Culture Gabfest: The SNL 50th Anniversary Industrial Complex

Slate Debates

Slate Podcasts

Society & Culture, News

4.6 • 3K Ratings

🗓️ 12 February 2025

⏱️ 72 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

On this week’s show, the hosts reflect on 50 years of music, culture, and comedy with the 50th anniversary of SNL and QuestLove’s new documentary Ladies & Gentlemen…50 Years of SNL Music. For that, the team is joined by Jason Zinoman, critic at large for culture at The New York Times. Then they discuss the Oscar-nominated animated film Flow – where we follow the adventures of an unlikely group of animals led by a curious black cat. Finally, Slate culture writer Nadira Goffe joins to talk about Kendrick Lamar’s “double whammy” of a Super Bowl halftime show. Read her article reflecting on the performance here. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, the panel invites Jason Zinoman back to discuss his article on standup comedy’s move to soften the punchline in exchange for a long, humor-infused setup. Email us at [email protected]. Endorsements: Dana: Henry IV playing at the Theatre for a New Audience in New York and K.D. Lang’s SNL performance of Johnny Get Angry in 1989 (audio only, as the video performance has been removed) or this other performance of the song (with visuals) on UK’s Channel Four from 1991 Julia: Vulture critic Craig Jenkins’ halftime show review – Kendrick Lamar Is Not Your Savior and Pom Pom maker Steve: Pope Francis’ letter to Vice President J.D. Vance Podcast production and research by Vic Whitley-Berry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:59.0	I'm Julia Turner and this is the Slate Culture Gab Fest, the SNL 50th anniversary industrial complex edition.
1:20.9	It is Wednesday, February 12th, 2025, and on today's show, we're talking about SNL's 50th anniversary. We'll be joined by New York Times comedy critic Jason Zinaman to examine the extravaganza of reflection and self-celebration marking the occasion, with a special focus on one highlight, the Questlove documentary, Ladies and Gentlemen, 50 years of SNL music. Then, Flo, the Oscar-nominated Latvian film
1:48.5	about a cat trying to survive a cataclysmic flood with the help of a capybara. Also, it's
1:54.3	completely wordless. We'll dissect one of Oscar season's most hypnotic and surprising contenders.
2:00.1	And then finally, we'll be joined by a
2:01.7	slate staff writer and dear friend of the program, Naderie Goff, to discuss Kendrick Lamar's
2:06.0	halftime show. Was it a stunning political statement, gleefully personal and petty, both, or something
2:12.3	else? Joining me today is Steve McAff. Hello, Steve. Hello, Julia. Steve, did you have a dog in the Super Bowl fight?
2:19.3	Yes, I was rooting against the Chiefs. Okay. And that made my dog, my enemy, that made the enemy and my enemy my friend. So in that lovely spirit, I watched the Super Bowl rooting for the Eagles.
2:35.5	Well, congratulations to you.
2:38.7	Dana Stevens, I will not trouble you with the same question.
	...

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