Saturday night, when I was a young teenager, meant staying up late and watching Boo! Theater, a local show out of Fort Smith, Arkansas featuring a couple of station employees dressed up in monster garb showing Ed Wood classics. I think every TV station in America had something similar on Saturday nights.
But in 1975, NBC launched a live show, something that had been pretty much phased out by then. It consisted of a bunch of brilliant unknowns who called themselves the Not-Ready-For-Prime-Time-Players. These performers, most of whom had worked together in various projects beforehand, shocked the world with the most wildly funny 90 minutes television had ever seen.
The humor was irreverant, original, and EXTREMELY politically incorrect, years before the term even existed. It featured "commercials" which you weren't sure were genuine or not. The humor went into drugs, racism (the classic Chevy Chase interviewing Richard Pryor for a job wouldn't even be shown today), and other social taboos that made Hollywood execs cringe.
It was also the funniest thing television had ever seen. I remember watching that first season in awe, wondering "how did TV pull this off?"
Alas, the star burned too brightly. Chevy Chase left after the first season, and while the show has had many brilliant moments since, it never again reached a full season of maintained brilliance like it did in 1975.
I have learned in my research that Chase and the original crew didn't get along. That first year was a miracle. It should never have made it past a month. But it lasted an entire glorious year, and continues to be the standard by which I judge shows of its ilk.
Here's to pee-yer-pants funny Saturday nights in 1975-76.
Comments (3)
A classic to say the least! I even have the SNL Record album from the first season! I still play it because it is pee yer pants funny! With a name like Fluckers, It's got to be good!
Watched SNL up to when Bill Murray came on board. After that, I lost interest. Remember: I'm Chevy Chase and your not!
SNL also had some pretty neat guests! Today, I couldn't tell you who any of those people are? Well maybe except Tina Fey!
Posted by Rivers End | April 24, 2009 10:19 PM
Posted on April 24, 2009 22:19
Yeah, it sure changed things. It was the talk of High School. It was funny but at times I felt like they would say something slightly obscene, not because it was funny, but just to see if they could get away with it. If its funny, say it, but shock for shockâs sake? No. I see comedy (so called) on Comedy Central that is completely tasteless and nor even remotely funny but it sure is vulgar.
Comedy needed to loosen up a little but I wonder if it went a little too far at times. Never the less, I like SNL and at times MAD TV kills me. Both have struggled on and off.
Posted by Scott Irv | June 8, 2009 12:54 AM
Posted on June 8, 2009 00:54
I loved SNL's first five years with The Not-ready-for-prime-time Players, and I agree with you, the first year was the greatest of the great! I couldn't believe this HIGHLY topical show could be done-- and LIVE FROM NEW YORK!
Posted by NCeddie | May 3, 2010 2:15 AM
Posted on May 3, 2010 02:15