History of Saturday Night Live (2000–2005)

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Early 21st century

The 2000-2001 season of "Saturday Night Live" began yet another transitional phase. Old faces like Colin Quinn, Tim Meadows and Cheri Oteri were gone. Molly Shannon left mid-season (she stayed as long as she did-six and a half years, to ensure that she would leave as the longest-running female cast member on "SNL"Fact|date=February 2007, although her record still comes very close to Victoria Jackson's and would be topped by Rachel Dratch and later Maya Rudolph).

Horatio Sanz and Jimmy Fallon

Chris Kattan and Will Ferrell still dominated the show, but more and more time was given to newer cast members such as Horatio Sanz (who was groomed to be a new Chris Farley or John Belushi) and Jimmy Fallon. Fallon was the latest example in the marked difference in modern "SNL" compared to the early years, in that he was marketed as a personality, and his gift at impressions was slowly but surely sidelined so that he could play variations of Jimmy Fallon in most of his sketches. Although Fallon was quite popular, many believedFact|date=February 2007 that he and Sanz were far too derivative of Farley and Sandler, from Sanz's constant bumbling right down to Fallon playing the guitar and singing during "Weekend Update". Both men were also criticized for their "breaking up" during many sketches-laughing through their lines and needling other cast members into doing the same. This became more and more common, in spite of the fact that Lorne Michaels swore his show would never become so insular or amateurish (one of the things he despised about "The Carol Burnett Show").Fact|date=February 2007

Tina Fey

In 1999, Tina Fey became the show's first female head writer. "SNL" had always had female writers but they often had little to no voice over the pacing of the show, sometimes not even their own sketches.Fact|date=February 2007 With Colin Quinn's highly uneven "Weekend Update" tenure over, Lorne Michaels scrambled to find a different sort of format for the aging concept. He gambled on having Fey co-anchor with Jimmy Fallon, the first co-anchorship since Christine Ebersole and Brian Doyle-Murray in the early 1980s. Fallon's frat boy antics and Tina's droll, knowing smirks were warmly welcomed by fans. Tina quickly moved from writer to featured player and within a year was a contract player.

2000 U.S. Presidential election

The 2000 season was also noted for its well-received spoofing of that year's presidential campaign, with adroit critiquesFact|date=February 2007 of all the primary nominees, but especially Al Gore and George W. Bush. The two candidates even appeared (separately) on a prime time special with the cast in fall 2000. Darrell Hammond's portrayal of Gore parodied the candidate's varying personas at the three presidential debates so well that Gore and his advisers watched the sketches to get a grip on his public perception.Fact|date=February 2007 Ferrell's Bush impression-full of smirks, tics, and aw-shucks contempt-rocketed him to superstardomFact|date=February 2007 and in the process coined the term "strategery" in a sketch mocking Bush's propensity for mispronunciations.

Fallout from the 9/11 terrorist attacks

The first season premiere after the September 11, 2001 attacks opened with then New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani and police officers, signifying that the New York-based series was both deeply affected by the terrorist attack and also reluctant to harshly criticize the president.Fact|date=September 2008 As a result, the political commentary was scaled back. As time passed, the show gave more attention to political humor, but earlier attempts were seen by critics as tame, evidence that the show had over the decades gone from counterculture to safe and mainstream.Fact|date=September 2008 Robert Smigel's cartoons, however, retained their bite and became heavily featured on the show.

Frequent cast turnover

In 2001, supporting player Chris Parnell was fired. Less than six months later, he was rehired, marking the first time since Jim Belushi's dismissal in 1983 that "SNL" had ever fired and then rehired any cast member. The 2001-2002 season also marked the arrival of improvisational mastermind Amy Poehler, who was well-liked by fans due to her wide range and impressions and high spirits in spite of a lack of strong material. Tracy Morgan left in 2003 to become one of many "SNL" alumni to have a flop sitcom ("The Tracy Morgan Show"). More changes occurred when Ferrell left in 2002 and Kattan in 2003, followed by Jimmy Fallon in 2004. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler co-anchored Weekend Update, the first time that two women were given the job.

During 2000-2005, the show began a frequent process of cast turnover. In the past, the show had been known for large amount of cast members being added at the same time, but in the early 2000s, the show tended to add and subtract a couple of cast members each season. Some criticize this method, arguing that it results in a lack of chemistry, as you have cast members at various points in their "SNL" careers acting together, as compared to a group of new cast members growing up together. On the other hand, adding new cast members each season ensured that there was always someone new to see.

Ashlee Simpson's lip synching incident

An embarrassing event in the career of pop singer Ashlee Simpson occurred live on October 23, 2004. Simpson's second performance of the evening opened with the sound of her pre-recorded voice heard singing the song she had already performed earlier. Despite a quick fadeout, it was obvious that what was heard was not the live voice of the singer. A flustered Simpson did an improvised dance and then left the stage. "The New York Times" summarized the incident in the words, "Ailing Singer Needed Lip-Sync, Father Says," and said that it "exposed the pop singer Ashlee Simpson's use of prerecorded vocals on live television." ["Ailing Singer Needed Lip-Sync, Father Says", New York Times, October 26, 2004] Simpson's father said that her use of a prerecorded track was necessitated that evening by hoarseness caused by acid reflux disease. ["Ailing Singer Needed Lip-Sync, Father Says", New York Times, October 26, 2004] The incident subsequently inspired several "SNL" skits. When questioned by reporters, Lorne Michaels initially denied [60 Minutes, aired October 31, 2004] , then acknowledged ["Simpson Dad Blames Acid Reflux for Gaffe", Associated Press, October 25, 2004] , that this was not the first time so-called "backing tracks" had ever been used on "SNL." In October, 2005, Simpson returned as a musical guest, performing without incident.

2000-2001 season

Opening montage

This newest "SNL" montage again contains various shots from around New York and has the cast members shown in a night club. This was the first opening montage since 1993-1994 in which the cast members moved on screen. The music that would accompany the opening credits for the next three years would garner some criticism from some "SNL" "purists"Fact|date=February 2007 because of its heavy use of turntables and DJ equipment.

Cast

*Jimmy Fallon
*Will Ferrell
*Ana Gasteyer
*Darrell Hammond
*Chris Kattan
*Tracy Morgan
*Chris Parnell
*Horatio Sanz
*Molly Shannon (final: February 17, 2001)"Featuring"
*Rachel Dratch
*Tina Fey
*Jerry Minor
*Maya Rudolph

Notes

* After seven years, Molly Shannon leaves the cast mid-season, completing the longest tenure of any female cast member until Rachel Dratch leaves the show in 2006.
* Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon take over the "Weekend Update" desk, making them the first "WU" duo since Brian Doyle-Murray and Christine Ebersole in 1982.
* Chris Parnell is fired at the end of this season, only to return the following year.
* This is Jerry Minor's only season on "SNL"--resulting in a joke that he had "lived up to his last name" as a cast member. He was fired from the show, something that fellow cast member Chris Parnell called a "high crime."

2001-2002 season

Opening montage

The opening montage is the same as the 2000-2001 season, save for cast changes. Ana Gasteyer's clip was changed.

Cast

*Rachel Dratch
*Jimmy Fallon
*Will Ferrell
*Tina Fey
*Ana Gasteyer
*Darrell Hammond
*Chris Kattan
*Tracy Morgan
*Chris Parnell (returned: March 2, 2002)
*Amy Poehler
*Maya Rudolph
*Horatio Sanz"Featuring"
*Dean Edwards
*Seth Meyers
*Jeff Richards, the first (and so far only) castmember from "MADtv" to cross over to "Saturday Night Live".

Notes

* Chris Parnell returns after being fired by Lorne Michaels over budget issues less than a year earlier.
* After seven seasons, Will Ferrell leaves the show after having become the highest paid cast member in "SNL"'s history.Fact|date=February 2007
* The last segment of the season finale featured an homage to Will Ferrell by his fellow castmates reflecting on his personality, talent, and what he brought to the show. It remains one of the only full-fledged farewells to a longtime cast member in the long history of "SNL". In one particular clip, Chris Parnell reveals that he was previously fired but that Ferrell lobbied executives for his eventual return.
* Ana Gasteyer goes on maternity leave at the end of this season. After her daughter, Frances McKittrick, is born, she decides not to return to the show.
* Amy Poehler is upgraded to a contract player during the latter part of this season, mostly likely due to Ana Gasteyer's pregnancy.

2002-2003 season

Opening montage

Basically a "film negative" version of the 2000 montage, using new effects when displaying the cast's title cards.

Cast

*Rachel Dratch
*Jimmy Fallon
*Tina Fey
*Darrell Hammond
*Chris Kattan
*Tracy Morgan
*Chris Parnell
*Amy Poehler
*Maya Rudolph
*Horatio Sanz"Featuring"
*Fred Armisen
*Dean Edwards
*Will Forte
*Seth Meyers
*Jeff Richards

Notes

* After the season is over, Dean Edwards and producers mutually agree he is not right for the show, and Edwards is let go.
* Chris Kattan and Tracy Morgan leave the show but make so many guest appearances during the 2003-2004 season that their departure is barely noticed.

2003-2004 season

Opening montage

A brand new opening for 2003 has a Grand Central Station theme, with a "first-person" camera following the cast members who are found around various sections of the subway, and local eateries. Possibly the most "hi-tech" (for its time) of the show's montages since the 1984 season.Fact|date=February 2007

Cast

*Rachel Dratch
*Jimmy Fallon
*Tina Fey
*Will Forte
*Darrell Hammond
*Seth Meyers
*Chris Parnell
*Amy Poehler
*Jeff Richards (final: January 17, 2004)
*Maya Rudolph
*Horatio Sanz"Featuring"
*Fred Armisen
*Finesse Mitchell
*Kenan Thompson

Notes

* A new main set is unveiled, following the theme of the montage to resemble Grand Central Station.
* This opener does not credit the Saturday Night Live band.
* Will Forte, Seth Meyers and Jeff Richards are upgraded to contract players for this season.
* Mitchell and Thompson replace Morgan and Edwards as the show's male minority cast members.
* Thompson, born in 1978, is the first SNL cast member to be younger than the show itself.
* Jeff Richards mysteriously disappears from the cast after 1/17 broadcast. He is believed to have been fired from the show as a result of unreliable performances. In an interview, Richards said he left on his own terms.
* Jimmy Fallon announces on the last "Weekend Update" of the season that it would be his final show.

2004-2005 season

Opening montage

Another brand new montage for 2004 opens on a shot of the Brooklyn Bridge, and basically shows the cast engaging in conversations around a local night club. The previous season's montage did not allow much flexibility for cast changes.

Cast

*Fred Armisen
*Rachel Dratch
*Tina Fey
*Will Forte
*Darrell Hammond
*Seth Meyers
*Chris Parnell
*Amy Poehler
*Maya Rudolph
*Horatio Sanz"Featuring"
*Finesse Mitchell
*Rob Riggle
*Jason Sudeikis (first: May 7, 2005)
*Kenan Thompson

Notes

* The stage still has the Grand Central Station theme.
* Fred Armisen is upgraded to a contract player.
* Rob Riggle; an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve; joins the cast as a featured player, in what would be his only season. Rob would become the second person to go from "SNL" to "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart". (The first being Nancy Walls).

References