Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 12/02/2008 Rating: NrThe fourth season of Saturday Night Live is a peak year for appearances by most of the iconic characters associated with the original Not-Ready-for-Primetime-Players. Steve Martin and Dan Aykroyd are still red-hot as the wild and crazy Festrunk brothers from Czechoslovakia. The Coneheads (Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, and Laraine Newman) treat host Frank Zappa to their alien madness. John Belushi and Buck Henry appear in yet another samurai skit, with Belushi as a sword-wielding, Japanese optometrist. Aykroyd continues to have a hammerlock on Jimmy Carter with insightful impressions of the then-president. Bill Murray and Gilda Radner appear several times as nerds Lisa Loopner and Todd LaBount. Even Belushi’s hated Bees turn up in a one-off sketch co-starring Walter Matthau in a The Bad News Bears satire. One of the show’s most underrated, recurring sketches–the St. Mickey’s Knights of Columbus monthly meeting–occurs several times with a certain warmth and preciseness that suggests they spring from a writer’s childhood memories. The fourth season took place at a time before SNL hosts were largely ephemeral celebrities. Thus, sort-of cult figure Buck Henry hosts twice, as does Monty Python’s Michael Palin. Perennial favorite (at least during the early years) Elliot Gould hosts once. So do Richard Benjamin, Kate Jackson, Cicely Tyson, Fred Willard, Eric Idle, Matthau, Zappa, and Maureen Stapleton. Rising stars Carrie Fisher and Margot Kidder each host a show, the former game to perform in a sketch inspired by Star Wars, the latter happy to appear as Lois Lane alongside Murray’s Superman. Not every episode is brilliant, and the season opener, more or less hosted by the Rolling Stones, is a bit of a train wreck. What stands out are several sketches that are television classics, including Aykroyd’s brilliant impression of Julia Child bleeding everywhere in her studio kitchen; the first broadcast performance of Aykroyd and Belushi’s Blues Brothers; Garrett Morris singing a Mozart piece at Matthau’s request; Aykroyd’s weirdly avuncular “Fred Garvin: Male Prostitute;” Paul Shaffer’s remarkable impression of rock impresario Don Kirshner; and a Twilight Zone spoof starring Rick Nelson accidentally lost at the Leave It to Beaver residence.
Musical guests in season four include the Stones in a rocky performance, Ornette Coleman in an abrasive one, James Taylor doing fine, as do Van Morrison, the Chieftains, the Doobie Brothers, Talking Heads, and the Grateful Dead. The Gould show has two highlights besides the wonderful Christmas edition of the St. Mickey’s sketch: Mick Jagger (making up a bit for the earlier Stones fiasco) surprising everyone by joining Peter Tosh in a number, and an appearance by comedy team Bob and Ray. Bob Elliott’s son, Chris Elliott, of course, eventually became a cast member of SNL, and consequently Chris’ daughter, Abby Elliott, joined the 2008-09 cast. –Tom Keogh
Stills from Saturday Night Live – The Complete Fourth Season (click for larger image)
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Buy “Saturday Night Live – The Complete Fourth Season” For Only $23.43
May 21, 2008
#1
I’m sorry if this will upset some SNL fans, but it’s necessary. I bought it only to watch the first episode on which The Rolling Stones are supposed to be hosts and musical guests. It’s NOT worth it, really. The first sketch is a interview with Mick that lasts about 5 minutes but he doesn’t talk much…. it’s not funny. On the second, Ronnie and Charlie are just part of the background for about 2 minutes. (not funny either, by the way). Finally, they do not host, and they perform 3 songs, unluckily, Mick seems to be on drugs or drunk, because he licks Ronnie’s face and the whips him with his jacket… And as if weren’t enough, he seems to be having a cold, because he doesn’t sing very well. Keith, Charlie, Ronnie, Bill seem to play excellent as always, but the camera doesn’t worry much about anyone but Mick.
I’m sorry that no one told me this before i bought this whole season, because in that case, i wouldn’t have, even though i’m a huge Rolling Stones fan, but you don’t get to see much of them!. I wished i lived in the USA, that way i could have bought just the episode.
May 21, 2008
#2
I love this show. I grew up watching these original seasons, and there are some great shows here in the fourth season.
I only have one complaint (not big enough to knock any stars off) – after three season sets, why change the box color from black to blue? And a rather light blue at that. Maybe they will change it before it’s released, but as it stands, this is really gonna stand out next to my first three box sets.
Maybe the better way to go would have been to have different colors for different casts. The original cast, seasons 1-5, in black, the Eddie Murphy seasons in blue, the Dana Carvey seasons in red, etc…
Bottom line (whatever the box color) – great cast, great musical performances. Buy it!
May 21, 2008
#3
What’s the deal with the sloppy transfer?? Just purchased this set for the great skits and the Devo live performance. Why do I have color bleeds from Devo’s uniforms on far shots? The close ups are fine but the far shots are not. It is not a major issue but it sure takes away from the enjoyment of the performance. It reminds me of copies of tv shows I would tape on my old vcr, some would have these bleeding trails on brightly lit colors. I haven’t watched any of the other shows completely but this was evident on other episodes, not as much as in the Devo presentation. Do I have a bad copy or has Universal once again, cut corners to make a buck. Would like to know if it’s just my copy or is this prevalent on other SNL sets?
May 21, 2008
#4
the jokes are good half the time only. the show hasnt aged well. still if you grew up watching it like i did, its worth it if your a fan of any of the castmembers.
May 21, 2008
#5
Excellent music and skits that will bring back memories of your college days and these great comedians.