I think with SNL, it has always been more about the performers than the writers. Many times, the writers would come up with really lame skits and the performers would make them hysterical on the sheer strength of their talent. Other times, a skit wouldn't be supported very well and again, the performers would turn it into a smash. I remember Wayne's World started out as a throwaway "last half hour" skit and forced it's way up to the front of the show on Myers' and Carvey's amazing chemistry.

I started watching the show during the Murphy-Piscopo years, although I became well versed with the original cast through reruns before long. I saw the same thing with the original cast. Murray and Aykroyd and Belushi could literally turn nothing into something.

I have followed it on and off over the years and found that it seems to be strongest when they have those "go to" guys who can be the anchor...Hartman, Ferrell, even a guy like Darrell Hammond seemed to take the role of that guy who could always turn nothing into something.

The guest hosts usually seem to be just window dressing and, more often than not, get in the way of a potential winner of a show. True comedians hosting always make the show better, while flavor-of-the-month actors/celebrities always seem to drag it down. Although, oddly enough, sometimes musical guests doing double-duty as host worked extremely well.

"The best place to start an adventure is with a quiet, perfect life...and someone who realizes that it can't possibly be enough." - Kevin J. Anderson