Prince Partyup 1981

The February 21, 1981 episode of SNL is notorious for castmember Charles Rocket dropping an F-bomb on live TV.  It was the final straw in a terrible season (the first after the celebrated original cast left), and cost pretty much everyone their jobs.  Allegedly, though, one of the two musical guests had ALSO dropped an F-bomb earlier in the show.  Prince made his SNL debut with "Partyup," featuring backing from Dez Dickerson (guitar), Andre Cymoné (bass), Lisa Coleman (keyboards), Doctor Fink (keyboards) and Bobby Z. (drums).  It's the sound of the 70s meeting the 80s.  Enjoy.  (Here's an alternate post of this rare clip; NBC has not made many of the season 6 musical performances available, which is a shame since they include Aretha Franklin, Jimmy Cliff, James Brown, Captain Beefheart, Linda Ronstadt, Jack Bruce, Cheap Trick, Stanley Clarke, Joe 'King' Carrasco & The Crowns, Delbert McClinton & Bonnie Bramlett, Jr. Walker & The All-Stars and Debbie Harry).

Vintage stereo commercials

To paraphrase Homer Simpson, "mmmmm.... 32 minutes of American stereo commercials."  (Actually, there's a few mixed in from overseas, and some NOT for stereos at all; call a cop if you don't like it).  And here's buying advice, courtesy of the late, lamented Pacific Stereo.

Not sure if these are included, but also enjoy the terrified salesman from the Northeast Appliance and Audio Company, a beautiful lady for Sanyo ("that's life?"), and some odd Australian Panasonic (aka National) commercials with Peter Allen: here, here and here.

Technics returns

Technics, the high-end subsidiary of Panasonic aka National aka Matsushita, was known in the 1970s and early '80s for some oddly exotic gear, and a lot of other audiophilia.  Sort of the way we see Cadillac in the car industry today.  Here's a cute pair of commercials from Japan advertising their "concise compo" series, i.e. components that were small-in-size (SE-C01 power amp, SU-C01 preamp and ST-C01 tuner.. there was also an SA-C07 boombox hybrid thing).  I would love to know what they're saying, and who these guys are.  They strike me as either Japan's Laurel & Hardy, or maybe a pair of celebs: the thin one a conductor, the large one a sumo wrestler or opera singer.  Can't he be both, like the late Warren Berger?
By the way, Technics tried this again in the early 80s with the "315" series, which wisely added a matching turntable (SL-5) and had the option for a cassette/tuner/preamp/amp combo unit (instead of separates): the elusive SA-K5.  Vintage Technics has more information on this, and the later mid-90s attempt (by which time the company was firmly in mid-fi/Best Buy territory, selling decent but unexciting CD changers and home theater equipment).





And here's Technics cassettes being used in the best possible way -- as dominoes.


And if you're really interested, the company is apparently back, though not with the venerable SL-1200mkII turntable.  Here's info on two viable replacements for the 'table: the Pioneer PLX-1000 and the Audio-Technica AT-LP120. #SNL4kidz

Idora Park, 31 years later in Youngstown

Youngstown's Idora neighborhood has had a rebirth in recent years as abandoned homes have been bulldozed and turned into urban gardens.  But the neighborhood was once home to Idora Park, one of the country's best theme parks (and one of the last "urban parks" in its day).  On April 26, 1984, much of the park burned down.  It closed after that season.  Here's an interesting look back (with links) last year on the 30th anniversary, from Youngstown's WKBN (note that the archival news footage is from WYTV, their now-sister station but then-rival).  And here's a link to the Idora Park experience, with Mitch Mitchell on drums, plus a look at what became of the carousel.

Ike & Tina Turner -- River Deep Mountain High 1971

Tina and the Ikettes have never been bettered.  Now THIS would be a half-time show.

SNL40 musical moments

From SNL40, here's the montage of musical highlights... with Martin Short, Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig, Fred Armisen, Kenan Thompson, Jason Sudeikis, Sasheer Zamata, Dana Carvey, Adam Sandler, Jim Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Paul Shaffer, Steve Martin, Cecily Strong, Joe Piscopo, Will Ferrell and Ana Gasteyer (not in that order... surprise!).  Most, if not all, of this is #SNL4kidz safe.

The Cosby Mysteries

Here's a bizarre take on Bill Cosby by Adam Sandler... possibly the only SNL castmember to appear on The Cosby Show BEFORE he was famous?  Also features Patrick Stewart.

This parodies the short-lived Cosby Mysteries, which had some issues from the star apparently needing to "improvise like a jazz musician" (my paraphrasing)... which doesn't work so well for a detective show.  Whole plots and characters would shape-shift within an episode.

Thanks to the good people at Fuzzy Memories for this.

Love Is All Around the Mary Tyler Moore Show

Sonny Curtis, formerly of Buddy Holly & the Crickets (although not in that clip), wrote and performed the theme for MTM, and also released it as a 45!  Years later, in 1980, he also re-recorded it as a country song.  And just for completists... the show open and close of the show.

A Bucket of Love at Kentucky Fried Chicken/KFC

I hated this commercial so, so, so much.  I want to smack the father, I now hate doo-wop, no one would believe the daughter is related to the others, and I swear he's saying "f--king love" at the end.  This aired only in Chicagoland, I believe, around 2003 or 2004.

Channel 43 plays favorites... and sells cars

This block of commercials contains several promos for WUAB-TV in Cleveland, Channel 43.  The Wikipedia page's history of the station is pretty accurate, and a nice blog post is here.  The jingle they use is before my time, and waaaayyyy too catchy.  I also remember John Lance from his commercials -- so animated!  The dealership is still there.




And here's another Cleveland car guy, Ed Stinn.  I also barely remember this, but the background music here is SO INFECTIOUS.  Herb Alpert on steroids.  Someone identify it for me!  According to the YouTube comments, his dealer went belly up after some shadiness, and he later ran used car lots that were owned by his son.  No idea if that info is true.  Based on the commenters, I would also say this is likely his wife's obituary, which indicates Ed died in 2005.




OK, one more... C. Miller Chevrolet.  I love him.

Ed Asner and Valerie Harper win Emmys, 1971

Here's Mr. Grant and Rhoda winning Emmys for the first season of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show."  (This awards ceremony would have been in spring, 1971 -- not 1970, as the link says).  A couple notes...
-Jack Benny and Lucille Ball presenting together?  Genius!
-Ed Asner's speech was beautiful
-Valerie Harper was HOT HOT HOT

McIntosh amplifiers, not MacIntosh

I just stumbled onto this CBS Morning news report about McIntosh, the legendary (in many circles) audio company headquartered in Binghampton, New York.  If you love music, you should take a look.  BTW, does the anchor not mention that he listened to McIntosh gear "in the 70s," then later says his father graduated from college in 1971?  Seems strange.  What newborn can afford tube amplifiers?  Dangerous.

Who's On First with Billy Crystal and Jimmy Fallon

Bill Crystal's 1986 HBO Special, "Don't Get Me Started," featured the comedian playing many of his best SNL characters, and had numerous guests: Rob Reiner, Eugene Levy, Brother Theodore and Christopher Guest among them.  Here's most of them, along with "Sammy Davis Jr." in my favorite, hilarious scene.

And as a bonus, here's Crystal 26 years later, with Jimmy Fallon and Jerry Seinfeld, doing the same routine.  If memory serves, these are #SNL4kidz safe, but please double-check.

Dogs on the Moscow subway

Apparently, these dogs are able to take the subway in from the suburbs and spend the day in Moscow.  By themselves!  There's also two great videos in the article of the canines using the escalator.  One gets it, one doesn't.

Riding My Donkey Political Talk-Show

From SNL (surprise)... why is this so hard to find?
Supreme bizarreness in just the right dosage, with bonus live mistakes thanks to the unpredictable asses.  (I SAID ASS!!!!!). #SNL4kidz

WHK and WLS radio PAMS Jingles

Every city in the 1960s had at least one station (usually Top 40) with jingles by PAMS.  You'll know them immediately.  Here's two examples... Cleveland and Chicago.

Norm MacDonald and Conan: May 1996

More Norm MacDonald.  Of all his appearances on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, this is the earliest clip I've found posted online.

Steve Martin's SNL monologues

Steve Martin – one of the greatest SNL hosts of all-time – has been responsible for two of the most elaborate monologues of all-time.

The classic “Not Gonna Phone It In Tonight" (1991) may just be the best monologue the show has ever staged.

But 5 years earlier, he had done something similar.  To promote “Three Amigos,” Martin hosted with Chevy Chase and Martin Short.  At the time, the show had barely escaped cancellation by retooling, and Steve hadn’t hosted since 1980 (season 5, the last year of the original cast).  In fact, he hadn’t even appeared at all except a brief cameo at the end of an episode hosted by Eddie Murphy (1982), and only then to complain that he hadn’t been called to host.

Anyhow, here is “I’m Me” from 1986.  And as a bonus, the cold open was pretty cute from that episode (no spoilers). #SNL4kidz

David Letterman and Courtney Love

I've cued this to the point where Dave proves why he is the King of Late Night.

New Orleans cream soda?

This is supposed to be a New Orleans-Inspired cream soda recipe.  Never heard of such a thing.  If you try it, let me know.  And send money.

I love dogs

The internet is littered with pet videos.  So here's another.

Jeans on SNL

Everyone remembers Saturday Night Live's Mom Jeans commercial, but here's two that were just as good from the early 1990s...

Three-Legged Jeans
Bad Idea Jeans

RIP Robert Schuller

Here's his "appearance" on "The Simpsons," plus a commercial for his "Hour of Power" from 1990.  Back then, thanks to this promo, my brother and I would constantly bellow his creed, "don't just SIT there.... DOOOOOOOO something."

SNL goes to Jeffrey's

Saturday Night Live only did 3 sketches in the upscale clothing store Jeffrey's... and they're all hilarious because Jimmy Fallon and Horatio Sanz break eachother up.  The one with Pierce Brosnan is posted here, and the other two are linked there as well. #SNL4kidz

Julia Louis-Dreyfus and SNL

It took 30 seasons until a female castmember returned to host SNL.  Julia Louis-Dreyfus was part of the forgotten early-'80s Dick Ebersol/Eddie Murphy years, but her subsequent role on "Seinfeld" made her career.  This 2006 episode was memorable, and two of the best sketches are in this weirdly edited Hulu version.