SNL 40th Anniversary Special

[chubbyfatazn]

The whole build up by Chris Rock for Eddie Murphy and you're expecting something hilarious and monumental, but it was just cut to commercial.

That felt weird to me as well. I expected Chris Rock to inject some jokes here and there, rib on Eddie Murphy a bit, but it ended up just being the former sucking the latter's dick for a few minutes

Eddie Murphy's monologue afterwards didn't really help either

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I found the whole thing overlong, overblown, and strangely edited. They rushed through some of the most interesting stuff (like the audition tapes), and edited some sketches down to mere sound bites, then had some live portions (some sketches and that musical number with Fallon and Timberlake) that felt just endless to me. The Eddie Murphy bit was just a huge letdown. Overall it made me glad to be watching on a DVR so I could fast-forward through much of it.

 

[CraKaJaX]

I thought it was pretty good. No one took too much spotlight and the way they organized it was good - sports skits, music skits, political skits, etc. I thought McCartney's voice was absolutely shot during his Maybe I'm Amazed performance though he did play a intimate show at Irving Plaza the night before (And I'm pissed I didn't know about this beforehand). I guess I'll forgive him. One thing I didn't like was that they brought back Matt Foley/Motivational speaker character WITHOUT Chris Farley playing it. No one will ever do it better. They should have just left it alone and shown the original clip like they were doing for a lot of the oldies.

 

[BUTCH1]

So in 40 years, was this show ever once funny?

When I go see a comedian and consider it "good" I laugh pretty much beginning to end. When I watch a comedy television show, there are funny parts, and plot parts, but you get chuckles often. With this show, there maybe is a good skit once every month, but without any plot development that a regular comedy show can carry itself through all the unfunny parts, how did this show survive? I couldn't imagine liking a comedian where I laughed only once per performance.

What gives?

Yea, it was, when you had the likes of John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner and Dan Aykroyd around it was extremely funny and ground breaking. There were some lean years but other stars like Dana Carvey, Eddie Murphy, Mike Meyers, Phil Hartman, Adam Sandler and lest not forget Chris Farley, the whole "Matt Foley" motivational speaker" sketches were awesome. I'm not too crazy about the current bunch but the show had some awesome moments over the years.

 

[Jadow]

Paul Mccartney sounded like he had a frog in his throat. Kanye is just stupid period. And Miley, ugh. They wasted a lot of time there. Eddie Murphy yeah lame. Californians went on way too long.

Jeopardy
Weekend Update
Ackroyd blending the fish
were decent bits though

 

[zinfamous]

So in 40 years, was this show ever once funny?

When I go see a comedian and consider it "good" I laugh pretty much beginning to end. When I watch a comedy television show, there are funny parts, and plot parts, but you get chuckles often. With this show, there maybe is a good skit once every month, but without any plot development that a regular comedy show can carry itself through all the unfunny parts, how did this show survive? I couldn't imagine liking a comedian where I laughed only once per performance.

What gives?

you have no sense of humor, maybe?

 

[13Gigatons]

I found the whole thing overlong, overblown, and strangely edited. They rushed through some of the most interesting stuff (like the audition tapes), and edited some sketches down to mere sound bites, then had some live portions (some sketches and that musical number with Fallon and Timberlake) that felt just endless to me. The Eddie Murphy bit was just a huge letdown. Overall it made me glad to be watching on a DVR so I could fast-forward through much of it.

Pretty much sums it up. :|

 

[MongGrel]

Yea, it was, when you had the likes of John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner and Dan Aykroyd around it was extremely funny and ground breaking. There were some lean years but other stars like Dana Carvey, Eddie Murphy, Mike Meyers, Phil Hartman, Adam Sandler and lest not forget Chris Farley, the whole "Matt Foley" motivational speaker" sketches were awesome. I'm not too crazy about the current bunch but the show had some awesome moments over the years.

+1

It was very groundbreaking when it started.

you have no sense of humor, maybe?

This, also.

Watching it right now, so far I find it hilarious.

Just being a bit nostalgic, I guess.

 

[Zeze]

I just finished it, sheesh it was long.

I watched it with an open mind. It was very mediocre. I don't know, I grew up with SNL kind of humor and laughed so hard until my sides were hurting when we watched the Celebrity Jeopardy back in 2001.

It's like rehashing too much of the same thing. Nothing stood out. That Californians was horrid.

It was enjoyable in a sense, the 90% of the laughter came from tributes/reunions due to nostalgia. Not much original laughter.

 

[Bob the Coder]

you have no sense of humor, maybe?

Nah, people tend to be overly nostalgic when it comes to SNL. I've watched it on and off since the mid 80's, and barring a few short stretches, it's just a collection of mostly never-will-be's trying too hard to be funny.

Not saying it was never funny, but you've got to sit through 20 sketches to hit a good one.

 

[momeNt]

Nah, people tend to be overly nostalgic when it comes to SNL. I've watched it on and off since the mid 80's, and barring a few short stretches, it's just a collection of mostly never-will-be's trying too hard to be funny.

Not saying it was never funny, but you've got to sit through 20 sketches to hit a good one.

That was basically my point. What makes a good show is not a 20-1 ratio of hitting on comedic moments. This show is supposed to be 100% funny, it's not like a typical comedy show which builds plot or character, it's supposed to be funny all the time, like standup. Just pretend for a minute that SNL was a standup comedian, and you laughed as often during an hour long show with SNL vs the comedian. You'd leave half way through.

 

[Ns1]

That was basically my point. What makes a good show is not a 20-1 ratio of hitting on comedic moments. This show is supposed to be 100% funny, it's not like a typical comedy show which builds plot or character, it's supposed to be funny all the time, like standup. Just pretend for a minute that SNL was a standup comedian, and you laughed as often during an hour long show with SNL vs the comedian. You'd leave half way through.

Except SNL isn't a stand up comedian, it's SNL. adjust your expectations accordingly.

 

[Bob the Coder]

That was basically my point. What makes a good show is not a 20-1 ratio of hitting on comedic moments. This show is supposed to be 100% funny, it's not like a typical comedy show which builds plot or character, it's supposed to be funny all the time, like standup. Just pretend for a minute that SNL was a standup comedian, and you laughed as often during an hour long show with SNL vs the comedian. You'd leave half way through.

Yep. At some point it became cool to admire SNL, and I'm sure that's a large part of what's kept it on life support for so long (and yes, it's been on life support).

 

[Rudee]

Eddie Murphy returned for the first time in 30 years, and fell completely flat. Also didn't care for all the Kanye West references throughout the show.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

So in 40 years, was this show ever once funny?

Yes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABrSYqiqvzc (NSFW language)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0DeIqJm4vM (NSFW language)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi7gwX7rjOw (NSFW language)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8F3UE9qFsg (NSFW language)

http://www.hulu.com/watch/34465

 

[Ns1]

Well Norm Macdonald goes into some of the backstory

http://gothamist.com/2015/02/18/norm_macdonald_snl_tweets.php

 

[zinfamous]

Except SNL isn't a stand up comedian, it's SNL. adjust your expectations accordingly.

people seem to have a problem differentiating between stand up comedy and Improv.

SNL is primarily scripted, sketch comedy, but they generally take their talent from the improv world. Whenever they add a sketch comedian to the cast (like Norm McDonald), they typically suck on the show--and I like Norm and was one of the 0.3% that actually liked his Weekend Update, but sketch doesn't translate well to improv success. ...at least Norm was a writer for several years prior to joining the cast.

look at Louis CK--his appearance pretty much sucked on SNL, even though his standup routines are always solid.

 

[WilliamM2]

Yes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABrSYqiqvzc (NSFW language)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0DeIqJm4vM (NSFW language)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi7gwX7rjOw (NSFW language)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8F3UE9qFsg (NSFW language)

http://www.hulu.com/watch/34465

Which one was supposed to be funny?

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Which one was supposed to be funny?

All of them. If you don't think d*ck in a box is funny there is something seriously wrong with you.

 

[zinfamous]

All of them. If you don't think d*ck in a box is funny there is something seriously wrong with you.

those are all Sandberg/Timberlake digitals, though. They are funny and some are great; but pretty much bottom of the barrel for the really great SNL stuff.

 

[Ns1]

those are all Sandberg/Timberlake digitals, though. They are funny and some are great; but pretty much bottom of the barrel for the really great SNL stuff.

stfu, I'm on a Boat was magical.

 

[MongGrel]

The Eddie Murphy thing being brief is at least explained a bit as he was offered the Cosby roasting thing and didn't feel like going there I guess.

Really can't blame him a lot for not doing it, though at the time when he was on the show he was known for being "edgy".

No Samurai either

 

[zinfamous]

stfu, I'm on a Boat was magical.

I find it weird that, in response to "Was it ever funny in 40 years?" we get a handful of links to what is essentially the same rehashed sketch, that happened what, 5 years ago?

The show was brilliant long before Sandberg wanted to be the new Sandler, and none of that was better than the best of that show. Just saying. (again, i thought Dick in a Box was great).

Hot Tub? Unfrozen Cave Man Lawyer? The Continental? Celebrity Jeopardy? "Creepy bearded Will Farrel professor guy and Ratchel Dratch weirding people out with their sexual excursions?" ...that shit cracks me up every time I think about it.

 

[Ns1]

//edited, n/m reply don't make sense hopefully nobody ninja quoted

 

[AznAnarchy99]

i find it weird that, in response to "was it ever funny in 40 years?" we get a handful of links to what is essentially the same rehashed sketch, that happened what, 5 years ago?

The show was brilliant long before sandberg wanted to be the new sandler, and none of that was better than the best of that show. Just saying. (again, i thought dick in a box was great).

Hot tub? Unfrozen cave man lawyer? The continental? Celebrity jeopardy? "creepy bearded will farrel professor guy and ratchel dratch weirding people out with their sexual excursions?" :d...that shit cracks me up every time i think about it.

more cowbell!