Earlier this year, Sky made headlines after announcing plans to bring one of America's biggest comedy shows, SNL, to the UK – and it wasn't all good press. Perhaps judging the upcoming show by the original, critics were sceptical that the series wouldn't translate well across the pond, and predicted that the whole thing would be a big, pointless mess.
It's me, I'm 'critics'.
© © Sky UK LimitedWhile on maternity leave at the time and therefore thankfully not picking up a poisoned pen on the subject, I recall hearing the SNL UK plans with some snooty derision. I have never been a fan of SNL US, for starters. I have watched many of the sketches and monologues from the show over the years, and although some of them are alright, there was nothing really there for me.
Comedy is subjective, and I think my preferred brand of TV comedy lies more in sitcoms than live sketch TV.
© © Sky UK LimitedI watched the SNL UK premiere out of curiosity - and because, let's be honest, what else was I doing with a little baby on a Saturday night - and my scepticism turned to genuine delight at how wrong my first impressions of the series were.
It was and is a complete joy.
© Sky UKWhile I worried that the UK version would be a low-budget, sad imitation of the original (of which I already mentioned I wasn't a fan), Sky defied my expectations by casting a young, relatively unknown but hugely talented cast to steer the ship. As a result, the jokes feel modern, knowing, and fresh – and also quintessentially British, which made the whole endeavour very hard not to enjoy.
The Britishness of it all is something that presumably producers knew would immediately endear viewers to it. When skits are made around Thomas the Tank Engine, David Attenborough, Ian Wright reuniting with his old school teacher or Claudia Winkleman lecturing the contestants of The Traitors, you instantly feel like you're part of a very specific 'in' joke – and there's nothing people love more than feeling like part of the gang.
© Sky UKThe show deserved to be a massive hit for Sky. After all, they have now invested in a group of talent so good that they might be the UK's answer to the next Tina Fey or Will Ferrell – and it'll be the network that put them on the map.
© © Sky UK LimitedThus concludes my formal apology to season one, and rest assured I have plans this Saturday to settle in for season two (because I have no friends).
