11 Things We Must Protect in 2017

Screengrab via NBC

SNL

Saturday Night Live has been doing the Lord’s work for almost 40 years. Between their ridiculous but culturally explosive original characters, their incredible guest hosts and stars, and the sheer wonder of the phenomenon of a live sketch show having thrived for this long, it’s just an American treasure. And there’s no arguing (unless you’re our new President *LOL!* *SOB!* *COLLAPSE!*) that SNL in election years is perhaps the most necessary and pervasive commentary available to us. Of course, they’ve historically shown a bias toward the liberal side of the equation. But they’ve never gone so far as to leave literally anyone involved completely untouched, on either side.

This past year, SNL has been an incredible cultural yardstick against which we were able to measure just how ridiculous things were getting in the world. Sometimes, art does a thing where the contextualization of real-life events within a tiny, satirical box makes us not only step back and understand that real-life thing better, but really see that the satire isn’t so far off from the reality. And that’s terrifying. And that’s what SNL did for us in 2016. Of course, it didn’t change anything. Unfortunately and inexplicably, seeing the exaggerated, made-for-TV version of our now-President-elect be portrayed basically exactly as he is in normal, real, everyday life didn’t scare the living bejesus out of literally every sentient being on this Earth, which is weird??? But at least on the flip side, the exaggerated, made-for-TV Hillary made us all rally behind her even further. Kate McKinnon’s HRC was high art, very badass, and a Russian-nesting-doll President I kinda wish we could have IRL. And her first appearance after the devastating loss? Utterly heartbreaking, completely beautiful, and exactly what we needed to both bring us together in sadness and push us out there in empowered rage. Please don’t go, SNL; you’re our only hope.