I don’t see it. I’ve been desperately searching through YouTube, looking for some kind of indication that John Belushi is funny. Been searching for something that would demonstrate the “comic genius” that everyone else seems to see in Gilda Radner. Looking for some SNL sketch from the first couple of seasons that demonstrate the brilliance that everyone else seems to see in it.
I’m not trying to be the young upstart who ruffles you old guys’ feathers, I’m honestly trying to understand. I’ve seen Chevy Chase be funny in films like Fletch, and I know that Bill Murray is a comic genius, and Dan Akyroid is great in Ghostbusters, but that’s all.
So please, help me out, what am I missing, what factors am I not taking into account, what sketches do I need to see? Because, honestly, I find the love of this show’s “Glory Days” utterly baffling.
Baba Wawa, Samurai - “blank”, a couple bee sketches, Wild Crazy Guys, Land Shark, and about a dozen other episodes’ worth of sketches that didn’t even leave an impression on me. I’m willing to check out any classic sketches you mention or can link to.
There’s a great Weekend Update bit with Belushi telling a story about his drunken Irish friend trying to get him to bail him out of jail. The story gets out of control and Belushi completely loses his shit. Not sure exactly what you’d search for on YouTube to find it, but that’s always been one of my favorite moments of his.
Originally Posted by misfitView Post There’s a great Weekend Update bit with Belushi telling a story about his drunken Irish friend trying to get him to bail him out of jail. The story gets out of control and Belushi completely loses his shit. Not sure exactly what you’d search for on YouTube to find it, but that’s always been one of my favorite moments of his.
I was just about to mention those reports he did where he increasingly lost his shit on camera. Those were great.
And what about (Non-Belushi skit) Fred Garvin: Male Prostitute?
Don’t get me wrong- I enjoy plenty of classic comedy, but comedy is ephemeral in that so much of it is tied to a certain time or place. I’m not surprised that you don’t find classic SNL funny.
For example. Or at least try and youtube clips from the stuff in these sets, as I would have to assume it’s some of the better stuff out there. I’ve seen a Steve Martin one which was decent, but can’t speak for the others.
For years all I had ever really seen from the “early days” were the highlights and “Best of” selections. A lot of which I liked.
But I have to admit that watching the first complete season on disc was a bit of a chore, at least in comedic terms. A lot of that has to do with the show not really finding its focus early on. I’m still glad I picked the set up because it is fascinating to watch as a historical document.
That being said I love Akroyd as the President of Mainway Toys, Irwin Mainway.
As someone who has organized toy safety press conferences during my activist days, I always loved the skit with Dan Aykroyd extolling the virtues of “Bag-O-Glass” and “Johnny Switchblade” dolls.
It’s after the original cast, but I almost wrecked my car the other day because I flashed back to two two Eddie Murphy sketches that made me laugh really, really hard just thinking about them:
The Clarences, when he plays the guy who claims to have been kicked out the The Beatles. “She’s got a ticket to ride and the bitch don’t care, man.”
Little Richard Simmons.
Back to the original topic, the Exorcist sketch with Richard Pryor as the apprentice priest is gold.
Originally Posted by Patrick RipollView Post I’m not trying to be the young upstart who ruffles you old guys’ feathers, I’m honestly trying to understand.
(*Beats Patrick to death with a walker. Is quickly caught by police when they find a jar of Icy Hot left behind at the murder scene.*)
Seriously though - check out “Fred Garvin: Male Prostitute”, both of the sketches with Dan Akroyd as Irving Mainway (they’re both the consumer safety ones - one for toys and another one for Halloween costumes), and Belushi’s “Little Chocolate Donuts” commercial. Oh, and there’s a great “Final days in the White House” sketch, with Akroyd as Nixon, Belushi as Henry Kissinger, and Madeline Kahn as Pat Nixon. You’ll (hopefully) Akroyd dragging Belushi down onto the floor to pray with him. “You don’t want to pray with me… JEW BOY??”
Very first sketch on SNL - John Belushi as the immigrant and Michael O’Donaghue as his teacher:
“I would like to feed your fingertips to the wolverines.”
Then the punchline with the heart attack - has me rolling everytime.
The Weekend Update after Chevy left “Jane, you ignorant slut!”. The Blues Brothers! Coneheads! Chevy making faces behind Jane Curtin while she’s giving a report!
All this flashbacking, not one mention of Mr. Bill? Oh, noooooo!!!
I’m always referencing Chase and Aykroyd’s Carter/Ford debate. “It was my understanding there would be no math.” Chase as Ford looking absolutely nothing like Ford murders me every time.
Another favorite, Aykroyd as Carter opening up the White House phone lines for a call-in Ask The President show, and at one point talks a kid down off a bad acid trip.