This show is my sixth favorite skit comedy of all time. I got into this show when I was near the end of my adolescence and a time, I was still getting into the parody genre. This was during a slumber party and after watching "Mad TV" and "Saturday Night Live" was coming on which I've always heard about but could never watch because I was young at the time. I decided to give it a shot and was pleasantly surprised, it was my first show and one that hit since at the time it was an episode that stared "Jim Carey". Then afterward I tuned into more episodes like one with "Tom Hanks", even saw some of the SNL's from yesteryear from one of those best of VHS cassettes, the two with "Dan Aykroyd" and "John Belushi", and of course the rest as they say is history.
This is a skit show to this day still goes on, longer than any soap opera because their able to keep the laughs going. For one thing it's the ensemble SNL cast, whom consist of mainly unknown or minor league comedians and comedic actors/actresses. At first you never really know what to make of them, though same can be said about a lot of other ensemble casts in skit comedies first time you see them; but once you see them work they can really surprise and blow you away.
Most of these SNL cast members became not just legends of the show but also helped launch the careers of most famous faces you already know like Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Eddie Murphy, Will Ferrell, Jason Sudeikis, Chris Farley, Phil Hartman, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, the list continues to this day. This makes it even more interesting to watch, as you see the ensemble change and get new members, I always wonder who the next rising star or stars will be.
I always like some of the guest host which always consist of most of the well-known (or well known at the time) and even A list stars from movies and TV, sometimes singers, comedians, and even SNL alumni. It's always interesting seeing most of them on the show, most notably the actors and actresses that don't normally do comedy, but once we see them play their role on certain skits it's surprising because you see their actually funny or capable of comedy; at times it makes me wonder why some of them never did a comedy film; you can say it goes with that old saying, "Everyone is a comedian." (well ok some are).
Most importantly it actually looks like the guest stars actually look like their having fun doing some of the skits, I could imagine for most of the A list or TV stars that are know for doing a lot of serious roles it's a breath of fresh air, heck even they probably after doing a certain amount of serious scenes from lets say "Game of Thrones" they want to go to their trailer to watch an episode of "South Park" and "King of the Hill", wonder if any of the cast members of that show are fans of those.
Some of those guests have recurred like "Tom Hanks", "Alec Baldwin", "Christopher Walken", "Dwayne Johnson" etc. and they had the traditional five timers club with the red robes which are labeled that, which is really cool just showing how much and how long they put effort to , but most importantly they aren't afraid to have fun. Also, there are times when both cast members and guess stars you can easily see hardly contain their laughter when doing certain skits, sometime inadvertently make an error or two.
Anyway, it's true there are plenty of bad skits and even a guest or two that really have no business being there (I won't name names but you know who you are), which almost makes you wonder what the hell they were thinking at the time. But with most skit comedy shows it happens, it's always the hits that count and there are plenty of them. There are dozens upon dozens of favorite skits with the stars and cast to boot. I won't give a complete list of my favorite skits let alone guests and cast members because it's a truck load.
1. Lawrence Welk: This is one I never though would ever be made but so glad they did. I remember this show when I was visiting my Grandma and Grandpa whom were fans of the show. I wasn't for the record though that final closing song was always catchy. Anyway, I really like how they captured the look and feel of the show. From the costumes, the type of music they sing, and of course performances. Fred Amstein does a solid Lawrence Welk impersonation though kind of strange as it seems like he has some sort of accent. There were lots of renditions but my favorite one is the one with Anne Hathaway. As usual she looks lovely and has a great singing voice, she and a few of the cast members she sang with really look like they could've guest stared on "The Lawrence Welk" show.
But of course, what makes it funny is Kristin Wigg whose character Denise doesn't really fit in with the sisters, let alone sing well. It's kind of the parody on they type of odd man or woman out, in this skit there is a reason.
2. Homeland: Once again another parody with Anne Hathaway. I'm personally not a fan of the show it's not my cup of tea. I really like how everyone gets the roles/personas of the characters down which are exaggerations but funny. From Broody though it could have been a Steven Segal impersonation as the cast member in the skit looks and even sounds like him. Anne is just great as Clare Danes character as she has all the emotional and mentally unstable mannerisms expressed. My favorite is the jazz freak out scene and hearing Kennan describe each kind of freak out and seeing Anne doing exactly that.
3. Coffee Commercial: This was kind of a strange skit and might have been a little prolific on reality programs. What makes this great is Chris Farley himself whom we see just go all ape crap like the Incredible Hulk. I won't say anymore it's something you have to see for yourself but all I can say is I sympathize with him as even I don't like being unknowingly served decaf.
4. Delicious Dish: This is a parody on the NPR programs, this one mainly on those decorations and treats shows. It's just funny how both Molly Shannon and Any Gasteyer are both always talking in an overly relaxed and calm manner. My favorite skit of this is the Christmas skit with Alec Baldwin which I'll just say has the best use of the word balls.
5. Jingleheimer Junction: A parody on all the Children's Educational programs you watch like "Shinning Time Station" and "Romper Room and Friends". This skit is mainly funny because it's a profanity joke without the profanity. As we see the childlike cohosts have certain letters to stand for positive things. But then there is one person with one letter which completely spells out the F... word. It's just funny whenever they get dangerously close to spelling that work, we see a please stand by graphic that just gets more disturbing every time it's put on.
But mainly it's Tim Meadows whom is one of my favorite SNL cast members and I feel underrated, he is just hilarious as he's the Children's host that is just losing his cool as he is doing everything he can to stop the you know what word from being spelled.
6. Brian Pumpkins: Tom Hanks stars in this and he is just great as he is this mad man that is wearing this pumpkin jacket and is always strange cheerful and creating some sort of dance number. What makes that funny is just simply he's a guy that is there for no reason, let alone not even knowing why he ever exists. This skit and character were so good there was even an animated Halloween special and has became another kind of costume for Halloween.
7. Undercover Boss: This was just hilarious as it's pretty much "Star Wars" and the reality program "Undercover Boss" crossing over. Adam Driver is just great as he's Kilo Ren going undercover, I really love the workman outfit and look he gives himself. He really looks and sounds like Jon Heeder from "Napoleon Dynamite". Though the funniest thing about the skit is that it's a lot better than the recent "Star Wars" films we have now (episode 7-10 and Rogue One and Solo to be exact, and for the record not a fan of those films) yeah I know that's just sad.
Saturday Night Live is a good night to be alive.
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