Saturday Night Live: The Best of Chris Farley
by Christopher Guest
from Lions Gate
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dana Carvey
by Christopher Guest
from Lions Gate
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Adam Sandler
by Christopher Guest
from Lions Gate
The Rutles - All You Need Is Cash
by Eric Idle
from Rhino Theatrical
Originally hatched in 1978 as a short film parody for Saturday Night Live, this expanded, 70-minute mockumentary on a trend-setting quartet of British mop-tops bloomed into one of Eric Idle's better projects outside Monty Python. Taking the career (and hagiography) of the Beatles and inverting them quite nicely, Idle conjures up four doppelgangers who offer the familiar mannerisms but practically none of the intelligence of their models. If that sounds like the same gag that powered This Is Spinal Tap (which emerged six years later), it is, with the crucial difference that Idle's lampoon is precise where Tap was consciously generic.
In telling the saga of the Rutles, Idle (who doubles as earnest narrator and McCartney-esque Rutle Dirk McQuigley) works from a rich and immediately familiar trove of pop lore, and he has a ball revisiting and reinventing milestones from the Fab Four's fabled history. The attention to period detail helps elevate the gags further, but Idle's real secret weapon is Neil Innes, standing in as Ron Nasty, the Rutles' answer to John Lennon: it's Innes who serves as the musical architect for the wonderful Beatles parodies that give All You Need Is Cash a delicious kick, and Innes, a one-time principal in the legendary Bonzo Dog Band, is gifted enough to capture the band's lyricism and energy as well as their shifting sense of style.
With the blessing and on-camera participation of George Harrison, and wry cameos from Mick Jagger and Paul Simon, All You Need Is Cash is a perfect companion to the Beatles' own glorious screen comedies and a great antidote to sanctimonious pop documentaries. --Sam Sutherland
Saturday Night Live - The Best of Molly Shannon
by Christopher Guest
from Lions Gate
Molly Shannon created a string of amazing characters on Saturday Night Live-from Catholic schoolgirl Mary Katherine Gallagher to 50-year-old Sally O'Malley-and like Molly herself they're all fearless strong and hilarious. See the best of Joyologist Helen Madden Elizabeth Taylor Anna Nicole Smith Courtney Love and other extras including Molly's favorite scenes that were cut after Dress Rehearsal and never seen until now.System Requirements: Running Time 76 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR UPC: 031398842323 Manufacturer No: VM8423D
Saturday Night Live - Christmas
by Christopher Guest
from Lions Gate
The best Christmas material from two-and-a-half decades of Saturday Night Live is collected in this video, which gets off to a raucous start by presenting Chevy Chase's (literally) unbalanced rendition of President Gerald Ford decorating the White House Christmas tree. A number of memorable Christmas satires appear, including Eddie Murphy's spoof of Mr. Rodgers, Ana Gasteyer appearing in the "Martha Stewart Topless Christmas Special," and even Adam Sandler's "Hanukkah Song." Some of the best material is from the show's early freewheeling years: a classic bit with guest Candice Bergen, playing an uptight newswoman, being suitably offended while interviewing an irresponsible and utterly sleazy toy manufacturer (Dan Ackroyd); John Belushi doing a silent yet brilliant turn as a hard-drinking department store Santa; and the entire original cast taking part in an elaborate (by the show's early standards) production number. Also appearing in the video compilation are cast members Bill Murray, Jane Curtin, Phil Hartman, Mike Myers, and Dana Carvey, as well as guests Steve Martin, Danny DeVito, Paul Simon, William Shatner, and Alec Baldwin (who visits the NPR ladies to deliver a wickedly deadpan talk about his Christmas balls). Saturday Night Live has been notoriously uneven over the years, but this video is a full stocking of consistently inspired writing and performances. --Robert J. McNamara
Get the gift of laughter from your favorite Saturday Night Live cast members including Dana Carvey Chevy Chase Jane Curtin Phil Hartman Jon Lovitz Eddie Murphy Bill Murray Mike Myers Adam Sandler and many more! You'll laugh out loud with special guests Alec Baldwin Candice Bergen Danny DeVito Steve Martin Paul Simon and William Shatner. It's great comedy fun any time of the year.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR UPC: 031398818328 Manufacturer No: VM8183D
Saturday Night Live - Halloween
by Christopher Guest
from Lions Gate
Introduced by Wayne and Garth on the set of Wayne's World, the Saturday Night Live: Halloween special collection is frighteningly funny. Mining SNL's history back to the good old days of the Coneheads and the Land Shark, this tape selects an hour's worth of the best Halloween skits presented over more than 20 years. You'll see guests such as John Travolta and James Woods put through their paces by the SNL cast--Travolta is hysterical as a certain Transylvanian nobleman trying to convince his victims that they are mistaken about his secret (they think he's gay). All the stars you love, from Bill Murray to Adam Sandler, make appearances to poke fun at the weird, spooky pleasure we all share each year. You'll get tips on making scary faces, ideas for cheap costumes like "Johnny the Human Torch," and a new outlook on vampires in the age of AIDS, plus plenty more ghoulish laughs in Saturday Night Live: Halloween. --Rob Lightner
Saturday Night Live's Halloween Special will tingle your funny bone! Join hosts Wayne and Garth (aka Mike Myers and Dana Carvey) as they peek into the vaults of spooky mayhem and unearth hilarious comedy sketches from seasons past and present.It's the frightful best of Saturday Night Live the ultimate Halloween party video. Treat yourself to these tricks tonight!System Requirements: Running Time 59 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR UPC: 031398816522 Manufacturer No: VM8165D
Ohh Nooo!!! Mr. Bill Classics
by Christopher Guest
from Starz / Anchor Bay
One of the major breakout stars to come out of the first years of Saturday Night Live was not one of the original Not Ready for Prime Time Players, but was instead born from a bit of clay and the creative mind of Walter Williams.
The 18 shorts that comprise The Best of Saturday Night Live: The Mr. Bill Collection exemplify the humor and outrageousness that we have come to expect from Mr. Bill, Spot, Mr. Hands, and of course, Sluggo. The plots, and budget, may have been simple and at some times poorly executed, but they remain a catalyst of laughter and bring back memories of staying up late just to see what troubles would cause Bill to utter his famous phrase: "Ohh, nooo!!!" We are treated to classic Mr. Bill exploits, such as "Mr. Bill's Christmas Special," "Mr. Bill Goes to New York," and the inappropriately named "Mr. Bill Strikes Back," as well as a bonus "Public Service Announcement" relating to highway education.
Although the quality of the film is not always the best, the humor remains intact. In 50 minutes, The Best of Saturday Night Live: The Mr. Bill Collection illustrates how he was one of the show's brightest stars, all the while keeping his unkempt, independent charm. --Zachary Lively
SNL - Bad Boys Of Saturday Night Live
by Christopher Guest
from Lions Gate
Join the Bad Boys of Saturday Night Live along with Saturday Night Live's talented regulars and guest performers and get ready for the baddest most outrageous comedy to hit late night!System Requirements: Running Time 87 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR UPC: 031398767121 Manufacturer No: VM7671D
Saturday Night Live - The Best of Adam Sandler
by Christopher Guest
from Lions Gate
While hordes are ready to stream into any theater with his name on the marquee, you can actually experience the mother lode of Adam Sandler giggles in the comfort of your own home. This collection of nearly 20 skits from the comedian's 1991-95 stint on Saturday Night Live is an essential tool for anyone who's taking life too seriously. The classic characters are all present and accounted for: Operaman, Cajun Man, Gap Girl ("Didja cinch that?"), Kirstie Alley's exuberant bellboy ("Bellissima!"), and, of course, Canteen Boy, found here in a hilariously unsettling encounter with Alec Baldwin's randy troop leader.
The highlights, however, are the tunes, from "The Chanukah Song" ("Paul Newman's half-Jewish. Goldie Hawn, too. Put them together--what a fine-looking Jew!") to the all-out opus "Lunchlady Land," featuring a bemoled Chris Farley rocking out like no one in a hairnet ever has to the "Slop-Sloppy-Joes" chorus.
All in all, it's a nice trip back through SNL time. When it comes to getting in touch with his inner goofy 8-year-old, Adam Sandler is comedy's big daddy. --Bob Michaels
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