I've been watching the amazing box set they put out of the first season of Saturday Night Live and this episode totally confused me. I still can't really understand it.
To summarize, while this was technically the second ever episode of Saturdy Night Live (known then as "NBC's Saturday Night" to avoid conflict with another sketch comedy program run on ABC called "Saturday Night Live" and starring, of all people, Howard Cosell), the cast members barely appear in the program at all apart from two brief cameos. This episode features, almost entirely, the music of Paul Simon and his guests -- one of whom is Art Garfunkel.
Now you have to wonder what the network executives were thinking when they planned this show, because it doesn't really make sense in any way.
First of all, you have what is ostensibly a sketch comedy show. The producer of the show, Lorne Michaels, has proved himself in a variety of different venues already. You have a talented cast which has also proved itself (Chevy Chase, John Belushi, and Dan Ackroyd in particular were well known from Second City and the National Lampoon Radio Hour). Additionally, you have a well-known talent like Michael O'Donahue as the head writer. You basically have a really strong team, and on their second show, instead of giving them a chance to spread their wings and show what they are capable of, you basically ignore them all in favor of an musical show which contains almost no comedy.
This is not to belittle Paul Simon either. He picked some great acts to perform with on the show. His public reconciliation with Art Garfunkel was also pretty amazing to watch (I believe that this was their first performance together since their break-up). So, you basically have a strong musical show planned by one of the top talents of the day, and instead of giving it a prime-time spot, you air it late at night in a spot you had previously reserved for a sketch comedy show which you didn't think was going to make it.
This was an episode which was unfair to both the comedians and the musicians. The musicians should have had a venue better suited to their talent, and the comedians should have been given the chance to perform.
I give it a five because I was wanting comedy, and I got nothing but music.
To summarize, while this was technically the second ever episode of Saturdy Night Live (known then as "NBC's Saturday Night" to avoid conflict with another sketch comedy program run on ABC called "Saturday Night Live" and starring, of all people, Howard Cosell), the cast members barely appear in the program at all apart from two brief cameos. This episode features, almost entirely, the music of Paul Simon and his guests -- one of whom is Art Garfunkel.
Now you have to wonder what the network executives were thinking when they planned this show, because it doesn't really make sense in any way.
First of all, you have what is ostensibly a sketch comedy show. The producer of the show, Lorne Michaels, has proved himself in a variety of different venues already. You have a talented cast which has also proved itself (Chevy Chase, John Belushi, and Dan Ackroyd in particular were well known from Second City and the National Lampoon Radio Hour). Additionally, you have a well-known talent like Michael O'Donahue as the head writer. You basically have a really strong team, and on their second show, instead of giving them a chance to spread their wings and show what they are capable of, you basically ignore them all in favor of an musical show which contains almost no comedy.
This is not to belittle Paul Simon either. He picked some great acts to perform with on the show. His public reconciliation with Art Garfunkel was also pretty amazing to watch (I believe that this was their first performance together since their break-up). So, you basically have a strong musical show planned by one of the top talents of the day, and instead of giving it a prime-time spot, you air it late at night in a spot you had previously reserved for a sketch comedy show which you didn't think was going to make it.
This was an episode which was unfair to both the comedians and the musicians. The musicians should have had a venue better suited to their talent, and the comedians should have been given the chance to perform.
I give it a five because I was wanting comedy, and I got nothing but music.
