Rather than do their usual 90 minute-long sketch-based comedy show, this past weekend Saturday Night Live decided to take a different route and present a tribute to Prince…and THEN whip out the sketch-based comedy.
The first hour of the show (embedded above) was titled “Goodnight, Sweet Prince” and featured four performances from when Prince had previously appeared on Saturday Night Live. Four flashback performances, however, wasn’t enough to fill the time slot – so to pad out the second half of the program they threw in a compilation of old sketches built around “The Prince Show,” featuring Fred Armisen as Prince and Maya Rudolph as Beyonce.
Understandably, this did not go over well:
Didn't think my contempt for Fred Armesin could increase but was wrong. Dammit SNL that was embarrassing #SNLPrince
— Amanda Rachels (@AmandaRachels) April 24, 2016
Damn. #SNL can't even end a tribute show right. Nobody wanted to see those imitation sketches at the end. Come on 😠 #snlprince
— ⚡Mr. Brightside☮️ (@Will3K85) April 24, 2016
#snlprince They really ruined what started as great tribute. These stupid skits aren't funny and actually dishonor the Great Man's memory.
— Stan Woodard (@stanwoodard) April 24, 2016
https://twitter.com/Javimere1971/status/724096347482234881
https://twitter.com/carpediemtre/status/724094715298222084
SNL disrespects @Prince with 'Prince show' caricatures labeled as 'love.' Pathetic insults. @jimmyfallon #snl #snlprince #prince
— Jeff White (@ListentoJeff) April 25, 2016
@Will3K85 That was so stupid. I expected way more from SNL. Maybe I can send them my resume now bc I think they might need help. #snlprince
— elizayoyo (@elizayoyo) April 25, 2016
https://twitter.com/Kyle_Hoffenberg/status/724441171062341632
#SNLPrince. First half great second half WTF? So inappropriate as tribute! #bigfail
— 💄LoLo💋 (@itsaloloday) April 25, 2016
https://twitter.com/coolcar00/status/724397513512353792
#SNLPrince REALLY? thats a tribute.. sigh, they should have just played prince at the after party as a monologue and left it at that.
— heather longbottom (@nnjheather) April 24, 2016
@jimmyfallon had diarrhea of the mouth last night on the #SNLPrince tribute. How about intersperse skits with music & end on music not skit
— Pat Pugliese (@GatorArcangelo) April 24, 2016
https://twitter.com/pattie_owens/status/724349002775445504
Regardless of how you felt about the tribute on Saturday, you have to admit the man was a music legend, with his top performances completely blowing everyone else out of the water:
[H/T Daily Mail]