In lieu of its traditional opening sketch one day after the Paris attacks, Saturday Night Live opted for a straightforward and touching address to the city.
The message of solidarity was given by cast member Cecily Strong, who spoke in English, then in French. “Paris is the City of Light, and here in New York City, we know that light will never go out,” she said.
The show has been known to take a moment to send a serious message to its audience during times of tragedy. Many SNL fans remember when former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani — a frequent friend of the show — came on to thank both the NYPD and NYFD for their service after the attacks on 9/11.
More recently, the show invited the New York City Children’s Chorus to sing “Silent Night” in the wake of Sandy Hook, again scrapping its usual topical opening sketch for an emotional tribute.
These serious moments are given particular weight on a show like SNL because they are still rare. It’s not a show that will stop itself very often.
After Hurricane Sandy, the show kept its usual comedy lineup. It opened with a sketch, but there was still some humor to be found by taking aim at media coverage of Sandy, rather than Sandy itself.
When the news is filled with tragedy, SNL‘s mission is to make people laugh even when the show begins with a moment of silence.
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