I picked up a paperback copy of "Live From New York" by Tom Shales and James Andrew Miller. It is the "uncensored history of Saturday Night Live as told by its stars, writers, and guests.
This must be the fourth of fifth book I've read about SNL, and is probably the best. The only other better SNL-related book I've read is "Mr. Mike," the biography of the late National Lampoon and orignal SNL writer, Michael O'Donoghue. A twisted man, and an unlikely influence of mine.
"Live From New York" is well done, and tells the history of the show through first-hand accounts from those involved. Although I like the book, and have read many SNL books, it is curious to know that SNL is not one of my favorite shows. Sure, I like it. Certain seasons more than others. But I am more partial to shows like Monty Python's Flying Circus, Mr. Show, Get a Life, Freaks and Geeks (Great Freakin' Show), and, ESPECIALLY, SCTV. As the creator of two miniscule local TV comedy shows, people always say, "Oh, is your show like SNL?" I always say, no, and wonder...is that a bad thing?
Recent seasons of SNL are just plain LAME. Tired jokes. Tired format. The spontaneity that made the show legendary is gone. Lorne Michaels and the gang have been going through the motions for a long time, and it just might be time to shake things up.
They could start by dropping from 90 to 60 minutes. That could make the show funnier by having writers/cast members have to work harder to fight to get their material on a show with limited space. The musical act could also just perform ONCE, thank you. No other show has their musical act perform twice.
Just a couple ideas.
Favorite SNL moment?: Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, and Martin Short in a piece about synchronized swimming from the 1984-85 season.
Posted by colrus at July 15, 2003 12:20 AM | TrackBackPersonally, I just don't think they push the edge enough.
There were two skits these last two season I thought were hilarious and painfully awkward to watch.
The first was the skit about the two guy room-mates who got hooked up with a date with twins, but it turned out to be siamese twins. The first was Jennifer Garner, all hot n' whatnot, the second chick was done up all ugly with a rubber hand glued to her head. It was disturbing, painfully so. But unbelievably funny.
The second was a skit about Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor, sitting in a tree, waiting for aliens to come take them away.
Sure, what I've done right there is reduce SNL's problems to a. they don't gross out enough and b. the don't insult folks enough
But gosh, I'd just like to watch some good humor that offense our national sensitivities and then rips on our celebrities and national figures. It'd be great if they could get into hilarious comedic rips on stereotypes and American ideological types, but gosh, when Monty Python was great, it was doing all those things.
Take the "wink wink nudge nudge skit"
It offends your sensitivities by being rather sexual.
It picks on a commonplace annoyings (that stupid talkative guy who wont leave you alone).
And pokes at a stereotypical British characteristic (being altogether too proper and a bit stoic).
Anyways, I'm rambling now.
Posted by: JosiahQ at July 15, 2003 11:15 AMI love that SNL skit. That was back in the day when they had brilliant comics on the show; not just actors that could do funny material, but comedians who knew how to create comedy. Billy Crystal and Cristopher Guest were untoppable; the nightwatchmen/construction worker skits are classic.
Posted by: gosey at July 22, 2003 01:39 PMYeah, too bad it lasted only one year...
Posted by: Bill Colrus at July 22, 2003 04:05 PM