Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Show

John Belushi – SNL50
Saturday Night Live

We watched this show Sunday night. I used to watch it a long time ago, when it was new. That would have been back in 1975, except I'm pretty sure I didn't have a TV in 1975. Matter of fact, I don't think I had a TV of my own until the 1980s. For the life of me, I can't remember where I would have watched it, but I know that I did often enough that the stars of that era are embedded in my brain:

• Dan Ackroyd (1952 - )
• John Belushi (1949 - 1982)
• Chevy Chase (1943 - )
• Jane Curtin (1947 - )
• Bill Murray (1950 - )
• Garrett Morris (1937 - )
• Laraine Newman (1950 - )
• Gilda Radner (1946 - 1989)

That era lasted maybe five years, so while we are watching this 50th Anniversary Show Sunday night, occasionally bits would pop up form this era, but most of it was totally alien. The audience was full of celebrities - Robert DeNiro, Alex Baldwin, Paul McCartney to mention a few.

Anyway, they played this short film during the show and I thought it was ironic that the actual life of Belushi and the other characters was the exact opposite of this story. The title of this film is apparently taken from the play Look Back in Anger from 1956. I have no idea what connection there is, but then I've never seen it, certainly never discussed it, though I have heard about it since forever. Not sure why, probably just a passing mention in something I was reading.

There are several skits done on SNL back in the day that have stuck with me. I don't recall if I thought they were funny or not. I suppose they stuck because they were so out there.

Garrett Morris is portraying a major league baseball player being interviewed by a television reporter. In response to the reporter's question, Garrett replies: 'baizball been berry, berry goot to me'. The reporter asks more questions, and the response to all is the same: 'baizball been berry, berry goot to me'.

Dan Ackroyd and Jane Curtin used to do the 'Weekend Update' segment where Jane would play the bleeding heart liberal and Dan would play the staunch Republican. They made their mark in my memory (and maybe in the history books) when Dan replied to a statement from Jane by saying 'Jane, you ignorant slut.'

John Belushi did several skits where he portrayed a Samurai engaged in various retail operations. His portrayal of the Samurai Tailor is etched in my brain. I didn't find a video of the whole Samurai Tailor skit, but I found one video on YouTube that contains a couple of snippets from that skit.

Another skit done by Belushi and Ackroyd had them playing busy New Yorkers going out for lunch at the latest, trendy restaurant. The place was called The Trough. There were troughs up on stands loaded with chili. You put on a bib, bent over, stuck your face in the chili and ate your fill. When you had enough the waiter would wash off your face with a sprayer. Did not find a clip with this skit.