Saturday Night Live: Why?

[i_hate_ponies]

Saturday Night Live has been on NBC for over 20 years, the biggest stars vie to host, and a project is in the works for a reality show where people compete for a guest spot on the show. With all the merchandise and the Ashlee Simpson ordeal, is Saturday Night Live a sketch show or a price tag?

[CptPlanet]

It's on a major network which means it's a commercial that's funded by commercials.

[i_hate_ponies]

There have been other sketch shows that are funded by commercials and they did fine.

[3v3+Z]

Like what? (And remember, KitH was originally on HBO. It was on the CBC in Canada, which is commercial television, but that's Canada.)

SNL has ALWAYS had a lot of bad stuff mixed in with the good, and it's FREQUENTLY gone through phases where the bad far outweighed the good. I've heard interviews with people connected closely to the show (can't remember who) who say they've been seeing "clever" headlines saying "Saturday Night DEAD" ever since the second season. And even then, all these people who were criticizing season two for not being as good without Chevy, but they were getting slammed the FIRST season as well for being uneven or inconsistent or whatever.

Not that certain aspects of it haven't gotten worse. Lorne had some BALLS back in the early days and took a lot of stands against the network to get shit done RIGHT. Now I don't think he can really get away with taking stands as strongly. He'll be out on his ass. Plus he's probably mellowed a bit with age.

Some of my favorite stuff in that shows history come from the "bad" seasons when they could take more chances and slide some stuff under everyone's radar. But, to each his own.

[CptPlanet]

It seems like when Saturday Night Live "hits" these days, it's more a bi-product of the law of averages than the result of any real brilliance, like it was in the early days. Still, as fun as it is to slag it for being stale, it did break a lot ground, and I think, taken as a whole, it's done more good than bad for the world of comedy. If for no other reason than Phil Hartman.

[klaus_kinski]

I used to work for the production company of SNL and KITH, Broadway Video. The company is as ugly on the inside as it is on the outside. There are a lot of people in Lorne's pockets and it is nearly impossible for him to EVER have his show's future jeopardized.

[i_hate_ponies]

Does Canadian tv work differently than American or something? I don't know that much about Canadian tv. And I think I asked the question wrong. I was asking with all the merchandise that they sell with the SNL name on it, is Snl more of a sketch show or merchandise anymore? 3v3+Z, I agree totally with you that alot of the stuff that they did would NEVER stand a chance of getting on NBC today. Like that sketch with Richard Pryor and Chevy Chase calling each other racist names. And I forgot that KITH started on HBO, my bad lol. Personally, I like SNL. I just wanted to know what other people thought about it.

[agent_PUNT]

Originally posted by i_hate_ponies
Does Canadian tv work differently than American or something? I don't know that much about Canadian tv.

CBC is the Canadian "BBC"...it's the taxpayers station.

But no Pony hater.... our tv's work the exact same way yours do.... first you call the operating headquarters and ask for a diagnosis of your projected tv earnings, then you simply wait 6-12 working days ( or 6-12 "activity days" if you are between the months of April and July) Then, if your temperature remains in the coolant to mid-coolant range through the harvest, AND your first born child pledges allegiance to the sun gods....bang... you've got tv magic.

Ofcourse, if the show you are interested in watching, making or appearing on has a female lead OR a minority in the cast, the whole process is overlooked and you are granted instant access to the "tv magic" (as stated in paragraph 1).

Hope that helps!

[agent_PUNT]

wow i killed this thread like a vegan and Red Lobster.

what?

[TomWopat]

I like Bear City.

[Kelsy]

Hey! Have you guys ever seen this?

http://www.epicempire.com/tv/snl-banned-cartoon.html

[Maple Syrup]

I really loved SNL during the 80's/ early 90's... but since the loss of Hartman I've never been a regular. Amy + Tina are hot though, so I'll usually just watch update. It's almost always a complete waste of my precious time that could be spent here on BUTM recieving late night hate mail from Taint.

[Citrus Mountain]

Originally posted by 3v3+Z
I've heard interviews with people connected closely to the show (can't remember who) who say they've been seeing "clever" headlines saying "Saturday Night DEAD" ever since the second season. .

Lorne said that, and it was since the first season. I'm sure he's not the only one with a similar quote.

Has anyone been watching the old episodes at 2am sunday morning? (nbc) Sometimes they show the first couple years, but all of them are more clever than anything from the past 10... except when they show reruns from the past 10 that is. Hell, most of the Billy Crystal (hack hack cough) cast is better than Will "funniest man alive" Ferrell

And they took chances every week, at least up untill the late 80's. I knew Dennis Miller was a G.O.P. in weenies clothing even back then.

[Tommy]

It's not about "SNL" anymore, it's about the performers.

Lets compare Chris Farley with Jimmy Fallon for a moment (but only a moment) -- Chris spent a good 5 years on SNL before moving on to bigger and better things. When he "graduated", he left with numerous others... at that time, SNL had about a 5 year turn-over.

During Chris' five years, he developed characters, never focusing on one, but the greatest thing about that cast was that they would do it for each other -- Chris, being a veteran, would still play a bit part in a sketch for someone... a "non-lead".

Now lets look at Jimmy Fallon and his five years -- he never developed a strong character. He anchored Weekend Update (not too strongly either) and basically did mediocure work.

Tim Meddows, who didn't develop a good character until his the end of his tenor, stayed on for that reason. Once a performer gains a crowd and a good run, they can run off, make the movie based on the character, and move on for good.

Will Ferrell stayed seven years before leaving. During those years, he developed a load of characters that are unforgettable... and for that reason, he's become a household name.

The show sucks now because nobody on there is gaining attention. There are no front-runners. Lorne is taking comedians from a dead pool.

[Citrus Mountain]

Um Tim Meadows was doing the ladies man in the early nineties. in fact he wore it out long before it hit the silver screen. That said, he's still head and shoulders above Ferrell as an actor.

Honestly, being the best member of Will's class is akin to the best vending machine sandwich. Damned unimpressive however you manage to choke it down. His George bush was tight, but Chevy Chase's Ford it wasn't. All his others (swinging couple, cowbell guy) were pretty weak and repetetive. He wouldn't have been considered funny enough in '75 to scrape gum off the floor at 30 Rock, let alone carry a NRFPTP's jock.

The main problem is that the writing isn't funny and the audience is fine with that. Long as they like the "personalities". Guess what man, comedy is about being funny, not being cool.

And what the fuck is all this musical theatre crap about?

[scotch-romanian]

I haven't seen many of Will Ferrell's movies (maybe one or two) but I remember his work on SNL vividly and no one EVER mentions how good he was at playing "the straight man" (that's what it's called, right?) I think he and Dave Foley are the only two sketch actors who can give the straight guy in a sketch a life of its own. I'm high but I think I'm right about this. Anyone?

[fritter]

i think you're dead wrong. but then again, i'm on pcp and thinking with the brain of a frightened sea otter. i need sanctuary. where are the kelp beds? WHERE ARE THE KELP BEDS?!?!

[fritter]

http://www.rainbowdivers.com/pics/kelp.JPG

[fritter]

phew.

[scotch-romanian]

10 bucks says you killed this thread.

[Kelsy]

Originally posted by scotch-romanian
I haven't seen many of Will Ferrell's movies (maybe one or two) but I remember his work on SNL vividly and no one EVER mentions how good he was at playing "the straight man" (that's what it's called, right?) I think he and Dave Foley are the only two sketch actors who can give the straight guy in a sketch a life of its own. I'm high but I think I'm right about this. Anyone?

I agree. I think I do at least
Anyway
you must be cool. I know this because you said you were high.

[Citrus Mountain]

I'm so cool, everyone KNOWS that I must be high.

Y'all are right, I'm too hard on Will. He has got skills. I just long for the old style. Even when the stuff bombed you could tell a ton of thought had been put into it.

Tonights retro show pissed me off. The miami feed only gave us the last half hour of the show. luckily I told our local affiliate so there was only 30 seconds of dead air or so. Professionals baby.

[FiveInchTaint]

Why Does Nick Carter hate me so badly?

[Pali]

Originally posted by FiveInchTaint
Why Does Nick Carter hate me so badly?

Or does he hate you really well? :cool:

And I don't know, I have no idea what's going on with your banning, God's honest truth.

[Atton Posewalt]

You guys are crazy. SNL is still the bar to which all sketch comedy is measured. Why have so many other sketch comedy shows come and gone but SNL manages to stay on the air and keep it fresh.

What i wouldn't do to get on that show. I even have a few characters that I have been working on that would be perfect for the show. I would tell you about them but I don't want them to get stolen from me.

[teengirlsquad]

ok come on.. who is this?

[RizzleMcIzzle]

I'm sure somebody will confess within 2 - 10 months.

[Atton Posewalt]

I'm the real deal. yesterday I got a call from a friend and he told me that there is a message board that he reads occasionaly that was talking about me. So I thought I would come check it out.

Like I said on another post you all seem really funny. I hope we can be friends.

Atton

[fritter]

Originally posted by scotch-romanian
10 bucks says you killed this thread.

i did my best, but it is apparently unstoppable. god help us all.

[CptPlanet]

bad gimmick

[AHK86]

I've been known