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shadowkatWatching the 50th Anniversary of SNL on NBC/Peacock. (I got a 29.99 year subscription, which is normally $79.99, sale price, with no ads. I plan on cancelling it in December. It's the cheapest one I have. Next? I may cancel Max and repurchase it on Hulu.)
Take-aways? Their physical comedy is actually pretty good, but a lot of the sketch comedy doesn't land. And I realized I watched it mostly for the musical numbers over the years, the weekend update, and the political satire (which in this day and age is almost impossible - to outdo what is actually happening, the Republicans have managed to out-satirize SNL, we should have them switch places - the Republicans can write the political satire and SNL can run our government, it would most likely be an improvement), which I'm doing now.
[Oh as an aside on the nasty American Political situation which may well result in the collapse of the US and refuses to go away and resolve itself, you know things have gotten pretty bad when the terrorists, Russia, China and North Korea have decided to just sit back and watch, with popcorn. Don't use the name of the Republican in the White House aka Republican President, use "Republican", "45" for the administration and "Republican for the president", make the Republicans take responsibility for this. It's on them and they are pulling his strings. Got this from activist Bernice King.]
Here it is:
1. Don’t use his name; EVER (45 will do)
2. Remember this is a regime and he’s not acting alone;
3. Do not argue with those who support him–it doesn’t work;
4. Focus on his policies, not his orange-ness and mental state;
5. Keep your message positive; they want the country to be angry and fearful because this is the soil from which their darkest policies will grow;
6. No more helpless/hopeless talk;
7. Support artists and the arts;
8. Be careful not to spread fake news. Check it;
9. Take care of yourselves; and
10. Resist!
Keep demonstrations peaceful. In the words of John Lennon, “When it gets down to having to use violence, then you are playing the system’s game. The establishment will irritate you – pull your beard, flick your face – to make you fight! Because once they’ve got you violent, then they know how to handle you. The only thing they don’t know how to handle is non-violence and humor.”
When you post or talk about him, don’t assign his actions to him, assign them to “The Republican Administration,” or “The Republicans.” This will have several effects: the Republican legislators will either have to take responsibility for their association with him or stand up for what some of them don’t like; he will not get the focus of attention he craves; Republican representatives will become very concerned about their re-elections.
(Copy to paste to your Timeline – wider than sharing)
]
Back to the non-political stuff.
I've been to the SNL set, and to 30 Rock. I used to work in the McGraw Hill building near it. I've also been to the David Letterman show, when John Stewart was a guest.
First act was Paul Simon (who is in his 80s, I think) and Sabrina Carpenter (who I've never heard of - and claims that her parents weren't born yet when Simon first aired on SNL in 1976. I kind of hope they were? Because she has three older sisters, and her parents would have been in their teens? I hope she was joking. It was hard to tell.]
The musical guests are a mixed bag. Miley Cyrus doesn't have the range for Nothing Compares to You, but Brittany does.
Also, a lot of these folks look a lot older than I thought, and I thought some were dead. Al Sharpton is like this tiny little version of himself? He kind of shrunk? And Paul Simon...whoa. The younger ones? I've no idea who half of them are. Miley Cyrus is so thin - and covered with tattoos, also has a raw throaty voice. Cher looks like she's had a bit too much plastic surgery. But Meryl Streep and Woody Harrelson have aged well as has Jon Hamm - they did a skit together, with McKinnon. Out of the original cast, only Bill Murray and Larraine Newman have popped up.
Wow, Jack Nickelson - first time I've seen him in years. Actually that's been the entire anniversary special and concert - "wait, I thought they were dead?" or "whoa, I haven't seen them in years". Or "when did everyone get old? This is insane."
You know you are older - when the actors, comedians and musicians of your youth have gotten old, and you don't recognize the newer ones and they all look alike.
There is a hilarious musical skit about the rise and fall of NYC, with Adam Driver in a Hot Dog suit. And Costner and the actress from Wednesday are regretting their seats - they got stuck between two people singing a number Les Miz, arguing over them, in big costumes, including a Green MnM, who stands right behind them, and they are trying not to react, as they get squished. Costner just begins laughing. Wednesday looks like she's regretting this invite. Then Lin Miranda spoofs his own musical number with Rudy Giulani throwing away his shot.
It's more in line with Galavante and less in line with Schmigadoon, in that it is biting satirical parody.
And here is the first episode of Saturday Night Live that aired in October 1975, with host George Carlin and musical guest, Janis Ian.
Take-aways? Their physical comedy is actually pretty good, but a lot of the sketch comedy doesn't land. And I realized I watched it mostly for the musical numbers over the years, the weekend update, and the political satire (which in this day and age is almost impossible - to outdo what is actually happening, the Republicans have managed to out-satirize SNL, we should have them switch places - the Republicans can write the political satire and SNL can run our government, it would most likely be an improvement), which I'm doing now.
[Oh as an aside on the nasty American Political situation which may well result in the collapse of the US and refuses to go away and resolve itself, you know things have gotten pretty bad when the terrorists, Russia, China and North Korea have decided to just sit back and watch, with popcorn. Don't use the name of the Republican in the White House aka Republican President, use "Republican", "45" for the administration and "Republican for the president", make the Republicans take responsibility for this. It's on them and they are pulling his strings. Got this from activist Bernice King.]
Here it is:
1. Don’t use his name; EVER (45 will do)
2. Remember this is a regime and he’s not acting alone;
3. Do not argue with those who support him–it doesn’t work;
4. Focus on his policies, not his orange-ness and mental state;
5. Keep your message positive; they want the country to be angry and fearful because this is the soil from which their darkest policies will grow;
6. No more helpless/hopeless talk;
7. Support artists and the arts;
8. Be careful not to spread fake news. Check it;
9. Take care of yourselves; and
10. Resist!
Keep demonstrations peaceful. In the words of John Lennon, “When it gets down to having to use violence, then you are playing the system’s game. The establishment will irritate you – pull your beard, flick your face – to make you fight! Because once they’ve got you violent, then they know how to handle you. The only thing they don’t know how to handle is non-violence and humor.”
When you post or talk about him, don’t assign his actions to him, assign them to “The Republican Administration,” or “The Republicans.” This will have several effects: the Republican legislators will either have to take responsibility for their association with him or stand up for what some of them don’t like; he will not get the focus of attention he craves; Republican representatives will become very concerned about their re-elections.
(Copy to paste to your Timeline – wider than sharing)
]
Back to the non-political stuff.
I've been to the SNL set, and to 30 Rock. I used to work in the McGraw Hill building near it. I've also been to the David Letterman show, when John Stewart was a guest.
First act was Paul Simon (who is in his 80s, I think) and Sabrina Carpenter (who I've never heard of - and claims that her parents weren't born yet when Simon first aired on SNL in 1976. I kind of hope they were? Because she has three older sisters, and her parents would have been in their teens? I hope she was joking. It was hard to tell.]
The musical guests are a mixed bag. Miley Cyrus doesn't have the range for Nothing Compares to You, but Brittany does.
Also, a lot of these folks look a lot older than I thought, and I thought some were dead. Al Sharpton is like this tiny little version of himself? He kind of shrunk? And Paul Simon...whoa. The younger ones? I've no idea who half of them are. Miley Cyrus is so thin - and covered with tattoos, also has a raw throaty voice. Cher looks like she's had a bit too much plastic surgery. But Meryl Streep and Woody Harrelson have aged well as has Jon Hamm - they did a skit together, with McKinnon. Out of the original cast, only Bill Murray and Larraine Newman have popped up.
Wow, Jack Nickelson - first time I've seen him in years. Actually that's been the entire anniversary special and concert - "wait, I thought they were dead?" or "whoa, I haven't seen them in years". Or "when did everyone get old? This is insane."
You know you are older - when the actors, comedians and musicians of your youth have gotten old, and you don't recognize the newer ones and they all look alike.
There is a hilarious musical skit about the rise and fall of NYC, with Adam Driver in a Hot Dog suit. And Costner and the actress from Wednesday are regretting their seats - they got stuck between two people singing a number Les Miz, arguing over them, in big costumes, including a Green MnM, who stands right behind them, and they are trying not to react, as they get squished. Costner just begins laughing. Wednesday looks like she's regretting this invite. Then Lin Miranda spoofs his own musical number with Rudy Giulani throwing away his shot.
It's more in line with Galavante and less in line with Schmigadoon, in that it is biting satirical parody.
And here is the first episode of Saturday Night Live that aired in October 1975, with host George Carlin and musical guest, Janis Ian.
SNL 50
Date: 2025-02-17 10:50 pm (UTC)What I Liked:
1. The monologue. Steve Martin used to be the most popular standup comedian in America, and his monologue showed you why. Beautiful, dry, wry delivery. Of course, Martin Short barged in to steal some spotlight, and it was both funny and topical when Martin sicced ICE on his Canadian buddy. (Short, while being dragged offstage: "I'll name names!")
2. John Mulaney. Mulaney, one of SNL's greatest writers, also dropped some choice lines during the monologue; but he saved his best material for the NYC mini-musical. Nathan Lane's Lion King riff ("Cocaine and Some Vodka" = "Hakuna Matata") and Rudy Giuliani (Kate McKinnon) blowing his shot were the obvious highlights; but it was a low-key giggle when Will Forte and Jason Sudeikis performed from the audience, squeezing an uncomfortable Jenna Ortega between them.
3. Linda Richman on Bronx Beat. Two SNL eras of comically exaggerated New York accents together in one wonderful sketch. I was all verklempt. (Talk amongst yourselves...)
4. Bill Murray. Perfect top ten list. Quality digs at Chevy Chase.
5. Eddie Murphy as Tracy Morgan. Black Jeopardy has been better, but Murphy's impression of Morgan was killer. (Bonus: he pulled it off with Morgan standing directly to his left.)
6. Heart Tugging Moments. Adam Sandler definitely brought the Big Feels, but I choked up a little when Jane Curtin and Laraine Newman held up the photo of Gilda. I remember the three of them as a comedy girl group, singing odes to saccharine. (Why wasn't Jane in any sketches?)
What I Didn't Like:
1. Robert Goulet and Dooneese. I have a confession to make: I didn't think Kristen Wiig was all that funny on SNL. I think she CAN be funny, but mostly, I couldn't connect with her weirdo characters. Robert Goulet isn't one of Will Ferrell's better characters, either. The whole Lawrence Welk Show sketch was a massive time suck.
2. Debbie Downer. This hurts. I absolutely love Rachel Dratch (I think she's criminally underrated), but Debbie Downer is played out. It needed a twist to put a fresh spin on the material...but none was forthcomjng.
3. Old Guys Singing. I knew Paul Simon's voice was shot (he retired from touring for a reason)--but what the hell was going on with McCartney? Did that three night stand at the Bowery Ballroom blow out his voice for the TV gig?
Re: SNL 50
Date: 2025-02-19 02:54 am (UTC)How'd you miss Kevin Costner? I even mentioned it above. Ortega & Kevin Costner were being squeezed between them - that's why it was hilarious. If Costner wasn't there - it would have been offensive. But Costner and Ortega being squeezed between them and completely uncomfortable and looking like they are regretting their seats, but trying not to - was hilarious.
Re: Costner/Ortega
Date: 2025-02-19 10:53 pm (UTC)Re: Costner/Ortega
Date: 2025-02-20 02:24 am (UTC)SNL proves that if you aren't offending the heck out of someone, possibly everyone, with your comedy routine - you aren't doing it right.
Re: SNL 50
Date: 2025-02-19 03:00 am (UTC)Re: Political Satire
Date: 2025-02-19 10:47 pm (UTC)(Which is a shame, because some of SNL's most electric moments were political sketches.
Re: Political Satire
Date: 2025-02-20 02:32 am (UTC)Because, I think it was more than that? I think SNL has figured out the same thing most of us have - do not give the Republican President any more attention or the Republicans attention.
Also, when the current political scene is busy satirizing itself - to the point that it has outsatirized SNL, Monty Python, Daily Show, John Oliver, Colbert, and the Onion combined. It's time to throw in the towel and focus on satirizing anything else. Or just rely on parody - which they kind of did. (I don't like parody, which is why 90% of the jokes didn't work for me, that and crude insult humor/embarrassment humor - also doesn't work since that tends to trigger me and make me want to flee instead.) But the musical number worked, not because of Mulaney, I don't remember anything he said, but because of the deadpan reactions of the unwilling participants, Adam Driver, David Spade, Kevin Costner, and Jenny Ortega who were like - okay, this is stupid and insane, and I'm going to either laugh, pretend I'm somewhere else, or just sit it out. LOL! I appreciate folks rebelling against improvisational comedy - that's my people.
I also found Jon Lovitz asking why he was sitting at the American Girl store across the street, hilarious. Mainly because it was just absurd.
no subject
Date: 2025-02-18 01:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-02-19 02:58 am (UTC)Also, a lot of SNL's comedy from yesteryear does not hold up well.
That said, what was surprising about it - was how they veered away from political satire and didn't show any of it. Nothing. Unless it happened after I went to bed.
no subject
Date: 2025-02-18 09:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-02-19 02:42 pm (UTC)Although, my mother is 81 and still sings in the choir - but she's not a singer and not touring, and only singing a little with others.