As 'SNL' begins Season 52, here's the state of the show and what to expect

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Set us as preferred When the 52nd season premieres on Saturday at the usual time, usual place, “Saturday Night Live,” with host Jalen Brunson (of the champion Knicks) and musical guests Katseye, will again make history as the longest-running sketch comedy and variety show on television.But week to week — multiplatform 50th-anniversary celebrations aside — the entertainment institution that is “SNL” does not dwell much on its history, focusing instead on trying to earn laughs sketch by sketch, moment by moment.Even when alumni like Tina Fey or Will Ferrell show up, it’s usually in the service of something topical, like a political cold open for a very recent event or happening.

“SNL” lives in the now, and that can be a blessing and a curse, like when you feel like you’ve seen the same cold open lampooning President Trump 15 times already.James Austin Johnson is a brilliant impressionist, but read the room, guys.“SNL” is the rare show for which quality is beside the point.

As creator Lorne Michaels has said to cast members like Tina Fey, “The show doesn’t go on because it’s ready; it goes on because it’s 11:30.”That focus on effort over polish has, surprisingly, helped it survive.For every online hater who tediously comments that “SNL” hasn’t been good since the Dana Carvey era or earlier, there are enough of us stalwarts who will every week obsess about the future of “Weekend Update,” rate the monologue (sometimes harshly) and wait breathlessly at the start of every new sketch, hoping we’re about to watch an all-timer.For those in that camp — who never give up hope that a great sketch is just a commercial break away — here’s what you can expect from the new season.New “SNL” episodes usually arrive in batches of three and then the show takes a break for a few weeks.

For S...