I rarely watch TV but remembered this was on tonight. They are doing a great job with the show. Also, best commercials I have seen in a long time.
You are much more charitable than I am.
I’m watching it, but H just went to bed and if it doesn’t get better I am turning it off too.
I thought it was an odd conglomeration of material (why a new “Californians”?), but much redeemed by the new version of celebrity Jeopardy (Let it Snow!) and Paul Simon’s rendition of “Still Crazy”. The man can still sing (unlike Paul McCartney, who should stop). But it was fun seeing some folks I hadn’t thought about in ages.
Am I wrong that George Carlin, the host of the first SNL, wasn’t included memorial piece? Perhaps it was limited to regular cast and crew (?), but he’s a pretty key part of the show’s history.
I like both Paul Simon & Paul McCartney, but the song McCartney sang, wasn’t the best choice for 70+ yr old vocal chords.
I expected more & longer clips from the classic shows, instead of these really long skits, which aren’t that funny unless you are a Will Ferrell fan.
Now I love Eddie Murphy, but I don’t get Chris Rock. I guess I’m too old.
I was reading that Paul McCartney did an impromptu concert last night. That may have made him not quite at the top of his game tonight.
Best skit so far, Wayne & Garth
Was that Jack White?
Didn’t they say anything about Don Pardo???
I watched for about 90 minutes. Will Farrell’s Jeopardy was really fun…teen so got a kick out of Sean Connery, although he didn’t know who he was, nor Burt Reynolds…who was spot on.
I’m glad I wasn’t the only one cringing listening to Sir Paul.
The clips were so fast in the beginning, it almost made it unenjoyable. I know they were trying to fit in a bunch, but they should have stopped more often to show some longer ones. I don’t know if it got better as the evening went on.
I agree. I adore Paul but Maybe I’m Amazed is a really hard song to sing as it requires high notes and the famous Macca scream. There are so many other songs in his repertoire that he could have sung that would have been easier for a faltering voice. He could done the full version of I’ve Just Seen a Face which doesn’t require the range of MIA. I suppose no one really tells him what to sing / do, though.
I wish they’d had more structure and not just raced through clips. I wanted to see more of each older clip. It felt chaotic. And the new skits were mostly stupid.
Way too much Fred Armisen (Californians, Garth & Kat), but loved seeing Jane Curtin at Weekend Update with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler (but why didn’t they include Cecily Strong in the list of Update anchors?). And I thought it was odd there wasn’t any real tribute to all the hosts, but just a few selected ones.
OMG, how much we’ve aged. Can you imagine what an 18-year old must have thought if they were watching? For a show that tries to be hip and cutting edge, last night wasn’t.
“OMG, how much we’ve aged. Can you imagine what an 18-year old must have thought if they were watching? For a show that tries to be hip and cutting edge, last night wasn’t.”
I don’t think that was their target audience.
I watched for about an hour, then switched to Girls.
I enjoyed seeing the clips with the original cast - but I stopped watching SNL about 20 years years ago - except on rare occasions.
I didn’t cringe listening to Paul - just wondered why he was put in the show at all.
I was watching with my 18 year old son…I think he thought it was amusing enough, but agree he didn’t like them racing through all those older skits. I think he would have liked the ones that were popular when I was his age (1978). What he found REALLY amusing is when I told him we had to stay home on Saturday Nights to watch this…it was cutting edge. No DVD taping or DVR’s. He goes “so people had to stay home to watch this”. He did like the ones with Tiny Fey imitating Sarah Palin. He was still a bit too young to be paying attention to that in 2008, but knows the players now and found it so funny.
“What he found REALLY amusing is when I told him we had to stay home on Saturday Nights to watch this.”
Did you tell him we went out after SNL?
I watched with my 20 something. Both of us agree…the older material and casts, and writing…outstanding. The new stuff…not so much so.
I thought the Californians was senseless.
Loved seeing the shows with the early casts. And loved the “guest hosts” for the evening for the most part.
And really loved the tribute to those who are no longer alive. Don Pardo was in that, EK.
This show has been the start for some of the most talented folks in the comedy field.
But the new stuff? If they want to make it to 50, that has to improve.
I would have liked to see more/longer audition clips.
Loved the finale with Paul Simon singing “Still Crazy After All These Years” – perfect song choice for the occasion.
Hmm…I DVR’d - wondering if it’s worth watching?
Fell asleep. Saw only parts. Was a little disappointed by McCartneys singing. Ah, just read above and see I am not alone in this thought.
I didn’t watch til the end, but got kinda bored with it. I don’t think they needed 3.5 hours. I thought McCartney’s singing was painful. I would’ve preferred more clips of the original skits and fewer of the live ones (The Californians went on too long).
They would have been better served playing the Chris Farley / McCartney interview sketch, which is hilarious, than having Paul sing.
I didn’t see - did they show Elvis Costello Radio Radio?
We started watching it with high hopes. Ten minutes in we had all pulled out our computers to play games along with sort of watching it. By 90 minutes we just turned it off. With a few exceptions (Jeopardy, etc), yuck!
I’ll catch the best of SNL on YouTube a day or two later as I’ve done now for years. THAT I like.
Also, did they do the “floor wax/dessert topping” ad? I actually worked with a copywriter who had written that for SNL!
I wanted to see a fuller King Tut, two wild and crazy guys, excuuuuuuse me, etc. The two second clips aren’t enough to remind you why they were funny.