The 50th anniversary of "Saturday Night Live" offers a chance to reflect on the show's evolution, particularly the decline of late-night comedy in recent years. A major culprit? The rise of wokeness and its chilling effect on humor.

The shift from flexible political correctness to rigid woke rules has ushered in an era of "That's not funny." This has led to self-censorship in shows like SNL and "The Tonight Show," where the perceived social good of a joke outweighs its comedic value. Laughter has become secondary to virtue signaling.

SNL has even censored its own past, banning a 1977 skit featuring Garrett Morris and Julian Bond due to its punchline about skin color and intelligence. While some may find it controversial, the joke satirizes the very idea of judging intelligence based on race.

This woke mindset has stifled late-night comedy, replacing sharp wit with predictable political talking points. Meanwhile, comedians willing to push boundaries, like Dave Chappelle, Norm MacDonald, Ricky Gervais, and Shane Gillis, often face backlash for their "offensive" material. Ironically, they are the ones keeping comedy alive.

There are glimmers of change at SNL, like a recent sketch mocking Lin-Manuel Miranda. However, hosts like Jimmy Kimmel and Seth Meyers remain fixated on Trump, demonstrating the enduring grip of political humor. As Johnny Carson quipped about Don Rickles, "Don is a great comedian. I love his joke." One wonders if late-night hosts even remember what a real joke is anymore.