'"SNL's" First Season on DVD
Posted October 20th, 2006 by RD Heldenfels
After dealing with years of patchwork "best-ofs," this is really good news, notwithstanding the misspelling of Jane Curtin's name:
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON
Street Date: 12/5
Price: $69.98
Just in time for the holidays, the eight-disc set comes in specially designed gift packaging with a limited-edition collectible book, audition footage and cast interview that aired the day before the first show!
Includes Limited Edition Photo Book with Rare SNL Photos of the Cast and Lorne Michaels (32-pages)
Overview: Nicknamed the "Not Ready for Primetime Players," the original cast of Saturday Night Live ignited a comedy revolution with their mix of irreverent characters and satirical impressions of political figures and pop culture icons.
From the premiere of this groundbreaking sketch comedy show on October 11, 1975, live from historical Studio 8H in New York City's Rockefeller Center, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Jane Curtain, Chevy Chase, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, and Gilda Radner launched themselves into instant stardom and were often referred to as "The Beatles of Comedy."
Created by Lorne Michaels over three decades ago, few other shows have had the cultural impact and relevance of Saturday Night Live.
Nowhere else can you see the complete first season of SNL, featuring hosts George Carlin, Rob Reiner, Lily Tomlin, Richard Pryor, Elliott Gould, Candace Bergen, or original musical performances by Simon & Garfunkle, ABBA, Patti Smith, Jimmy Cliff, and Carly Simon. And if you're curious as to how the original cast was hired, check out the DVD bonus features that include the screen tests of each performer.
October 21st, 2006 at 5:25 am
Wow.
I really didn't think this would ever happen. Even on Lorne Michaels' own website, the FAQ at one point said this was highly unlikely due to the amount of music clearances and such. Naturally, I have another gift to ask Santa for this Christmas now . . .
October 23rd, 2006 at 10:27 am
I wonder if Albert Brooks' short films will be included too.
October 23rd, 2006 at 12:43 pm
According to Broadway Video (the makers of the DVD), *nothing* has been edited out. That includes all musical performances as well as the Albert Brooks films.
October 24th, 2006 at 6:17 am
Hmm….about time though I wonder exactly when the Coneheads were introduced? After all would could resist Beldar who always insisted on consuming Mass Quantities? I swear that they were ONE of the best parts of SNL in the formative years.
October 24th, 2006 at 6:32 am
I'm thinking the Coneheads were at the start of the second season. It seems a lot of the things I'm thinking of (Steve Martin's first appearance, Paul Simon in the turkey costume, Paul Simon's duets with George Harrison, Brian Wilson's spaced-out appearance) all happened during the second season. Hopefully the first season will sell enough to warrant subsequent packages. I know I'll be buying!
October 24th, 2006 at 8:55 am
I can't wait to see the muppets again! The reruns always cut out Jim Henson's Muppets.
October 24th, 2006 at 11:22 am
The Muppets? IF you really want to see them then you have tons of choices in their movies and elsewhere besides looking for them on SNL.
The Muppets were and are lame and don't derserve - need to be on SNL at all.
October 24th, 2006 at 12:24 pm
This isn't Kermit and Piggy. These were adult, and deliberately provocative, Muppets. But they only lasted 13 weeks. According to one "SNL" book, the writers hated creating sketches for them.
Steve Martin first hosted on Oct. 23, 1976, in the second season. Paul Simon in the turkey suit was on Oct. 18, 1975, in the first season. Paul Simon was with George Harrison on Nov. 20, 1976, second season. Brian Wilson was the week after that. Coneheads started Jan. 15, 1977. (Source of dates: "Saturday Night Live: The First 20 Years.")
October 25th, 2006 at 6:47 pm
Rich, I think the SNL book may have given the wrong date on Paul Simon in the turkey suit. He was in that suit the same show he appeared with George Harrison in 1976. I've seen this show on NBC before when WKYC still aired a "classic" SNL immediately following the new one.
Paul mentioned in the cold opening to Lorne Michaels and George that he wasn't sure how well the monologue was going to work. When he stormed offstage in the turkey costume during the monologue, he also said something about it being close to Thanksgiving. There was also a bit during the cold opening where Paul greeted Chevy Chase outside the studio and asked him how things were going since he'd left the show, which definitely puts it in the second season. Next DVD set for sure!
Incidentally, according to the "Saturday Night: a Backstage History" book, the segments that night with George Harrison were all pre-recorded due to a scheduling conflict.
October 25th, 2006 at 7:45 pm
You're probably right about the date (although Simon was on the show on both of those occasions). The book I quoted has part of Simon's monologue, with a reference to Thanksgiving.