LOL. This is why you should only watch reruns from many years ago when the show was good. I can't even remember the last time I watched a current SNL. Hell, even MadTV is starting to look good next to current SNL. And I don't like MadTV. *shudders*

Don't worry, I missed the Ashlee thing, too. Until my entire Buddy list asked me if I'd heard. ;) Yikes.

I havent found SNL to be entertaining in quite a few years. Probably around the time that Chris Farley was gone. Oh well, the only show I watch for laughs anymore is Family Guy...

Um... I don't watch SNL either. What happened with Ashlee Simpson?

Well put.

It seems like Jon Stewart's The Daily Show is our only hope...

Good commentary, Wil. Well-written.

I may click the set over to NBC at 10:35 on Saturday night (remember, Mountain time, I get stuff an hour earlier), but it doesn't usually stay there very long. Most of the sketches have passed out of "funny" and gone straight to "crass." And I'm not interested in most of the musical guests anyway. (Including Ms. Simpson. I didn't see the lipsync malfunction in question. No big loss.)

I'd rather watch an episode or two of Dilbert...just got the box set.

you're 100% dead-on. at least i don't have to change alter my weekend plans to see snl anymore...

I switched over to MadTV years ago. Yes, it's infintile and dirty, but at least it's funny occasionally.

Once in a while there's a good guest on and SNL shines a bit (surprisingly, Justin Timberlake was one of those) but I usually miss those episodes unless MadTV is a re-run.

Clay

Seriously, what happended?

i missed the ASHLEE SIMPSON fiasco for many of the same reasons you and TONY PIERCE mentioned...it is hard to maintain your edge when you've been cutting with it for 35 years...when i think of SNL now...i think of bad television parodies...loud, senseless, time consuming sketches that that seem to have been made to order copies of all that have been played out on SNL before...the ASHLEE episode is the kind of pop SNL used to avoid...such candy coated pop was a favorite SNL target for derisive humor...now the humor is lost in the parody of itself that SNL has become...is this a sign post that SNL can look to as a signal that a change is needed...or will the irony of it all be lost to them...at some point you have to have different aspirations than to be the 7,462th man on the moon...too many trips to the same old place...there are other planets out there to explore...is anyone ready to make the trip?

Some of us were around for the Golden Years of SNL, sitting bleary eyed watching from Day One. And ya know what? Everyone said it sucked then, too. And later, those sucky shows were "classic." Years from now, people will be picking at it still, bemoaning the loss of the Really Good Stuff with Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon.

What happened to Ashlee Simpson was humiliating for her, sure, but it's nothing new, nothing astonishing, and it'll happen again. And again. And probably on SNL, after which people will point out the suckiness of the entire show.

I weep for the first years of SNL that not only was infinitely more clever, but also had completely unexpected guest hosts like Broderick Crawford and Walter Matthau. (It was also the first time I ever heard the B-52s who were almost completely unknown in mainstream America).

SNL hasn't been worth watching for longer than I can remember. It hangs on only by virtue of the fact that it's been hanging on for so long.

And that's no reason for it to hang around or to waste time watching it.

P.S. - I'm firmly of the opinion that someone in the background of SNL planned for "accident" of whatsername Simpson's.

Such things don't tend to happen on live TV by mistake.

Well said. Well, fucking, said. If anyone is surprised at any pop music being less than completely real needs a good solid reality check.

Great post Wil...great site you have here also...I've added yours to my LiveJournal.

I gave up all hope for SNL when Jimmy Fallon left. It used to be one of the funniest things on the tv to tune in...but alas, it's dying a slow, painful death. Time to tune into much better things on tv (if there still are any...).

WORD. and the fact that Bowie was mentioned earns BIG CREDIT in my book. You both make excellent points.
Cheers, Wil.
~Naz

Amen, Wil. A-FUCKING-MEN.

Talking Heads played live. And it was incredible.

LOL! How long has it F***ing been since the Stones have been Anti-Establishment! If they started sending us checks, I might give them that but I think Keith Richards might have spent that money on his G*D DAMN hotel rooms he used to destroy.. pfft..

I'll agree, SNL is a dinosaur.. but that is all..

I disagree with you. Nothing stays counterculture/"punk" forever..who could have expected SNL to never become mainstream?

While the show is hit and miss, there is certainly some funny stuff on there, and someone like you Wil who admittedly hasn't watched it in years isn't the best judge of its current state.

Just my opinion!!

I miss the days of Buckwheat...

R.I.P. SNL

Great Hitchiker's reference in addition to a great point, Wil.

Hi,
I have been reading your site for a little over a week. Thanks for putting this up Mr. Wheaton.
I am yet another fan from way back (Stand By Me) to present. (Had a serious crush on you when you were starring as Wesley)

Also missed the Simpson thing the other night.

But I totally agree with this poster.

>

Keep up the friendly, fun blog Mr. Wheaton. It's much appreciated. :)
Cheers,
Tamara

whoops... did something wrong up there...
I /agree with

"P.S. - I'm firmly of the opinion that someone in the background of SNL planned for "accident" of whatsername Simpson's.

Such things don't tend to happen on live TV by mistake.

Posted by ShelaghC at October 25, 2004 09:32 PM "

I kind of go along with Andrew, that to criticize something without having really experienced that something as of recent is somewhat... eh, fallacious.

That said, having watched SNL on and off since I was old/young enough to appreciate the humor, the last time I watched SNL all the way through was never and the last time I did see some of it, I was thoroughly disappointed because I kept looking for something smart and funny.

Oh, well. None of this would have ever happened if she would have just kept on singing instead of getting all flustered. Sure, SNL shows a lot of crap, but the real point is personality -- and a strong one. It's just something Ashlee lacked on Saturday night and is something that has prompted everyone to point a finger and say, "Yes! It is true! Now if only this would happen to more!"

To me, what happened on SNL is a good thing -- because hey... get all the lazy people out of the music business and make room for some real, hard working talent.

The Internets

Heh. I've been wanting to use that one since
I heard W say it but I didn't think anybody would
get it. Guess that's why I'm still an amateur.

BTW. Wayne & Garth play truth or dare with
Madonna. Best. Episode. Ever. IMHO.

I've been saying this stuff for years and I'm not even old enough to remember the good SNL in anything but reruns. The last good season of the show IMHO was the last season with Dana Carvey. After that it started going down hill and when the last remnents of that cast left it jumped off the damn cliff right into the suck pool at the bottom. TV is just crap now..and thats so sad.
-TS

Hey Wil !!!.

Like you ever get back to me...haha.

Just kidding..

So, is that "Your Face" they are using on the "Adam Sessler Ad" on the G4TechTV ad???

*I wish I could High Jack Adam Sessler's Job for a day?*

Call me, we'll do lunch.. :)

I enjoy SNL's comedy. It may not be what it once was...but it's hard for anything to not change after 35+ years. I do Miss Will Ferril's Dubya impersonations. Those were golden.

I think the counter-culture and punk crowd have been ultra-elitists for a long time. Anytime something gets big and mainstream all of the sudden they "sold out" or forgot their roots.

If it makes you laugh whats the problem? If it doesn't make you laugh then oh well...

I just saw a clip on Tough Crowd. I see what happened. How embarassing.

I stopped watching SNL years ago too. I knew I was in trouble when after the second or third skit I was questioning myself why I was even bothering to watch this crap! In Living Color was so much better and the show was on half the time that SNL was.

However, I have to say that "Schweity Balls" is one of my most favorite skits. Even if it was shown during the 'dead zone.'

Scott

Its really sad. I used to love this show.. I used to look forward to it at the end of a long tedious week, and now.. I don't even bother knowing who is hosting because I know it is going to suck and won't be worth my time.

What the hell happened?

So Wil, does this mean hosting SNL is off your wish list for good?

So sad. SNL used to be good. Sometimes it still has a great sketch but mostly, it does suck. I think it's doubly sad because SNL has some incredibly talented people. Maya Rudolph, Tina Fey, and Robert Smigel (not to mention others that are just as deserving of praise) are funny and intelligent.

It seems to me that the NBC network has sunk its (dumbed-down) talons into the show and nothing will ever bring it back to its former glory. Not even the exceptionally talented cast and crew it hires.

With the exception of MadTV, every sketch comedy show created since SNL has outdone it. KIds In The Hall, In Living Color, The State, Mr. Show.

Yes, I do believe it is time for SNL to hang up its hat. Sorry to see you go old friend.

The Daily Show realizes what SNL used to be. I mean, what Jon Stewart said on Crossfire was punk-rock. Totally.

The best part of SNL is Fred Armissen; he was on the Wilco documentary and slays every sketch he stars in.

wow... I couldn't disagree more as it related to this last episode.

I am a person who has been turned off of SNL for the past few years. In fact, this Saturday's SNL was the first I had seen in awhile... and it was VERY good.

I'll be watching again regularly, as long as the writing is as good as it was on Saturday.

Knowing that this has been said, and most likely will be repeated... A-FUCKING-MEN!

SNL took a dive around the same time MTV started to get rid of the M and bring in teh Suck. When corporations decided that consolidation was key to the almighty dollar. They picked up every media outlet they could and turned them into outlets for material this and material that.

Over the last 15 years of my life, I've watched MTV de-evolve from Music Television to The Shiny Things and Pretty People channel. Wil calls it eMpTyVee for good reason: It's shallow and empty, just like SNL.

For those who care to know what I honestly think of MTV, I offer this pic (page, Tripod, so, popups, sorry), taken on a trip to New York City earlier this year...

SNL hasn't really been *consistently* funny since the 84-85 season (Martin Short, Billy Crystal). Corporate is the best description for what SNL has become. A former cast member (Tim Kazurinsky) once said that SNL used to be a show that felt like the network was taken over by young comic extremists for 90 minutes every Sat. night. Former writer/performer Mike O'Donoghue said the key ingredient was danger. Now NBC and Lorne Michaels use it as a power franchise (kind of like Paramount with Trek). One thing to do is cut way way back on the budget. The sets and production values are a bit too slick and a lack of money means you'll get young, unknown hungry talent out to prove something. Finally, was at a video store looking to rent Best of Belushi, Aykroyd, etc. and only found Sandler, Farley, and Rock on the shelves. Depressing.

I'm actually annoyed that I know who Ashley Simpson is. I take pride in not knowing or caring who is on the top 40 pop charts. The only reason I heard about it was that it was on the news. There's a war on, an election in a week, and people dying- but "Ashley Simpson lipsyncs on TV" is top news. What a sorry state of affairs we live in.

And for SNL, that went bad so long ago I don't even bother anymore. I've got better things to do on my Saturday nights. Reminds me of MTV- it was good but then it started to suck and now has moved on to suck and blow.

Pop Quiz:
Q: How many times has SNL performed a "Killer Bees" skit? [back in the day with Belushi. John, not Jim.]

A: Just FOUR times. And anyone that's seen any of 'em recall them as being damn hilarious.

Q: How many times has SNL performed those embarrassing cheerleader skits with Ferrell & that lady that I can't recall? [just not memorable enough, I guess.]

A: Uh... dunno... lemme break out the abacus, here... slide a couple of these, flick a couple of those... = a shitload.

They keep retreading their skits because the writers/writing just aren't good enough or bold enough to do something new. And that equals massive sucking.

Yes, SNL has had some fantastic moments [Schweddy Balls, anyone?!] since the first couple of casts had left, but any rotating dozen of us monkeys given a season's worth of shows to do over 20 years... we'd hit the nail on the head just as many times.

Ok, Edwood... get off the soapbox and don't make any sudden moves!

I have to agree, I sooooo fucking hate snl, mad tv is a much better show. snl pretty much went tits up for me when Adam Sandler left the show.

btw great blog I have become a regular reader, keep up the good work :)!

NO!!! No!!!!
Fake dinosaurs???? Tell me it's not true, Wil!
My kids are gonna be devastated....

LeeB :)

Bang rocks together?!

Hey, doesn't the Prime Directive have to do with non-interference? Great, now idiots in America will suddenly figure out warp technology.

Well, I agree that SNL jumped the shark eons ago.
However, comparing it to punk has its share of irony, as punk isn't punk anymore either.
It has become driven by corporate money too. Damn near everything is these days.
It certainly isn't the counterculture any more. Hasn't for years.
The Trash Heap has Spoken!

Amen to that. The show was great when I was growing up. Watching re-runs of Chevy Chase and Steve Martin and Gilda Radner were awesome. Who could ever forget the Landshark.

Is there anything on there these days that anyone will be talking about 20 years from now? I doubt it...

Take Care, Love your journal, Don't forget to smile...

Did Some Call Bingo?! I'm here to save the day, Opps, Wait, Too Late.

I couldn't agree more. The last time SNL was good, Mike Myers and crew were on it. Ever since then it has just gotten worse.

The writing just isn't as good as it used to be. Sheri Oteri, Will Farrell, Jimmy Fallon and of course Tina Fey are great, consistent comedians. But the writing just can't support them like it should. Weekend Update with Tina and Jimmy was always, consistently funny. But that's it.

It's so sad. SNL used to be a goal for young comedic actors. It's just not anymore. :-(

Customer: uh, give me 3 cheeseburgers...
Belushi: Cheeseboiguh! Cheeseboiguh! Cheeseboiguh!
Akroyd: Cheeseboiguh! Cheeseboiguh! Cheeseboiguh!
Customer: and, uh, coke...
B: no coke! Pepsi! We switch!

I miss those two...

Punk Rock? Counterculture? Perhaps. I don't care if SNL is punk. I don't care if it's counterculture. I really don't even care if it's Belushi and Radner or if it's Will Farrell and whoever the current group of idiots are. I don't care whether or not the musical guest is a popular modern act or a post-modern soon-to-be-type group.

All I really care is whether or not it's funny. And these days? Not so much.

-JDF

Huh.

The show's as funny as it's ever been since Tina Fey took over as head writer. Naturally, someone who "stopped watching SNL years ago" wouldn't know that, but you do seem to know all about the current state of the show anyway... how it's "now predictable, corporate, and unimaginative."

It's not fair to slam this group of writers and this acting troupe when you admit in the very first line that you've only seen the work of their predecessors and not their own. I would think an artist who works in sketch comedy would have more empathy.

I find it interesting that so many of the posts are "SNL hasn't been funny since..." and everyone has a different cast that they fondly remember. Some people think it died after Belushi, Eddie Murphy, Martin Short, Mike Myers and even Jimmy Fallon who just left the show in May.

I imagine that each group of people idealizes the cast from when they were in their teens or early twenties and once that cast dissolved they felt that show had left them, so they didn't bother watching anymore. Also, everytime they change casts it takes a season or two to find its feet. During that time a lot of people give up.

There are a lot of posts that start with "I haven't watched SNL in years". If you haven't watched it in years, how do you know if it is any good with the current cast.

I'm not a big fan of SNL. They have about 10 minutes of funny in a 90 minute show. I just think it is silly to criticize a show you haven't watched in 2, 5, 10, 20 years.

I hate to say this because I'm a fan of your's, Wil, but I think I need to point this out. It isn't necessarily that SNL is no longer counter-culture but instead that what you and I called counter-culture in the 80s and 90s is now mainstream. The new counter-culture is something we are a bit out of touch on. As much as I hate to admit it we're getting older.

It happens all the time, those people in high school, like us, who were called geeks are the ones defining culture when they hit their stride in their early thirties. I mean, the fact that G4TechTV even exists is an affirmation of my point. Back in high school the people playing video games were geeks, in the late 80s at least, now look at how popular games are.

I hate to say this next part, but dammit I feel strongly about it. Someone intimated earlier that Ashlee Simpson doesn't work hard at what she does. Bullshit. I'm sure Wil can tell you that just trying to get a job in the entertainment business is a full time job. Yes, some musical groups have a very hard time getting work and yes, Ashlee Simpson was handed her musical career with a lot of help from her sister, but that doesn't mean she isn't working hard. If you watched her show on MTV you saw that she stresses out about performing live like any other musician.

If you had been following her career you'd know that she has had a few appearances with sub-par performances. She is just starting out and hasn't quite gotten the live performances down yet, and she may never, who knows. The point is that I'd be willing to bet that the record studio or SNL's producers forced her to lip sync to get a cd quality performance out of her. She isn't the Stones, who is after all, she's only like 19 years old and she's only recorded 1 album.

Before I go I'd like to add this little piece of wisdom I've come upon in my 33 years of existence. As a corollary to what I said earlier about culture and counter-culture being a derivative of age, most of those really cool bands out there that hit big and have staying power don't hit big right away because they are ahead of their time. They are counter-culture but there aren't enough counter-culture people to sustain a music career. Then when the band members are around 30 give or take a few years, booom, they blow up huge because the counter-culture has finally become the mainstream. Great isn't it. Someone earlier actually said something very similar so I should give them credit, but I don't remember who it was. Sorry about the long post but sometimes I get urked that people would rather bash something then take the time to understand the reasons behind why it is in the first place. It has to do with the whole, "It can't be me, so it must be them." complex. I happen to agree that SNL isn't for me anymore and it hasn't been since Mike Meyers, but I realize that its because SNL has moved on and I have not. I guess when it comes down to it, we're just too punk rock for this, eh, Wil.

you actually did ruin jurassic park for me! but only because i've never seen it, and it has to be said; don't particularly care to.
but really: fake dinosaurs. now i'm intrigued as to how the sequels work.

You're both spot-on with the SNL comments. So good for you.

But I really love it when you mention somethign from a song in the post title and I know what you're talking about.

I could slip on the East River I'm so happy.

You're not funny idiot. Trying to make itsounds like you're young or something? Well you're not. Your book sucks and your life sin't interesting, so give it up.

Don't Censor our post Wil!!!!! I couldn't post what I wanted because what I said was blacklisted. There was no cursing, no links, no ads, etc. Just a mild criticism of Our host. I guess he doesn't want his ego bruised.

I'd have to agree 100% with Uncle Chuckles, it us that have not moved on, whereas Saturday Night has not. This same rhetoric about SNL not being what it used to be is not new, I'm sure everyone that watched when Belushi, Akroyd and crew were telling the jokes, hated it when it went to Murphy, Rock and Farley. Likewise, those of us who grew up with those comedians hated it when Farrell, Fallon and Fey took over. SNL has always and will always stay ahead of the game. It's why I still watch it..

Heck, the greatest sketch in the last 10 years was when Janet Jackson was and did the "Cork Soakers". I still laugh my ass off everytime I see that one.

One more thing, I agree with Shadoe Knight. I think Ashlee Simpson is talent-less but, I'm sure she works her buns off. She'll probably end up in the bottom of a bottle from the stress in this business we call show. That is, if she doesn't “end it all” from this little embarrassing incident.

Old: "SNL Weekend Update". New: "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart". Old: any skit on SNL. New: almost any show on Comedy Central.

SNL should just wander off into the night and leave before it gets to be merely a source of skits that get turned into stupid movies. Wait, that already happened. Oh well.

Every once and a while SNL still gets it, especially during an election year. The skits of the political shows kill me. Heck, for the '84 primary they had someone to play every single candidate at a time when every other Democrat in the country was running (at least it seemed that way). It never got any funnier than then.

Wil, I don't understand why the blame on SNL for Ashlee Simpson screwing up. Maybe it was actually Ashlee Simpson that screwed up.

D

Darin.. the fact that she was even the musical guest to begin with was a disappointment.

SNL started sucking when they lost John Belushi, Dan Ackroyd, Gilda Ratner, Eddie Murphy, and Bill Murray.

The best show I've ever seen in my life was Gilda Ratner live on Broadway. Without people like her & the others, SNL went downhill fast.

Yes each generation seems to hate the next one on SNL.

My main problem with the show as of late has been the fact it looks totally unrehearsed. You can see them all reading off of the teleprompter in the wings. No one looks anyone in the eye, they are all looking offstage. I know this is an old television trick (cheating) but c'mon guys. Read the scripts once or twice before you go out there. Horatio Sanz is the biggest offender of this practice.

I don't want to watch comedians read, they aren't great orators.

I'm waiting for the day when tehy just walk out with scripts in their hands.

I completely agree with you Wil. I used to love SNL. For the last decade at least, I'll watch about 10 minutes and can't even make myself laugh. I caught Ashlee's first song but not the second, I so wish I'd seen that! It's time for SNL to move on, but we need something to fill their shoes (that have been empty for several years). Even MadTV, that was ok for a while, is not enough of a counterculture voice. Of course, lately, during the Bush administration, when have we had a strong voice speaking out against the establishment?

neph:

--the fact that she was even the musical guest to begin with was a disappointment.---

I heartily agree. You know you're getting old when you barely recognize the name of the musical guest.

Can't say I ever watched SNL just for the music.

I do think the responsiblity is on SNL alone. They knew what they were getting into by signing an act like Ashley Simpson for that night.

In terms of making any overall statement on SNL its just a reflection of the times where as the SNL of the mid-late 70's was a reflection of those times.

Given that the direction of the series is generally ratings driven (what TV show isn't) I wouldn't be too hard on them. They are just delivering what the bulk of their audience wants. So in those terms, who really bears the blame?

Wil. (admonishing tone) that's *not* how the Bingo song goes...

C'mon, sing with me now,
B - I - N - G - O...

LOL

Wil,

I love your journal. Love it. But if you haven't watched SNL in decades, you really don't know what you're talking about. For the past three years, SNL's political commentary has been more biting than anything The Daily Show is doing. Certainly they have popular stars on nowadays. They always have. For every Ashlee Simpson, there's a appearance of The Donnas (yes, before they hit it big.)

I get very tired of people complaining that something is bad just because it's different than what it was. Wil, you were a child actor. Now, you're an insightful, witty, intelligent writer/blogger. Do you want someone to discount everything you've done recently just because you're not still being Gordie LaChance?

Basically, the litmus test is this: is SNL funny? Yes. Sometime, like this last week (Ashlee notwithstanding), it's VERY funny. It goes in cycles, and now it's back on the funny cycle. We can thank fellow geek Tina Fey - now the head writer - for that.

Give it a try, won't you? At least Weekend Update, which remains fresh and funny every single week. It might surprise you.

I'd also like to respond to those who mention Ashlee Simpson as "the type of pop SNL used to avoid."

The very first year, when SNL was supposed to be "counterculture," they features such musical guests as Phoebe Snow (twice!), Esther Phillips, Abba, Toni Basil, Gordon Lightfoot, and Anne Murray. As for all the "counter-culture" of the hosts, yes, I must agree. Racquel Welch and Desi Arnaz, Jr. WERE about as counter-culture as you get in 1975.

The point is this: SNL has always balanced things, has always featured popular people, and has always had popularity swings. Thumper, above, was right: SNL's early episodes only got "classic" status much later, when the show tanked a bit in the early 80s. Everything changes, everything stays the same.

Nice HHGttG reference, boyo!

"The human race is currently 'round that rock over there making documentaries of themselves."

SNL has become Lorne Michaels ego-trip vehicle, and as such has lost direction and any sense of itself. It's now almost a self-parody.

Oh, and those that didn't get the lip-syching thing are also the same sorts of people for whom digital watches are still a pretty neat idea.

Peace,
Michael.

For Hannah: The movie is in fact about cloning dinosaurs from old DNA, and they DO accomplish this. But since we haven't, we had to settle for fake dinosaurs to play the roles. That's all he meant.
But you should watch it, it's pretty good :)

Argh! How does everyone JUST KNOW that SNL sucks when they admit they HAVEN"T WATCHED IT FOR YEARS? Psychic powers? It's the trendy thing to say? AHHHHH!

Sorry to shout, but I expected better from you, WW.

"Okay. Now go watch Kids In The Hall. Seriously."

I love you.

In the last decade or so SNL has had some great cast members, some really good sketches and some really good writing but it hasn't been a great SHOW in years. The "really good" sketches and writing seem rare.

I was watching bit and pieces of this week's episode, which was the first episode of the season that I watched. I don't like Weekend Update with two female co-hosts. Chevy Chase and Jane Curtain, Kevin Nealon, Dennis Miller. Those were good hosts. Even last year's Weekend Update was good.

The show is totally mass culture now. It feels so diluted. Predictable and unimaginative is right. They don't seem to remember what sketch comedy IS. I wish the show was a little more experimental.

Mad TV gave me hope for awhile but it's not as funny since Nicole Sullivan and a few of the other original cast members left.

Funny that Kids in the Hall is much funnier and yet they're shared actors and writers. Both are Lorne Michaels productions- because of course, Lorne is responsible for exporting sketch comedy shows from Canada to the US. Then there's SCTV, the early days of sketch comedy.

SNL used to be 60 minutes of good comedy, 15 minutes of live music, and 15 minutes of filler. Now it's 10 minutes of good comedy (usually Weekend Update), 10 minutes of lip-synching, and 70 minutes of filler.

Think about it this way, once Weekend Update is over, how many of you actually keep watching?

{What I meant was, there used to be a time when something big would happen in the news, and I'd turn to my friend Dave and say, "Man, I can't wait to see what SNL does with this!"}

To quoth back:B-I-N-G-fucking-O.

Especially during the first five years, I turned on SNL 'as background for homework' (and find out, when DOn Kirshner started, that I did little if any) and expected somthing, at the least memorable. I was annoyed that, the week of the Three Mile Island Accident, SNL was prempted for a special with the incomprable Bob & Ray (and Jane, Gilda, and Laraine) and I thought they would miss a golden opportunity (though there was a quip about 'the new capital of Pennsylvania').

My faith was restored with the "The Pepsi Syndrome/Amazing Collosal President". Freaking classic, and that's not even including the Ackroyd/Morris kiss at the end.

These days, I have to wait until the puppets finish making crank calls before I get a rush of anticipation like that.

On the nose, Mister Wil. One the nose.

Hey Wil-
Pierce wrote a response to this, in which he says
"...because of that, not because of the link, but because of the class and the respect, i hereby bury the hatch between the busblog and wwdc."

http://www.tonypierce.com/blog/2004/10/very-interesting-thing-happened-last.htm

Why does he write in all lowercase with typos? That scares me.

Dude-
tony pierce is my hero.
KC

The Ashlee Simpson episode seems to show that somebody learned their lesson from the Elvis Costello "Radio Radio" incident and doesn't mean to let that sort of thing happen again...

Somebody (torrez.org) has an mpeg of that segment available online, but has taken it down temporarily due to bandwidth issues. He says he plans to put it back up in a week or two. If you're interested in seeing it: http://notes.torrez.org/2004/06/elvis_costello_.html

I used to watch SNL every Saturday. I was born in '82, and I do miss the fact I couldn't see the greats when they were new. I've tried watching it over the past few years, and every time I realize why I stopped watching it in the first place. It's awesome to see you like Kids in the Hall, by the way. I always prefer that show to the new SNL.

You know what would make SNL much better?

More cowbell.

I do watch SNL on occassion but mainly if I don't have anything else to do. I do like to see who is going to be hosting. I've been watching it since my family moved here in 1979. It definitely doesn't have the same flavor it once had but there are some parts of the show that I do look forward to. Sometimes it does suck and at times it's good. I do hope that it's on top whenever it ends.

I do watch SNL on occassion but mainly if I don't have anything else to do. I do like to see who is going to be hosting. I've been watching it since my family moved here in 1979. It definitely doesn't have the same flavor it once had but there are some parts of the show that I do look forward to. Sometimes it does suck and at times it's good. I do hope that it's on top whenever it ends.

Danielle... Are you a fellow TWoP'r?? Hello there if ya are!
Will...what can I say, I don't agree with you, but you write so well that I wanted to.

A while back I was flipping through the channels and there was SNL - The Best of Jimmy Fallon. I immediately felt old, and I'm only 33. I gave it a chance though, and parts of the show were quite funny and even clever. I guess we all have a tendency to look back fondly on what we grew up with. I remember the Aykroyd/Belushi years as being some of the best, but who can say that "If it's not Scottish it's CRAP!!!" wasn't just as funny too?

I find myself thinking the same way about other long running shows too, for example no new Doctor could ever replace Tom Baker.

ack, too many comments to read right now.

I'll say this. I've watched SNL from the beginning. It's always been a quirky mix of good and bad comedy, good and bad performers. I think some people are only remembering the good stuff (a natural tendency). The only time it was *really* bad was during tim kazurinski (sp?) days, with a couple of talent exceptions, those were bad years.

It's true that it's not counter culture now, but it never was that anyway. What it used to be was more 'raw'. More unpolished. It's got to big a budget now in my opinion.

Now, I watched the Ashlee Simpson episode. As is typical, I was doing something else towards the end of show, and was only half paying attention. I didn't notice any lipsyncing. I thought she just started singing a different song from the band, stopped singing, danced around a bit, then ran off the stage in a panic. At the close, she apologised for freaking out, and that the band playing the wrong song unexpectedly. (words to that effect). I didn't take it as a big deal.

I still find a lot good stuff on the show, and reasons to watch for at least until the news. There's nothing much better on if you ask me. I can certainly see plenty of ways it could be improved, but I don't expect anything like that from a network show.

I never saw it's earlier years, but when the hot guy (jimmy Fallon) left, so did I. It sucks nowadays. and blows forty seven different ways.

Tony was right -- Your saying kind things about him and recommending his blog after he'd said unkind things about you was extremely classy. And that's what I came here to say, even before I discovered that Tony himself had beaten me to the punch. WTG WW.

I'm surprised nobody else has mentioned this yet, but everything you need to know about SNL is summarized nicely by John Cusack in the Tim Robbins movie Bob Roberts.

Seriously. If you've seen it, you know what I mean. If you haven't, it was the most prescient movie of the early '90s and predicted Bush in a lot of rrrrrreally scary ways more than eight years before the fact.

And the SNL bit is dead-on and priceless.

IMHO, SNL starting down the track to corporate whoredom when they told Elvis Costello that he couldn't play "Radio Radio." (Fortunately for them, he did anyway.)

The best SNL skit I've ever seen harks back to the days of Billy Crystal and Christopher Guest, when they both played aging black baseball stars. Not funny per se, but a very poignant memorial by a couple of phenomenal character actors.

/just my $.02, adjusted for inflation

*hearkens*, not *harks*

/self-depricating grammar nazi

Right on, Wil...

Staying up too late and watching some of the
funniest and *smartest* lampooning around
used to be a guilty pleasure for me. And hey,
if they made an obscure reference it was a reason to
go learn something new.

Ashlee Simpson taught America something about
cynicism last Saturday night, but corporate
rock, and lip synching were the subject matter
instead of some erudite remark slipped in by
a Harvard man.

Best *LIVE* performance for me: Devo singing
"Satisfaction".

Used to watch SNL in the '80s and the early 90s.

I haven't been here in a while, but I though that I put in my 5 (Canadian) cents into the pile - Kids in the Hall (as most of you know) is a Canadian show. I remember watching it in highschool and THAT used to be our SNL and the counter-culture outlet. I loved that show - now all the guys went their seperate ways, and some of them are just part of the machine... too bad.

Amen...

Interesting to note that Kids in the Hall was also a Lorne Michaels project.

And why can't SNL movies turn out as well as Brain Candy did?

I could rant on this for far too long.

Amen to your post, and that of Tony Peirce. I especially liked the order(demand?) to go watch Kids in The Hall, I can't wait till I can buy up the DVDs, and have one of the ebst skit shows ever in my own hands.

More cowbell! Yes!

The show is hit and miss. It's hard to gauge what an audience will respond to.
But occasionally it hits - Janet Jackson - cork soakers skit was mentioned above, Weekend Update, etc.
I find myself watching it for the talent of a few of the performers. You have to take their whole bodies of work into consideration. It is sad when your favorite player's contract runs out and they run off to do films and other projects. With a weekly show - there's always a chance they'll shine the next week. With movies the waits are so long that they sometimes never live up to the expectations.

Anyway - give it more than the 5 minute cursory glance. And...
- "Ged Out!"

I imagine you've had a look at Tony's blog since this post and seen his hatchet-burying confession of jealousy. Definitely one of the more moving entries I've seen in the blogosphere. *sob*

Was going to say something real kumbaya, like "It only goes to show that with a little understanding, everything could turn out OK in this world," but unfortunately that isn't true. For instance, if some U.S. government spokesperson expressed sympathy for the pain of the Iraqis, I don't suppose Zarqawi would suddenly bury the hatchet. Or vice-versa.

Nevertheless, it's nice that you and Tony between you added a little something to the total mass of peace on Earth. And not such a little something, at that.

Dude, don't backtrack on SNL sucking big nasty ones... It hasn't been worth a damn for a LONG time! The last guys worth a damn were Phil and Chris Farley. The last time I sat in front of the tube to watch the whole thing was back when Eddie Murphy was still part of the scene! (Yeah, that ages me!)

The last time I watched SNL had to be when Mike Myers was a regular and Adam Shandler. The best shows are the first three seasons with Steve Martin, Bill Murray and Gilda Radner. (god rest her soul)It went downhill much later and I really haven't had the chance to catch it now. Oh those were the days, reminds me of when MTV had just started.

Morgan

Gotta agree w/your assessment of the present Andy Dick. But if you watch the Ben Stiller Show, now out on DVD, I hope you'll agree that A.D. used to have--and use--a hell of a lot of hilarious talent. It's a tragedy it all seems to have been spent or wasted at this point.

(Bob Odenkirk of course also was wonderful on this, but comes into much higher heights of greatness on the later but also long-ago cancelled Mr. Show).

I like it that people call you Mister Wheaton.

Hi Wil. Hey! Look! Bunny's here.

I agree and I believe everyone else that has seen SNL before 2000 would agree. This is SNL at it's worst. Worse than 1980. Yes I saw your name in GTA Mr. Weaton. Hey is your buddy Keith Coogan still alive? 1987 was all about Coogan.

All good things must come to an end. It is just lucky that Kids in the Hall ended before they, too, started sucking in 35 different ways.

Try it NOW!

If all of us (myself included) gave up on SNL 15 years ago, how is it that it can still be on the air?

Why did they have to take away Arrested Development?

Ah, Saturday Night Live. Being an old git, I can actually remember watching Dan Ackroyd, Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Jane Curtain, et al, many years ago, and actually, for a long time after, the show was still pretty funny. But these days, if I tune in at all, I just feel like it is oh so lame, and it doesn't matter which celeb or band is on. The sketches just suck. So do heed Wil's advice, and make sure to watch re-runs of Kids in the Hall (I do hope they don't censor them too much in the U.S., I heard they did.). Vive Scott Thompson!

LMAO @ more cowbell.... exactly right. :P

i agree totally, SNL used to have genii like Andy Kaufman and now it's ashlee simpson...lip syncing or not that is a major downgrade.

In the 70s, Anne Beatts, who was one of the writers on SNL, said, "You can only be avant garde for so long before you become garde."

She was right.

I have hated many singers in my life, like britney spears and christina aguliera and hillary duff(gag!) but i havent hated a singer more than i have Ashlee Simpson.When i heard her on SNL, i just laughed and was like, well, people were fools to like her in the first place, but when i heard a clip on the radio of her at the orange bowl i was litterelly covering my ears! now everything fell into place for me.i was like, no wonder she lip-synched on SNL, not that it gives her an excuse anyways. I hated her then, and i hate her even more now! I think people are giving her credit she just really doesnt deserve.Avril Lavigne and Billy Talent rock, but deffinetly NOT Ashlee.And heres a little tip for all the people who hire her : if u want people to actually stay, thers no way in hell ur gonna succeed if u hire her! there would be nothin sweeter than to see that little sell out fall on her ass! Ashlee, give it up, ur fifteen minutes of fame are OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have hated many singers in my life, like britney spears and christina aguliera and hillary duff(gag!) but i havent hated a singer more than i have Ashlee Simpson.When i heard her on SNL, i just laughed and was like, well, people were fools to like her in the first place, but when i heard a clip on the radio of her at the orange bowl i was litterelly covering my ears! now everything fell into place for me.i was like, no wonder she lip-synched on SNL, not that it gives her an excuse anyways. I hated her then, and i hate her even more now! I think people are giving her credit she just really doesnt deserve.Avril Lavigne and Billy Talent rock, but deffinetly NOT Ashlee.And heres a little tip for all the people who hire her : if u want people to actually stay, thers no way in hell ur gonna succeed if u hire her! there would be nothin sweeter than to see that little sell out fall on her ass! Ashlee, give it up, ur fifteen minutes of fame are OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have hated many singers in my life, like britney spears and christina aguliera and hillary duff(gag!) but i havent hated a singer more than i have Ashlee Simpson.When i heard her on SNL, i just laughed and was like, well, people were fools to like her in the first place, but when i heard a clip on the radio of her at the orange bowl i was litterelly covering my ears! now everything fell into place for me.i was like, no wonder she lip-synched on SNL, not that it gives her an excuse anyways. I hated her then, and i hate her even more now! I think people are giving her credit she just really doesnt deserve.Avril Lavigne and Billy Talent rock, but deffinetly NOT Ashlee.And heres a little tip for all the people who hire her : if u want people to actually stay, thers no way in hell ur gonna succeed if u hire her! there would be nothin sweeter than to see that little sell out fall on her ass! Ashlee, give it up, ur fifteen minutes of fame are OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have hated many singers in my life, like britney spears and christina aguliera and hillary duff(gag!) but i havent hated a singer more than i have Ashlee Simpson.When i heard her on SNL, i just laughed and was like, well, people were fools to like her in the first place, but when i heard a clip on the radio of her at the orange bowl i was litterelly covering my ears! now everything fell into place for me.i was like, no wonder she lip-synched on SNL, not that it gives her an excuse anyways. I hated her then, and i hate her even more now! I think people are giving her credit she just really doesnt deserve.Avril Lavigne and Billy Talent rock, but deffinetly NOT Ashlee.And heres a little tip for all the people who hire her : if u want people to actually stay, thers no way in hell ur gonna succeed if u hire her! there would be nothin sweeter than to see that little sell out fall on her ass! Ashlee, give it up, ur fifteen minutes of fame are OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have hated many singers in my life, like britney spears and christina aguliera and hillary duff(gag!) but i havent hated a singer more than i have Ashlee Simpson.When i heard her on SNL, i just laughed and was like, well, people were fools to like her in the first place, but when i heard a clip on the radio of her at the orange bowl i was litterelly covering my ears! now everything fell into place for me.i was like, no wonder she lip-synched on SNL, not that it gives her an excuse anyways. I hated her then, and i hate her even more now! I think people are giving her credit she just really doesnt deserve.Avril Lavigne and Billy Talent rock, but deffinetly NOT Ashlee.And heres a little tip for all the people who hire her : if u want people to actually stay, thers no way in hell ur gonna succeed if u hire her! there would be nothin sweeter than to see that little sell out fall on her ass! Ashlee, give it up, ur fifteen minutes of fame are OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!