Saturday Night Live: Christmas Mass

[Sarcelle]

Pretty narrow minded of you not to even entertain attending the tridentine mass, which was the face of catholicism for over a millinium.

I never “made fun” of the novus ordo mass.I believe this site does not allow a discussion of the merits or shortcomings of either type of mass.

So what was your intention when you characterized the novus ordo mass as irreverent?

 

[Cat]

Please, blaskoman, Sarcelle, and KendraDZ1902, please don’t get this thread shut down and/or deleted!

It’s a thread about Saturday Night Live. Comments about either form of the Mass don’t belong here. Please, please, I’m begging you, drop it now, or start another thread in the liturgy section. Thanks!

Now then–my husband and I have watched SNL for decades, and always, ALWAYS, we find that it is the only show (or one of only a few show) on network television (we’re not talking about EWTN here!) that consistently does Christmas skits that include JESUS CHRIST!

All of the other shows do Christmas themes, but they’re always about the secular side of Christmas, and no mention whatsoever of Jesus.

But SNL ALWAYS has good skits about Jesus at Christmas, and always reminds us that Christmas is Jesus’s birthday!

Years ago, one of the SNL Christmas show skits involved two Italian ladies who were fighting with each other over who had the better manger scene in their front yard. Eventually one of them grabbed the Baby Jesus out of the manger to throw it at her neighbor, then realized what she was doing, and the two dear ladies made peace and wished each other Merry Christmas.

THAT was so awesome! It made me cry!

I realize that there are some Christians, Catholic and Protestant, who simply cannot stand to see any jokes involving Jesus, Mary, the Church, the Bible, or any aspect of Christianity. I respect that, and I assume that these Christians probably never ever watch SNL and never will.

But for all of us who DO love jokes about ourselves, and don’t mind jokes about Jesus or Mary as long as they recognize their Majesty and Jesus’s Divinity, SNL is the BEST!

SNL also usually has musicians who actually sing sacred Christmas numbers, too, not just “Happy Holidays, Snow, and Holly Jolly.” It’s beautiful!

A few weeks ago, one of the SNL skits was “The Hip Hop Christmas Story,” where the story of Jesus’ birth was done “hip hop” style with rappers and girl singers (including Nicki Minaj!). It was a very “deep” skit. Both my husband and I sensed that there was a lot of reverence towards Jesus and Mary in this skit, in spite of the rough rap language and Minaj’s usual over-revealing outfit. There was no attempt to change the Christmas story or undermine Jesus or Mary–it was the real Christmas story told in “hip hop” language, which means that somebody around SNL knows their Bible. Very cool

 

[grasscutter]

Sigh…can’t see it here in Canada…

It is too funny! I viewed, not by the link, but by simply googling “snl going to church” and found a site that I could view here in Canada.

 

[7_Sorrows]

Please, blaskoman, Sarcelle, and KendraDZ1902, please don’t get this thread shut down and/or deleted!

It’s a thread about Saturday Night Live. Comments about either form of the Mass don’t belong here. Please, please, I’m begging you, drop it now, or start another thread in the liturgy section. Thanks!

Now then–my husband and I have watched SNL for decades, and always, ALWAYS, we find that it is the only show (or one of only a few show) on network television (we’re not talking about EWTN here!) that consistently does Christmas skits that include JESUS CHRIST!

All of the other shows do Christmas themes, but they’re always about the secular side of Christmas, and no mention whatsoever of Jesus.

But SNL ALWAYS has good skits about Jesus at Christmas, and always reminds us that Christmas is Jesus’s birthday!

Years ago, one of the SNL Christmas show skits involved two Italian ladies who were fighting with each other over who had the better manger scene in their front yard. Eventually one of them grabbed the Baby Jesus out of the manger to throw it at her neighbor, then realized what she was doing, and the two dear ladies made peace and wished each other Merry Christmas.

THAT was so awesome! It made me cry!

I realize that there are some Christians, Catholic and Protestant, who simply cannot stand to see any jokes involving Jesus, Mary, the Church, the Bible, or any aspect of Christianity. I respect that, and I assume that these Christians probably never ever watch SNL and never will.

But for all of us who DO love jokes about ourselves, and don’t mind jokes about Jesus or Mary as long as they recognize their Majesty and Jesus’s Divinity, SNL is the BEST!

SNL also usually has musicians who actually sing sacred Christmas numbers, too, not just “Happy Holidays, Snow, and Holly Jolly.” It’s beautiful!

A few weeks ago, one of the SNL skits was “The Hip Hop Christmas Story,” where the story of Jesus’ birth was done “hip hop” style with rappers and girl singers (including Nicki Minaj!). It was a very “deep” skit. Both my husband and I sensed that there was a lot of reverence towards Jesus and Mary in this skit, in spite of the rough rap language and Minaj’s usual over-revealing outfit. There was no attempt to change the Christmas story or undermine Jesus or Mary–it was the real Christmas story told in “hip hop” language, which means that somebody around SNL knows their Bible. Very cool

The skit on St. Joseph’s Christmas Mass is probably one of the funniest skits I have seen in years on SNL. I was in my 20’s when SNL started and I remember how funny every episode was. Now the only reason I watch it is for the musical acts-not all of them. SNL has gone downhill. Not every skit they do on Jesus is reverent though.

 

[CatholicWhovian]

Please, blaskoman, Sarcelle, and KendraDZ1902, please don’t get this thread shut down and/or deleted!

It’s a thread about Saturday Night Live. Comments about either form of the Mass don’t belong here. Please, please, I’m begging you, drop it now, or start another thread in the liturgy section. Thanks!

Good thing we don’t have these kinds of disputes among us Filipino Catholics. I mean… who cares?

If SNL is respectable towards Christianity, then how did you find that SNL sketch where Tarantino makes a “new movie” about Jesus?

 

[CatholicWhovian]

It is too funny! I viewed, not by the link, but by simply googling “snl going to church” and found a site that I could view here in Canada.

I laughed at the mention of the Filipino ladies

Whenever there’s a Catholic church in the developed world we’re always there filling the empty pews.

 

[grasscutter]

I laughed at the mention of the Filipino ladies

Whenever there’s a Catholic church in the developed world we’re always there filling the empty pews.

And I thank God for you! Here, my little corner of a pretty caucasion town, has a large number of filipino ladies (and men) attending Mass. Very, very grateful for your presence.

But, for that reason, I also laughed at the reference.

 

[Cat]

Good thing we don’t have these kinds of disputes among us Filipino Catholics. I mean… who cares?

If SNL is respectable towards Christianity, then how did you find that SNL sketch where Tarantino makes a “new movie” about Jesus?

I don’t remember that one. I don’t like anything by Tarentino–he’s too dark and violent. So I suspect that any spoof of his movies would make them extremely dark and violent.

It’s not fair to take ONE bad skit and extrapolate it to condemn the entire show. As I said, SNL is consistently respectful of Jesus and is the ONLY television show to keep HIM in Christmas. I’m willing to take a few clinker skits once in a while.

 

[Cat]

The skit on St. Joseph’s Christmas Mass is probably one of the funniest skits I have seen in years on SNL. I was in my 20’s when SNL started and I remember how funny every episode was. Now the only reason I watch it is for the musical acts-not all of them. SNL has gone downhill. Not every skit they do on Jesus is reverent though.

SNL has NOT gone downhill!

The current cast is brilliant. The women are especially talented.

And although there have been weaker cast members, for the most part, the last 20 years have been amazing. Mike Meyers, Dana Carvey, Will Farrell, Bill Hader, Andy Samberg, Adam Sadler–these are some very talented individuals. Some of the actors who have died were also brilliant–Phil Hartman and Chris Farley.

I don’t like Kristen Wiig at all, but others claim that she is the best ever on SNL and I have to respect the opinion of others. I never liked her. My brother loves her.

The Early Years of the show, which are often touted by nostalgic people as “the best ever”, often consisted of skits glorifying a drug culture. Certainly the early stars were extremely talented. But their material was filled with references to drugs and alcohol abuse. Not wholesome at all.

I think that after Belushi died of causes related to drug abuse that these kinds of skits became less frequent on the show.

 

[John_Lazarus]

I laughed at the mention of the Filipino ladies

Whenever there’s a Catholic church in the developed world we’re always there filling the empty pews.

That’s for sure. The neighbourhood I lived in in Toronto (according to the stats I read) was primarily Anglo, Serbian, and Romanian. But the parish church choir was almost 100% Pinay. Those that weren’t…were Pinoy!

Side note: Nothing better on a hot day than halo-halo!

 

[7_Sorrows]

SNL has NOT gone downhill!

The current cast is brilliant. The women are especially talented.

And although there have been weaker cast members, for the most part, the last 20 years have been amazing. Mike Meyers, Dana Carvey, Will Farrell, Bill Hader, Andy Samberg, Adam Sadler–these are some very talented individuals. Some of the actors who have died were also brilliant–Phil Hartman and Chris Farley.

I don’t like Kristen Wiig at all, but others claim that she is the best ever on SNL and I have to respect the opinion of others. I never liked her. My brother loves her.

The Early Years of the show, which are often touted by nostalgic people as “the best ever”, often consisted of skits glorifying a drug culture. Certainly the early stars were extremely talented. But their material was filled with references to drugs and alcohol abuse. Not wholesome at all.

I think that after Belushi died of causes related to drug abuse that these kinds of skits became less frequent on the show.

The cast might be brilliant but the skits fall flat most of the time. I don’t think kristen wig is still on there is she?

 

[CatholicWhovian]

I don’t remember that one. I don’t like anything by Tarentino–he’s too dark and violent. So I suspect that any spoof of his movies would make them extremely dark and violent.

It’s not fair to take ONE bad skit and extrapolate it to condemn the entire show. As I said, SNL is consistently respectful of Jesus and is the ONLY television show to keep HIM in Christmas. I’m willing to take a few clinker skits once in a while.

I didn’t say anything to condemn SNL. I’m quite liberal when it comes to the arts, but I check twice when a work of art if it has an anti-Catholic or anti-religious slant. This is what I see: somehow in some instances SNL is respectful of most religions when it comes to their sketches, in other times they aren’t. But if the respect outweighs the ridicule, just like what you’ve said, then it’s just fine I guess.

And yes, I’m still willing to watch SNL.

 

[Cat]

The cast might be brilliant but the skits fall flat most of the time. I don’t think kristen wig is still on there is she?

No, she’s gone.

I disagree that the skits fall flat. My husband and I roll on the floor laughing, and we actually make compilations of the skits that we love (e.g., the Californians, which is no longer on because Fred Armistad has quit the show). Jay Pharoah’s portrayal of Pres. Obama is hilarious and right-on-the-money. My brother loves the skits where the two prostitutes advertise high-end products like Swvarski crystals (I know I spelled that wrong–too lazy to look up the correct spelling). It is pretty funny. I personally love “What’s Up With That?”

Maybe it’s because we’re in our 50s and we’re older than dirt and our brains are starting to deterioriate with age? Who cares?! We love the show and have faithfully watched it since 1990 (during the 1980s, we were too busy raising our children, and in the 1970s, we didn’t care for the constant glorification of drugs and alcohol.

And like I said, it’s the ONLY show to Keep Christ In Christmas! Although after watching Scorpion’s end of season finale, we now have another show that keeps GOD in Christmas. Wonderful episode! If you can find it on your computer (my husband found it and transferred it to our TiVo), watch it with your children. It’s SOOOOOO good and so touching–almost too intensely touching. If you don’t cry at the end of that Scorpion episode, you have a heart of steel.

 

[Cat]

I didn’t say anything to condemn SNL. I’m quite liberal when it comes to the arts, but I check twice when a work of art if it has an anti-Catholic or anti-religious slant. This is what I see: somehow in some instances SNL is respectful of most religions when it comes to their sketches, in other times they aren’t. But if the respect outweighs the ridicule, just like what you’ve said, then it’s just fine I guess.

And yes, I’m still willing to watch SNL.

Good!

I do think that often, Christians (not you!), both Catholic and Protestant (especially Protestant) are unwilling to make any compromise when it comes to the arts. If the artistic endeavor (novel, movie, TV show, visual piece, song), etc. contains ONE little “questionable” moment/view (e.g., a swear word, a nude, a sinful character, an endorsement of war, a character who doubts God, etc.), they condemn it lock, stock, and barrel.

We see a lot of really good art endeavors utterly ignored by Christians, and we see a lot of totally banal art endeavors by Christians who are attempting to make The Perfectly Clean and Utterly Christian Art!" (e.g., those awful movies featuring Kirk Cameron!).

 

[CatholicWhovian]

Good!

I do think that often, Christians (not you!), both Catholic and Protestant (especially Protestant) are unwilling to make any compromise when it comes to the arts. If the artistic endeavor (novel, movie, TV show, visual piece, song), etc. contains ONE little “questionable” moment/view (e.g., a swear word, a nude, a sinful character, an endorsement of war, a character who doubts God, etc.), they condemn it lock, stock, and barrel.

We see a lot of really good art endeavors utterly ignored by Christians, and we see a lot of totally banal art endeavors by Christians who are attempting to make The Perfectly Clean and Utterly Christian Art!" (e.g., those awful movies featuring Kirk Cameron!).

Exactly!

Sometimes in a work of art you have to show the reality of sin and fallen human nature to get your point. There is such a thing as being too prudish. If you are too prudish you might be superficial about analyzing something and you wouldn’t go beyond what it wants to convey. One thing I find ironic is you Americans have a more likely tendency to be, what I call, puritanical - comes with being founded by Puritans I guess; while TV show makers in the US, especially those working for cable, would amp up the sex and violence in their shows.

For comparison: “House of Cards” was originally a BBC series and then around 20 years later adapted by Netflix for the US. What I’ve noticed by looking at the Parent’s Guide in IMDB in both versions, (because I have to keep custody of my eyes as best as I can) the US version has more (and harder) sex scenes than the original UK version.

To put things into more perspective, I’ve been following this Danish TV series called Borgen which is about a woman becoming Denmark’s first female prime minister (at the time it was aired at least, Denmark in real life has a female PM now). Just like House of Cards, it’s also a political drama. One might expect that the drama, being from Scandinavia, would have harder sex scenes than the US version of House of Cards. However when I watched it, the sex scenes are actually really tame if not, not as frequent or as hard as say, Game of Thrones.

So is there something about the American psyche that allows a section of society to be too prudish while at the same time another section to be too lewd? Or is this more of a Democrat/Republican thing?

 

[7_Sorrows]

No, she’s gone.

I disagree that the skits fall flat. My husband and I roll on the floor laughing, and we actually make compilations of the skits that we love (e.g., the Californians, which is no longer on because Fred Armistad has quit the show). Jay Pharoah’s portrayal of Pres. Obama is hilarious and right-on-the-money. My brother loves the skits where the two prostitutes advertise high-end products like Swvarski crystals (I know I spelled that wrong–too lazy to look up the correct spelling). It is pretty funny. I personally love “What’s Up With That?”

Maybe it’s because we’re in our 50s and we’re older than dirt and our brains are starting to deterioriate with age? Who cares?! We love the show and have faithfully watched it since 1990 (during the 1980s, we were too busy raising our children, and in the 1970s, we didn’t care for the constant glorification of drugs and alcohol.

And like I said, it’s the ONLY show to Keep Christ In Christmas! Although after watching Scorpion’s end of season finale, we now have another show that keeps GOD in Christmas. Wonderful episode! If you can find it on your computer (my husband found it and transferred it to our TiVo), watch it with your children. It’s SOOOOOO good and so touching–almost too intensely touching. If you don’t cry at the end of that Scorpion episode, you have a heart of steel.

I am in my early 60’s so maybe that makes a difference.
I just find myself saying after 90 minutes that I wasted 90 minutes.
I don’t know what compels me to watch. I think Jay Pharoah does a good impression of Obama and I like the guy that does What’s Up Wit Dat and I like the guy who played the pastor in the Christmas Mass skit. I liked when they made fun of the Kardashians too.

 

[Cat]

I am in my early 60’s so maybe that makes a difference.
I just find myself saying after 90 minutes that I wasted 90 minutes.
I don’t know what compels me to watch. I think Jay Pharoah does a good impression of Obama and I like the guy that does What’s Up Wit Dat and I like the guy who played the pastor in the Christmas Mass skit. I liked when they made fun of the Kardashians too.

Yes, I’m sure there are better things we can do with our time than watch humor targeted to 14 year olds who can’t date yet!

But we all need to laugh more and laugh at ourselves.

And our faith does not forbid involvement with the arts, and SNL is a form of art–the “television short skits and improv” form, which is more difficult to do than many of us think.

I think as long as there’s a balance, it’s fine. If I spent hours every day watching re-runs of SNL over and over again, and never got involved with any other artistic endeavor, I think that would be pretty hurtful to my soul. But 90 minutes once a week–why not? We often don’t watch the whole show–we TiVo it and watch it in chunks, skipping over all the commercials–that cuts it to about 70 minutes!

I’ve read articles claiming that SNL tends to provide a pretty accurate picture of the state of American attitudes, so IMO, it’s worthwhile watching it to keep tabs on all my fellow Americans! I’m not sure I agree with this. SNL is done in NYC, and those people are very different than all of us who live in the boonies! But it’s amazing how often they nail it.

 

[CatholicWhovian]

I’ve read articles claiming that SNL tends to provide a pretty accurate picture of the state of American attitudes, so IMO, it’s worthwhile watching it to keep tabs on all my fellow Americans! I’m not sure I agree with this. SNL is done in NYC, and those people are very different than all of us who live in the boonies! But it’s amazing how often they nail it.

SNL is to America as Monty Python is to Britain.

 

[U2Forever]

I’m 53 and I’ve watched SNL since the very beginning. The Christmas Mass skit had to be one of the funniest things I’ve seen in a long time! My daughter, age 17, and I laughed until we cried!!!

 

[Mark121359]

Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t find any humor in this. The Mass is a memorial. a memorial in which we call to mind the passion, death, resurrection and ascension of our Lord. I think of the Virgin Mary, His incomparable Mother standing at the foot of the Cross with her heart pierced through and through…and I find that there’s nothing laughable about it. When I think of Our Lord’s command; “Do this in remembrance of Me,” and then watch these bunch of bozos mocking the very sacrifice that He wanted the faithful to repeat and participate in…I can’t imagine that there are any in heaven who are laughing at this. Again, maybe it’s just me, but there are some things that preclude laughter.

Peace, Mark