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SPOILER ALERT !!
I am – Hercules!!
“Saturday Night Live’s” 1978-79 fourth season
, the coke-fueled era of John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Steve Martin, Buck Henry, Al Franken, Tom Davis, Jim Downey, Brian McConnachie, Brian Doyle-Murray, Don Novello and Mr. Bill, found the show at its apex of zeitgeist-tapping rock-star-huge popularity. The headliner of the first fourth-season show was The Rolling Stones (which performed “Beast of Burden,” “Respectable” and “Shattered” in rapid succession late in the episode). The first major movies from Chevy Chase and John Belushi, both released July 1978, were still in cinemas doing big business, through Belushi’s “Animal House” grossed three times what the departed Chase’s “Foul Play” did.
The fourth season’s first episode doesn’t really have a host, but New York mayor Ed Koch fills the monologue with a sketch that anticipated Belushi’s impending departure brilliantly: Koch rewards a disappointed Belushi for his big-screen success with a certificate of merit. “I got one of these in grade school!” moans the comedian, who can’t believe he’s not getting a key to the city. Belushi rants about how he should have stayed in Hollywood to pursue a movie career rather than take $450 for each episode of SNL: “You know how much they get on ‘Laverne & Shirley’? Lenny and Squiggy get five grand a show!”
Belushi (whom I now realize looked a LOT like a skinnier Jorge Garcia) does not appear in the season’s cold opening. Instead we get a period piece centered on a singing Garrett Morris, as if to diminish expectations.
There were signs Aykroyd was also eyeing the exit, the most glaring being the plumbers-crack he brandished during the season’s first Todd & Lisa sketch. Bill Murray took over Aykroyd’s Update anchor chair in the same episode.
Even the season’s first, confusing, California-set Shiller’s Reel was a star-studded affair starring Carrie Fisher, Desi Arnaz Jr. and Hal Holbrook.
4.2 brought an “America 2-Night”-era Fred Willard and the perfect nerdgasm that was pre-“Whip It” 1978 DEVO, which performs “Satisfaction” and “Jocko Homo.” It contains at least one funny sketch I remembered not at all, starring Belushi as Moab, a devout ancient who sacrifices his trusting son Schlomo (Murray) to a distracted god (Don Pardo).
A “Dancing Fool”-era Frank Zappa, who proves himself no comedian or actor, served as both host and musical guest for 4.3. Guido Sarducci (who looks like Frank Zappa), in his second SNL appearance, explains how John Paul II was elected to the papacy. Al Franken plays Pete Tagliani, a murderous candidate for Congress. Gay Sluggo makes his homosexual debut as an interior decorator.
4.4 supplied Steve Martin’s only hosting appearance that season. “Theodoric Of York: Medieval Judge” teaches us that “The Writ of Common Wisdom” contains an entry for “consorting with Danes.” A Colonel Lingus joke is made on Update. The Festruck Bros. produce a Slovakian “vibrating machine” traded by a Communist Party official for “many fuel coupons.” Todd DelaMuca dry-humps Chaz The Spazz, his rival for Lisa Loopner’s affections.
A text crawl under the monologue tells us that 4.5, the season’s first Buck Henry show, is not expected to be as good as the Steve Martin show that preceded it, or the Carrie Fisher show that will follow. Buck accidentally calls the Samurai Optometrist an optician. Nick Sands sings “Theme From Shaft.”
Aykroyd provides the voice of Obi-Wan for 4.6, hosted by Carrie Fisher in her Princess Leia outfit and a gold two-piece swimsuit. Belushi plays Eric Von Zipper. Fisher, whose only big-screen appearance between “Star Wars” and “The Empire Strikes Back” was a cameo in “Mr. Mike’s Mondo Video,” had just turned 22. She’s unbelievably adorable and ended the show by kissing both Jake and Elwood on the lips.
Garrett Morris was the musical not-guest in 4.7, perhaps because the Blues Brothers got to perform during the previous episode. Walter Matthau donned the black and yellow to coach The Bad News Bees and gets the Olympia Diner to switch from Pepsi to Coke. This episode features an Update segment about the assassination of San Francisco city supervisor “Harry Milk.” Aykroyd plays a not-German homosexual named “Bruno.”
A 20-year-old Kate Bush (!) makes her American television debut writhing in a sparkly gold unitard atop Paul Schaffer’s piano during 4.8, hosted by Eric Idle. Bill Murray bops Idle on the head and noogies him onto the stage for a monologue. This is the episode in which Julie Child cuts “the dickens” out of her hand. “Cochise At Oxford” is a very odd sketch that ends strongly.
Bob Elliott, father of Chris and grandfather of Abby, appears on the Elliot Gould-hosted 4.9 with partner Ray Goulding. (Huh. It occurs to me here that Bob & Ray’s last names are almost “Elliot Gould.”) Mick Jagger and Peter Tosh sing “Don’t Look Back.”
With 4.10, one of the strongest episodes of the series’ long history, Michael Palin introduces Dickens’ “The Wretched Birth, Miserable Childhood, Agonizingly Painful Adolescence, and Appalling Vile and Degrading Death of Miles Cowperthwaite,” whose title character in this first chapter must contend with a invasive epileptic’s copious drool buckets. (Palin would reprise Cowperthwaite only eight episodes later, and it bears noting that Murray here plays a groundskeeper with a voice not unlike that of “Caddyshack” groundskeeper Carl Spackler.) Palin also portrays Hitler in a sketch about Klaus Kent, the Nazis’ superpowered Überman, who discovers via x-ray vision that Jimmy Olsteyn is a Jew. (Belushi gets to break out his Brando impression as Jor-El.) Palin also hosts the hilariously traumatic game show “Name The Bats.” A Tom Johnston-free Doobie Bros. performs “What A Fool Believes” and “Takin’ It To The Streets.”
Talking Heads perform wonderful renditions of “Take Me To The River” and “Artists Only” on 4.11, hosted by Cicely Tyson. This was the installment in which “The Ex-Police” investigate another homosexuality-related death.
4.12 was hosted by Rick Nelson, who played himself, himself, himself, a barber and Jorge Lopez, a contestant on “Quien Es Mas Macho?” A Candy Slice sketch introduced Aykroyd and Belushi as The Elvi.
“Charlie’s Angels” star Kate Jackson, a former 30 Rock tour guide, hosted 4.13. It turns out she’s conspiring with fellow undercover ABC employee Fred Silverman to destroy NBC. Larraine Newman was seldom funnier than as the 6-year-old psychologist who needs very much to pee.
4.14 begins with Gary Busey and Belushi ready to come to blows because Belushi thinks Busey stole his Oscar nomination with non-blockbuster “Buddy Holly Story.”
In 4.15, Margot Kidder delivers her St. Patrick’s Day monologue dressed in a Catholic school girl’s uniform, while the crew drunkenly celebrates backstage. This installment gave us Fred Garvin, Male Prostitute.
An “ear infection” kept Belushi in California and off 4.16, hosted by Richard Benjamin. That episode was dominated by the epic “Pepsi Syndrome” sketch, which combined elements of the unfolding Three Mile Island nuclear crisis, “The China Syndrome” and “The Amazing Colossal Man.” Franken & Davis played pro-nuclear mimes who don’t realize they’re not permitted to talk. Rodney Dangerfield makes a surprise appearance to brief First Lady Roslyn Carter on the president’s condition.
4.17 starring Milton Berle, is rumored to have until now been banished to the SNL vaults by Lorne Michaels, and it does turn out to be a pretty wretched installment. From Wikipedia’s entry on Berle: “On April 14, 1979, Berle guest-hosted Saturday Night Live. Perhaps the comedian saw this as a chance to revisit his live-TV "Texaco Star Theater" glories of three decades before. Whatever his intention, he seemed to spend as much time trying to upstage the show's youthful cast members as he did trying to work with or complement them. Berle's long reputation for taking control of an entire television production—whether invited to do so or not—was a cause of stress on the set. One of the show's writers, Rosie Shuster, described the rehearsals for the Berle SNL show and the telecast as "watching a comedy train accident in slow motion on a loop." Upstaging, camera mugging, inserting old comedy bits, and climaxing the show with a maudlin performance of "September Song" complete with pre-arranged standing ovation (something producer Lorne Michaels had never sanctioned), resulted in Berle being banned from the show.”
4.18, Michael Palin’s third stint hosting, gave us “I Am Nailed To The Hull,” chapter two of “Miles Cowperthwaite.” Captain Ned, who commands The Raging Queen, proves a firm believer in discipline and punishment, and anxious to “comfort” new recruit Miles. (Alas, we never saw the third chapter, “I Am Eaten By Sharks.”) James Taylor, sporting a full head of hair, sings "Johnnie Comes Back," "Up on the Roof" and "Millworker."
4.19, hosted by Maureen Stapleton, featured a duet by Linda Ronstadt and Phoebe Snow on "It's In His Kiss." Deposed dictator Idi Amin proves a inconsiderate houseguest for a young American couple, leaving slaughtered antelope in the kitchen and interrogating prisoners in the bathroom. A surprisingly funny low-concept sketch deals with a thirtysomething woman (Radner) trying to take her mother (Stapleton) out on her birthday.
Season four concluded as two, three and five did, with the return by Buck Henry as host. The last Belushi/Aykroyd sketch of the series ended with Pete dancing on the grave of the fire-gutted Olympia Diner. (The very last sketch of the season, curiously, was an impression of Elvis by charter writer-performer Michael O’Donoghue, who had actually left the show’s staff the previous season!)
Special features on the set are on the meager side:
* “Today Show Interview With John Belushi (7/27/78).” (2:13) A funny and lucid Belushi, promoting “Animal House,” explains to Gene Shalit that the Blues Brothers album contains no comedy and that he would be doing the fourth season of SNL.
* “Today Show Interview with Gilda Radner (4/14/80).” (5:04) Shalit makes Radner talk about the origin of Rosanne Rosannadanna (based on local ABC news anchor Rosanna Scarmadella). She also recalls her first meeting with Barbara Walters, with whom she shared a makeup artist, at the Canadian embassy.
* “Tomorrow Show with Walter Williams (Mr. Bill).” (4:45) Tom Snyder grills Mr. Bill’s creator, who relates that “SNL” was pre-empted in Williams’ home market of New Orleans by Marti Gras coverage the weekend Mr. Bill made his first appearance, so his friends were skeptical of his accomplishment until the repeat rolled around.
Herc’s Popular Pricing Pantry
We’re now in that sweet spot between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and we’re seeing some of the lowest prices we’ve seen this year.
IMPORTANT!!
Amazon’s Black Friday Sale Ends Dec. 2!!
The Blu-ray edition of “Mad Men’s” first season is down to $16.99!! (66% Off!!) (How good a deal is that? The dang DVD version is $27.49!!)
“Seinfeld” sets last week were $38.99 per season. Today: $19.99-22.99!! (56% Off!!) Or you can just buy the complete series for $139.99 (56% Off!!), which works out to only $15.56 per season!!
“The Simpsons” 1.x-10.x last week: $29.99.
Today: $17.49!! (56% Off)
“House” last week: $31.99.
Today: $16.99!! (72% Off)
“30 Rock” 1.x last week: $31.99.
Today: $16.99!! (66% Off!!)
“The Office” last week: $36.99.
Today: $16.99!! (66% Off)
“The Shield” 1.x-6.x last week: $36.99.
Today: $22.99!!
“Supernatural” 1.x-3.x last week: $37.99.
Today: $17.49!! (71% Off!!)
“Brideshead Revisited,” likely the best miniseries ever forged, has just been reduced from $49.99 to $27.99!! (53% Off)
The superb “From The Earth To The Moon,” which typically goes for $51.99, is down to $19.99!! (67% Off)
The first three seasons of “Saturday Night Live” were 48.99 each. Now they’re all $27.99!! (60% Off!!)
A season of “The West Wing” was $41.99. Now they’re all $17.99!! (70% Off!!)
A season of “Gilmore Girls” was $26.49. Now they’re all $14.99!! (75% Off!!)
A season of “The Venture Bros.” was $24.99. Now they’re both $12.99!! (57% Off!!)
The first five volumes of the Looney Tunes Golden Collection were each $44.99. Now they’re $25.99!! (60% Off!!)
Two weeks ago a season of “Six Feet Under” was $51.99. Now they’re all $19.99!!
“Carnivale” is momentarily $19.99/Season (60% Off!!).
TV-on-DVD Calendar
Last Week
Beverly Hills 90210 6.x
Beverly Hills 90210: 6-Season Pack
The Big Easy 2.x
A Colbert Christmas
The Doris Day Show: The Complete Series
Family Affair: The Complete Series
Freaks And Geeks: Yearbook Edition
Gomer Pyle USMC 5.x
Gomer Pyle USMC: The Complete Series
The Mod Squad 2.x Vol. 1
Pink Panther Ultimate Collection
The Real Ghostbusters: The Complete Series
Red Skelton: Ultimate Collection
The Spirit of the Sword
Superman Doomsday (Blu-ray)
Superman Doomsday: Special Edition
Torchy The Battery Boy 1.x/2.x
Torchy The Battery Boy 1.x
Torchy The Battery Boy 2.x
24: Redemption
This Week
Cannon 1.x
Cannon 1.x Vol. 2
Curious George: Leads The Band
Dr. Katz: Best Of
Hi-5 1.x
Jake and the Fatman 1.x
Jake and the Fatman 1.x Vol. 2
Law & Order 6.x
The Man Called Flintstone
Metalocalypse 2.x
Mythbusters: Big Blasts
Password: Best Of 1962-1967
Perry Mason 3.x Vol. 2
Saturday Night Live 4.x
Next Week
Adventures of Sonic Vol. 2
Deadwood: The Complete Series
Gunsmoke 3.x Vol. 1
Happy Days 4.x
Happy Days 4-Season Pack
Lost 4.x
Lost 4.x (Blu-ray)
McLeod's Daughters 7.x
Rawhide 3.x Vol. 2
Rawhide: 3-Season Pack
Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories
Swingtown 1.x
TV Party: Color Show
TV Party: The Sublimely Intolerable Show
The Wire: The Complete Series
December 16
Aqua Teen Hunger Force Vol. 6
The A-Team 1.x (Slimset)
Crime 360 1.x
Gangland 2.x
Generation Kill: The Complete Series
Ice Road Truckers 2.x
Jurassic Fight Club 1.x
Mr. Bean: The Ultimate Collection
The Mummy: The Animated Series Vol. 1
The Mummy: The Animated Series Vol. 2
The Mummy: The Animated Series Vol. 3
Petticoat Junction 1.x
Poor Little Rich Girl: The Complete Series
Power Rangers Jungle Fury: Into The Jungle
Power Rangers Jungle Fury: Way Of The Master
Transformers: Energon Ultimate Collection
Will Shakespeare: The Complete Miniseries
December 30
Greek 2.x
Kyle XY 2.x
Nip/Tuck 5.x
Secret Life of an American Teenager 1.x
10 Items Or Less 1.x/2.x
January 6
Battlestar Galactica 4.1-4.10
Dexter 1.x (Blu-ray)
Doctor Who: Four To Doomsday
Doctor Who: War Machines
Duckman 3.x/4.x
Duckman: 4-Season Pack
Eon Kid 1.x Vol. 2
The FBI Files 1.x
Frisky Dingo 2.x
Ghost Hunters: Best Of (Blu-ray)
Laredo 2.x Vol. 2
Mannix 2.x
Secret Diary of a Call Girl 1.x
Transformers 2.x
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Just asking.
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It's those 24 hours only and this talkback will destruct talkbacks that you can't post on.
Sorry about that. -
There's not a single thing I'd buy from this week's list, all crap. Does anyone else hate that he uses the word "encheapened". I know it's suppose to be cute, like when Harry begs for "prezzies" but I just find in incredibly grating.
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Was that a remix before remixes were born?
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I thought you'd link up Dr. Horrible, Herc!
http://tinyurl.com/5juev4
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Seriously. I'm laughing remembering Mantis, and that cover put me over the edge.
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William Conrad's Fridge Alert, an alarm that only goes off if William Conrad is stealing food from your fridge.
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Talking Heads
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Prince Caspian, Dark Knight or Horton Hears a Who? Maybe I missed them, but I didn't see them and Im pretty sure that they come out this month. Prince Caspian today.
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And yeah that Mantis cover is hilarious
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The american future a history is the second best british documentary of the year. The best is undoubetedly Behind close doors by Laurence Rees. Authoritive, fascinating, compelling television. A must by. But what I found rivetting about simon Schama's three part prgram was the war between Mark Twain and theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt Destroyed Twain and used every apparatus of the state to so.
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I'm so jealous of my young sons. The women on their (current) kids' shows are hotter than the women on MY kids' shows back in the '70s. Today, they've got the three gals on "Hi-5," Genevieve on Disney's "Choo-Choo Soul," and some of the backup dancers on "The Wiggles," for examples. Heck, even DeeDee on "The Doodelbops" is pretty cute.
In MY day, we had Electrawoman and Dynagirl, and Isis. That was about it. (Unless you want to include Josie and her Pussycats.) Oh, and when a young Maria joined "Sesame Street." Thank goodness the Solid Gold dancers arrived when they did. -
what will be next? Lorne Michaels doesn't like the non-Lorne Michaels years, and the his first year back as producer was wretched to say the least. Will they skip to the 1986/87 season, or just stop with season 5?
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How'd she know to do that 5 years before Jedi???
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I asked Lorne that very question. He said nothing's been decided beyond season five regarding DVD releases, but didn't rule out skipping the Joe Piscopo era for now.
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Are there any sites out there that will give you the information as to who to bitch at in order to get information regarding one's favorite shows that are M.I.A.? I mean it's going on four years since the first season of Count Duckula was released here in the states. It's fuckin' stupid.
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Yeah, it's about as relevant now as a LOLcat or "ALL OUR BASE" - but it's nevertheless a compulsory observation.
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I was about to type the thing!!!
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Why this years black friday sale was so shit... Do they not know there's a recession??
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I posted to this talkback first thing morning, and now its gone? Damn...
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You think the latest Knight Rider has gone through extensive retooling for at first season show? You ain't seen nothing yet! Oh and the cover highlights three cast members who all got replaced after the pilot!
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I'm noticing a shitty trend with dvd collections. Release a season, in "volumes". A) I don't want two boxes, sometimes of various sizes, of one single season of a show and B) why do I need to shell out over $80 for two or more volumes of a season of a show when I can buy a show from the same network, for an entire season for a much lesser price?
Fuckin tv networks. -
Male Prostitute.
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