The limits of laughter: What Christians can learn from Saturday Night Live
By 
Martin Saunders2026-09-22T14:58:00
Saturday Night Live has spent half a century skewering politicians. But does satire actually change anything?
The iconic opening words of one of the world’s most enduring TV comedy programmes have launched the careers of some of the most famous entertainers in history: “And live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!”
First broadcast in 1975, Saturday Night Live, or SNL for short, is a long-term staple of American television. Now, thanks to the popularity of short-form video on social media, it is also enjoying a global renaissance. Last year, a UK edition launched on Sky One to broadly positive response; a second series arrived last month.
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