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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.