Though some of the early SNL cast was quite talented, I never thought CC was particularly funny.
John Belushi's death, the subsequent connection with he and Robin Williams and Gilda Radner's death with her seemingly story book love affair with Gene Wilder just killed (no offense) the whole show and comedy for me.
Or that likeable. But he was incredibly lucky - in the right place at the right time.
I think the show has gone downhill in recent years. Part of the appeal of the earlier show is that it was fresh and unlike what you'd usually see on TV at the time. Not every sketch was great, but at least there was some originality involved. Now the formula is tired and stale.
Also, they had both a common culture of 50s/60s TV to draw on and their own druggy rock youth culture. I don't know what the people doing the show now are drawing on. They don't seem to be parodying anything (except Jeopardy), and they seem afraid to seriously satirize anything.
Also, like I said about the new Ghostbusters, just creating mildly amusing characters doesn't make for effective comedy. There has to be some edge or bite. I suspect the new cast has been told that they were wonderful and talented so often by parents and teachers that they don't have the sting or bite or chip on their shoulder that makes great comedians.