Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Does the original cast of SNL still hold up?

Any time a recent SNL sketch (or article) is posted on social media, it seems that half the comments are "I remember when SNL was funny and not political." Well, not only has the show always been political, but it's been funny -- if wildly erratic -- since 1975. Most of these comments come from people referring to the original cast "with Bill Murray and Eddie Murphy" (although neither of them joined the show until well after the "original cast").

So what would happen if you took a young person and showed them such golden oldies as the "AM/FM" sketch or Chevy Chase as President Ford? They'd be baffled. I find those funny because I understand the references, but a lot of people do not.

SO a few years ago, I made a compilation of sketches which I thought DID hold up even today. This is what you could show a young person who doesn't understand why "cheeseburger cheeseburger cheeseburger" had such appeal 40+ years ago. I've added links where I could find them, and will add more as they turn up. (Those with an asterisk are not from the official SNL YouTube channel).


Cold open: The Wolverines (10/11/1975)

Monologue: The Castration Walk (4/16/1977)

Commercial: Jewess Jeans (2/16/1980)

Sketch: Jaws II (11/8/1975)

Sketch: Extreme Stupidity (12/11/1976)

Sketch: Nick Rails (2/10/1979); this is not the one with the Star Wars theme (1/28/1978)... but it's my favorite

Sketch: Gilda and Chevy in bed (2/18/1978)

Commercial: Royal Deluxe II (9/24/1977)*

Sketch: Word Association (12/13/1975)

Song: King Tut (4/22/1978)

Weekend Update: Some Girls (5/26/1979)

Sketch: Refrigerator Repairman (10/7/1978)

Sketch: Exorcist II (12/13/1975)

Sketch: Julia Child (12/9/1978)

Sketch: Fred Garvin (3/17/1979)

Sketch: Judy Miller (10/29/1977)

Sketch: Candy Slice in the studio (12/9/1978)

Commercial: Bass-O-Matic '76 (4/17/1976)*

Sketch: Richard Benjamin in a Scottish restaurant (4/7/1979)

Sketch: Lord & Lady D-Bag (5/24/1980)

Song: King Bee (1/17/1976)*

Sketch: Buck Henry rushing home to use the bathroom (11/10/1979)

Good nights: Last episode (5/24/1980)

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