SNL 50

I thought it was a completely enjoyable trip down memory lane. The awesome 90s casts were always my generation but I also loved the older casts and came to appreciate the ones that followed just as much. It was fun people spotting in the crowd to see who was there and who wasnt. Notable absences were Dana Carvey and Dan Akroyd which was odd because Carvey has been making appearances almost regularly in the past year playing Biden and Akroyd was sharing positive SNL stuff on socials leading up to the event. Star of the show was Bill Murray who got in so many good wry comments in a 10 minute bit ranking the Weekend Update anchors, best of which was a dig on Chevy Chase stating that he couldn't possibly put such a talent any higher than 4th place lol. I was extremely surprised to see Chase in attendance on the stage at the end even if he was looking like Ebineezer Scrooge, I guess all that bitterness is catching up to him. Anyway, if you saw it whatd you think?

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I thought it was awesome. Trip down memory lane for sure....</p>

Watched the first episode from 1975 that they replayed Saturday night- some real half-baked skits there (near literally- they started well enough and then sort of just ended without any pay-off). I know they got better over the first 5-year run but it confirms that they were not always so great. The Billy Preston & Janis Ian performances were the best parts. George Carlin as host was meh (but I can see where Jerry Seinfeld got his -what is the deal with socks/dogs/whatever- bit)

Of all the specials they are doing the 4-part documentary (https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/peac...-date-episodes ) has been the most interesting so far if you are interested in more than just memory lane stuff- the whole episode devoted to the -more cowbell- sketch is great

Absolutely phenomenal show. Everyone brought their A game. Innumerable funny call backs and references made it a really enjoyable watch

I wondered about Ackroyd missing as well and hope he’s doing ok

Sandler getting a little choked up during his song was sweet. That guy is a true mensch

I’m still processing the show, there was so much good material and moments it’s hard to pick a favorite

One of the best SNL efforts of all time for sure

It's been fun having people chat about the show around the office today because there has been more than a handful of really funny callbacks that I didnt catch the first time around or forgot about and missed as they were delivered.

Watching the cast members completely lose it laughing in many of those old skits and ruin the delivery still makes me smile (see: anything Farley or Hartman).

Its also spurred a fun conversation here and on the radio today: what is your top 5 SNL skits from these past 50 years?

Its a harder proposition than youd imagine but think I would have to go:

5. Hartman as Bill Clinton in McDonalds

4. Cowbell with Ferrell

3. Celebrity Jeopardy with Norm as Burt Reynolds

2. Dick in a Box with Samberg and Timberlake

1. Chippendales Audition with Swayze and Farley

That’s a solid list. The recent Beavis and Butthead skit kills me every time, and yes Sandlers song last night made it feel a little dusty at my house

1975. Flannels shirts peasant tops and jeans. Screaming Yellow Zonkers and Boons Farm. $15/oz Mexican. HooRah!! I taped it to watch again. The video/audio multi artist mashup in the 50 years of SNL music show was masterful to show how far it's come from the brick wall background.

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Originally Posted by BmillsSkier

Its also spurred a fun conversation here and on the radio today: what is your top 5 SNL skits from these past 50 years?

Its a harder proposition than youd imagine but think I would have to go:

5. Hartman as Bill Clinton in McDonalds

4. Cowbell with Ferrell

3. Celebrity Jeopardy with Norm as Burt Reynolds

2. Dick in a Box with Samberg and Timberlake

1. Chippendales Audition with Swayze and Farley

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So hard to pick but yeah that’s a great list of gems

It would be hard enough just trying to put a top 5 list together using only the fake commercials.

I was so pleased to see Happy Fun Ball get a shoutout.

Pretty solid list - but ima have to put the Schwedy Balls skit in the top 5.

Schmitts Gay beer commercial would be in my top-5 commercials. :D

“But wait till you see the pool”

LOL

This life long SNL fan is looking forward to rewatching it, I only saw the last half hour or so.

Solid list Bmills.

Got me thinking about all of the various legendary characters they created, I will pick a handful of random favourites:

The Blues Brothers

Velvet Jones

The Bills Superfans

the Wild and Crazy Guys

Matt Foley

Wayne and Garthand

the Im Chillin guys

Lol at Velvet Jones. There was a time in HS where that nickname got some mileage with my circle of friends.

That’s the hard thing I think; to know there’s so many great characters, and even fewer great sketches. Hard to pick one over the other or find where they intersect.

Ed Grimley was a pretty underrated character, IMO.

Velvet Jones was a classic. As was Matt Foley.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BmillsSkier

Its also spurred a fun conversation here and on the radio today: what is your top 5 SNL skits from these past 50 years?

Its a harder proposition than youd imagine but think I would have to go:

5. Hartman as Bill Clinton in McDonalds

4. Cowbell with Ferrell

3. Celebrity Jeopardy with Norm as Burt Reynolds

2. Dick in a Box with Samberg and Timberlake

1. Chippendales Audition with Swayze and Farley

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Those are all definitely funnier and hold up better but at the time and moment, the word association skit when Chase says nigger to Pryor and Pryor replies DEAD Honky has got to be up there in monumental moments. I was a little disapointed they bleeped it last night. It felt a little like someone censoring Huckleberry Finn

My list would also include

Ackroyd as Julia Child

Hader doing Stefan

Norm on update - OJ riffs and his joke about not hiring women writers on the show

Toons the Cat

Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer

Rolling stone magazine website has been doing lists of top 50 characters and top 50 commercials etc. I think Happy Fun Ball and Stefan were number 1 on those lists - but yeah how could you ever rank these things - so much great material.

That Chase/Pryor Word Association skit was written by Pryor's personal writer, the only black writer in the room apparently - they wanted people to laugh because they were so uncomfortable. Lot of talk about that one today as well and it was roundly appreciated by many very sharp comedians and writers. I think it's #1 on that Rolling Stone list as well.

I really enjoyed the past 3 nights of shows and am hoping to see them all again as reruns on Peacock. Hopefully, I can view them with subtitles as I'm old...

My list would include the alien abduction skit. As far as underwear, this devil wears nadda With our carpets and tar pits on full display

Best SNL ever

Chebuga chegurga

Van down by the river

Coneheads

Haven't seen the show yet hope we can scroll it back on apple tv

Eddie Murphy playing Tracy Morgan next to Tracy Morgan on Black Jeopardy was solid. Murphy nailed it

I only eat 4 cheese lasagna.

I hate to be Debbie Downer but I was not a fan of Will Ferrell's segments. He just seemed off to me compared to his prime. Also, rather than recent skits that aren't that great (looking at you Domingo), I would have preferred revisiting some of the legendary ones from the 80's and 90's and including new cast members. Kind of hard to do the best ones without Phil Hartman and Chris Farley though. Total bastard airlines, Gumby, Brian Fellows, Roxbury, etc. could have killed with the right cameos. Also, Father Guido Sarducci during Weekend Update would have been better than Lorne's 2 best friends.

Watched the first half last night- like most episodes it was hit and miss, as it should be (I am a huge fan of the show). Best bits I thought so far: Eddy Murphy perfectly imitating Tracy Morgan in Black Jeopardy, the anxiety digital short from Bowen Yang and Andy Samburg, Chad with Lorraine Newman

I was just thinking how much the 50th show and all the recent cameos of former cast members highlights the loss of Phil Hartman and Chris Farley. Somehow Phil moreso. Between his work on the Simpsons and Newsradio, he stands out as someone who would probably still be riding his peak today.

It was a good episode with more hits than misses. I think the biggest issue was an audience of big names and comedians. They didn’t laugh as much as a normal live audience (with or without prompting) which can throw a skit sideways.

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Originally Posted by hooked

I hate to be Debbie Downer but I was not a fan of Will Ferrell&#39;s segments. He just seemed off to me compared to his prime. Also, rather than recent skits that aren&#39;t that great (looking at you Domingo), I would have preferred revisiting some of the legendary ones from the 80&#39;s and 90&#39;s and including new cast members. Kind of hard to do the best ones without Phil Hartman and Chris Farley though. Total bastard airlines, Gumby, Brian Fellows, Roxbury, etc. could have killed with the right cameos. Also, Father Guido Sarducci during Weekend Update would have been better than Lorne&#39;s 2 best friends.

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Watch the music special. He was awesomne in that. I think he used it all up in the music skit.</p>

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Originally Posted by warthog

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Watch the music special. He was awesomne in that. I think he used it all up in the music skit.</p>

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The return of Marty and Bobbi for the homecoming concert was easily my favorite part of the whole 50 weekend.

I’m just starting to watch. Like the Paul McCartney medley

Mrs. plug and I loved it, of course we’re in our 60’s so it’s like watching our lives.
-Hanks making MAGA squirm
-Loved Simon and Carpenter opening
-Paul McCartney is how old?
-Jenna Ortega kinda got effed with
-Effing Eddie Murphy always makes me laugh

apologies if this has been answered already, but is it available anywhere other than Peacock (or clips on youtube)?

There’s a lot of clips on insta but I think signing up for a free peacock trial is the way to go with all the anniversary material it has. Show, concert, doc, etc. I don’t think it’s available in whole anywhere else

Now that I’ve watched the bit where Jenna Ortega and Kevin Costner looked aggravated, I’m not sure it was part of the skit or not.

SNL 50 Beyond Saturday night on Peacock was good. Especially episode three. Really interesting to see what happens week to week and how the show comes together.

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Originally Posted by seano732

That’s a solid list. The recent Beavis and Butthead skit kills me every time, and yes Sandlers song last night made it feel a little dusty at my house

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Nobody could keep it together during that Beavis and Butthead skit.

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Originally Posted by riser4

Nobody could keep it together during that Beavis and Butthead skit.

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We actually ponied up the entire $7.99 for a month of Peacock just to watch the SNL50. Guess maybe I&#39;ll watch a couple EPL matches this weekend as well. :D

At one point Rakuten had a promotion for like ~50% cash back for a handful of months for peacock, not sure if they’re still doing it or not. But I keep it even post-promotion for the EPL coverage