If SNL laughs with a person, it's a positive. If they laugh at a person, it can create a forever negative impression. FWIW, those SNL writers were devastating to Cruz, they got right to the yucky campaign tactics. It may not chase away Cruz's current supporters, but it will make it much more difficult for him to get new ones.
Cruz, not so much.
Cruz has all the right enemies.
Interestingly enough, Cruz led the field in the younger demographic in Iowa.