I started watching Saturday Night Live from the beginning. And, a least at the start, the music featured on the show one one of its highlights. Included in this documentary, directed by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and Oz Rodriguezhere, are some of the key music moments:
An in-depth analysis into the show’s relationship with new wave bands (the B-52’s) as well as eclectic and experimental acts (Captain Beefheart)[5]
Elvis Costello switching songs live on air in 1977, and his supposed “ban” from the show
The show’s hip-hop history, including the 1981 debut of Funky 4 + 1, the first rap act on national television
Fear‘s chaotic 1981 performance with a mosh pit
Debuts of acts like Nirvana and Dua Lipa
Sinéad O’Connor‘s 1992 appearance during which she controversially ripped up a photograph of Pope John Paul II
Rage Against the Machine‘s explosive 1996 spot, during which they attempted to hang upside-down American flags on their amps in protest of billionaire host Steve Forbes[13]
The show’s first post-9/11 broadcast with Paul Simon and Rudy Giuliani
Ashlee Simpson‘s infamous 2004 appearance in which she lip synced
Kanye West‘s history on the show, both his impact on guests’ visual capabilities and many controversies, including a 2018 MAGA rant
The 3-hour documentary came about with Thompson’s commitment and quality control. Directing the feature required that Thompson view every episode of SNL—900 by the time of its creation—which was a daunting task. To prepare, Thompson watched between three and seven episodes daily. The result is a comprehensive and entertaining journey through 50 years of music. Don’t miss this! GRADE: A
The Blues Brothers are missing?
What a shame!
To me, the most astonishing musical moment was Devo doing “Satisfaction” in 1979. I’d never seen anything like it.
The Google tells me Devo first appeared on SNL in 1978. Well, what can I say? It was the Disco days and I was in college. I couldn’t keep track of time as effectively as I can today.
The vast majority of SNL musical guest performances left me so cold that I would go into the kitchen and make a sandwich when they appeared. I’m just not the target audience. That being said, I’m looking forward to seeing this. It may alter my mind, or it may reinforce my vision of a train wreck — who knows?
While I feel that both SNL (and The Simpsons) have looong passed their expiration dates and should be retired I did watch the show during its early years. Elvis Costello and Devo were certainly the highlights but I also remember a lot of snoozy boomer acts that made the show feel way less hip than it thought it was.
I had girlfriends who watched the show in the eighties and nineties and my impression was that the show was leaning into the college rock demographic hard although I don’t remember a single memorable performance (even The Replacements were tepid). Both Jools Holland and David Sanborn (of all people) had far more interesting syndicated music shows on the air at the time.
That said, the acts SNL is booking these days are as truly awful as they are instantly forgettable although I do have a memory scrap of Sia and her “avatars” that unfortunately scarred my brain (thanks to my last girlfriend). I do give the show credit for introducing me to Kate Bush back in the day. She kind of went over with a thud to both the studio and home audiences but I for one was hooked.
Sanborn and Holland’s first such series, they did together, SUNDAY NIGHT, which became NIGHT MUSIC, a soft-feed to NBC stations for late night also produced by Lorne Michaels, who let more sophisticated hands run the show. The last song on every episode had every band/performer who was game from that week’s cast do a song together. It was lovely.
What Jerry said, for the most part, but… we bought – some years ago – the entire Third and Fourth seasons of SNL. This past year we watched one show every Saturday. Most were surprisingly lame, though they got better as they went along. They introduced “Two Wild and Crazy Guys” and Olympia Restaurant and Roseanne Roseannadanna. And some of the musical guests were great. They had Jimmy Buffett when he had the broken leg he always referred to in concert (“I broke my leg twice, I had to limp on back home”). One I remembered was Christopher Lee introducing Meat Loaf (” I want you to meet Loaf…”).
They had Billy Joel, Bonnie Raitt, Paul Simon, Ray Charles (with “The Young Caucasians” – Ray also hosted), and The Blues Brothers.
But best of all was Steve Martin in costume doing the brilliant “King Tut.”
The worst host was Charles Grodin. His running shtick was that he spent the week buying gifts for the cast members so he had no time to rehearse. He ruined every sketch he was in by stepping out of character and addressing the actors. And he did a stupid Art Garfunkel imitation with a wig, joining Paul Simon.
I forgot, two links gets a comment moderated! (see above)
Every time I get rid of Peacock, they come up with some great programs. Too bad.