Official Synopsis:
Nicknamed the "Not Ready for Prime Time 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 the historic studio 8H in New York City's Rockefeller Center, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Jane Curtin, 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 and Candice Bergen or original musical performances by Simon & Garfunkel, ABBA, Patti Smith Group, Jimmy Cliff and Carly Simon. And if you're curious as to how the original cast was hired, check out the bonus features that include the screen tests of each performer.
Our Take:
I'll be honest with you; I truly believed that Saturday Night Live complete season sets would never see the light of day. How many times do television shows have to replace music with alternate tracks because of licensing and rights issues nowadays? With as integral a part of the show as the music is on Saturday Night Live, I felt sure that even if we ever did see season sets, they'd be truncated versions of the episodes.
Now, after years of crappy "best of" sets on DVD, Universal has finally pulled it all together and put out one of the coolest DVD sets I've seen in quite some time. Packaged in a big, stylish box, Saturday Night Live: The Complete First Season 1975-1976 features every episode from that seminal first year, with every musical performance intact. Way to go, Universal!
It's easy to see why the show was such a big hit right off the bat. With John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtain, Gilda Radner, and the rest of the cast at the peak of their comedic potential, the show was downright funny. Not every sketch is a winner, but they're also a lot shorter than they are nowadays, so even the ones that don't work are over quickly. It's also easy to see why the show just isn't as good anymore. The first episode alone features Jim Henson's Muppets (ones made especially for the show), Andy Kaufman, and a special short film by Albert Brooks. Where are those types of unique and exclusive comedy events nowadays?
If there's one negative to the set, it's that it doesn't include a ton of extra features (was Chevy Chase too busy?) However, that's not to say that there aren't any at all.
* Screen Tests (30 minutes) - Screen tests for the seven cast members from the first season.
* The Tomorrow Show (5 minutes) - An interview segment from before the show premiered, featuring Lorne Michaels and the entire cast.
* Photo Book - A really great book with a number of amazing photos from the set and rehearsals.
I was surprised how much of the humor of a comedy sketch show that's over 30 years old held up, but it did. Saturday Night Live: The Complete First Season 1975-1976 is a true gem; a powerful reminder of how one of comedy's longest-lasting franchises got its start.
RECOMMENDED!
Overall Picture:
Movie: A-
DVD: B
- Mike Spring
Editor
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