What are you reading right now?

[FJSLikesTickling]

I recently finished Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live. Any diehard SNL fans on this forum?

 

[laughtermech]

Wouldn’t say I’m a diehard fan, but I did grow up loving Dana Carvey and Mike Meyers and David Spade and Chris Farley in the 90s. Some really great skits that I go back to time and again for laughs. Will Ferrel’s cowbell skit w/ Christopher Walken is one of my favorites. Nate Bargatze’s George Washington more recent skit is also really good. Some true comic gems through the years to be sure 🙂 Hope you enjoyed the book. Would love to hear your take on it. TLM

 

[FJSLikesTickling]

The book is a really well-told examination of both the evolution of television from the late '60s on, and the unique, borderline chaotic way SNL is produced—week after week. If you haven’t read it yet, I’d also highly recommend Live From New York by Tom Shales and James Andrew Miller. It’s an oral history full of first-hand stories from cast members, writers, guest hosts, and others behind the scenes. It really captures the wild energy (and dysfunction) of the show across different eras.

I love all the sketches you mentioned—“More Cowbell” is just one of those perfect storm moments. One I rewatched recently was The Sinatra Group, with Phil Hartman as Frank Sinatra hosting an eccentric panel in a take on The McLaughlin Group (which SNL also skewered at one point). I think that one was from Season 16, hosted by Sting. At one point, Hartman (as Sinatra) tells Billy Idol (Sting), "I've got chunks of guys like you in my stool." Great line and impeccable delivery by one of my favorite cast members.

 

[Trethezeldafan]