http://t.co/wG7xXt2mTM

What's wrong: Lorne Michaels can't stop letting celebrity friends and "SNL" alumni make cameos, says Hank Stuever. What's right: "The women in the cast, especially, are harnessing a long-overdue interest in post-feminist comedy; they are beneficiaries of the work (Tina) Fey, (Kristen) Wiig, Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph (among others) did in the 2000s." PLUS: Will Ferrell reveals his least-favorite host (http://www.eonline.com/news/492195/will-ferrell-names-his-least-favorite-celeb-saturday-night-live-guest-host): Joan Allen.
Read more at http://www.hitfix.com/tv-tattle#OKCgLl8J9uL6j85u.99

- i think the cameos and guest appearances are positives rather than negatives, but I guess it all depends on the context and whether they are running things into the ground.

- the women of SNL are currently doing pretty good - they are really starting to gel and are pulling it off, even if some of the sketches are somewhat sub-par

- I can understand why they hired five white guys at the beginning of the season - after Hader, Sudeikis and Armisen left you really only have Taran Killam, Bobby Moynihan, Keenan and Jay Pharoah; half of those new guys probably won't make it, and Keenan or Moynihan probably won't stick around for more than another season or two. They needed to get some new blood in there NOW.

- all this talk about how SNL isn't funny anymore is BS, it has its ups and downs, but they still do a pretty good job. I watched the early 80's episodes first hand and I can guarantee you they were some of the worst-received episodes on the shows history - yet they still had some high points and were worth watching. You don't like it? go watch some reruns of MADTV.

I like most of the new folk, though yeah, they probably won't all stay. I don't see the ladies being any stronger than the guys, though. And all the talk about the women finally being showcased, etc. rings hollow for me. Ana Gasteyer, Molly Shannon, Rachel Dratch and Cheri O'Teri were all funnier than Tina Fey ever was, and this was 10 to 15 years ago. I just think Fey is incredibly overrated and over exposed, and the same goes for Wiig

Keenan cracks me up consistently and I always enjoy Killan, though I wish they'd give him more to do. Actually there is no one currently on the show that irritates me, and it's been a LONG time since I could say that. I swear if I saw Wiig, Armisen or Andy Samberg in one more skit I'd explode. Thankfully they are gone and we now have folks who seem and act like equals and aren't always trying to hog the limelight.

Fairly strong cast,but somehow I always look at new SNL through very biased eyes.The bias is usually toward the original 1975-80 cast.There may never be another cast with such a high concentration of talents.Look at what they did with much smaller casts and all the "featuring" people.And I whole heartedly agree about the Tina Fey thing.So over rated it's pathetic.I cannot believe they gave the Mark Twain comedy prize to her before the absolutely immortal and in her prime quite more talented Carol Burnett.Politics.Sometimes these things are sheer politics.......

http://splitsider.com/2014/01/checking-in-with-snl-halfway-through-season-39/

The best and worst of this season of 'SNL' so far.

http://www.avclub.com/review/transitional-season-saturday-night-live-struggles--204658

With so many cast members (http://www.torontosun.com/2014/05/16/grading-the-new-class-on-snl) — some of whom will probably not return next season — “Saturday Night Live” served up many sketches this season that seemed to serve the individual over the ensemble, says Ryan McGee. "The 17 cast members aren’t a comedic unit—they’re individuals locked in an airtight room, each trying to fight for the same oxygen,” he adds. PLUS: Ranking the best hosts (http://www.indiewire.com/article/television/snls-best-celebrity-hosts-and-their-best-live-sketches-this-season) and sketches this season.
Read more at http://www.hitfix.com/tv-tattle#ACg3mxrsygg1Itcr.99

http://variety.com/2014/tv/opinion/snl-2013-14-season-review-why-it-wasnt-as-awful-as-you-thought-it-was-1201185632/

This rebuilding season of “Saturday Night Live” could have been much worse, says Andrew Wallenstein: "Consider that there’s eight first-year 'featured players' on the cast, just one short of the nine full-fledged repertory players, and you have a sense of dramatic the turnover was this year. So anything better than 'not bad' is actually pretty good.” PLUS: Kate McKinnon was this season’s MVP (http://popwatch.ew.com/2014/05/19/saturday-night-live-kate-mckinnon-mvp), followed by Vanessa Bayer.

Read more at http://www.hitfix.com/tv-tattle#2ICA3oVZLZ6PPmek.99