There was a time when “Saturday Night Live” was everything satire should and could be. It was even-handed, and week after week comedians in their prime created original and unforgettable sketches that are still watched, enjoyed and admired to this day.

The last time the show was truly memorable was back when people like Adam Sandler, Chris Farley and David Spade were cutting their teeth in front of millions of us every Saturday night.

[lz_ndn video=33053003]

“SNL” is now simply a shadow of its former self. In its hour-plus broadcast, typically only one or two sketches really work — and political humor dominates the night. What’s sad is that it fails to be true satire, as it takes a clear position and pushes an even clearer agenda.

“SNL” writers should look at a show like “South Park” for notes on how to take on all political sides while being hilarious.

Alec Baldwin returned to “Saturday Night Live” in the 43rd season premiere to reprise his role as the president. He won an Emmy Award this year for the performance.

Once plagued by negative headlines and a lagging career in film, Baldwin, 59, has now revived himself on a wave of anti-Trump humor, something he is no doubt fearful to give up — despite promising to do so previously.

The show took the predictable shots in its opening sketch, with Baldwin poking fun at Trump’s response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and his stance on national anthem kneelers in the NFL.

[lz_third_party align=center width=630 includes=https://twitter.com/nbcsnl/status/914335221042081794]

The sketch showed Trump taking a call from San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz, during which he told her, “You should have paid your bills.” The Baldwin-as-Trump-character didn’t know Puerto Rico was a U.S. territory and called Cruz a “nasty woman” after the phone call.

Who do you think would win the Presidency?

By completing the poll, you agree to receive emails from LifeZette, occasional offers from our partners and that you've read and agree to our privacy policy and legal statement.

The “SNL” Trump then moved onto the NFL — and after saying he was pleased with the way things were being handled, he said he could have been a football player himself. “I’m combative. I like to win and I might have a degenerative brain disease,” the character said. “And believe me, it may seem like what’s coming out of my mouth is b-a-n-a-n-a-s, but it’s all part of the plan. The more chaos I cause, the less people can focus. They’re all getting so tired.”

“SNL” got one thing right: People are getting tired. They’re getting tired of watching this show hit a theme of anti-Trump emotion and hysteria that consumes so many in the media and Hollywood.

Related: Chelsea Handler in Hot Water (Again) for Crude Joke About First Lady

Later in the program, musical guest Jay-Z wore a Colin Kaepernick jersey, no doubt in an attempt to show support for the former NFL player who started the trend of national anthem kneeling — Kaepernick was been unable to find a team to draft him this season.

On the positive side of things, Ryan Gosling, who stars in the upcoming “Blade Runner: 2049,” was a game host and earned some laughs. A sketch promoting “Levi Wokes,” which are “non-conforming denim that defies labels,” was also original and refreshingly funny.

It feels like it’s written by lazy Twitter trolls.

Unfortunately, the Weekend Update segment was again left-leaning, as usual. Co-hosts Michael Che and Colin Jost (pictured above on the right) hit Trump and the Republicans and hit them hard. Che even called Trump a “cheap cracker.”

The Weekend Update segment used to be one of the funniest parts of “Saturday Night Live.” Ex-hosts like Norm MacDonald and Kevin Nealon used it as a way to bring odd and unique humor to the program while poking fun at any and all of the recent news.

Now, it feels like it’s just written by lazy Twitter trolls. Come to think of it, the entire show feels like it’s written by lazy Twitter trolls these days.