SNL with Dave Chappelle Disappointed Except for... (clickbait like you read about)

I started watching SNL very early in life, like almost way too early. I think my mom let me start watching it when I was like 8 years old. I can remember watching names like Will Ferrell, Tracy Morgan, Maya Rudolph, Chris Kattan, Jimmy Fallon, and Ana Gasteyer at a very early age.

Early 2000's SNL was my favorite, I was wicked young laughing at jokes that I realistically probably didn't get but it didn't matter I was hooked. Same with the movies I watched really early too that featured SNL alums...like Tommy Boy for example. The scene where Richard (David Spade) is about to start jerking off to the girl by the pool and Tommy (Chris Farley, RIP) walks in and makes a million jokes about jerking off. Not only did I see this  when I was like 7 but I also would quote it without realizing what the hell I was laughing about. Just laughing at sexual innuendos that I thought were funny just because it references Little Rascals. Insane, probably explains a lot now that I think about it but I'm getting off topic..

I absolutely loved Saturday Night Live.  As I grew older I kept watching. When I was in middle and then high school up until like half way through college it was names like Andy Samberg, Bill Hader, Jason Sudeikis, Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Will Forte, Kenan Thompson, Darryl Hammond and Fred Armisen. I loved that core 2005-13 core. Then slowly, but surely people left and with the exception of Kenan now they're all gone.

SNL has been trash for like 3 years and I haven't really watched. They're in a transition I'm sure it will be good again someday (and to be fair it might not be as bad as I'm saying I don't really watch) I just haven't been impressed in the few bits and pieces I've seen over the last few years. 



But this last week for the first time in years I can remember being excited for an episode SNL. I was actually talking about SNL with anticipation. Dave Chappelle was hosting with a Tribe Called Quest performing.  What a combo. Not only was Dave Chappelle hosting but he was just hosting days after one of the biggest political upsets in American history. The potential material seemed endless. To have the mastermind behind one of the funniest shows of all time (Chappelle's Show) at time like this seemed almost too good to be true. 

While I was a little underwhelmed with the show as a whole, Dave's opening stand-up act was fantastic and just makes me wish Chappelle's Show could make a comeback. I think if Dave said he was in it'd be back on tv next week. With all the hot button issues in our country and times tenser than ever it was great to hear Dave's take on many recent big news stories in addition to the week the was. 

That set was hilarious but what made it even better was how it real for a second at the end. We all know Donald Trump won the election. We also know a lotttttt of people are angry. But Dave summed it up pretty well that he wishes Donald well and is  giving Trump a chance but only asks that he give's we [fellow black people] the "the historically disenfranchised" a chance too. I think that point is perfect and is how all people should all be reacting. Regardless if you hate or love Donald Trump, he's going to be our next President and instead of throwing a temper tantrum let's deal with it and all do our best to improve our nation. 

I thought it was cool how Chris Rock was featured in the Election Night skit but even with him and Dave I wasn't very impressed. Felt way too forced and just didn't make me really laugh other than Dave and Chris.  The best skit of the night in my eyes was easily the Walking Dead Chappelle's Show. I'm sure Dave didn't want to have the entire episode be Chappelle's Show based but they needed to at least do something. The mash-up between the Walking Dead and Chappelle's Show was fantastic. Just enough of the really memorable characters from the show, not too much where it killed any of the jokes, but definitely left you wanting more. If you haven't seen it yet here it is. 

Other than those two parts I was pretty unimpressed. Weekend Update is usually good and don't lump that in with the rest of how bad SNL has been for 3 plus years. It wasn't all bad however A Tribe Called Quest absolutely killed it. 

I don't know if Dave Chappelle has something more in the works or if this was just a random appearance back in the limelight, all I know is I need more Dave back in my life. It's such a basic take that most people my age have but it's true, it's an absolute shame we haven't had more Chappelle in our lives the last decade or so because IMO one of the funniest people of all time.  Nope instead we the people get a new Madea movie every 6 weeks. Sweet.