Concur: SNL's cast members seem to spend a lot of time congratulating themselves instead of putting together a good show. When they're doing an impression these days, they no longer try very hard to look and sound like the character they're sending up. Fred Armisen's Barack Obama and Darrell Hammond's Chis Matthews are prime examples. The comediennes are front and center in relatively few skits, and are mostly consigned to minor roles within them. Can you think of any memorable bits featuring a female cast member who wasn't Kristin Wiig? Finally, the thinly veiled inside gay jokes have been so numerous for so long that they're no longer merely tiresome, but flat-out overbearing.
The guest host makes a big difference, though, so maybe they should work on doing better in that regard. The Jan. 16 show with Sigourney Weaver was quite good; Taylor Lautner's Dec. 12 turn was unwatchable. More real actors/comedians and fewer celebrities, it seems, would help a lot.