A famous public service announcement of the '60s, '70s and '80s used to feature celebrities looking into a television camera just before the late news came on and asking, "Do you know where your children are?"
After "Saturday Night Live" debuted in October 1975, parents could be pretty certain where their kids were at 11:30 each Saturday night. It was that rare show that found young adults leaving a party or the bar to make sure they were at home or back in the dorm when it came on.
Guest host Patrick Swayze and "Saturday Night Live" cast member Chris Farley audition to become Chippendale dancers.The show will celebrate its 40th anniversary on Sunday, Feb. 15, with a three-hour special that looks back at some of the skits and cast members that have become a part of everyday life for many
Americans. It has introduced dozens of instantly recognizable catch phrases or moments.
Mr. Bill gave us "Oh, nooooo." Wayne's World gave us "Party on," "Schwiiinng" and "No way. Way." The Coneheads gave us "Meps." The Weekend Update segment, the only bit that has been there since the beginning, introduced us to "Jane, you ignorant slut," "Francisco Franco is still dead," "Nevermiiiind" and "I'm Chevy Chase and you're not."
And who can forget Chris Farley's passionate "Living in a van down by the river" speech as motivational coach Matt Foley or his sweet, if naive, interview of Sir Paul McCartney when he asks, "Do you remember when you were in The Beatles?"
John Belushi's "Cheeburger, cheeburger" even became the name of a restaurant franchise.
Why we watch
Tracye Strickland is a 50-year-old former New Yorker now living in Chattanooga who says the show has been a part of her life almost since the beginning. It's become a part of her family's life as well.
Jennifer Lopez, left, as herself, and Chris Kattan as Mango rehearse a skit called "Mango meets J. Lo.""I've been watching forever and my kids love watching it, too," she says.
Darrell Hammond takes a call in bed as President Bill Clinton.She especially likes the skits that deal with real events, giving them a new twist or slant.
"It's funny, and it touches base with current events. Being live, whatever happened that day, you could rest assured it was going to be on that night and, even if the news was depressing, you could see it as funny and see it from a different side."
Adam Rector is a 22-year-old UTC student who has only watching the show for two years. He hopes to one day be a writer himself, so he has been pouring over old episodes in the last several months studying the writing. He's managed to find online versions of the first five seasons and the last eight, as well as many of the episodes from the '90s.
Which skit made you laugh?
"The Church Lady! Also loved anything Phil Hartman did. Wayne's World, and Mike Meyers' character [Linda Richman] that did 'Coffee Talk' and Adam Sandler's songs. As for guest hosts, Betty White tops the list, and Steve Martin. Way too many things to list here! - Jennifer Wilson "Chris Farley as the motivational speaker who lived in a van down by the river." - Timothy Crowley "I liked the episode with Christopher Walken and the cowbell skit. Hilarious!" - David Thomas "Roseanna Roseanndanna, am a die-hard Gilda Radner fan." - Angelia Stinnett The mall girls "I thought you were on a diet." "LAY OFF ME I'M STARVING!" RIP Chris Farley." - Noah Taylor "Bring it on down to Veganville" with Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon - John Grant "'SNL' died a long time ago. The '90s were the last time it was watchable. Great characters back then. Matt Foley, Hans and Franz, and anything Phil Hartman did was gold." - Brian Matney "I have watched the show since it started in 1975, and the original Not Ready for Primetime Players are still my favorite. Gilda [Radner] as Roseannadanna was hilarious. Jane [Curtain] and Dan [Aykroyd] doing the news. Then later with Eddie Murphy and Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood. All good fun." - Shirla Vickery Reed When to watch The "Saturday Night Live" 40th anniversary special will air on NBC on Sunday, Feb. 15, from 8-11 p.m VH1 Classic will run a 19-day marathon of "SNL," starting Wednesday, Jan. 28, and ending Sunday, Feb. 15. "The SNL Rewind: 2015-1975 Mega-Marathon" will comprise 433 hours of programs, the longest marathon ever for any TV series. About "SNL" The show debuted on Oct. 11, 1975; George Carlin was the guest host. It has won 40 Emmy Awards and earned 171 nominations. Among its notable former Not Ready for Primetime Players cast members are: Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, John Belushi, Dan Akyroyd, Jane Curtin, Gilda Radner, Eddie Murphy, Billy Crystal, Dana Carvey, Martin Short, Mike Myers, Phil Hartman, Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler, Kristen Wiig, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers. Several skits from "Saturday Night Live" led to feature-length films, including two Blues Brothers and Wayne's World movies, as well as "Coneheads," "It's Pat, The Movie," "Stuart Saves His Family," "A Night at the Roxbury," "Superstar," "The Ladies Man" and "MacGruber." Though he left the show from 1980 to 1985, Lorne Michaels, who originally created the show, has been its executive producer since the beginning.
"I really enjoy the format of it," he says. "I think a lot of it is funny, but also some of it is not very good. I think people who say they prefer some of the older shows are looking through rose-colored glasses. They remember the funny parts and forget about the ones that aren't funny. Not all of it was funny."
Since its debut, "Saturday Night Live" has featured a special guest each week and skits that are created new in the days leading up to airing. Many of those are changed at the last minute, and some are changed, either accidentally or on purpose, on the spot.
Rector likes the live component of the show and that it all comes together in so quickly.
"I really like the fact that it is written in a week and you never know what will happen. I guess 'raw' would be a good word."
There are a plethora of skit-driven shows on today and many more still that provide a comedic, or satirical view of the news. "The Colbert Report," "The Daily Show" and "Key & Peele" are just a few, but when "Saturday Night Live" debuted, there really wasn't anything like it on American TV. Shows like "Laugh In" and "The Flip Wilson Show" offered plenty of surreal humor, and the occasional dig are the president or a politician, and even variety shows like "The Smothers Brothers" offered political satire, but "SNL" pushed both to new heights.
Controversies
It has not been without its controversies. Cast member Nora Dunn refused to go on to protest controversial comedian Andrew Dice Clay's appearance as host. Ashlee Simpson got busted for lip syncing; Sinead O'Connor got herself banned for ripping up a picture of the pope; Elvis Costello was banned for a decade for interrupting his rehearsed song "Less Than Zero" and launching into "Radio Radio." Several people, including Michael Stipe, Paul Schaffer, Prince and Morris Day dropped the F bomb live on the air.
Will Ferrell plays President George W. Bush.But along with the humor and its regular cast, "SNL" also gave viewers a chance to see musical acts they couldn't find elsewhere. It introduced many Americans to acts like Devo, The Talking Heads, Patti Smith, Taj Mahal, Sun Ra, The Specials, Joan Armatrading, Leon Redbone and even David Bowie, who not only appeared in a dress, but managed to include a dancing puppet that featured a part of the male anatomy on display, escaping the eyes of the censors.
Another musical act, The Blues Brothers, featured cast members John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd in recurring roles as Jake and Elwood Blues, donning dark sunglasses and suits and singing classic blues songs. It helped that they were backed by a group of stunningly good, real musicians, including guitarists Steve Cropper and bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn, former members of Booker T. & the MGs, trombonist Tom "Bones" Malone and saxophonist "Blue" Lou Marini, both of Blood, Sweat & Tears, and Matt "Guitar" Murphy, who was in Howlin' Wolf's band. The Blues Brothers bit proved so popular, they made a feature-length film and a best-selling album based on the characters.
"SNL" also became famous for its guest hosts. Alec Baldwin has hosted 16 times, followed by Steve Martin (15), John Goodman (13), Buck Henry (10), Tom Hanks and Chevy Chase (8 each) and Christopher Walken, who was part of the famous "more cowbell" sketch.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.