SNL’s Ninja Turtles spoof is the hilarious cure for these dark times

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Saturday Night Live, NBC's time-honored sketch comedy show, returned to the airwaves this past weekend with material produced by a staff working remotely. It was a bit of an odd arrangement to be certain, though it was nice to see members of the cast doing all they could to entertain the masses while remaining at a safe distance. Amidst the sketch line-up for that evening was an animated short titled Middle-Aged Mutant Ninja Turtles, which delivered a hilarious –  and some would say all-too-relatable – update for the Heroes in a Half Shell.

You can watch the animated short below:

For the short, fans are given a grim look into the lives of brothers Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo, who've all aged beyond their days of pizza parties and dancing to Vanilla Ice's "Ninja Rap". Here's the thing though, what begins as a humorous look into the complicated lives of the retired turtles steadily turns dark as we watch each member of the fearsome fighting team get their asses kicked by Father Time. Whether it's waiting for life-altering test results, driving the kids to school, or succumbing to the reality of purchasing plant-based pizzas from Whole Foods, this short is bound to make old school TMNT fans feel very seen.

Unlike the turtles shown in SNL's latest animated short, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle brand still has plenty of pep in its step. Currently, Nickelodeon is hosting the reimagined and rebooted Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, an animated series that continues to expand on TMNT lore by presenting the Fab Four to a whole new generation of fans. While I find myself relating a bit more to the Middle-Aged Ninja Turtles than I'd care to admit, it does my murmur-ridden ticker good to know that the brothers are still keeping New York safe from the likes of Shredder, his evil Foot Clan, and an entire army of new characters that I've never heard of. Cowabunga!