Schitt’s Creek and Saturday Night Live’s shared history
By Matt Moore
For 46 years, Saturday Night Live has influenced television and comedy in a way that few other shows have managed to do. Pick any successful sitcom since 1975 and you won’t have to dig too deep to see how it connects back to SNL. That is certainly the case with Schitt’s Creek.
In just six seasons, Schitt’s Creek became a cult classic and won a number of awards including a sweep at the 2020 Emmys. Created by father-son duo Dan Levy and Eugene Levy, the Canadian series made a profound impact on the medium both for its comedy and its representation.
Schitt’s Creek reminded the world of what comedic talents Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara are and have been for decades. It also catapulted Dan Levy and Annie Murphy into the spotlight while earning both an Emmy Award.
Dan Levy’s career hit a new milestone recently when he hosted Saturday Night Live.It was another chapter in the shared history between the iconic sketch show and one of the 21st century’s best television shows. Let’s take a closer look at how these shows are connected, starting with Dan Levy’s SNL debut.
Schitt’s Creek creator Dan Levy hosted Saturday Night Live
Schitt’s Creek may have ended in April 2020 but the show’s popularity lives on thanks to Netflix and the enduring charm of its characters. So it wasn’t all that surprising to see Dan Levy hosting Saturday Night Live on Feb. 6, 2021.
It’s possible that SNL wanted Levy to host in season 45 but the pandemic changed everything and plans went out the window. Regardless, Levy was given the chance to grace the stage at Studio 8H and he didn’t disappoint.
His monologue referenced the popularity of Schitt’s Creek as well as its unprecedented run of success at the 2020 Emmy’s. Levy was joined by his father, Eugene Levy, who appeared in a cameo during the monologue and on stage for the goodbyes.
Dan Levy would go on to appear in several sketches that demonstrated his comedy chops. Levy showed no signs of nervousness while acting alongside SNL veterans like Cecily Strong, Aidy Bryant, and Kate McKinnon. It’s hard to imagine it will be one and done when it comes to Levy hosting Saturday Night Live.