Saturday nights changed forever thirty years ago, and what was once a night of getting twisted after a long week of work…became a night of catching the live episode of Saturday Night Live, while getting high. From this monumental occasion comedy seemed to change.
Variety shows had always been around; but this is a point in time when television truly created stars who translated into film. With a cast of characters that still live with us today dead or alive, Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner and others who braced our television sets and performed under the pressure of being live. There was nothing more authentic than the anxiety of live T.V, and even today it seems news is the only other program successful at it.
The skits were simple yet enduring as there was only one shot to nail it...they were classic little plots that offered irreverent characters and satirical impressions of political figures and pop culture icons. They gave live comedy such a theatrical touch as there were many hosts to carry each show into a new perspective.
With Richard Pryor, George Carlin, and Rob Reiner as hosts it’s always interesting to see such old school actors and comedians in their prime. This is a season that is responsible for so much humor, and each proceeding year seemed to create its own dynamic generation that set off another line of comic actors making it big time.
The release of this classic season also is a reminder of what it once was, and unfortunately what it is now. Will Ferrell might have been the last household name to embrace the show, since then the NBC’s poster boy for comedy is no more, as it has had to take new directions for late night laughter.
The show seems unheard of today; as I can barely watch the awkward deliveries of the new and newer cast. After thirty years of success, each set of cast members have an unprecedented amount of pressure as they try and fill the shoes of what once was.
With that there are some memorable episodes including Richard Pryor’s show; and what’s interesting about the hosts is how most seem to be comedians, actually funny people where as today its more of a pretty face or just someone famous. If anything this first season shows the great change of comedy and adds a little nostalgia for such a groovy decade.
With a few random appearances from Andy Kaufman the season sums up pretty well; but of course there are plenty of skits that aren’t funny but are nice to smile at. You also have some archival screen tests from the original cast and if anything something nice to add to the DVD collection.
Movie Grade: A -
DVD Grade: A
Overall Grade: A -
