For over three decades Saturday Night Live has been the source of young comedic talent and helped to launch the careers of countless performers making them household names.Still considered iconic for their live performances from Studio 8H in New York the original cast of SNL (including Dan Aykroyd Gilda Radner and John Belushi) set the tone for years to follow with their irreverent edgy humor. They combined anti-establishment political satire with rock-and-roll attitude for a show that spoke to the youth of the 1970's turning it into an instant sensation.Although only the second year on the air the 1976-1977 season turned out to be the last for Chevy Chase but the first for a young comedian named Bill Murray.The complete second season of SNL contains legendary musical performances by artists Joe Cocker The Band Brian Wilson Paul Simon George Harrison Frank Zappa Chuck Berry The Kinks Santana and Tom Waits and classic appearances by hosts Lily Tomlin Norman Lear Steve Martin Dick Cavett Jodie Foster Candice Bergen Ralph Nader Fran Tarkenton Sissy Spacek Elliott Gould and Shelly Duvall.System Requirements:Running Time: 200 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 025195008624 Manufacturer No: 61101030
Saturday Night Live's essential second season looms large in SNL's tumultuous history. Breakout star Chevy Chase departed after several episodes to pursue specials and a movie career. Mustachioed "new kid" Bill Murray's inauspicious beginning (he joined the cast in the Fran Tarkenton episode) was shaky enough to warrant pleading his case to viewers during the Broderick Crawford episode that he was, indeed, funny. He sealed the deal with his breakthrough sketch in the season finale, in which a husband transforms his shower into a lounge act, with guest appearances by his wife and even the man with whom she's having an affair. Another momentous episode marked Steve Martin's debut as host, ushering in Martin-mania. Joining John Belushi's Samurai in the pantheon of classic SNL characters are the Coneheads (Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, and Larraine Newman), extraterrestrials struggling to assimilate ("We're from France"). Legendary National Lampoon writer Michael O'Donoghue introduced his sinister alter ego, Mr. Mike, in whose "Least-Loved Bedtime Stories" the Little Engine That Could has a heart attack, and Br'er Rabbit is skinned alive in a "random act of meaningless violence." Jane Curtin proves a formidable successor to Chevy Chase as anchor of "Weekend Update," but not before that now-infamous moment during the Tarkenton episode when, in a bid for "raw thrills" that will make viewers forget "sexy" Chevy Chase, tears open her blouse and proclaims, "Try these on for size, Connie Chung."
It is still thrilling to watch Saturday Night Live find its voice. Except for one brief appearance, the Muppet segments are out, as are Albert Brooks' short films, replaced by the New York slice-of-life entries by Gary Weiss. A couple of sketches, one featuring Lily Tomlin and Garret Morris and another with Sissy Spacek and John Belushi, are more dramatic playlets. And Eric Idle's first stint as host plays like a lost episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus with the sketches seamlessly flowing in to one another. But the series still fearlessly subverted television convention. Envelopes don't get pushed much more than the Christmas-episode holiday song "Let's Kill [death row inmate] Gary Gilmore for Christmas." Saturday Night Live is a topical show, and Earl Butz jokes don't play as well in the 21st century. But the musical segments endure, including the thrilling pairing of Paul Simon and George Harrison and an extended set by the Band. The hosts, as ever, are hit and miss. One of the season's high points is Simon, in an ill-fated attempt to shed his "Mr. Alienation" image, taking the stage in a turkey costume to sing "Still Crazy After All These Years." This set's bonus feature is a true rarity, the "Mardis Gras" special, an infamous primetime debacle in which the cast gamely copes with drunken crowds that pelt them with beads, and botched logistics (Penny Marshall must go on without Cindy Williams who is caught elsewhere in traffic). In their impact on comedy and pop culture, Saturday Night Live 's iconic first ensemble has been likened to the Beatles. Then, season 2 is Help! to season 1's A Hard Day's Night: still wildly funny, though not quite as exhilarating. --Donald Liebenson
Beyond Saturday Night Live - The Complete Second Season on DVD
SNL Cast Member DVDs
More Comedy from Universal Studios
All Saturday Night Live DVDs
Stills from Saturday Night Live - The Complete Second Season (Click for larger image)
Saturday Night Live The Complete Third Season - Limited Edition Boxed Set
from Universal Studios
"Live From New York it s Saturday Night!" For more than thirty years this catch phrase has made its way into the homes of millions of viewers now all 20 episodes of the classic third season are available in their 90-minute length in a 7-disc set for the first time! Saturday Night Live The Complete Third Season features hours of hilarious sketches memorable skits from the original Season 3 cast and all the original musical performances. SNL The Complete Third Season is destined to be a must-have addition to any Saturday Night Live collection.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 025195034739 Manufacturer No: 61104239
"Live From New York, it's Saturday Night!" For more than thirty years, this catch phrase has made its way into the homes of millions of viewers, now all 20 episodes of the classic third season are available in their 90-minute length in a 7-disc set for the first time! Saturday Night Live - The Complete Third Season features hours of hilarious sketches, memorable skits from the original Season 3 cast, and all the original musical performances. SNL - The Complete Third Season is destined to be a must-have addition to any Saturday Night Live collection.
Beyond Saturday Night Live - The Complete Third Season on DVD
SNL Cast Member DVDs
More Comedy from Universal Studios
All Saturday Night Live DVDs
Stills from Saturday Night Live - The Complete Third Season (click for larger image)
Nicknamed the "Not Ready for Prime Time Players" the original cast of Saturday Night Live ignited a comedy revolution with their mix of irreverent characters and satirical impressions of political figures and pop culture icons.From the premiere of this groundbreaking sketch comedy show on October 11 1975 live from historic Studio 8H in New York City's Rockefeller Center Dan Aykroyd John Belushi Jane Curtin Chevy Chase Garrett Morris Laraine Newman and Gilda Radner launched themselves into instant stardom and were often referred to as "The Beatles of Comedy."Created by Lorne Michaels over three decades ago Saturday Night Live has had the cultural impact and relevance that few shows can claim.Nowhere else can you see the complete first season of SNL featuring hosts George Carlin Rob Reiner Lily Tomlin Richard Pryor Elliott Gould Candice Bergen or original musical performances by Simon & Garfunkel ABBA Patti Smith Jimmy Cliff and Carly Simon. And if you're curious as to how the original cast was hired check out the DVD bonus features which include the screen tests of each performer.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 025193056528 Manufacturer No: 61030565
Saturday Night Live: The Complete First Season boxed set is much more than the sum of its parts, in fact it's one of the most significant TV DVD releases yet. This isn't just an 8-disc set featuring 24 episodes of live sketch comedy, it's a big box of zeitgeist. This really is the complete first season, mostly uncut and complete with every musical act and short film intact (a few bumpers and transitions were removed to make it flow better on DVD). The first broadcast aired on October 11, 1975, hosted by George Carlin and featured musical guests Billy Preston and Janis Ian. At first, things seem a little raw: Carlin's opening monologue is painfully unfunny, Chase's first shot at the seminal "Weekend Update" is amusing but sloppy, and much of the cast seem to be holding back. But the groundwork is all there, and soon in subsequent episodes you can see it all start to come together (especially with John Belushi who lets his simmering intensity out to tremendous effect), proving that the first episode simply belies the historic impact the show would come to have on popular culture. Here you'll find the first airing of some of the many skits that stayed famous over the years: the Land Shark, Samurai Hotel, Chevy Chase's opening pratfalls and the impersonations of Gerald Ford which would spin off into the proud SNL tradition of presidential parodies.
The set is a very entertaining look at a significant point in TV and American cultural history. It is so 1975, but that's a major part of its appeal: did Chevy Chase really used to look that young? Did a young George Carlin really used to look so old? Check out Abba in those disco jumpsuits. And if you're a fan of The Muppets, seeing them here on late-night TV making jokes about getting drunk will blow your mind. Younger fans may not fully understand just how groundbreaking this show was at the time. For example, Richard Pryor hosting the seventh episode, which includes the famous "Word Association" sketch. Back then, to have a comedian of Pryor's reputation joking about drugs, sex, and race on live TV was a tremendous risk (it's also gratifying to see the obvious effect he had on the next generation of comics like Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock), and it helped established the show's cache as unpredictable and edgy. The DVD set is full of moments like this and, like the show itself, it has its ups and downs. Watching hosts like Rob Reiner (back when he was still in his "Meathead" days from All in the Family), Madeleine Kahn, and Desi Arnaz work their comedy chops with the cast are high points. Whereas the infamous Louise Lasser episode, which is known for being among the worst episodes in the show's history… not so much. Still, it's entirely to Executive Producer Lorne Michaels's credit that it's included here. It's a tremendous collection of everything that gave birth to Saturday Night Live, and the seed of what SNL would become, spawning many movies (not to mention a few catch-phrases), launching the careers of many great comedians, and providing TV viewers with some of the most famous, and infamous, moments in broadcast history. And it all started right here.
The set is packaged in a well-designed, sleek fold-out digi-pack with every episode listed on the sleeves, with hosts, musical guests, and the original air date. The special features include a rare look at the cast members' original screen tests, and a 1975 TV interview with the cast. --Daniel Vancini
Whether he's playing a Scout Master seducing "Canteen Boy" a French teacher annoying his students a Tough Guy or just talking about his famous "Schwetty Balls" Alec Baldwin is undoubtedly one of the funniest SNL hosts of all time. He's become a regular playing in sketches throughout the years with some of the SNL greats including Phil Hartman Chris Farley Mike Meyers Adam Sandler and Will Ferrell. You're sure to enjoy some of Alec's hilarious celebrity impressions such as Tony Bennett and Charles Nelson Reilly.And if you've ever wondered what it s like to actually host SNL you'll want to check out the DVD extras and bonus features such as the audio commentary from Alec Baldwin himself as he comments on various sketches as well as never-before-seen footage from dress rehearsals that never made it to television!System Requirements:Running Time: 91 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR UPC: 025192974724 Manufacturer No: 29747
There's a reason Lorne Michaels keeps asking Alec Baldwin back to host Saturday Night Live: He's really good at it. Baldwin may have made his name in hard-hitting dramas like Glengarry Glen Ross and The Cooler, but SNL has long allowed him to flaunt his skills in stage acting and mimicry. In other words, he never gets flustered or seems at all concerned about making a complete ass of himself--the essence of good sketch comedy. As with such versatile performers as Christopher Walken and John Goodman (who appears in the boozy Bill Brasky skit), these qualities have made him one of the show's most popular hosts. Granted, some may fault the man for a few too many sketches built around the double entendre, like pastry chef Pete Schwetty and his tasty balls, but there's no doubt the guy can sell even the silliest of lines with the straightest of faces. As for his impressions, Baldwin's Tony Bennett--by way of John Travolta--doesn't just capture the legendary crooner's voice and mannerisms, but his unstoppable optimism, as well ("I love things that are great!" ). His squinty-eyed, stiff-necked Robert De Niro is another treat. (His fidgety Charles Nelson Reilly doesn't hit the same heights.) Aside from more than a decade's worth of Not Ready for Prime Time Players, including Mike Meyers, Adam Sandler, and Will Ferrell, The Best of Alec Baldwin includes two deleted dress rehearsal sketches and dishy, occasionally profane commentary from Baldwin and producer Marci Klein. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Saturday Night Live - The Best of Christopher Walken
from Lions Gate
The sun is set. The stars shine in the sky. The night air is tinged with anticipation. And it is time to meet...Christopher Walken. One of the most versatile and gifted performers ever to host Saturday Night Live Christopher Walken proved time and time again to be in a class all his own. So go ahead and grab your glass of fine champagne The Best of Christopher Walken has all the greatest Continentals all the trivial tales of Ed Glosser and all the prescriptions you'll ever need to cure your cowbell crazed fever. The Best of Christopher Walken also features bonus material along with scenes that were cut after Dress Rehearsal and never seen again until now.System Requirements:Running Time: 75-80 Min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY UPC: 031398164647 Manufacturer No: 16464
Only the third host to have a "best of" collection (after Steve Martin and Jerry Seinfeld), Christopher Walken showcases his six appearances as host of the show. For the casual fan of Walken's usual edgy film fare, the skits will be eye-opening as he showcases his song-and-dance skills (catch "The Boulevard of Broken Balls" from his first appearance). The Continental, his recurring suave ladies-man character played directly to the camera, is featured twice (the DVD includes a spilt-screen "making of" version along with two darkly humorous skits that never aired). Other skits include Mango's (Chris Kattan) janitor friend Leon who dreams of showbiz, the trivial psychic Ed Glosser (a lampoon of his Dead Zone role), a "Prankster" that goes too far, and music producer Bruce Dickinson (a.k.a. "the cowbell skit"). Walken's wild-man persona is intriguingly tapped as an angry ship captain on a life boat and in a deft skit as a census taker interviewee with Tim Meadows. --Doug Thomas
Saturday Night Live - The Best of Eddie Murphy (Bonus Edition)
by Andy Breckman
from Lions Gate
In the early 80s Saturday Night Live came back alive and the reason was Eddie Murphy. It's all here-Gumby Buckwheat Little Richard Simmons a dip in James Brown's Hot Tub. Pay a visit to Mr. Robinson's neighborhood and see the best of Velvet Jones Stevie Wonder and more!System Requirements: Running Time 66 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR UPC: 031398115243 Manufacturer No: LG1152D
Perhaps one of the greatest lights ever to shine on late-night television, Eddie Murphy has gone on to well-deserved international superstardom. Check out his earliest television work on Saturday Night Live: The Best of Eddie Murphy, a collection of his greatest roles, from Gumby to Stevie Wonder to Buckwheat. Of course, some would argue that his best role was as himself, and there is plenty of evidence for that--many of the skits feature Murphy au naturel and the opening sequence is taken from his monologue when he returned to the show triumphantly after leaving for Hollywood. Exploring the world around him and finding laughs everywhere, Murphy can take a simple idea (such as the "James Brown Hot Tub Party") and run wild with it, leaving the audience hysterically begging for more. You don't have to be a fan to enjoy this collection, but odds are you'll be one by the time you're finished. --Rob Lightner
No other person has been a guest on Saturday Night Live as many times as the inimitable Steve Martin, which is what makes SNL's Best of Steve Martin compilation the finest of the series. This collection gives us not only clips of some of the show's funniest moments, but also a sense of how the show has evolved from the 1970s. Earlier monologues were rougher, less staged, but absolutely out of control in the best way, as Martin is given free rein to unleash his "happy feet," play the banjo, and generally explore his zaniness. The earliest clip dates from 1976 and the latest from the mid-'90s, showcasing the program's greatest players throughout the seasons--Chevy Chase, Laraine Newman, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Mike Meyers, Dana Carvey, Nora Dunn, David Spade, Jon Lovitz. The beloved classics are here, from "King Tut," with complete Egyptian regalia, to the arrow through the head to, of course, a "wild and crazy guy." Not enough for you? Well, "excuuuuuuse me." Also included are the Coneheads at home (with Martin playing a hapless IRS agent), "Jeopardy 1999," "Common Knowledge" (one of the wittiest SNL sketches ever), and ads for "Rise" and for "Steve Martin's Penis Cream." This collection will satisfy longtime SNL fans and is a great way to show newer fans what comedy is really about. --Jenny Brown
Saturday Night Live - The Best of Will Ferrell - Volumes 1& 2
by Matthew Meshekoff
from Lions Gate
The Best of Will Ferrell - Vol. 1 The latest in the line of Saturday Night Live's great character players (including Dan Aykroyd and Phil Hartman), Will Ferrell showcases his fearlessness in this 72-minute collection. Whether exposing skin or taking a pause beyond the normal limits, Ferrell induces hard laughs like with the cowbell rocker in the first sketch. The selection includes Ferrell's spot-on impressions of Cub announcer Harry Caray, game-show icon Alex Trebek, President Bush, and Inside the Actor's Studio host James Lipton. As with other SNL Best of... retrospectives, there are short snippets to go along with the full-length sketches that include excellent selections of Ferrell's returning characters Craig the Cheerleader and the swinging Culp brothers. A must for fans, and the DVD includes an intriguing audition footage in which Ferrell leaps from character and character.
The Best of Will Ferrell - Vol. 2 There is no drop-off in laughs from the first to second volume of Will Ferrell's work on Saturday Night Live. Giggle along with his recurring characters, including James Lipton (interviewing Kate Hudson as a wonderfully ditzy Drew Barrymore), a wickedly clever George W. Bush, and one-half of the smarmy Lovers couple. This volume spotlights Ferrell's ability to go successfully over-the-top whether as an overbearing boss (check out how long he keeps stabbing a doomed coworker), a strict airplane pilot, an absent-minded doctor, or the world's oldest baby. There's plenty of unabashed (near) nudity and risky violence, which keeps the SNL tradition of "Not Ready for Prime Time"; check out what longtime hosts of the morning talk show resort to when the much-needed teleprompter fails. All that plus "Janet Reno's Dance Party" (with guest Rudy Giuliani) makes this the perfect pick-up for those who could not get enough of Ferrell with volume 1. --Doug Thomas
from Universal Studios
from Universal Studios
