Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with SNL

What is this song?

Holygrail2 — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:41:00 -0800

This has vexed me for more than half of my life. What song is this? I recorded the final snippet of this song from a Comedy Central rerun of (I think) SNL in 1993. I've been randomly singing it every now and then for the last 16 years but I still have no idea what the song is and who the singer is.

Luckily, thanks to modern technology, I can put VHS tapes on my computer and put the video up on YouTube (yay!). Any music buffs know the answer? I think it's an early 80s SNL episode...

Weird boob grab on SNL last week, or part of the skit I didn't get?

JonnyRotten — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:03:59 -0800

What was up with the Boob grab on last weeks SNL? During the "So you committed a crime, and you think you can dance?" skit, Jason Sudeikis grabs a handful of Kristen Wiig. You can see it at around 4:00 on Hulu. Her response seems a bit weird. Any insight? Theories? Rumors?

What's the real story with Elvis Costello and SNL?

DecemberBoy — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 19:57:11 -0800

Does anyone know the real story behind Elvis Costello's performance of "Radio Radio" on Saturday Night Live, specifically the real reason he wasn't invited back for so long? OK, so I've always heard that the reason Lorne Michaels was so upset with him was one of two reasons, or a bit of both. Everything one could find with, say, a Google search for "elvis costello snl" will tell one of these two stories, without quoting anyone or citing any sources, so I'm hoping for actual quotes from people involved, etc.

1. "Radio Radio" has very anti-media, anti-corporate lyrics, and the network had specifically refused to allow Costello to play it for that reason, he agreed to do "Less Than Zero" instead, then played it anyway. This got Michaels heat from above. The problem with this story is while "Radio Radio" is certainly something that 1970s network exec types might balk at, SNL was doing far more controversial stuff than that, and it doesn't seem like that big a deal compared to all the blatant drug references, etc. that they got away with every week.

2. Costello had done "Less Than Zero" at all the dress rehearsals, etc. and the show's format, which has to be accurate down to the second, had planned for "Less Than Zero", then he played a completely different song and fucked up the whole show. The problem with this story is that I have Season 3 on DVD, and in the episode with Costello (hosted by Miskel Spillman), "Radio Radio" is the second song he does (after "Watching The Detectives"), and it's done right before the closing credits. The only thing it could have screwed up is cutting the closing "I'd like to thank...", etc. scene's time. Now, it could be that the DVD version of the episode is edited from what originally aired, but the musical guests on SNL did play their second song right before the end of the show quite often.

If anything, given the hip, countercultural image that SNL tried to cultivate in the 70s, you'd think that everyone would have been happy. It's certainly one of the show's most celebrated moments. So why was Costello blackballed for over 10 years? Is the whole "he wasn't invited back" story even true at all? Maybe he just didn't happen to play on SNL for that long.

This beef is so silly I'd like to take it behind the middle school and get it pregnant

tylerfulltilt — Thu, 28 May 2009 16:31:59 -0800

The Tracy Morgan/Jimmy Fallon Beef: Explain it to me. I've seen the specific quote from tracy morgans penthouse interview in 2007, but is there anything more on this out there? Has Fallon ever responded?

Is there any evidence that Tracy Morgan actually got mean with Fallon and he isn't trying to look tough after the fact?

Bonus points if you can find a link to the actual penthouse interview,

Where is The Bobster?

partner — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:21:43 -0800

My searching has failed. Still, I'd like to find a video of The Bobster ("makin' copies, makin' friends). Can anyone help?

Bad Idea Jeans

namewithhe1d — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 11:57:11 -0800

Bad Idea Jeans could easily be one of my favorite commercial parodies of all time. Did they exist in real life? Is the reference on the bottom of this page real? I would love to see the actual commercial of this if it exists...

Obama and SNL

inconsequentialist — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:22:20 -0800

What evidence is there to suggest that Obama will (or will not) be on Saturday Night Live this weekend? I have heard rumors (though I don't remember where) that Barack Obama may have a cameo on SNL this weekend. However, I haven't been able to find any confirmation of this. I know also that Ben Affleck is supposed to be the guest star. But I still have the suspicion that Obama may appear given the sources that I can not find right now. If anyone has any information or can point me to any sources one way or the other, I would appreciate it.

I love your Schweaty balls

Epsilon-minus semi moron — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 18:29:03 -0800

My sister is going to a SNL themed Halloween party. She needs ideas for "obscure, I mean so obscure that people are like 'Wow that is obscure!' "I told her that not many SNL characters are that obscure and if they are, no one's going to get it anyway. Yet being my sister I feel I should help her. I suggested Rosanne Rossana Danna, but that was not obscure enough. So I turn to the green.

Looking for a Kerry/Gore SNL sketch

rustcellar — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 20:42:13 -0800

Does anyone else remember this SNL sketch with Gore and Kerry commiserating about losing to Bush? My wife I and both vividly remember a sketch (we think it was Saturday Night Live but it might have been Mad TV) with Al Gore and John Kerry both talking (in the beginning) about how they're not bitter about losing to George W. Bush. Kerry keeps his cool, and when he's done saying he doesn't hate Bush, Gore says "I also hate him. I hate his squunched-up face." Also something like "You lost but I won. I should be president."

Anyway, we'd love to see it again but it seems like NOBODY else in the Google-verse picked up on it because I can't find any part of the quotes I mentioned or anything else with Gore and Kerry together. I've looked on Hulu.com and Youtube to no avail.

Did anyone else see this, or did we completely make it up?

Who was my (?)famous(?) sub?

frankdrebin — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:37:00 -0800

I have incredibly vague memories of being told a substitute teacher I had in grade school was on SNL. Who could it possibly be? I was real young at the time, so I don't remember the specifics, but this is what I recall:
- No idea exactly when it was, but I couldn't have been more than 10, so I'd guess 1988-1992 would be the only reasonable range.
- I feel pretty confident that it was a white male with dark hair. I'm not 100% confident about the hair.
- It was in North/Central NJ.
- I don't know if he was a cast member or what. I just remember someone telling me he was on SNL and not really knowing what that meant.

I've done some basic attempts to figure this out, including googling "XXX"+"substitute teacher" for the guys on this list, but nothing useful so far.

Any ideas?

Classic SNL bloopers?

Melismata — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 15:50:07 -0800

SNLfilter: what are the classic Saturday Night Live sketches where the actors mess up and/or uncontrollably start laughing? Watched it mostly in the late 80s/early 90s, so the ones I know are

Chris Farley losing his wig when talking to Adam Sandler
The Cowbell Sketch (Chris Kattan laughs I think)
The first Matt Foley sketch (CF falls, and David Spade laughs a lot)
I think there was one where CF was supposed to be carried away on some ropes, but the ropes stuck so Kevin Nealon helped unstick them

Would love to know the rest, before and after. Thank you!

Simple Minds are hard to find

ostranenie — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 14:26:47 -0800

Where on the internets can I find a clip of Simple Minds performing "Alive and Kicking" on Saturday Night Live?

Saturday Night Live SKIT about GOD and Heaven

BigCreekBill — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 07:38:34 -0800

What Saturday Night Live skit had "a man dead, goes to heaven and asks God questions?" I need help by Saturday! I am looking for a old Saturday Night Live skit. The skit is where a man dies and goes to heaven and he gets to ask God any questions...The skit is about him asking questions and finding out all the stuff in his life he didn't know. Very funny

What is the name of the skit?

What two actors were in it?

Is the video available on YouTube?

Letterman and SNL in New York

falameufilho — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 20:50:09 -0800

I've recently moved to NY and I'd like to go see David Letterman and SNL live. What's the easiest way to get tickets?

SNL 1978

plexi — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:50:14 -0800

Where can I find an online video or audio clip of Steve Martin's monologue where he talks about "You can be a millionaire!"

You're going...skiing!

motown missile — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:56:50 -0800

Many years ago, Saturday Night Live used to showcase short films as interstitial material between skits. One of these was a take off of In Cold Blood, done in black-and-white, and depicted two men waiting outside a house in the dark, smoking, then donning ski masks and going up to the house, ringing the doorbell, and when the startled home owner opened the door announced "You're going...skiing!". At this point the film cut to stock footage of skiiers at a ski resort, uh, skiing. Does anyone remember this short film? What was it called, who made it, and most importantly, where can I get a copy, preferably on DVD?

Bernadette Peters sings "Sea Cruise"?

trip and a half — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 06:08:28 -0800

Bernadette Peters: did she sing Frankie Ford's "Sea Cruise" on television? I could swear I heard Bernadette sing "Sea Cruise" on TV with a chorus. I thought it was the Coast Guard Academy chorus. I thought it was on SNL. But for some reason I can't Google this effectively.

Any idea what I'm remembering?

SNL Online Video?

crapples — Fri, 11 May 2007 18:51:13 -0800

This question was asked a long time ago with no successful answer. I'm wondering if, since the world of online video has exploded so much, it can be answered now. Is there an online video anywhere of the SNL skit with Nicolas Cage and Julia Sweeney trying to name their baby? The transcript is here. I have searched and searched and have come up empty handed. Anyone?

Martin Short Images

iced_borsch — Sun, 19 Mar 2006 20:53:46 -0800

Anyone have quality screencaps of Martin Short's Saturday Night Live characters from the 1980s, e.g. Jackie Rogers Jr., Nathan Therm, the synchronized swimming guy, etc.? (FYI: At this point,I'm more interested in SNL images than stuff from SCTV.)

Talking Politics - the Barry Gibb Talk Show song.

filmgeek — Sat, 25 Feb 2006 21:30:25 -0800

SNL Skit. Barry Gibb Talk show. What Bee Gees song are they parodying? I'll admit it. This has been killing me. I really am not asking enough askme questions - and this one has been gnawing on my consciousness.

The SNL skit "Barry Gibb Talk Show" (which is one of the rare Jimmy Fallon sketches that I've liked.)

What song are they parodying?

Links are here:

Barry Gibb 1

Barry Gibb 2

With a little help from my friends... finding Belushi & Cocker?

Misciel — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 08:05:54 -0800

I'm looking for classic "Saturday Night Live" sketches that might not have made the "Best of..." DVDs. Namely, John Belushi performing as Joe Cocker WITH Joe Cocker! But there were far too many good ones to let them all fade into oblivion! Is there any way to find these classic sketches to save them for posterity?? Thanks!!

Tiny Elvis

jimmereeno — Sun, 11 Dec 2005 01:04:43 -0800

Help me find a video of any of the the Nicholas Cage SNL skits where he plays "Tiny Elvis". I've done the quick Google and Yahoo video searches and only came up with the transcript. thanks in advance "Hey, man.. look at that salt shaker, man. That is huge!"

What's up with Ashlee Simpson?

geoff. — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 13:20:53 -0800

Somewhat of a pointless question, how come Ashlee Simpson still gets media attention? She's not paticularly attractive, nor can she sing. To top it all off she was blatantly caught lipsyncing on SNL, yet she's scheduled (I believe to be on it again, or was on it a short while ago). Are differing media companies that well-connected? As in, was enough money invested in Ashlee Simpson that they feel the need to keep pushing her. She's on the front page of CNN today, and she continues to make those infotainment shows. Does no one have a spine? I think more seriously my question is obviously there are a lot of obligations owed that keeps getting her in the spotlight. She's not being propelled by talents (good performer, extraordinary looks, voice) ergo something else is at play here. Are her PR firms so powerful that they dictate to magazines and television that she will be on? I would think some editor would be independent enough to say, "This will make us look bad putting on someone so much of a phoney."

I'm not saying that Ashlee Simpson is the first, but her lip-syncing and public booing really was hard to ignore or gloss-over. I thought her career was done (she doesn't exactly have a Maria Callas voice to change genres or reinvent herself). I would think that it'd be much easier to start over with a girl who's cute and can kinda sing then it would be to repair Ashlee Simpson's image.

So what's going on here?

NB my confession is beyond hearing her in public, I haven't really listened to her -- so if she clearly is gifted in singing I'm all wrong

SNL Jeopardy Skit with Punchline of Letter Becoming Middle Finger?

driko — Wed, 16 Feb 2005 09:36:37 -0800

I'm trying to remember a particular Saturday Night Live spoof of Jeopardy featuring the always hilarious portrayal of Sean Connery. My workmates and I are trying to recall how he drew his answer to Final Jeopardy so that at first it was a letter (?), but then upon the full reveal it looked like a drawing of a middle finger. This is my first post, BTW... :-)