I've been to multiple taping of SNL, actually. And I found myself laughing when I perceived a line to be a joke. I didn't want anything to fall flat because I enjoy the performers. So I would laugh along with the audience. I think the group mentality and the idea that we are there to give the audience at home someone to along with...that's what caused me to laugh more than the jokes actually being funny. How is SNL supposed to be funny when these talented comedians are being forced to read cue cards rather than playing to the live audience or the viewers at home? SNL is more about finding talent than it is about implementing talent IMO.

If they actually cared about being funny, than Lorne Michaels would give the actors time to memorize the lines, rather than demanding a dozen rewrites...sometimes mere minutes before airtime. Which forces the actors to be glued to the cue cards. Either take out the "live" aspect...or let the actors learn their lines so they have a chance to better perform those lines.