'Saturday Night Live' ... the mere mention of the show brings a smile to so many faces. The talented cast members. The memorable sketches. The unforgettable characters. SNL holds a special place in our hearts and lives. And has done so since its inaugural season in 1975.
What is SNL's appeal and what accounts for its enduring success? The Washington Post's TV critic Tom Shales wrote this in 2002 in a book about SNL
Bill Murray (left) and Jane Curtin on 'Weekend Update'
:: ::
The success of 'Saturday Night Live' sparked a renaissance in topical, satirical, and political humor; launched the careers of innumerable new talents; hugely expanded the parameters of what was 'acceptable' material on the air; and helped bestow upon the comedy elite the hip-mythic status that rock stars had long enjoyed.
PLEASE READ THIS
Whenever I post diaries like this -- What is Your Fav TV Sitcom of All-Time? and Snowy TGIF: What is Your Favorite Classic Rock Song -- some of you with dial-up, older pc's, slower processors, not enough RAM, and the like complain that you could not easily scroll through the comments as way too many videos had been posted. If you'd like to post a few favorite videos of movie scenes, feel free to do so but just don't go overboard. Embed one YouTube video and post links to the others.
Example: This is a YouTube link to an 2008 SNL skit with Sarah Palin (Tina Fey) and Hillary Clinton (Amy Poehler).
http://www.youtube.com/...
Thanks.
:: ::
As is the case with every television show, the original cast is very often the best and most fondly remembered. While that is probably true of 'Saturday Night Live,' the show has introduced some remarkable comedic talent in its three decades plus history.
What motivated the performers on the show and allowed the show to (generally) maintain its consistent good quality? Shales adds this
Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers) with Garth Algar (Dana Carvey) broadcasting live on 'Wayne's World' (left) and Stuart Smalley (Al Franken) preaches his philosophy on 'Daily Affirmation With Stuart Smalley'
:: ::
Throughout the show's impressive 27-year run (35 years now and running), which includes more than 500 episodes (and what must be close to 3,000 skits), the behind-the-scenes story of "SNL" has always been about how a group of frighteningly talented and often highly insecure people scrambled to land precious on-camera time each week.
Seeing your skit get cut between dress rehearsal and the live show or being relegated to extra roles (assigned by Michaels, the gatekeeper) could send an ambitious but underused cast member spiraling into depression. "There was no job I could imagine having to do that would have been more difficult than returning to the show," recalls Julia Sweeney, who quit with one year left on her contract after being virtually banished from "SNL" during her final season.
:: ::
Some of the prominent cast members and feature players on the show -- many of whom became regulars in later years -- as well as some of SNL's memorable sketches are listed below
The amazingly talented Gilda Radner offers her editorial opinions on 'Roseanne Roseannadanna' (left) and 'The Festrunk Brothers' (Steve Martin and Dan Aykroyd) waiting for some "American foxes" in their bachelor pad (video on Hulu)
:: ::
:: ::
'Father Guido Sarducci' (Don Novello) as the Vatican's rock critic and gossip columnist (left) and 'Fernando Lamas' (Billy Crystal) looking Latin cool and simply "mahvelous"
:: ::
:: ::
'The Church Lady' (Dana Carvey) giving one of her "holier-than-thou" lectures (left) and Alex Trebek (Will Ferrell) has his sexuality questioned by Sean Connery (Darrell Hammond) on 'Celebrity Jeopardy'
:: ::
- 1990-1995 - Cast Members included Dana Carvey, Phil Hartman, Jan Hooks, Victoria Jackson, Dennis Miller, Mike Myers, Kevin Nealon, Chris Farley, Tim Meadows, Chris Rock, Julia Sweeney, Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, David Spade, Ellen Cleghorne, Robert Smigel, Melanie Hutsell, Norm MacDonald, Chris Elliott, and Molly Shannon.
- 1995-2000 - Cast Members included Jim Breuer, Will Ferrell, Darrell Hammond (may be the most talented of them all), Norm Macdonald, Tim Meadows, Cheri Oteri, Molly Shannon, David Spade, Nancy Walls, Chris Kattan, Colin Quinn, Ana Gasteyer, Tracy Morgan, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Parnell, Horatio Sanz, Tina Fey, Jimmy Fallon, Rachel Dratch, and Maya Rudolph.
- Saturday Night Live TV show sketches of the 1990's
* Church Chat
* Hans and Franz
* Wayne's World
* Cooking with the Anal Retentive Chef
* Tales of Ribaldry
* Sprockets
* The Continental
* Lank Thompson
* Simon
* The Dark Side with Nat X
* Daily Affirmation with Stuart Smalley
* Coffee Talk
* Theatre Stories
* Sassy's Sassiest Boys
* The Denise Show
* Good Morning Brooklyn
* Scottish Soccer Hooligan Weekly
* Perspectives with Lionel Osbourne
* The Joe Pesci Show
* Celebrity Jeopardy!
* Goth Talk
* Leon Phelps, the Ladies Man
* Delicious Dish
* Morning Latte
* The How Do You Say? Ah Yes, Show
* Pimp Chat
* The Zimmermans
:: ::
Gene Frenkle (Will Ferrell) provides 'More Cowbell' to rock band members Buck Dharma (Chris Kattan) and Eric Bloom (Chris Parnell) (left) and 'The Ladies Man' (Tim Meadows) gives his tips on romance and love
:: ::
- 2000-2005 - Cast Members included Jimmy Fallon, Will Ferrell, Ana Gasteyer, Darrell Hammond, Chris Kattan, Tracy Morgan, Chris Parnell, Horatio Sanz, Molly Shannon, Rachel Dratch, Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph, Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers, Fred Armisen, Will Forte, Finesse Mitchell, Kenan Thompson, and Jason Sudeikis.
- 2005-Present - Cast Members include Fred Armisen, Rachel Dratch, Tina Fey, Will Forte, Darrell Hammond, Seth Meyers, Finesse Mitchell, Chris Parnell, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Horatio Sanz, Kenan Thompson, Bill Hader, Andy Samberg, Jason Sudeikis, Kristen Wiig, Abby Elliott, Bobby Moynihan, Nasim Pedrad, and Jenny Slate.
- Saturday Night Live TV show sketches of the 2000's
* The Zimmermans
* Leonard Pinth-Garnell
* Church Chat
* Celebrity Jeopardy!
* Leon Phelps, the Ladies Man
* Delicious Dish
* Morning Latte
* The How Do You Say? Ah Yes, Show
* Uncle Jemima
* Jarret's Room
* Wake Up Wakefield!
* America Undercover
* The Ferey Muhtar Talk Show
* Top O' the Morning
* Two A-Holes
* Pranksters
* Spy Glass
* Appalachian Emergency Room
* ¡Show Biz Grande Explosion!
* Deep House Dish
* The Dakota Fanning Show
* Vincent Price Holiday Specials
* La Revista Di La Television Con Vinny Vedecci
* What Up With That
* Dateline
:: ::
So, who are your favorite cast members and sketches on this fabulously entertaining show? Share your memories and don't forget to take the poll.
The diary poll doesn't necessarily reflect the best or, even, my favorite sketches. If your favorite sketches aren't listed, mention them in your comments.
:: ::
Crossposted on Docudharma