Since the players are always changing, it always maintains some interest. The closest that Dave gets to satire are those odd little campaign commercials he runs. Jay's satire is limited to the monologue and the Dancing Itos et al. I think that satire is a necessary part of self-examination on the part of society, especially in the political process. The genre is definitely not dead.
Every episode is fresh and funny.
We haven't watched SNL for years. At least MAD TV keeps the pace up. I never made it to the end though, turning to USA to watch the wonderful Gilbert Gottfried do his thing during the breaks on Up All Night. The French must think we are so strange. The Bonnie Hunt Show has been put on hiatus until mid-season, when CBS is promising new episodes will be aired.