I’ve watched SNL for years, and I’ve often said that it is one of the most politically and morally conservative shows on TV, and also a show that is very friendly to Christianity.
Several years back, they aired a skit with Sherry O’ Teri in which two Italian ladies were arguing about which of their lawn manger scenes was better. One of them picked up the Baby Jesus from her manger scene and was going to throw it at the other lady. Just then, a caroling choir strolled by singing about Jesus, and the lady sheepishly laid down her “weapon” and made peace with her old friend.
There have been quite a few skits of this type on the show.
Also, many of the moral values pushed in the skits have been “good.” Many of the skits make those who practice promiscuous sex look very un-cool. This is so different than other media portrayals of skanks, who are portrayed as great role models.
Also, often homosexuals are portrayed in very unflattering ways on SNL. Again, this is so different than other media portrayals, which attempt to make homosexuals out to be moral, upstanding citizens who are just like everyone else, only better and wiser. I’m not saying that people should insult homosexuals and caricature them. I’m saying that this group of people is often glamorized by entertainment media, whereas in reality, they are people caught up in a practice that our Church has called “sin.”
There have been quite a few guest hosts on the show who are “conservatives,” notably Charleton Heston and John McCain. The Heston skits about Moses were so funny, especially the one where Bill Clinton challenged him about the “Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery” commandment! And the McCain skit where he dissed Barbra Streisand (“I shouldn’t sing, and she shouldn’t make political speeches!”) was a conservative’s dream-come true!
I thought the “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood” skit with Eddie Murphy was pretty funny, and demonstrated the sad fact that ghetto life is often made worse by its own inhabitants preying on each other.
After 9/11, I thought that the SNL skits were extremely patriotic and touching. I loved the one where Will Farrell came to work in that red, white, and blue thong!
I don’t want to be naive. There is definitely some bad stuff on SNL, including an overuse of the “a” word, and a lot of the actors live trashy lives outside the show. But for the most part, compared to many other shows, SNL teaches better values for kids, Christians, and conservatives than something like “Will and Grace” or “Sex in the City.”
If you’d like to explore my theory more, we can “talk amongst ourselves” for a while.
