To many people, 35 years has become merely a stepping stone in time. They only take a moment to tread on it before moving on with their life.  However, 35 does not have to be and should not be so unimportant. 

Saturday Night Live, for example, has been on air for 35 years. The program was first created by executive producer Lorne Michaels, who has produced the show for all but five years.

The show involved a series of comedic skits, hosted by an influential figure, and accompanied by a musical guest.

The players in the skits have become some of the most widely known names in comedy and the show continues to produce more.

Every Saturday night, the show runs, bringing with it not only humor and wit, but also a fresh and satirical look on the state of the United States, current issues and the rest of the world.

The program brings to light political issues, be it the 2008 election or the current state of health care. Additionally, Saturday Night Live satirizes celebrity and media behavior, from Meryl Streep to James Carville.

Interestingly, although these skits poke fun at the people portrayed in them, somehow they tone down the hype.

By using humor, the program manages to make the build up that occurs in tabloids, the media and general gossip seem less important. The humorous lens brings scandals and hysteria down to a normal level that becomes manageable in everyday life.

This is an invaluable service that the good people at SNL provide for the United States. 

If we, as a country, are unable to laugh at ourselves and the people we coexist with, then we lose the ability to see the world clearly and walk forever in the haze of the aforementioned buildup.

Humor, however, is merely one of the services this show provides.

The popular program, simply by being on air for 35 years, this show has created a bridge, founded in a common love of entertainment, over the generation gap.

A significant portion of the population has grown up with SNL, from those who witnessed that first episode 35 years ago, to those who have been watching the current season.

The show provides common ground every week where parents and children, friends and family and, really, any group, can gather to watch. 

Saturday Night Live has become, to say the least, a valuable part of American culture, an iconic program and an incredibly valuable generational bridge.