50th Anniversary of SNL

 

  I can't believe it has been now 50 years of SNL skits, laughter, and memorable, memorable guest stars. SNL, which stood for Saturday Night Live back then started on October of 1975. With the original cast. Some that are still with us and some...that did not survive. 

    Here are some of my favorite skits and memorable (some not so) that would remember from this show.

  Lorne Michaels is the person to thank because it was his idea to start a show late at night when back in the days, not many shows were made for late night TV. He proved them wrong. Fifty years later, it's still going on. Not as strong as it used to be, but let's just say, there are memorable moments as well

     In 1975, the 'not so ready for prime time' players as they were called, started showing skits as well as singers coming up and performing one or two songs minimum. Dan Aykroyd was one of the first. One his memorable skits was him portraying a ditzy Julia Child.

   Having a horrible accent and pretending to cut his finger having blood streaming out. Julia Child loved it and would show the clip to her guests and writing a thank you note to Dan Aykroyd. 

     I didn't really get into SNL until the mid to late 90's. I saw a few skits when my parents weren't watching. Having a late Chris Farley acting like a strange man pretending to motivate kids using the words, "I live in a van..... DOWN BY THE RIVER!" Later smashing into furniture or a wall.

    He and David Spade were always considered a funny couple. Right up until Chris Farley's death.

   I've talked about the SNL Jeopardy skit, so I'll go to another. One of my favorite skits ever created. It was a Blue Oyster Cult band (being portrayed by Jimmy Fallon, Horatio Sanz, Chris Parnell and a few others) having Christopher Walken listening to their hit, "Don't fear the Reaper"

  The famous: I gotta have more cowbell. line is said by Christopher Walken as Will Farrell decides to do funny stuff with the skit cracking me up.

    There are also some unpleasant moments that happened. One being Sinead O'Conner performing Bob Marley's War, and at the end holds up a picture of Pope John Paul II and rips it up in front of the audience.

  She shouts, "FIGHT THE REAL ENEMY!" After that, not even the applause sign was lit. Everyone was just...silent. The next week, Joe Pesci guest starred and showed the photo that was ripped tapped back together. Sinead was no longer allowed on SNL after that.

    A lot of singers and guests were banned, and some still are. But another skit became a famous Ben and Jerry's ice cream. Only available around the holiday season. Ana Gasteyer and Molly Shannon portray two women who are on a talk radio show.

   Alec Baldwin was guest host that day and they were talking about his 'Schweddy Balls'. His last name is supposed to be Schweddy and it's a play on words as Ana and Molly eat succulent balls of meat or cheese. It just.... comes out wrong

  One more skit I wanna talk about. It's called *Bleep* in a box. A Christmas song sung by Justin Timberlake and Andy Sandberg. They perform a song as they have a box with a penis shaped hole in it.

   The women open the box and well...you get the joke. It is funny but, a little dirty to some people. 

    There were so many skits that I have remembered about, and well.... they did have a special recently commemorating 50 years on TV.

      In the anniversary special, they had most of the cast as well as celebrities in the show. They had skits like Black Jeopardy where Keenan (longest still going on cast member today) is the host.

   Rachael Dratch brings back her 'Debbie Downer' character that almost pissed off not only a few celebrities, but Robert De Niro as well. John Mullaney, who used to be a writer with SN, wrote a skit that involved New York. 

   There was so much going on. Even singers from Paul Simon (who was banned before but was brought back years ago) to Paul McCartney.

  Wanted to add one more thing I remember before ending this. Ashlee Simpson SNAFU. Forget what year this was, somewhere around the 2000's. Ashlee, who was Jessica Simpson little sister, was singing pieces of me as her first song.

   She was about to sing another song that was in her new CD. I forget the name, but it seemed Ashlee was lip syncing. Pieces of me started to play and she was embarrassed. 

    50 years of amazing talent, skits, actors, guest starts and much more. Sadly, I don't think they will make it another 50 years. Lorne has been thinking of retiring and leaving SNL to someone else. 

  That was a rumor, but then again, he's in his late 70's and getting on in years. SNL is still going on focusing on talent as well as skits and who the new singers are. I'm ok with the show, and i will watch a new episode when it's on. Happy 50th Anniversary to SNL. I'm strating to feel old now.