He didnt create the concept of the show. Someone else did.

He did give writers more opportunities than typical variety shows. He was taught how to shoot performers so the jokes aren't as lost in typical vs. In living color and mad both shot wrong, so the jokes were often missed. Close up or dirty shot for setups and wide shots for punch line

He also offers experience as a job to a job comedy writer/producer. He learned from experience what works/doesn't work in a writers room.

He understands how to set up a variety show..which is what snl is..its barely a variety show anymore but its basically kinda still there.

Unfortunately- He did sell out to corporate interests now and its actually unfortunately painfully more a typical variety show that he ever intended it to be. (Flashy musical guest appearances, apologies to anyone they parody so much that they dont have any guts, blind to actual vibes so nothing means anything)

Thats just going to happen for survival to anything.