/30892373

Episode 16: Kristen Wiig (S49E16) 04/13/2024

Episode 16: Kristen Wiig (S49E16) Kristin Wiig returns to Studio 8H to host for the fifth time and did not disappoint. We discuss resolving gender pay gaps in sports with the , the overlap of fitness and identity with the horror trailer , and the double edged sword of gamifying reality with . Readings include resources on gender pay gap, history of fitness culture, and how games promote individual agency. /episode/index/show/2c89370a-7471-4cc7-bf08-7c242ae80adf/id/30807788

Episode 15: Ramy Youssef (S49E15) 04/06/2024

Episode 15: Ramy Youssef (S49E15) Ramy Youssef’s first time hosting SNL was unapologetically intersectional. We talk about how the comedic style of marginalized honesty is received in , normalizing Islam in , inter generational narratives with , and gallows humor in . Readings include the psychology of gallows humor and holiday imagery, recent books on the intersection of comedy resistance and activism, and an autocritography from Charisse on Margaret Cho’s All American Girl. /episode/index/show/2c89370a-7471-4cc7-bf08-7c242ae80adf/id/30708943

Episode 14: Josh Brolin (S49E14) 03/20/2024

Episode 14: Josh Brolin (S49E14) Josh Brolin returns to host for the third time in an unabashedly silly episode. We discuss Scarlett Johansson’s horror-humor takedown of Katie Britt in the , the history of tabloid talk shows in , and the structure of insult comedy in . Readings include selections from the Journal of Aesthetics and Art and the Journal of Popular Film and Television. /episode/index/show/2c89370a-7471-4cc7-bf08-7c242ae80adf/id/30457508

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