SNL 50th anniversary special

[Old 'N Chill]

The challenge was, it was still live show in front of a live audience. Dropping a big screen and playing a ton of videos of old sketches would have defeated the purpose of the live show. Damned if they do and damned if they don’t.

I understand.

 

[Lursa]

I tried to watch because I was a huge fan from the very beginning and really wanted to see the surviving Not Ready for Prime Time Players. I didn't find Martin's monologue funny (and I've always loved him) or the first sketch, the "Lawrence Welk Show." It almost was, but Will Farrell was a terrible Robert Goulet (and among newer audiences, who even knows who he is anymore?), and the Kristin Wieg "little hands" thing got stupid, IMO. (Good to see Kim Kardashian with all her clothes on, though, and she did a good job.) The kid had come over to watch the show with me, but she bailed after this sketch. I made it through "Black Jeopardy" til the Hanks handshake thing, and then I was pretty much done.

Flipped back a couple of times, and the second time was "Hot Dogs and Heroin." I noped out. What a disappointment.

I agree, altho I thought Steve Martin was pretty funny. Werent the new sketches just too long, even if they were funny? (And IMO some werent very.)

 

[Lursa]

Was Phil Hartman mentioned at all? I thought from a promo that he would be. Was any reference made to Gilda (especially by Martin or one of the original cast members)?

Agree, again. Almost no mention.

 

[MamboDervish]

The challenge was, it was still live show in front of a live audience. Dropping a big screen and playing a ton of videos of old sketches would have defeated the purpose of the live show. Damned if they do and damned if they don’t.

Indeed. The airwaves, cable channels, Peacock, and even YouTube, are brimming with old SNL skits that anyone can watch and rewatch, any time of the day or night. This show was meant to be a live event, including substantial contributions from luminaries past and present, and it did exactly what it was supposed to do. Few things could have been more satisfying than everyone on their feet, clapping, swaying and singing along to Paul McCartney's finale, which was a brilliant musical choice.

 

[donhughesmusic]

Steve Martin age 79
Lorne Michaels age 80
Chevy Chase age 81
Paul Simon age 83

Point?

 

[nota bene]

I agree, altho I thought Steve Martin was pretty funny. Werent the new sketches just too long, even if they were funny? (And IMO some werent very.)

I thought I saw only one complete sketch, the first one, and thought it was at least 2 minutes too long. I also thought that it just missed being funny--Fred Armisen did a good job as "Lawrence Welk," but I kept waiting for the "Lennon sisters" schtick to take a funny turn, and it didn't.

Some sketches are always going to flop; they just do. But there came an "SNL" time when most of the sketches flopped. Maybe they were too "try hard"?

 

[Grogu]

Was Phil Hartman mentioned at all? I thought from a promo that he would be. Was any reference made to Gilda (especially by Martin or one of the original cast members)?

If you had some patience and watched the show instead of surfing off of it, you’d know.

 

[dseag2]

I've watched it over the past couple of days and thought the homages were great. However, I didn't find the new skits like Miss Rafferty, Debbie Downer and Sally O'Malley as funny as the originals. Perhaps it is "diminishing returns". The old skits were so funny and I've watched them so many times that some of the magic is gone.

IMO it was entertaining and nostalgic but not overly funny.