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. 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
Buy “Saturday Night Live – The Complete First Season : 1975-1976″ For Only $21.99
March 12, 2008
#1
I was in college when this show debuted in 1975. We would sit around and get high while the show was on. The comedy wasn’t funny then, and it certainly isn’t now. I’m sorry, but none of these people are the geniuses they were touted to be then, and ever since. They were lucky we were all stoned, just like them. They beat bad skits, inept performances and horrible writing into the ground. Most people were so stoned it didn’t matter. I was high too, but I didn’t find it particularly funny, even then. My friends and I would talk amongst ourselves during the awful redundant skits and wait for the musical guests to appear.
I believe the show is still on the air in large part due to the fact that pot is still a popular drug. Too bad we didn’t take care of the marijuana when we decided smoking cigarettes was so bad. Ain’t it weird! Now you can go to a concert and no one will say anything to you if you smoke a bowl or doobie. But try lighting a cigarette and they’ll chase you outside – even if you’re already outside.
The SNL mentality is responsible for this insane messed up world we live in. The show is put together by shiftless potheads for an audience of their ilk. Guys that thought Abby Hoffman, Richard Pryor, Jerry Rubin, George Carlin and their type were real American heroes (typical dope smoker community values at play). But those with the power of the pen will tell you how GROUNDBREAKING they were. Groundbreaking for what? Bad writing, poor work at their craft and drug-addled performances? Sorry, but these A-Holes have gotten way too much credit in the past and now. Which proves we have cretins in the critical community. No doubt, shameless potheads who haven’t laid off the stuff for the past 30 years. To call the humor on the show, both then and now, sophomoric would be giving it way more credit than it deserves. Face it, Chevy Chase was never funny plus he’s one of the biggest jerks in showbiz! Belushi, Aykroyd, Radner, Newman and Morris were not so hot. I never understood all the hub-ub about their merits.
Unfortunately, the show became a launch pad for countless other inept comedy actors and an unending series of awful movies made by it’s alumni. I guess if the critics keep insisting the stuff these guys do is funny then the sheep will keep buying the tickets. But, really, how many great movies have resulted from any SNL alumni starring in them? The ratio of good to bad films is probably 1:100. Another tribute to Hollywood’s total lack of imagination. How come nobody ever got the memo that if these guys can’t even pull off a five minute skit, that they won’t be able to do 90 minutes in a film. The amount of garbage generated from SNL alumni is astounding and we should burn this DVD just for it’s prevalent negative affect on the culture. I mean, this is some awful SH*T!
The SNL’s of the future kept up the same strategy. BEAT BAD SKITS INTO THE GROUND. Everybody’s stoned anyway, they’ll never notice it’s the same un-funny crap we did a week or two ago. And while we’re at it, make sure that the audience knows that you ain’t cool unless you adopt a left wing point of view and smoke and snort drugs.
Best thing about the show was the music. That’s the reason my friends and I watched. The comedy sucked then and it sucks now. Time has not been kind to much humor, especially topical stuff. Like I said, this wasn’t that great in 1975 and 1976 and it doesn’t hold up any better now.
I would pay for a compilation of the musical guests and find that entertaining.
March 12, 2008
#2
I remember SNL as a funny show, this stuff is not funny in the least. It must have gotten funnier with season 2, 3 or 4 because season one is horrible. I have not yet been able to watch an entire episode, they are that bad. I was a Freshman in college in 1975 so maybe that had something to do with why I might have thought it was funny then but seriously, don’t waster your time or money on the DVD set.
Don’t waste your money on this set. Mine will be up on eBay very soon.
March 12, 2008
#3
I WAS VERY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT I REMEMBER AS A GROUNDBREAKING SHOW—-MAYBE THE FORMAT IN THE FIRST SEASON was groundbreakingBUT THE COMEDY WAS SO PALTRY I WAS SHOCKED & dumbstruck ! I GREW UP watching steve allen sid ceasar jackie gleason jack benny milton berle & jerry lewis when he was on shows- they were hysterical esp compared to these painfully amatuerish attempts at humor . this first season merely showed how un seasoned- these players were— they got better as the troupe found what it did well and they began to hit their stride— but i would avoid this altogether–its literally painful to watch ! there is really no indication here how funny this first group would become– one thing and one thing only stood out for me –janis ian is a revelation—her performance was most touching and beautiful–i must say !!!!
March 12, 2008
#4
even as high school students when snl premiered,my friends and i knew it was genious.it still is.what’s up with all the wordy reviews?
March 12, 2008
#5
This is false advertising. This DVD set is missing many pieces. Do not support this weak effort! Also, video quantity is very poor.