The Rob Reviews the New SNL App

This year, Saturday Night Live turned 40! 

I remember watching the very first episode from 1975 with host George Carlin and the brilliant Not-Ready-For-Prime-Time Players...  Granted that was only a few years ago when I got the first season on DVD.  The premiere episode predates me by eight years.  My parents hadn't even met yet, let alone lit the fiery passionate blaze that let to my conception.  The point is, though, that I've always been a huge fan of Saturday Night Live!

Throughout their 40th Anniversary Special, Saturday Night Live was promoting a new SNL App that was free in the iTunes Store.  I decided to download it, I figured even if it sucks it was a free download anyway.  A few nights ago I took it for a spin, and what happened on my maiden voyage with this app absolutely astounded me!

This app had everything I wanted (within reason), and plenty of added bonuses that kept me thoroughly entertained.  To my surprise, the app appeared to me to have every piece of footage that they have rights to air.  Even when Saturday Night Live was streaming on Netflix or Hulu, through some weird legalities, they couldn't put up EVERYTHING.  Some episodes of the show, which was 64 minutes of content originally, would have some episodes with only about 20 minutes of footage.  They couldn't get the rights to music or other sort of legal issues prevented 100% of the shows to be replayed.

That being said, everything you're looking for will likely be there on the app to watch instantly, including many full episodes.  Searching for a show, host, or sketch is easier than any other streaming medium as well.  Want to jump right to the "Needs More Cowbell" sketch?  Just search "Cowbell".  Looking for the episode that Bob Saget hosted but can't remember which season it was?  Just search for "Bob Saget."  (By the way I highly recommend both of those searches.)  Did your DVR forget to record last week's episode?  It's not hard to find on the new SNL App!

The SNL App also has fun little bonus features, too!  My favorite include SNL-themed emojis.  No more do I simply text "K."  It's now an emoji off Eddie Murphy's Buhweat character with a drawn out "Ohhhh-tay!"  My once-simple and boring request for my girlfriend to pick up food on her way home now include an emoji of Chris Farley's motivational speaker Matt Foley hiking up his britches...  I swear, I crack myself up.  The App also has a beautiful and easily manipulated user interface which enhances the experience.

Complaints about the app are that it's currently only available for iProducts.  No droids.  While that doesn't bother me that much as I'm an iPhone user, I do wish the app were somehow available to viewed on my television in the same fashion that people watch Netflix, Hulu, the WWE Network, etc...  I watch those services through play PlayStation, I wish I could do that with this app.  Outside of that, I think the SNL App is definitely worth the cost...  Which is free!