Sketch shows during prime time were incredibly common when you only had three channels. The reason why SNL had the “not ready for prime time players” was because it was where comedians could go who weren’t able to be on a better sketch comedy show.
As time went on, it became less and less worth it to have a sketch comedy show on your network. You could target a smaller audience as FOX and cable channels became serious competition. There was also a collapse in the television studio system, so it didn’t make much economic sense for a studio to put out a sketch comedy show as a way to develop internal talent.
SNL is only really still around because it is a cultural icon that still gets in the news and acts as a decent promotional stop for Universal projects. Its development pipeline for talent isn’t worth it, in part as the success rate for SNL alum has gone down significantly.
Others mention Dropout as the best Internet brand who could put out a sketch comedy show, but they’ve said that scripted comedy is still too expensive for them and they seem happy to be everyone’s favorite second gig instead of their first.
Media has changed.
Sketch shows during prime time were incredibly common when you only had three channels. The reason why SNL had the “not ready for prime time players” was because it was where comedians could go who weren’t able to be on a better sketch comedy show.
As time went on, it became less and less worth it to have a sketch comedy show on your network. You could target a smaller audience as FOX and cable channels became serious competition. There was also a collapse in the television studio system, so it didn’t make much economic sense for a studio to put out a sketch comedy show as a way to develop internal talent.
SNL is only really still around because it is a cultural icon that still gets in the news and acts as a decent promotional stop for Universal projects. Its development pipeline for talent isn’t worth it, in part as the success rate for SNL alum has gone down significantly.
Others mention Dropout as the best Internet brand who could put out a sketch comedy show, but they’ve said that scripted comedy is still too expensive for them and they seem happy to be everyone’s favorite second gig instead of their first.