By Summer Rogers

Daily Titan Staff Writer

“Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!” has been shouted out by the “not ready for prime time” players of Saturday Night Live for the last 35 years.

For some of those years, it was worth staying home on a Saturday night to watch, but the eight seasons leading up to the 2009-10 season have left audiences humorless and wanting more from the late night sketch comedy show.

What makes an episode bad? Is it the host? Is it the skits? Is it the dialogue?

I believe a deadly combination of the three can bomb an entire episode, but a great host can salvage poor skits. Unfortunately, great skits cannot save a bad host.

Take for example Megan Fox; she is proof that decent skits can’t save a poor host. I know and understand that she is hot, but she is also talentless, and hotness, unfortunately, cannot compensate for talent.

The skits weren’t poor, but since she was so terrible, the cast had to carry her in every scene, especially Will Forte in the SNL Digital Short “The Date.”

An example of utter disaster is when both the host and the skits are terrible. January Jones from “Mad Men” on AMC hosted on Nov. 14, a day that will live in SNL infamy.

Both the sketches and Jones were awful. She brought every sketch she was in down with her monotone delivery, bringing the energy down and sucking the life out of every joke.

A great host that got bogged down in bad skits was Joseph Gordon-Levitt of “500 Days of Summer” and “G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra.”

He really showed his affinity for comedy, but his talent was wasted on the drab skits.

Only two episodes thus far have had great hosts and good skits. Blake Lively of “Gossip Girl” and singer Taylor Swift are surprisingly multi-talented. These girls can do it all and have been the only spark of hope for this season.

To save your eyes and brain space from viewing those crummy skits and/or hosts, here are skits to see (forget the rest):

Episode 2: “So You Committed a Crime and You Think You Can Dance:” Hilarious performances from Fred Armisen, Kenan Thompson and Ryan Reynolds.

The SNL Digital Short “On the Ground” with Andy Samberg.

“Fashion:” Lady GaGa and Samberg desperately try to makeout while both are dressed in GaGa’s famous “bubble dress.”

Episode 3:

“Tampax to the Max Tournament of Champions 1991:” Will Forte and Jason Sudeikis are ESPN announcers for a female pool playing championship. Sudeikis gives hilarious shout-outs to the sponsor: “Tampax, knick-knacks patty-whacks stop your flow with Tampax” and “Tampax, helpin’ you relax when Mother Nature attacks your slacks.”

Episode 4:

Gerard Butler’s opening monologue; he sings “Music of the Night” from “The Phantom of the Opera” while being attacked by ninjas.

Episode 7:

Gordon-Levitt’s monologue; a re-creation of Donald O’Connor’s “Make ‘em laugh” song and the dance scene from “Singin’ in the Rain.”

The SNL Digital Short “Two Worlds Collide,” featuring Reba McEntire.

Episode 8:

“Vagisil Superstars of Bowling Tournament 1989.” A sketch that looks to become a reoccurring skit, brings back Forte and Sudeikis as ESPN commentators, this time providing commentary for a female bowling tournament. Sudeikis brings big laughs when he gives his shout-outs to the sponsor, “Vagisil: When dryness lingers, get some cream on those fingers, Vagisil;” and “Vagisil: I scream, you scream, we all scream for vagina cream, Vagisil.”

“Potato Chip Thief.” Lively is the sole reason for watching this skit.

For a list of SNL’s top 35 skits from its 35 years, visit: DailyTitan.com/2009/12/snl-35