Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live has a problem. Although the show has been on a steady decline in quality for a while, the NBC staple is putting up its lowest ratings, even with some talented guest stars hosting. The jokes are becoming predictable, the sketches aren’t as inventive and the cast is filled with many comedians we barely recognize. It’s becoming evident that the post-Seth Meyers turnover was less smooth than expected, but it’s still possible for SNL to return to its previously stellar form.

Here are five ways SNL can change:

1. Get more original in the cold opens 

Jay Pharoah’s President Obama might be pitch-perfect, but it’s disappointing when the impression is relegated to a stale cold opening. It seems as though every week, SNL takes a story from the headlines and hammers an already thin joke to death. SNL used to give interesting political perspectives, but when Kenan Thompson’s Al Sharpton needs to save a lifeless take on Ebola, you know there’s a problem. SNL’s cold openings have become predictable, and even worse, unfunny. The writers need to start trying to surprise people in the “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!” setup.

2. Let us get to know this bloated cast 

It’s odd to think that Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader were holding the reins at SNL a few years ago, because the show has yet to replenish that star power. The current cast has a lot of new blood, but it’s clearly full of talent, too. However, besides Thompson’s Sharpton, Vanessa Bayer’s Miley Cyrus and a smattering of decent Weekend Update characters, iconic characters are lacking for much of the cast. To get SNL back on track, SNL MVPs such as Kate McKinnon and Taran Killam need to become standouts, and the lesser-known cast members (what is a Kyle Mooney?) deserve a chance to succeed.

3. Rely on the talents of your guest hosts 

There’s no excuse for not producing high-quality episodes with Chris Pratt, Sarah Silverman, Bill Hader and Jim Carrey at the helm. The best moments this season, such as Carrey and McKinnon dancing to Sia’s “Chandelier” or Silverman’s stand-up monologue, have involved the guest hosts doing what they do best. Letting this happen more often will create more special moments on Saturday night and more people buzzing about it the next morning.

4. Revamp the Weekend Update desk

When Meyers left the Weekend Update desk for late night, the comedy left, too. And it’s a shame because, after getting her start on the desk next to Meyers, Cecily Strong was starting to look promising as an anchor. She was replaced before this season, just when it seemed she was showing a knack for her position. Her replacement, writer Michael Che, also has shown potential, but head writer Colin Jost has yet to impress in his role as an anchor. Maybe SNL needs to experiment with going against traditions, such as the head writer at the Weekend Update desk, because the show’s staple is starting to become one of its low points every week.

5. LESLIE JONES

First, watch this. It’s obvious why naming Jones as a new cast member was SNL’s best decision in ages. Jones has a unique voice and the kind of comedic talent that refuses to blend in. So in making this great hire, SNL needs to do its best not to squander it by featuring Jones as much as possible. She might not be on the repertory cast yet, but it’s obvious SNL found something special in Jones, so using her skills as soon as possible should be a major goal for the show. More than ever, performers are using the revolving door that is the SNL cast, but Jones is one who needs to stick around for a while.