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Saturate Night Live!! SNL Gets Earliest Premiere Date In 33 Years -- And Plans To Launch With Four Live Shows In A Row!!
I am – Hercules!!
The SNL haters will want to avoid NBC as the presidential election grows closer.
NBC is not only planning four new primetime SNL specials launching in October (including a 90-minute affair airing Nov. 3), it’s scheduled the earliest season premiere in the show’s 33-year history and will mount four regular live shows four Saturdays in a row – a feat the franchise has attempted only twice before.
SNL, which has long typically launched its season within a week of Oct. 1, debuts this year on Sept. 13.
The 34th season will be comprised of 22 episodes instead of the usual 20.
In all, NBC is planning to air 11 new SNL-branded dayparts in the 52 days spanning Sept. 13 and Nov. 3:
SATURDAY, SEPT. 13 – SEASON PREMIERE, 11:30 PM
SATURDAY, SEPT. 20 – LIVE
SATURDAY, SEPT. 27 – LIVE
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4 – LIVE
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9 – "SNL WEEKEND UPDATE THURSDAY" DEBUTS AT 9:30 PM
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16 – "SNL WEEKEND UPDATE THURSDAY"
SATURDAY OCTOBER 18 – LIVE
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23 – "SNL WEEKEND UPDATE THURSDAY"
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25 – LIVE
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1 – LIVE
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3 – "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE PRESIDENTIAL BASH 2008" AIRS AT 9:30 PM
No word yet on hosts or cast members.
The press release:
NBC'S 'SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE' FRONT-LOADS THE FALL
Emmy-nominated Comedy Powerhouse Starts an Extended 34th Season September 13 with Four Live Shows in a Row (Saturdays, 11:30 p.m.–1 a.m. ET)
Three Live Primetime Outings -- "Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday" -- Begin Thursday, October 9 at 9:30 p.m. (ET)
"Saturday Night Live Presidential Bash 2008" to Air Day Before Election Day, Monday, November 3 at 9:30 p.m. (ET)
BURBANK – July 20, 2008 – Fresh from its six primetime Emmy nominations, NBC's comedy institution "Saturday Night Live" will make an early return this fall to capitalize on the hotly contested Presidential race, extending its traditional 20-episode season to 22.
After making a splash this spring during the Democratic primaries, "Saturday Night Live" will return to the air with 10 new live broadcasts this fall with a Presidential Bash special prior to Election Day, Monday, November 3 (9:30-11 p.m. ET).
Dubbed "TV's Funniest and Most Influential Political Player" by Entertainment Weekly, "SNL" recently featured appearances by Senators Hillary Clinton, John McCain and Barack Obama and the show's political sketches became talking points at the Democratic debates and in the media.
"'Saturday Night Live' always reflects what people are talking about. This is especially true during an election year," noted Rick Ludwin, Executive Vice President, Late Night and Primetime Series, NBC Entertainment. "This fall, we're giving the audience what they clearly want."
"SNL" will make its 34th season premiere on Saturday, September 13, kicking off four live shows in a row, a rare practice that generated momentum for the show this past spring when the show returned after the WGA strike-imposed hiatus. All told, seven all-new "SNL's" will air on Saturdays prior to the election.
In addition to the revved-up Saturday schedule, "SNL" is ready for primetime with "Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday." Three live primetime half-hours will air October 9, 16 and 23 at 9:30 p.m. ET. These primetime special editions will be anchored by the show's signature "Weekend Update." This marks a return to the NBC Thursday night lineup for "SNL," which produced similar live "Update"-centered broadcasts in 2001.
Finally, on the eve of Election Day, "SNL" will present its quadrennial political special "Saturday Night Live Presidential Bash 2008" (Monday, November 3, 9:30-11 p.m. ET). The special will feature all-new material and a look back at some of "SNL's" recent political satire including Fred Armisen's Barack Obama and Amy Poehler's Hillary Clinton as well as a selection of Presidential satire from Chevy Chase's Gerald Ford to Will Ferrell's George W. Bush. In addition, in some cases, appearances from the actual candidates are featured in the special as in 2000 when the Presidential Bash boasted a sketch featuring candidates Gore and Bush.
Hosts and musical guests for the Saturday shows will be announced at a later date.
HD Kill!!
HD Fredo!!
Ho Ho Ho I Got This In HD Now!!
Three-For-Two Blu-Ray Sale!!
SATURDAY, SEPT. 13 – SEASON PREMIERE, 11:30 PM
SATURDAY, SEPT. 20 – LIVE
SATURDAY, SEPT. 27 – LIVE
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4 – LIVE
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9 – "SNL WEEKEND UPDATE THURSDAY" DEBUTS AT 9:30 PM
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16 – "SNL WEEKEND UPDATE THURSDAY"
SATURDAY OCTOBER 18 – LIVE
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23 – "SNL WEEKEND UPDATE THURSDAY"
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25 – LIVE
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1 – LIVE
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3 – "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE PRESIDENTIAL BASH 2008" AIRS AT 9:30 PM
Emmy-nominated Comedy Powerhouse Starts an Extended 34th Season September 13 with Four Live Shows in a Row (Saturdays, 11:30 p.m.–1 a.m. ET)
Three Live Primetime Outings -- "Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday" -- Begin Thursday, October 9 at 9:30 p.m. (ET)
"Saturday Night Live Presidential Bash 2008" to Air Day Before Election Day, Monday, November 3 at 9:30 p.m. (ET)
BURBANK – July 20, 2008 – Fresh from its six primetime Emmy nominations, NBC's comedy institution "Saturday Night Live" will make an early return this fall to capitalize on the hotly contested Presidential race, extending its traditional 20-episode season to 22.
After making a splash this spring during the Democratic primaries, "Saturday Night Live" will return to the air with 10 new live broadcasts this fall with a Presidential Bash special prior to Election Day, Monday, November 3 (9:30-11 p.m. ET).
Dubbed "TV's Funniest and Most Influential Political Player" by Entertainment Weekly, "SNL" recently featured appearances by Senators Hillary Clinton, John McCain and Barack Obama and the show's political sketches became talking points at the Democratic debates and in the media.
"'Saturday Night Live' always reflects what people are talking about. This is especially true during an election year," noted Rick Ludwin, Executive Vice President, Late Night and Primetime Series, NBC Entertainment. "This fall, we're giving the audience what they clearly want."
"SNL" will make its 34th season premiere on Saturday, September 13, kicking off four live shows in a row, a rare practice that generated momentum for the show this past spring when the show returned after the WGA strike-imposed hiatus. All told, seven all-new "SNL's" will air on Saturdays prior to the election.
In addition to the revved-up Saturday schedule, "SNL" is ready for primetime with "Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday." Three live primetime half-hours will air October 9, 16 and 23 at 9:30 p.m. ET. These primetime special editions will be anchored by the show's signature "Weekend Update." This marks a return to the NBC Thursday night lineup for "SNL," which produced similar live "Update"-centered broadcasts in 2001.
Finally, on the eve of Election Day, "SNL" will present its quadrennial political special "Saturday Night Live Presidential Bash 2008" (Monday, November 3, 9:30-11 p.m. ET). The special will feature all-new material and a look back at some of "SNL's" recent political satire including Fred Armisen's Barack Obama and Amy Poehler's Hillary Clinton as well as a selection of Presidential satire from Chevy Chase's Gerald Ford to Will Ferrell's George W. Bush. In addition, in some cases, appearances from the actual candidates are featured in the special as in 2000 when the Presidential Bash boasted a sketch featuring candidates Gore and Bush.
Hosts and musical guests for the Saturday shows will be announced at a later date.
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Jul 20, 2008 1:44:58 PM CDT
I vote for Christopher Walken to host every episode this year
by thornballs
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SNL has been dead for nearly a decade; it's about as relevant as 'Mad TV' is. Is it just a guilty pleasure of Herc's? If so, that's ok, I guess.
How are their political skits? Are they blatantly pro-Obama? -
Maybe I'm missing something, but why is this news? It's saturday night LIVE. Isn't the "live" thing kind of a given? It's really kind of the point of the show. In essence, the news is that we can expect 4 consecutive Saturdays of SNL in a row... just like every goddamn Saturday.
Breaking News! Saturday Night Live continues to air every Saturday! -
They owe us for not having any live shows on the last couple weeks of April, where she could have kicked ass...
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That would be nice. I stopped watching this a long time ago. I know people say it takes a few years for a new cast to gel, but I still don't like that group that came in with Chris Kattan and them, and it hasn't gotten better. Besides, there are funnier and edgier shows elsewhere.
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The show just isn't what it used to be. It misses more than it hits, and the content is so mild. When's the last time they pushed the envelope and did something racy, like Wake Up and Smile and Canteen Boy? And all this overload before the Election cycle is ridiculous. SNL's political sketches have been ASS since "Lockbox/Strategery." Really, has there been one funny political sketch since Ferrell as W? Every one I've seen has been painful. And now there's going to be more? Retarded. Weekend Update's alright, though.
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So, the first one is broadcast at 11:30 PM, then the next episode is at 1:00 AM, the third one comes on at 2:30 AM, and the fourth and final show airs at 4:00 AM?
Is that what you're trying to say? -
The political skits aren't helping, though. Kenan Thompson's Obama is terrible, and they're too enamored of the two candidates to go after them properly.
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And now we'll get a host of jokes (gentle ones) about Obama's ears and his overuse of the hope trope, and vicious attacks on McCain's age, his politics, his heroism. Don't get me wrong. Both candidates suck, but McCain will take years to wreck the country. Obama will do it in months.
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I dare the writers and cast of SNL to go at least one goddamned week without resorting to some sort of "The Fill-in-Blank Show"-type skit.
It was one thing back when the original cast used to spoof public affairs programs, with Jane Curtin playing Joan Face, and Aykroyd hawking dangerous products for kids. I despised "Dog Show" and whatever that "Wayne's World" knockoff was featuring Fallon & Sanz. Skits that involve the characters directly addressing the camera and/or a fake studio audience need to be banned for a while.
Yes, this also applies to parodies of existing shows, like "The View," "Oprah," and Phil Donahue's talker. (R.I.P. Phil Hartman - has it been almost a decade already?) -
Same thing we've been hearing about SNL since the week Bill Murray joined the cast in 1977.
Bill Hader, Kristin Wiig, Will Forte, Kenan Thompson, Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers, Fred Armisen, Andy Samberg, they all make me laugh. And I say this year's (Emmy-nominated) Tina Fey episode was one of the best in the show's 33-year history. Call a cop. -
They still have Jim Downey writing the political stuff. That guy's hilarious.
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Dukakis After Dark, anyone?
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But not in the last five years. If anyone can name one funny political sketch since '03, let me know, because I'd like to see it.
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yes they have all sucked, the only decent one and also one of the funniest was the one where Gore gave his bizarro world speech from the Oval office.
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But I had the impression it was written by Kristin Gore.
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4 live shows in a row means 4 new episodes. A show that wasn't live would be taped and would mean it's a rerun. Didn't think that would need explaining. SNL typically doesn't do more than 3 new episodes in a row so to do 4 makes Herc's panties get all wet.
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that would be REAL news....4 in row, big deal.....
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SNL hasn't been relevant in over a decade. I mean, aside from AICN, It's completely off my radar. I bet I wouldn't recognize a single cast member today.
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NO dollars I pay to see this long-running car crash/masterpiece. When it works, you know it's magic. When it doesn't, it's still pretty damned funny. Whatcha want? Reality TV? Sitcoms? Come on!
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The landscape has changed so much that politics are being covered elsewhere at more reasonable hours and usually at a funnier clip. It kind of renders what they do moot. The show doesn't cut any edges anymore. It just kind of frays them so that you just scratch your head and wonder why you cared in the first place.
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You have to hang your hat on the "4 live shows in a row" thing. I suggest 4 quality shows, period. If anything to shut all the haters like myself up.
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while Obama will take months." By what criteria? How do you wreck something that's already wreaked? As for SNL, the only thing visual-wise that i'm interested in are the new jj and whedon shows and the jj star trek (maybe watchmen.)
Politics wise, i will do what my conscience tells me to do: either Nader or the Green Party. We need a third alternative. Stupid amerkins keep voting in the same rich guys thinking they will help john & jane q. average. news flash! in the words of carlin: they don't CARE about you. CASE CLOSED! -
with the whole office 2 thing?
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sure, people said that murray couldnt fill chevy's shoes...but then the criticism stopped...this current cast has done one funny bit...and it was a dick joke...this show nuked the fridge long ago, you just dont want to admit it...oh, and i have tried watching it...not funny
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go look at the old bits with chevy doing ford or ackroyd doing nixon
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sorry, its just not funny. i honestly think Keenan Thompson would be a better choice. yes, he looks nothing like Obama, but did Chevy Chase look anything like Gerald Ford? i think the humor is more in the mannerisms and also in the shock value of seeing someone who looks nothing like the subject. Ferrell's George Bush, the guy who did Bill Clinton, and Poehler's Hillary were all great b/c they either looked and/or sounded like their subjects, making them all the more funnier. Armisen neither looks or sounds like Obama, so why even use him? i think if you get Thompson, at least he is Black, and that would just make me laugh seeing him walk onto stage pretending he's Obama. i don't know, just my take.
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when they had writers....time to go back and search for some....
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The skits go on to long. They make the skits longer they need to be. If the skits were shorter they reduce the show to an hour the show would vastly improve.
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Jul 20, 2008 5:29:21 PM CDT
To act like SNL is only appreciated in hindsight is absurd.
by creasybear
Everyone knows when the good periods have been, and everyone can agree when the show has uniformly sucked, as it does now. Basically, you have the early cast good years, including Bill Murray; the Eddie Murphy-good-everyone-else-sucked years, the Dana Carvey, Jan Hooks, Phil Hartman quality period; and the Will Ferrell, Molly Shannon, Cheri Oteri, Chris Kattan funny years. That's it. All between-periods were the horrible periods that we all talk about. It's simple.
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No! People haven't been saying that Saturday Night Live isn't funny anymore since Bill Murray joined the cast. That is a load of BS. People started to complain about the original cast towards the end when all the main players started to focus more on their movie career than their show (especially Belushi and Ackroyd). The next cast was abismal, but they also had to live up to the standards of the original cast. The all actors season was bad, but Anthony Michael Hall, Robert Downey, and Randy Quaid just weren't sketch comedians. The Eddie Murphy years were considered solid and had some underrated comedians including Mary Gross, Tim Kazurinski, Julia Louis Dryfuss, etc. The big time comedian season (Crystal, Short, etc.)was hugely popular. The Carvey, Hartman, Lovitz, Meyers years were immensly popular with audiences. The Farley, Sandler, Schneider years were also considered funny although interest started to wane. The Farrell, Katan, Oteri, McDonald years were the last cast that a large majority of people considered at least mildly funny. The Fallon, Santz years started the major decline where people started to hate SNL and find it immensly unfunny. it was the worst cast since the Charlie Rocket year.
I think this cast has a lot of talent, but it is wasted talent. Many of the cast are far funnier in other projects than they are on SNL. Bill Hader was funnier in the 20 minutes of screen time in SuperBad than his entire three years of SNL. Tina Fey has become far funnier without Lorne Michaels breathing down her neck (although she hasn't been part of the cast for a couple of years). kristen Wiig was funnier in Knocked Up than anything I have seen her on SNL.
The problem with SNL is the material, not the actors. I blame Lorne Michaels. I think he holds this cast back. He is too old and out of touch. Time for a producer who isn't old enough to be the grandfather of the show's primary target audience. -
He's the one constant in all the horrible seasons. Although one could argue Doumanians' reign was the worst. But, since it spawned Eddie Murphy, I'm willing to give her a pass. Unfortunately, Lorne will pull the plug on SNL before he gives it up, so it's either this or nothing, I'm afraid.
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That is all.
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like the good old days...then maybe they will be funny again
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Yeah, there are people who always say SNL isn't as good as it used to be. But looking back, there are very commonly agreed upon good years and bad years.
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Since Wayne's World 2 (1993), here's what you have, in order:
Coneheads
It's Pat
Stuart Saves His Family
Blues Brothers 2000
A Night At The Roxbury
Superstar
The Ladies Man
Maybe Lorne will greenlight "Target Lady - The Movie." -
He's the funniest guy on this show
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so why bother crying and moaning?? I mean why are you watching week after week if its not funny and you don't like it? You must be watching it to complain about target lady. if you had seen her on the "one" time you watched she wouldn;t bother you that much..you would only complain if she was recurring. so that leads me to believe you watch it week to week. but if its so unfunny and so bad why are you wasting valuable, precious hopurs of life watching something you don't like only to then waste more precious time posting about how much you don't like it??? surely you have more to do with your life then to waste it on worrying about something you don't even like??
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If the actor/comic already has an established career/following, they don't nearly do as well, the exception being the '84 all-star season. I contend Michael McKean should have joined the cast alongside Nigel and Derek that year. As it was, there he was in what, 95? with Garofalo, Mohr, Elliott, McKinney, et al, for one of the roughest seasons SNL ever weathered. Shame.
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If fat ass Frank Caliendo can do W on tv then Kenan could do Obama. That or hire a new guy who can. Just no more Armisan, he just doesn't seem able to emulate Obama's charismatic personality.
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I started watching SNL in the early 90s, not long before the first Wayne's World movie. (I did see a lot of the previous stuff in reruns but the 'dated' aspect of it didnt appeal to me that much) Most of that 90s run was a cant-miss show for me. But once all the guys who got me hooked started leaving (Myers, Phil Hartman, Sandler, Spade, Farley, Norm McDonald etc...) and the Will Ferrel/Cheri Oteri/etc era began, with a somewhat diferent style of comedians, it wasnt the same. And it just went slowly downhill since the new millenium (Fallon, Sanz.... eech), with Fay on Weekend Update as the one bright spot. I havent watched the show in years, and whenever I see it now (usually for the guest host), I am baffled at how badly it has sank. Sandberg's pretaped skits are usually pretty funny, but he'd be better off having his own show on Comedy Central or something where there would be less restrictions and censorship.
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Sorry - but SNL Thursdays? Great ...ANother unfunny to show to follow Earl ( cause that show is HILAREEEEEEEUS ) Seriously folks The office fell off its perch last season too
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He had some of Forgetting Sarah Marshall's best lines, and I'd say he was neck-and-neck with Russell Brand for being the funniest supporting character in the movie.
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This is at least making up for showing that damn Bon Jovi episode so much this season. Sure, it had its funny moments, but really...
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is consistantly funnier than months of "live" episodes of SNL. No matter how much prep time SNL has, they insist on running lame characters with catch phrases into the ground rather than on crafting comedy that makes people laugh. Can't wait to read four weeks of press releases in a row while Herc ignores a bunch of good shows that could actually use some word-of-mouth.
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Jul 20, 2008 10:01:24 PM CDT
SNL still has moments, but they need to get more un-political
by cletus van damme
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As in, "No matter how roundly the acts died, it was too hard for some fans to admit the demise of their beloved show."
...What a shameless, hopeless fangirl and joke of a "critic". Hercules will toss Lorne's salad until this show gives up and keels, then swallow his load for old times sake.
Amy Poehler and Seth Myers make you laugh?! Honest??? Yeesh... -
ur doing good
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Funniest skit ever!!
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I remember people bitching about SNL going steadily downhill after the first season, and I was a kid.
There have always been haters. And I will admit there has always been at least something for haters to hate (I hate the host monologue, almost without exception. If I see another questions-from-the-audience bit I'm going to pop a vessel)...but SNL has had just enough funny and the prerequisite mojo to stay on air. It comes and it goes, bit when it comes it's great. (Leave that alone.) -
Must be depressing being old/boring/married with children/quadriplegic/mentally challenged/anti-social/narcoleptic/DVDless/sick/jailed/unimaginative/agoraphobic.
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That if you hate SNL so much you shouldn't watch it, well... I can only compare it to holding up traffic to watch a highway wreck, or when you take a big monstrous crap that you have to stand up and admire. Devastation and shit fascinate me and compel me to watch.
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Who gives a shit about this dinosaur? Madison Ave is monitoring the ratings and guess what? Network TV is pretty much obsolete (the writers' strike cut the throat of its supporters--the public is tuning-in only to reality shows. Sick but true). SNL is pretty much ancient history.
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Other than Alec Baldwin/Christopher Walken/Desperate Politician of the moment.
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When Hillary Clinton basically used SNL skits to try to make a point that didn't really exist, other than in Amy Poehler's head.
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1977-80, 1983-1985, 1988-1992, 1996-1998. I'd say it hasn't really been consistently good since around the time Jimmey Fallon came on. Sure there have been some good skits from time to time, but it hasn't been must watch TV for a long time now.
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No doubt spawned by uggo Tina Fey, winner of the New Millenium's "Nancy Kulp Lookalike Contest." She was pitching Clinton only because "it's time we have a woman in the White House." Never mind that Clinton is a parasitic p.r. whore (now $25 million in debr); how about a qualified candidate like Nancy Pelosi? Fey better retire from meddling with SNL and watch her own series--because nobody else is! Yeah, it's winning awards--but nobody cares (it's six feet under in the Nielsen competition). Glad tha Tracey Morgan made a pitch for Obama. But now Morgan is host of SCARE TACTICS; maybe it pays well, but the poor guy is saddled with some bewildering "comedy" ("Haw, haw, haw--somebody get that guy a new pair of pants. That was funnier than waving a bagful of midgets over your head. HA!"). Huh?
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I fail to see why that's extraordinary. What seems extraordinary to me is that SNL has only ever had 4 live shows in a row twice before. Jon Stewart does 4 live shows a week. What's the big deal?
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