Avid fans of “Saturday Night Live” will recall a time where skits were dominated by funny women. Names like Rachel Dratch, Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler should ring bells to many viewers. Skits were dominated by female roles that helped to produce some of the best content in the show’s history
Of those listed, there were two who proved themselves masterful of comedy by rising above and beyond SNL’s call to humorous action: the power duo of Poehler-Fey. Together at the helm of the “Weekend Update” desk, Poehelr and Fey took shot after shot at both politicians and entertainment giants. A crowning achievement came with their depictions of Sarah Palin (Fey) and Hillary Clinton (Poehler) during the 2008 presidential campaign. Following those famed skits, the two players coasted into the “Saturday Night Live” halls of history.
Since the cast’s latest reworking in 2010, the women of SNL have maintained comedic control over the male players. A combination of notable impersonations and outlandish original characters has helped to make household names out of players such as Nasim Pedrad and Kate McKinnon.
Even with all of the talent dispersed throughout the female players, special attention should be given to two women in particular. Vanessa Bayer and Cecily Strong have worked to become the new power duo of SNL. Bayer has garnered fame for her eccentric character “Jacob the Bar Mitzvah Boy” while Strong was placed as “Weekend Update” co-anchor after only one season as a featured player.
What gives them the potential to be the new Poehler/Fey is the now celebrated set of skits of Bayer and Strong as ex-pornstars hocking luxury items like “Hermès Handbags” and “Moët & Chandon.” These performances helped to not only propel these women into the eyes of fans, but to reinforce the now apparent growth of “Saturday Night Live’s” off-beat humor.
With the recent addition of Sasheer Zamata to the cast due to diversity issues raised in October, SNL’s women players can only go up in their success. After Seth Meyers’ departure from “Weekend Update” next month, Cecily Strong will take over as lead anchor. As for Vanessa Bayer, her slew of characters will help to boost her into “Saturday Night Live” royalty with the best of them.