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Beyond SNL: The State's Strange, Short-Lived Reign
19 Jun
Summary
- The State pioneered oddball humor, differing from SNL's style.
- Internal rifts and show business issues ended the show.
- Members achieved success in film and television post-show.
During the 1990s, while "Saturday Night Live" dominated sketch comedy, alternative shows like MTV's "The State" provided a fresh, stranger style of humor. The comedy troupe, comprising 11 future stars, created a pre-taped series that embraced more eccentric and oddball comedy than its mainstream counterparts. The group, including members like Ken Marino and Michael Showalter, often parodied recurring characters and catchphrases.
Though initially met with criticism, "The State" found its audience and became a cult hit over its four seasons. A new documentary, "Long Live The State," premiered this month at the Tribeca Film Festival, revealing that internal divisions and the realities of the entertainment industry contributed to the show's cancellation. This eventually led to a period of discord among the troupe members.
