This post was updated Feb. 17 at 7:57 p.m.

After 50 years on air, the success of “Saturday Night Live” doesn’t need to be measured in laughter.

NBC’s award-winning late-night sketch comedy series will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a three-hour special this weekend. Since its 1975 premiere, the somewhat-weekly program has captured the breadth of American culture in a parody package with the help of many of Hollywood’s biggest names. As it has risen in the zeitgeist, it has naturally attracted more public scrutiny. Critics are quick to write off modern “SNL” as unfunny, unimpressive and stale in comparison to its conveniently ill-defined “golden years” – they unfortunately could not understand the show any less. “SNL” is not always funny – that much is true – but its decadeslong reign as both an industry and cultural institution proves it doesn’t always have to be.

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There are countless reasons to applaud “SNL,” but what is rarely acknowledged is the speed and skill required to keep the program afloat and thriving. A traditional episode is crafted in a six-day work week, with only a one-day break after the last Saturday show. For 50 years, its crew has excelled at bringing a complete production to life under the immense pressure of a ticking clock: writing scripts, building sets, designing costumes and directing casts, all while basing sketches on events that sometimes happened only a few days prior. It’s no surprise the series has over 90 Emmy Awards, parading some of the industry’s most creative minds in a masterclass of collaboration.

To expect “SNL” to be at the top of its game every week dismisses the extensive efforts put into a single sketch. Much of the program’s beauty is found in its hilarious, occasionally messy unpredictability – it’s why the show is live to begin with. If a joke doesn’t land, it’s not the result of an uninspired staff – just a reasonable consequence of a uniquely demanding trade. Optimistically, this hectic schedule makes the show’s legacy of iconic sketches all the more impressive. The most-viewed sketch of last season, “Beavis and Butt-Head,” faced last-minute script changes and wasn’t rehearsed with full makeup until the live show. These variables made cast member Heidi Gardner break on air for the first time, contributing to its virality and acclaim.

Even at its least funny, “SNL” holds an integral space in the comedy field that no other program can fill. Sitcoms and stand-up specials are undoubtedly widespread, but the foundational art of sketch comedy – and its subdivisions like impressions – don’t have a platform remotely as dominant as “SNL.” Beyond general appreciation, the series is crucial for the careers of aspiring comedic performers. “SNL” has catapulted numerous writers and actors to stardom in its 50 years, from season one star John Belushi to current cast member Bowen Yang. As the television landscape faces continuous changes, the continued relevance of the show’s variety format provides a beacon for the art form found nowhere else.

Far beyond the industry, the “faltering” quips of “SNL” have still managed to power a profound impact. Over five decades, the show has evolved from reflecting American culture to being irrevocably embedded in it. The series archive, which consists of nearly 1,000 episodes, is a more thrilling take on a history textbook. With the birth of the internet, a range of celebrity drama and 10 different presidencies to spoof, “SNL” has always served as a necessary key for reading the pulse of the nation’s society in a digestible context.

And the cultural reach of the series has a palpable existence in everyday life. Seemingly trivial jokes from the show have entered the public lexicon, such as the phrase “Debbie Downer,” which originated with an eponymous character in 2004. Even its political satirization has shaped the opinions of audiences, with some viewers believing former vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin actually said an uncomplimentary quote that was only written for a sketch. This proves a large responsibility that “SNL” admittedly doesn’t always bear well – think of the poor choice to have now-President Donald Trump host in the midst of his first presidential campaign in 2015. But it also proves that whether or not people are laughing, they are paying attention in a severely consequential way.

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When an “SNL” sketch goes wrong, social media stinkers will be the first to declare that the show hasn’t been funny since the early 2000s… or the late ‘90s… or 1975. Not only is this wrong, but it is also unimportant. On top of the fact that comedy is subjective and most of these critics are simply nostalgic for their favorite cast, the series has always varied in quality, inevitably churning out both major hits and embarrassing misses every year and making some seasons seem more consistent than others. Though at the end of the day – or more accurately, 50 years – “SNL” is about much more than that.

It advertises itself as a comedy program, so it should try its best to be funny, sure. However, its legacy will lie with the nation’s heartbeat, not the tune of “More Cowbell.”